Twisted Tales to Tell in the Night: A Halloween Horror Anthology

by Stephanie Rose (Editor), William Sterling (Editor)

Twisted Tales to Tell in the A Halloween Horror Anthology is filled with spooky stories by new trick or treaters to the big kids that know which streets give out the best candy.



All of these stories capture the storytelling style of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark with each author's own twist.

We know you miss Halloween and October. With this collection you can stop and savor it every day of the month with these fun size seasonal nostalgic tales.



We hope that reading this anthology will bring you just as much excitement as when you received a full bar on Halloween night.



ALL HARROWS' EVE    Jeff C. Carter 

SPOOK ALLEY    V.S. Lawrence

BEST FRIENDS FOREVER    Renee Thomasin

THE PUMPKIN PATCH POLTERGEIST    Anthony Michael Murphy

WITCH APOTHECARY    Morgan Briceno

THE BEST HALLOWEEN    Dana Gricken

MORGANA MACABRE'S HALLOWEEN SPECIAL   Wendy Dalrymple

SWEET TOOTH    Amanda Wittman

POSTS    Tanya Pell

THE PANTHERA PROJECT    Lawrence Vernon

WE DON'T GO IN THE HOWARDS' HOUSE    William Sterling

BOOGER SUGAR    Clay McLeod Chapman

MRS. KING'S CANDY    Hayden Robinson

THE LIGHT ACROSS THE BRIDGE    J.A. Barrios

THE CRAVING    M.K. Hewitt

TRICK OF THE TREAT    Nidheesh Samant

LAST REQUESTS    Louie Sullivan

YOU'RE NEVER TOO OLD FOR HALLOWEEN    Brian McAuley

Genres: Horror, Anthologies, Short Stories, Halloween, Young Adult, Supernatural, Fiction

185 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 16, 2025

About the author

Stephanie Rose is a disabled, neurodivergent, and queer horror writer and editor who finds
comfort in the dark corners of storytelling. She is the author of Hiding Lies, Small Town Slasher, and Plastic Fangs: Essays, and serves as editor of the Twisted Tales to Tell in the Night anthology series.

A lifelong Halloween devotee and unapologetic house goblin, she thrives on horror, true crime, and the delicious unease of the macabre. Music, especially dance and karaoke, keeps her heart beating just long enough to write another story. She lives in Washington with her partner and four cats.

Reviews

[Court Zierk · Rating 1 out of 5]

⭐️

Holy adolescently inspired AI-slop Batman. I can’t remember the last time I gave a one star review, but if there was ever a book that embodied what a one star review looks, smells, tastes, feels like… this is the one. What a terrible way to pay homage to such an iconic series.

[Melany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yall wtf.... WHY did I request to get this book??! I'll tell you... the cover reminded of the spooky kids "Scary Stories" books. Let me tell you RIGHT NOW... these are NOT for kids lol They are actually scary. And me being the huge wuss that I am, BARELY survived this with my life..... it is not for the faint of heart (or horror wusses like myself). There were moments I'm like "Okay, thats not bad" then seconds later I decided "Why not just always keep every light on in my house.. JUST incase". Other moments I literally wanted to gag because it was so gross. Again, I know that's enjoyable for some. I'm honestly just glad I survived it and my soul didn't fully leave my body during the scary moments.🫣 I will NOT be reading again, as I got catfished into this and am NOT a horror reader. lol But please give it a go if you're into spooky reads, this would be right up your alley!

I received this ARC by NetGalley and Death By TBR Books (IBPA) to read/review. While I wholefully regret the scares I received from it, all of the statements above are my true opinions after fully (with one eye closed and blankets higher than my nose) read this book.

[Erin · Rating 1 out of 5]

ARC for review. To be published September 26, 2025.

1 star

Oh my, This anthology was bad. So bad. When I got it I thought that it was YA, only to find out it is meant for adults. It’s not. Actually, the short stories would be perfect for middle grade children if it weren’t for the bad language and references to sex, so I guess that makes it bad for everyone. I kept wanting to give up on it and I should have listened to myself.

[Obsidian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Please note that I received this book via NetGalley. This did not affect my rating or review.

I am in annual training right now and barely slept so I am going to post an overall review on the collection as a whole and will come back later to rate each story individually at a later time.

I have to say that Rose did a great job with evoking Halloween and many of the adult readers memories of horror books and short stories that shaped many of us when we were younger. She talks about "Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark" and I have told readers before how I loved that collection and how I used to scare the crap out of the neighborhood kids while reading out some of the stories.

This collection was on the whole, solid. It was a great horror anthology for young adult readers. Some of the stories thought could have been set up a bit better in my opinion since a few just seemed like they started in the middle and the author didn't even provide any backstory. I am blanking on the name of the one story that had the most egregious set-up, but it's about a bunch of teens who in essence defeated a slasher and then we jump to the ending. Nothing sets this up and the ending felt a bit odd.

One of the better stories that I loved was the one with the teen kid who got dared to go to a pumpkin field and smash some pumpkins. I thought it was perfect for the audience of this story and significantly scary.

[Lena Andrews · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't think any of them were really scary, and i was hoping they would be. I think they are more geared to a different audience than adults. There were short reads about all things we think of during spooky season. They would help you get in the mood. They would be great to read out loud around a campfire. There's lots of stories to choose from. Thank you for letting me read them.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twisted Tales to Tell in the Night: A Halloween Horror Anthology edited by Stephanie Rose and William Sterling. This anthology was inspired by Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz. The stories stick mostly to a middle grade or teenage protagonist. The horror level is not too high, but it does get higher as you read. The majority of the stories stick to the middle grade horror, with only a couple dipping into Young Adult/Adult. I feel like this book is for children who watch Halloween, Friday the 13th, and Nightmare on Elm Street with their parents. But the book is also for the parents who let their kids watch horror movies. The book has some stories from more well known authors that were asked for and open submission stories from newer authors. The authors that I knew and have read before knocked it out of the park like Brian McAuley, Clay McLeod Chapman, and William Sterling. The new authors I discovered and want to read more of are Renee Thomasin, J.A. Barrios, and V.S. Lawrence. The stories balance horror and humor very well, making this a very easy collection to read. I read Twisted Tales to Tell in the Night: A Halloween Horror Anthology thanks to Netgalley and Death by TBR Books. Twisted Tales to Tell in the Night: A Halloween Horror Anthology will be published on September 16, 2025.

Why did I read Twisted Tales to Tell in the Night: A Halloween Horror Anthology? As a kid, I loved both Goosebumps by R.L. Stine and Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz. Most of the stories take place in the 90s, which is when I was a kid, first discovering and loving horror. I saw the names Brian McAuley, Clay McLeod Chapman, and William Sterling, who I knew from various podcasts and have read short stories and blurbs from them. I've been actively trying to read more short story collections as I've started writing a few.

I'm going to rank all 18 stories from my favorite to least favorite. I will give a summary and overview of what I liked and disliked. I broke the stories down by categories of 5 stars, 4 stars, 3 stars, and 2 stars.

5-Star Stories From Favorite to Least Favorite:

YOU’RE NEVER TOO OLD FOR HALLOWEEN by BRIAN MCAULEY is about an 18-year-old who was never able to go out for Halloween thanks to his drunk mother. He has had a devil mask since he was 8, but never got to use it. Now at 18, he ignores his mother telling him he's too old and goes. This story was gleefully dark. The ending was messed up, horrifying, and oddly funny. The ending story did not let me down.

BEST FRIENDS FOREVER by RENEE THOMASIN is about Myra getting ready to go trick-or-treating with her best friend. They have always dressed together, and nothing is going to change that. This story reminded me of a Tales from the Crypt episode in the best ways. The story was creepy, and it gives the reader enough hints to be uneasy. The story could have gone a couple of ways at the end. But I was very happy with how it went. I appreciated this story more as a writer for all it held back. Everything in the story made sense as it led up to the reveal.

THE LIGHT ACROSS THE BRIDGE by J.A. BARRIOS is about a boy forbidden from celebrating Halloween. He used to, but since they moved to this new block, there are no kids. His mother says there are monsters out, and he can't leave. But he disobeys and finds that his mother did not tell the truth exactly. This story had me guessing what the truth was. The story is very clever. I like that it has a Latino protagonist. The story had a good ending that was sweet. This story is the most fitting for being a Goosebumps story.

BOOGER SUGAR by CLAY MCLEOD CHAPMAN is about a father coming up with a booger witch that is after your booger sugar when you pick your nose. The story starts innocently, then becomes real. This one feels like a Goosebumps story. The tale is both gross and hilarious, with a hint of scary. I liked this story; it was fast-paced and focused.

WE DON’T GO IN THE HOWARDS’ HOUSE by WILLIAM STERLING is about kids on Halloween going behind their parents' backs to go to a haunted house. The rumor is that a kid goes missing every year, but it might be true. The story is great at building tension. The story winks at the audience, but there are some surprises. The story has three twists, and each one keeps getting better. The horror is great, both real and fake.

SPOOK ALLEY by V.S. LAWRENCE is about a guy who is terrified of spooky alley, which is set up mainly for little kids to get scared. He had a bad experience when he was a kid. To add to the terror, kids disappear in there every year. So he looks out but doesn't enter, until he is forced to. The story sounds lame, but it was told very well. The horror was very atmospheric. There were layers to the story. On the surface, it is about a teen scared of a place that scared him as a kid. But under the surface, it is about the loss of innocence and finding oneself again. I enjoyed the story and thought he writing was clever.

4 Stars Stories From Favorite to Least Favorite:

SWEET TOOTH by AMANDA WITTMAN is about a slumber party where they play a game to summon a candy troll named Sweet Tooth. The game was set up to be a prank, but what if it is real? I liked this story; it reminded me of Goosebumps. The story was the right amount of scary for kids. It was atmospheric and took me back to being a kid. The ending was good.

LAST REQUESTS by LOUIE SULLIVAN is about a radio show hosted by Dr. Creepy. This is the last broadcast, but we don't know why. A creepy guy named Lanturn Jack calls in, who knows personal things about the host, and wants to play a game. The story reminded me a little of the movie Late Night with the Devil. The story is very well paced and creepy. I feel this story would be better expanded.

POSTS by TANYA PELL is about a worker at a haunted corn maze who has to turn all the lights off in the maze. The story nailed the claustrophobic feeling of being trapped in a maze in the dark. I like the perspective of a worker in costume, scared. The ending was way more intense than I thought. I do think the ghost in the sheet scene was the only weak part. The story was well-paced until the ghost. I enjoyed the story.

MRS. KING’S CANDY by HAYDEN ROBINSON is about a boy who trick-or-treats at a mysterious house. The boy is crying when he approaches. He is crying because his parents eat all his Halloween candy every year. The woman says her candy is special. No one can take it unless you want them. The story is heartwarming in a messed-up way. The story is a little slow. I enjoyed it for the most part.

ALL HARROWS’ EVE by JEFF C. CARTER is about a group of kids who are trick-or-treating. Some of the kids are injured. It is hinted that they survived an ordeal. Or are they in one? I think the story is good. I would have liked to know more about what they survived. The end made me laugh. The story was rapidly paced and fun. It had nice little details to it.

TRICK OF THE TREAT by NIDHEESH SAMANT is about a serial killer who kills with a machete on Halloween. He really wants to kill small children, but has to settle with horny teenagers. He finds Carl, a small child dressed as a ghost. Carl was warned about bad men; did he heed it? This story was brutal. It goes there with the killings. I thought the story was good, but I don't think it was always consistent.

3 Stars Stories From Favorite to Least Favorite:

WITCH APOTHECARY by MORGAN BRICENO is about a woman who owns a witch store. It is very cliché. A real witch visits and is appalled and curses her. The reader finds out the curse was at the end of the story, which was too long. I liked the imagery and the language of the story. The imagery did give me some chills. I thought the story could have been tighter.

THE CRAVING by M.K. HEWITT is a story of a girl eating a candy that said not to eat it. A candy that she can't remember receiving. She eats it and develops a hunger that is all-consuming. The story is okay. Just when it was getting interesting, it ended. I felt the story was trying to say more, but I couldn't figure out what it was trying to say. So others might get more out of the story than I did.

THE PUMPKIN PATCH POLTERGEIST by ANTHONY MICHAEL MURPHY is about Declan, a young middle schooler who is dared to smash pumpkins at a pumpkin patch that is rumored to be haunted. He is nervous about it and looking to smash one. He trips and breaks one, and feels an otherworldly presence that attacks him. He got out alive but left his bike behind. Does he dare go back? The story was okay. I did like the ending. I did like the atmosphere of the quiet, dark pumpkin patch. The bully that egged it on was really annoying and very one-note. For a short story, it felt long.

2 Stars Stories From Favorite to Least Favorite:

THE BEST HALLOWEEN by DANA GRICKEN is about a vampire ready to feast on Halloween. He is happy to finally be his self, but he gets mistaken for a Halloween animatronic on the loose. The story is meant to be funny and doesn't always land. The story is unique and did not go the way I expected. The story was just okay.

MORGANA MACABRE’S HALLOWEEN SPECIAL by WENDY DALRYMPLE is a story about two fans of Morgana Macabre, an Elvira-like movie host. The movie is lame, but after the movie, things get real as the killer from the movie tries to kill Morgana. But like the killer coming through the screen, it allows Morgana through their screen. The story felt like a mash-up of horror tropes with nothing original. The story did take me back to watching Up All Night with Rhonda Sheer as host when I was a kid. I appreciated the small details about the costumes, which really painted a picture.

THE PANTHERA PROJECT by LAWRENCE VERNON is about an animal that is loose with alien DNA infused. The story reminded me of a Dean Koontz story in the worst ways. The story was very paint-by-numbers. The tension between the creature and the car was the best scene by far. The story felt very long.

Recommendation: Twisted Tales to Tell in the Night: A Halloween Horror Anthology is fun and horror-filled. The stories nailed the '90s culture and did not take themselves too seriously. All the stories were easy to read and easy to picture what was going on. I recommend this for readers who grew up reading Goosebumps and Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. I also recommend this book to discover new voices in horror. Death by TBR Books is fairly new and seems like a fun new voice in horror. I will read more from them in the future.

Rating: Twisted Tales to Tell in the Night: A Halloween Horror Anthology edited by Stephanie Rose and William Sterling. I rated a solid 4.0 out of 5.

[Ash · Rating 4 out of 5]

🎃 Twisted Tales To Tell in The Night: A Halloween Horror Anthology 🎃

I was so stoked to snag this from NetGalley! This was a highly anticipated read for my 2025 release tbr and it did not disappoint 🙌🏻

This was such a fun, nostalgic collection of Halloween-Themed horror stories to get you in the mood for the holiday season. And as several of these stories reflected, Halloween is not just a holiday for some of us—it’s a lifestyle. I can definitely say all of the authors in this collection accurately represented that.

Many of us grew up on Goosebumps, Are You Afraid of The Dark, Scary Stories To Tell In The Night, The X-files, Unsolved Mysteries, and more. These stories pay homage to the spooky shows and books that raised us, all while creating their own unique scares. For instance, Booger Sugar 👃… I’m looking at you Clay McLeod Chapman. 👀

Pick this up when it releases next month, September 16th!

[Cole Chartier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Death by TBR Books, Stephanie Rose & William Sterling, and NetGalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

With spooky season creeping closer, this collection was the perfect way to summon that deliciously eerie mood. Each tale carried its own dark magic—some whispering chills, others sending full-body shivers—and together they wove into a hauntingly beautiful tapestry of terror. More than once, I caught myself glancing over my shoulder, wondering if something had followed me out of the pages… and maybe leaving the hall light on, just in case.

I picked this up because I spotted Brian McAuley among the authors, but I was delighted to discover several new-to-me voices I’ll be eagerly watching in the months ahead. Each brought something fresh to the table, making this an anthology with no weak links—only spine-tingling surprises.

If you’re looking for a read to curl up with on a crisp October night, pumpkin spice in hand and shadows dancing on the walls, this is it. Just… maybe keep a blanket nearby. You know, for warmth. And for hiding from whatever’s lurking in the dark.

[Tabathareads · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great Halloween anthology this is! I loved the bite size stories that still managed to pack a serious punch. Each tale had its own scary charm, from eerie and unsettling to nostalgic and spooky, perfectly capturing that Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark vibe while adding each author’s unique twist. It’s the perfect collection to pick up when you want a quick scare or a hit of Halloween magic any time of year!

Thanks to NetGalley & Death by TBR Books for the gifted copy.

[Sarah Mclennan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so excited to get this from NetGalley and it did not disappoint.

This is such a fun, nostalgic mix of Halloween-themed horror stories, perfect for spooky season. Some of these gave me total throwback vibes — Goosebumps, Are You Afraid of the Dark, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, The X-Files — all the creepy stuff we grew up on, but with fresh twists.

There are 18 short stories and I flew through every one of them. Definitely gave me Trick ‘r Treat vibes, which I loved. Creepy, fun, and exactly what I wanted for spooky szn.

Big thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this early

[Kelsey Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the PERFECT read for spooky szn! 18 spooky short stories all packed into one anthology. I found myself flying through every creepy tale. It reminded me a bit of the movie ‘trick r’ treat’, defo had similar vibes!

My fave stories were:

The panthera project
Mrs Kings candy
Last requests
You’re never too old for Halloween

All of them were so good though. Thank you NetGalley for the arc. HIGHLY recommend!

[Jeremy Fowler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Halloween Nostalgia & Horror Excellence!

Twisted Tales to Tell in the Night is packed with bite-sized horror stories that channel the spirit of Scary Stories to Tell In the Dark! All of the stories are updated with a modern and fresh spin but harken back to a time when you were trying to scare yourself silly reading late at night! You can expect government experiments, candy nightmares, and Halloween Horror from some great authors!

What follows are my immediate thoughts upon completing each of the stories.

All Harrow’s Eve by Jeff C. Carter
- A perfect story to start this collection. It’s quick and sweet and packs a very on-brand twist that had me smiling at the page. Scary, gory, and candy-filled!
Spook Alley by VS Lawrence
- This story had me feeling claustrophobic and agoraphobic. However the setting within this story came immediately to life and I could picture each piece of this step by agonizing step!
- Perfect for the Goosebumps fans out there!
Best Friends Forever by Renee Thomason
- 😱😨😱 First of all, this was dark! This story did feel a bit more straightforward, however the even though you may guess what’s happening, the end of this story still is sure to take your breath away.
The Pumpkin Patch Poltergeist by Anthony Michael Murphy
- A solid story with a fun message/lesson. Not only is this one a creepy story, but I don’t think I’ll be looking at the inside of pumpkins the same way for a while. I almost feel like I can feel the squishy bits stuck to my fingers right now!
- Perfect for fans of Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
Witch Apothecary by Morgan Briceno
- Dark and wildly unsettling! Like something from the Fear Street Novels!
The Best Halloween by Dana Gricken
- This definitely is a change of pace and maybe tone for this collection but it came it at a great time! It’s sweet and adorable and just was a fun story. Aaa was
Morgana Macabre’s Halloween Special by Wendy Dalrymple
- A slashing good time. Perfectly meta in so many ways, and very exciting twist in this story inspired by Elvira Mistress of the Dark
Sweet Tooth by Amanda Whittman
- Who knew in 2025 we would be getting a new Bloody Mary, but instead Sweet Tooth. A creature that creeped me out so thoroughly I’ll be making sure my feet stay under the covers at night.
Posts by Tanya Pell
- The Scarecrow Walk at Midnight in a terrifying horror sequence that was gory and grotesque. I could go with several stories or a larger novel based on this novel (and I also I love Tanya Pell’s writing style)!
The Panthera Project by Lawrence Vernon
- Stranger Things mixed with Stephen King’s The Mist told in a tantalizing and quick story! It’s a whirlwind and I would love to see this world expanded!
We Don’t Go in the Howard’s House by William Sterling
- William Sterling gave me literal chills with the last paragraph of this story. It’s a little goofy, but the end gave me terror filled lungs like the Kristopher Triana or Duncan Ralston!
Booger Sugar by Clay McLeod Chapman
- If Clay McLeod Chapman writes it, I’m going to be reading it and Booger Sugar did not disappoint. This title is going to make you think it’s one thing, but this story is deranged on an entirely different level!
Mrs. King’s Candy by Hayden Robinson
- Evil and delightful! Told from the perspective of a young boy who is fed up with life, this was a unique spin. Great fun for fans of “Trick r Treat” or Josh Malerman’s Incidents Around the House!
The Light Across the Bridge by JA Barrios
- This was a totally different sort of Halloween fun! This was both unnerving but in the end very sweet.
The Craving by MK Hewitt
- My imagination ran wild with this one! The horror lies in what is happening slowly over time and then ending has me craving more of this story.
Trick of the Treat by Nidheesh Samant
- Absolutely adored this story. Very much fits the perfect Halloween spirit and I love a good twist!
Last Requests by Louie Sullivan
- Exceptionally creepy and creative! I love the radio broadcast format and then this got more and more tense until a shocking climax takes the end to the next level!
You’re Never Too Old For Halloween by Brian McAuley
- Brian McAuley the author that you ARE!! Superb and so terrifying! I loved this as the finale story. This was a resounding conclusion to an excellent collection

Settle in for some treats and prepare for the occasional trick, because this collection is sure to be a new holiday favorite for spooky season!

[Laura Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Out September 16th, 2025
This anthology is like knocking on the creepiest house on the block and getting a full-size candy bar—every story is a treat, and some are downright tricks. Edited by Stephanie Rose and William Sterling, Twisted Tales to Tell in the Night is a deliciously dark homage to the classic Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, but with fresh voices and modern twists that make it feel both nostalgic and new.
Why I Loved It:
*Perfectly Packaged Horror: Each tale is short, sharp, and spooky—ideal for late-night reading or campfire storytelling.
*Seasonal Vibes All Year: The stories drip with Halloween atmosphere, from haunted houses to cursed candy, making it feel like October no matter the calendar.
*Standout Stories: “We Don’t Go in the Howards’ House” by William Sterling gave me chills, and “You’re Never Too Old for Halloween” by Brian McAuley was surprisingly poignant.
Final Musings:
This is the kind of book you keep on your shelf and pull out every fall—or whenever you need a little fright. Whether you're a horror aficionado or just love Halloween, this anthology is a must-read. It’s scary good fun, and I’ll definitely be rereading it with the lights off.

Thank you to NetGalley and Death by TBR Books for this Spooky ARC!

[Dannie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very nostalgic for me to read! I remember reading the others when I was a child and I had to jump on it to read it when I saw it on NetGalley! It was a great collection of scary stories I got to tell to my little boy!

[Brooke McCann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this, although with most short story compilations, there are always some stories that stand out more than others. There were a couple of stories that I would've loved to have had a longer story of because they ended with me wanting to know more and left me with questions that weren't answered.

A few of my faves were:
* Best friends forever
* The Pumpkin Patch
* Trick of the Treat
* Sweet Tooth

Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced copy.

[Dave Musson · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a rough read. Aside from maybe one or two, these stories are *awful*. I’ve no idea who they’re aimed at - they’re too adult for kids, they’re too basic for adults and I imagine most YA readers have better taste.

I’ve seen a few suggestions in reviews that these tales feel AI-generated. I don’t know about that, but if this is an indication of AI fiction then I think humans are safe for a long time yet.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the review copy. Sorry I hated it.

[Ken Chappell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This delightful collection of spooky tales is a must for Halloween fans. Clay's story was so gross, I gagged while reading it. The others were nostalgic and perfect for reading around the campfire or inside on a dark and stormy night.

[Diana Mendoza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun way to start the spooky season, same formula for each story you think you know what’s going on and they all have a fun spooky twist. Easy read and enjoyable.

[Melissa Leitner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Death by TBR Books for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. This anthology was such a fun one and put me right in the mood for Halloween on Friday! Like any anthology, there are some stories I liked more than others. Booger Sugar by Clay McLeod Chapman was probably my favorite, but also the one that made me go WTF the most. Sweet Tooth by Amanda Wittman was also a standout for me. They all felt like the spooky stories I read as a kid, and the vibe was very well curated by the team of editors. I will say a couple of the stories were a bit short, and I would have liked them expanded upon just a bit. Very Halloween and clearly very inspired by Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, definitely pick this one up if you are looking for a quick read around spooky time.

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars!

Twisted Tales to Tell in the Night was a fun and nostalgic collection of horror short stories. The editor, Stephanie Rose, introduces the anthology by saying she was inspired by the classic teen horror collections of the 90s and the stories selected here really pay homage to that.

Special mention to my favourite stories:
- BEST FRIENDS FOREVER: Renee Thomasin
- MORGANA MACABRE’S HALLOWEEN SPECIAL: Wendy Dalrymple
- SWEET TOOTH: Amanda Wittman
- WE DON’T GO IN THE HOWARDS’ HOUSE: William Sterling
- MRS. KING’S CANDY: Hayden Robinson
- THE LIGHT ACROSS THE BRIDGE: J.A. Barrios
- TRICK OF THE TREAT: Nidheesh Samant
- YOU’RE NEVER TOO OLD FOR HALLOWEEN: Brian McAuley

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had a lot of fun reading this collection of stories. Very reminiscent of scary stories to tell in the dark, which hit me right in the nostalgic feels. I did find that though the book is supposed to be geared towards older demographic, teens, and middle school age, kids might be able to handle it as well. all in all, great collection

[Trisha · Rating 2 out of 5]

"You're never too old for Halloween."

This is an anthology set of Halloween and horror inspired reads. The stories, I found, were really short. I had hoped for a little more meet in the stories, something to hook me in and anticipate a twist but it never felt like there was enough story to establish a connection. I found most stories felt really silly, closer to middle grade than even YA or adult. I do love the cover and had I prepared for younger style stories, I might have liked this more but I found the younger feel and just how short they were, just wasn't for me.

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

[Shelby Hawk · Rating 1 out of 5]

This really missed the mark for me.

When you read the forward and it’s talking about ‘Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark” and “The Haunted Mask”, you get really excited for what is about to come.

But I was let down, all the stories were really weak and really clunky to me. It did read like AI was given a prompt to write as many Halloween stories as possible. None of the stories felt personal, none of the stories read like they had any heart. None of the stories had the flair of what was mentioned in the forward.

[Makenna Moffat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this book. As a kid these books were the books I would stay up all night reading, hidden underneath my blanket and reading with a flashlight. Now as an adult I find myself even more excited to read the Twisted Tales in the Night as I was back when I was a teen. The stories are magical and easily take you on a spooky trip to new realms and horrors. This is definitely a book I will be adding to my colection.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Twisted Tales to Tell in the Night: A Halloween Horror Anthology is pitched as the grown-up version of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, aiming to capture that same spooky nostalgia for readers who grew up on Alvin Schwartz, R.L. Stine, etc. The idea is great, and while a few of the stories do deliver on that promise, the collection as a whole feels uneven.

Some entries fell short for me, either ending too abruptly or leaning too heavily on clichés. That said, there were some standouts. I especially enjoyed "The Craving," which I honestly wished had been fleshed out into a longer novella. The stronger stories prove there’s solid potential here, even if others didn’t leave much of an impression.

Overall, it’s a quick, easy read and a fine way to get into the Halloween spirit. Nothing groundbreaking or game-changing here, but if you’re looking for bite-sized chills to dip into during spooky season, this anthology might scratch that itch.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Shantel (Nixy) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was such a fun anthology. There was definitely some nostalgic vibes and there are some things that I absolutely miss from childhood Halloween. I wish there were still ways to feel these vibes now as an adult and the closest I can get is reading books like this. I do wish I could rate this higher but some of the stores just fell short for me but I do appreciate all the work that was put into this to give us people who love Halloween to grasp on to and cherish and feel valued. I hope that thing’s like this keeps coming out because I would still read from these authors it’s just some of the stories were not a fav.

[Sarah Stubbs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun variety!

[Anna Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who spent a good portion of their childhood reading ghost stories and all of Alvin Schwartz's "Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark" short stories, this anthology sent pangs of nostalgia straight through my heart. A wide variety of stories that made me feel as if it was a cold, chilly autumn night, I'm a kid again, tucked under my covers with a flashlight reading something that *just* infringes on the line of being "too spooky."

When I first got accepted to read this arc I was *stoked* like a kid in a candy store. I loved the approach that the many authors took while writing. Short stories that are reminiscent of the ones you read as a kid but leaning more towards adult content when it came to descriptions. Though, I'm usually not a *huge* fan of short story collections, I feel as if this one had enough nostalgia to keep me interested all throughout the book. I highly recommend giving this one a read if you're missing the feeling of experiencing Halloween as a kid again.

Thank you NetGalley for sending me an eBook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

[Krista · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twisted Tales to Tell in the Night features a diverse ensemble of contributing authors, spooky illustrations throughout, and an especially haunting homage Stephen Gammell's "Scary Stories" illustrations by the awesome Andy Sciazko. I met Andy last year at a Ghosts of Christmas Past market in Sacramento and absolutely loved his art and illustrations, so I was excited to see him be a part of this project from the cover. (I even ended up supporting his and and Jake Tri's Nightmare Soup kickstarter, which I highly recommend if you are drawn to this fascinatingly unsettling style of illustration!) Some stories in Twisted Tales were well worth including for their writing, chills, and thrills. A few of my favorites of these short stories were "All that Glitters", "Gaming", "Haunted Heist", "Twisted Ending", and "Last Requests". I enjoyed the humor and amusement throughout many of these stories that buoyed the heaviness of the darker ones. Some stories fell flat for me, such as "Mrs. King's Candy" and many of the stories involving brides (I counted at least three). The most common theme in this collection was that of encounters with a ghost, or even the twist of the main character being a ghost or ghoulish creature themselves. If this is the kind of story you enjoy, I think this collection is a delightful read for Fall! Thank you so much to Death by TBR Books, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), and NetGalley for this digital ARC in perfect timing for this year's spooky season! Happy haunting and happy reading to all who come across Twisted Tales!

[Isabella Palmisano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks Death By TBR Books and NetGalley for this ARC!

This was incredible and exactly what i needed to reignite my love for the original scary stories books. I can’t wait to read it again next month!!