The Haunted Brew

by Scarlett Luna Strange, Sarah Beran, Ashley Evercott

Pull up a chair, take a sip, and get ready to fall under the spell...

The Haunted Brew is a cozy fantasy romance anthology steeped in warmth, whimsy, and a touch of the uncanny. Within these pages, steamy espresso made by a charming elfGinger tea brewed beneath a haunted Hawaiian moonHot chocolate passed between wary hearts in a sleepy autumn townMocha sipped among monsters, war, and love
From gothic isles to clockwork cities, from retold legends to rekindled hearts, these four novellas will take you somewhere magical-- and maybe a little haunted.

Every story begins with a brew... and ends with a kiss.

Genres: Anthologies, Supernatural, Romance, Fantasy

662 pages, Paperback

Published August 26, 2025

Reviews

[Madisyn Carlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Romance, danger, plot twists, and a wild ride are brewing in this collection of four retellings. I was not expecting this much of a roller coaster when I signed up to ARC The Haunted Brew.

Four stories, four completely different plots, and four unique retellings offer something for everyone. For the animal lovers, we have the cutest animal sidekicks. For the romance readers, we have adorable couples and love confessions. For those who enjoy a bit of danger and action in their reads, you'll find that too. And for those who enjoy clean content, that's one of the main ingredients.

Elves and Expresso by Scarlett Luna Strange features a spider as an animal companion, something I never see in books. While a family member may disagree with me, I found the little (or not so little) arachnid to be adorable. Aleixo's reaction to this cute sidekick was quite amusing.

Ghosts and Ginger Tea by Leialoha Humpherys takes a unique Hawaiian legend and spins it into historical fantasy. The worldbuilding was fascinating, the owl companion adorable (I want an owl, you all), and the history behind it all quite interesting.

Horsemen and Hot Chocolate retells a legend I never imagined could be retold. After all, how can one cleanly retell The Legend of Sleepy Hollow? Ashley Evercott knocked this one out of the proverbial park, and I forewent some of my deadlines just so I could finish the story. There's nothing gruesome or icky about this retelling. Instead, we are delivered perseverance, past regrets, loyalty, and family---a tale as sweet as the hot chocolate served within its pages. And Smudge. We mustn't forget that snuggable little kitty.

Monsters and Mocha by Sarah Beran may be last, but it's certainly not least. I'll preface this by saying Frankenstein is not my favorite classic, nor am I usually keen on steampunk. But I'll happily pick up any steampunk story by Beran. We have an over-caffeinated medical intern, a military captain who's not all there (iykyk), an avian companion that walks the line between kleptomania and good behavior, and a bevy of secondary characters, some of whom are used to create plot twists you'll never expect. More stories in this world, please. (Reader will pay by coffee if necessary.)

Some like unusual tales. Some like a bit of creepy factor. Others like unique takes on classics. No matter your preference, The Haunted Brew has something for you. Fantasy, historical fantasy, and steampunk create an unlikely blend that will leave you wanting more.

*I received an ARC of this book from the authors in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This review can also be found on my blog: https://madismusingsblog.wordpress.co...

[emeraldragonlady (Maddie) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Haunted Brew

This is such a perfect collection!! This is a perfect read for those looking some Halloween vibes in books and each story gets gradually more thrilling, and each has just a touch of romance. So it stays true to the creepy.
Checkout below for the stories individual reviews and trigger warnings.

Elves & Espresso by Scarlett Luna Strange

Review: so I first started reading this book as I was getting settled into bed. Then a creepy shock which made me shut the book and go “I should not read this before bed”!
I really laughed the next day when I restarted it & binge read it. It was a great romantic thriller with that cozy hea!
Triggers: kidnapping; being chased/hunted down; attempted murder

Ghosts & Ginger Tea by Leialoha Humphreys

Review: this was beautiful retelling of a Hawaiian story about the Nightmarchers. I have not heard this story but I love that there’s a brief overview of the original story.
I must be a sucker for cultural stories because I love hearing my heritage stories. Including the scary ones. But I didn’t find this scary. It was thrilling trying to figure out the riddle. But this was such a beautiful story!! I fell in love with it instantly.
Triggers: mentions of alcohol addiction; murder (no graphic description); death of a parent

Horsemen & Hot Chocolate by Ashley Evercott

Review: this one is my favorite!! I have always loved the Legend of Sleepy Hollow. It is truly fascinating. But what if the headless horseman was more than a stalker in the night preying on those crossing the bridge. This was the best answer to that riddle!! I will forever consider this “cannon” the legend.
Triggers: warfare; death of comrades; characters suffering from ptsd

Monsters & Mocha by Sarah Beran

Review: now this one was definitely the scariest of the bunch. But it was soo good. I couldn’t put it down. This is considered a Frankenstein retelling but it felt like I had looked through and alternate reality mirror and was reading what happened before Dr Fransten created Frankenstein. I absolutely love the magical aspect in this book and makes me wish we had healers like this. This was great imaginative and thrilling book.
Triggers: Medical descriptions; attempted murder; Off-page amputation; kidnapping; discussions of warfare & ptsd

[Britt Galbraith · Rating 5 out of 5]

1. Elves & Expresso is the first story in the Haunted Brew Anthology.
Expect:
🧡 Accidental betrothal to a stranger
🧡 Elf & Human love story
🧡 Trying to outrun death
🧡 Forbidden love (he isn’t even allowed in her realm)
🧡 Pet jumping spider

Aleixo is the cutest MMC. Lost in an unfamiliar realm and totally confused, he maintains a sense of humor. He is cheerful, curious, and swoony even in the most frightening circumstances. 🥰 Calista is fierce, determined, and kickbutt. In addition to making a good espresso- she is full of surprises. 🧝‍♀️ I never thought I’d become obsessed with a talking pet spider in a story- but here we are. So cute. Seriously.

💋 Kisses only
🚫 No profanity
⚔️ PG violence (kidnapping, being hunted by an evil villain, attempted murder, self-defense causing a death) No gore or graphic details.


2. Ghosts & Ginger Tea is the second story. Based on the tradition of the Night Marchers in Hawaiian culture, this story absolutely captured my imagination and my heart. ❤️Full of riddles, mysteries, curses, secrets, and ghosts - this love story was impossible to put down. It will haunt me forever in the best way. And the love story. Oh my goodness, I don’t have words. I loved it so much. It was so beautiful. 🥰

Even though this is a ghost story 👻, it is not specifically Halloween tale. Also, it feels much more profound and epic than just a spooky story, perhaps because the ghosts have meaning and purpose. And maybe one was super handsome… 😉

If you enjoy love stories with higher stakes (life and death situations) and a bit of the supernatural, this story is for you!

Expect:
❤️Marriage of convenience (sort of… it’s complicated and a bit more dangerous)
❤️ MMC = king
❤️ FMC = Commoner
❤️ Happy ending (although there were tears along the way and not just from the characters. Yes, I cried. 🥹
💋 Kisses only. Other content: MMC shirtless for swimming. After their marriage, he helps her loosen her corset but nothing more. Modesty is preserved. No fade to black scenes.)
🚫 No profanity
⚔️ Murder, war, parent death, parent dunkenness, ghosts, curses, minor mention of blood (no gore, no graphic detail).



3. Horsemen and Hot Chocolate is the third story in The Haunted Brew.

Full of mystery and longing, this story is based on the legend of the Headless Horseman and Ichabod Crane. I absolutely loved getting to read a romantic story about the Headless Horseman and learn the mystery of how he came to be. I don’t want to give away any spoilers - but this love story is as sweet and satisfying as hot chocolate. ☕️

Expect:
❤️ Forget forbidden love - this is impossible love
❤️ Mystery (the mystery is so good)
❤️ Yearning (swoon)
❤️ Protective MMC
❤️ Happy ending
💋 Kisses only
⚔️ Violence: a scene with a battle from the revolutionary war (muskets, bayonets, blood)

Content: A headless horseman, Revolutionary War, PTSD, loss of loved ones to battle, sickness of the lungs, a curse



4. Mocha and Monsters is the fourth and final story in The Haunted Brew. Based off of the tale of Frankenstein, this book explores the boundaries and ethics of magic and medicine, while delivering an unforgettable love story. I absolutely adored the romance between Fitz and Darby. Both have a hilarious sense of humor (sometimes punny, sometimes a tad dark- but always funny). Their banter was delightful. The side characters were the best. I loved them!

Expect:
❤️ Same vibes as Frankenstein but with a happy ending (and more heroes)
❤️ Funny banter
❤️ A talking crow named Raven. Yes, really. AND he nearly stole the show. Definitely one of my favorite characters.
🚫 No profanity
⚔️ Battle with guns and explosives, casualties and fatalities from the battle, surgery, experimental medicine merging magic and engineering, poisoning, wounds with blood, amputations, stabbing, stitching, kidnapping, torture, mistreated prisoners of war, and attempted murder.
NOTE: If you get queasy with blood or unethical grotesque experiments on people (living and nonliving), you’ve been warned. Chapters 18 was a tough read for me and I almost joined the characters who barfed at the icky sights.

[Megan Barnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an absolute treat of a read! The Haunted Brew is such a fun, unique compilation of stories that blend the slightly spooky with the utterly heartwarming. Each tale had its own flavor — but all were not only mysterious and magical, but also cozy and full of charm. It’s hard to pick a favorite as they were all so good.

Every author kept my attention from start to finish. The characters were likable, the plots flowed beautifully, and not once did I feel the pacing drag. I was hooked from page one and didn’t want to put it down. Each story kept me on my toes needing to see what happened next.

This collection feels like curling up with a warm spice tea on a crisp fall night — a little eerie, a little whimsical, and a whole lot of fun. Perfect fall reading!

Read if you like:
☕ Cozy, slightly spooky vibes
🧙‍♀️ brews and bits of magic
💀 Haunted-but-heartwarming tales
🍂 Autumn aesthetics
🏠 found-family

Spice: none
Language: none
Violence: light in most stories, medical and scientific depictions in Mocha and Monsters

[Sierra · Rating 5 out of 5]

*each story is 5 stars

*each story can be read on their own as they don’t connect

*each story has a summary of the original tale before the retelling

*each story has a cozy to spooky rating beforehand with some triggers listed in case the story isn’t a person’s cup of tea

1. Elves and Espresso by Scarlett Luna Strange

The Enchanted Maiden Retelling (Portuguese)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 stars)

Reader’s Notes:

– this is told from Calista’s point of view

-there is a spider friend who hangs out with Calista (mentioned in most of the story)

Review:

I really enjoyed this story! I’d never heard of it before reading this so I loved that a summary of the tale was included before we even read the retelling written by Scarlett Luna Strange. I also really liked that it was mentioned where the retelling story does/doesn’t follow right after the original tale summary is given as well as some commentary on it!

As for more on Scarlett Luna Strange’s Elves and Espresso story, I loved getting to know the world Calista lives/works in and how the tale was woven into it as well. I loved the unexpectedness of different things about her love interest Alexio’s character and how sweet they were together.

2. Ghosts and Ginger Tea by Leialoha Humpherys

The Night Marchers Retelling (Hawaiian)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 stars)

Reader’s Notes:

– this is told from Oli’s point of view

-it is mentioned that a character’s parent had been addicted to alcohol prior to passing (passed before the beginning of the story)

-it is mentioned that a character’s parent passes due to sickness (during the story/past event)

-it is mentioned that a character had been murdered

Review:

I hadn’t heard of this tale either before reading this book, but I loved it! I wasn’t sure who Oli could/couldn’t trust but I was pretty sure I knew who the murderer was soon after meeting them (thankfully 😂😅). I loved that Oli slowly fell for Keanu but was also fighting it due to their unconventional marriage of convenience and not knowing how he felt towards her. I also loved that Leialoha Humpherys mixed in some true Hawaiian history into her story (and gave us the facts she used at the end)!

3. Horsemen and Hot Chocolate by Ashley Evercott

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow Retelling

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 stars)

Reader’s Notes:

– this is told from Katrina & the Horseman’s points of view

-it is mentioned that someone close to a character passed and the character still grieves them and regrets their last moments together

-there are mentions of characters having been in battles/war & deaths as well as ptsd resulting from it (past events)

Review:

This was so good! It’s the first story I’ve read by Ashley Evercott and I’m excited to try out her other books when I get a chance to!

I loved the spin she placed on the original tale and that a bit of United States history was mixed in. I really liked seeing Katrina and the Horseman together! I loved learning about the Horseman more and more as the story progressed. I was thrilled when a chapter from the Horseman’s point of view came up as I was curious what he was thinking of his situation and of Katrina!

4. Monsters and Mocha by Sarah Beran

Frankenstein Retelling

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 stars)

Reader’s Notes:

– this is told from Darby & Fitz’s points of view

-there is war occurring during the story so there are some mentions of injuries, deaths, & ptsd due to it

-Darby works in the hospital so she deals with the severe injuries from the war; there are some mentions of seeing them as well as amputations/trying to fix them (occurring off page with seeing the results of it in the next scene)

-there is a kidnapping

-there is an attempted murder

Review:

This is the only story that I already knew beforehand and I had a lot of fun trying to figure out which characters were being who from the original tale (I thought I had them down and the something would happen to make me rethink it).

I loved getting to know this world that Darby & Fitz were living in and how their world’s magic worked. It was very interesting! I loved the development of Darby & Fitz’s relationship and the friendships they formed/had with some of the other characters in the story. I especially loved Raven and what he’d do! 😂

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I give this 4 1/2 Stars!

I want to start by saying I received an ARC of this book. This is an anthology with four clean fantasy retellings like you have never seen before. These books are perfect for spooky season. I have never read books by these authors so I was excited to be able to ARC read this. I was not disappointed. Each book has trigger warnings and ranges from cozy to spooky. Now, read on for my reviews of each story. The first story is Elves and Espressos by Scarlett Luna Strange. This story is a retelling of The Enchanted Maiden which I have never heard of before. I loved how the author gave you some of the Enchanted Maiden to read so you can know what to expect in ways. The main characters are Alexio who is a human and Calista who is an elf. I loved both of the characters. I found Alexio to be a sweetheart. I loved watching them fall in love. I love how they faced everything together. Calista has two choices so which one will she choose? Will she give in and marry Alexio? I loved the banter between them that made the book even better.
The second story is Ghosts and Ginger Tea by Leialoha Humphrey’s. This story is a retelling of The Legend of the Huaka’i Pō which I have never heard of before. Like the previous story the author gave you information on it so you could know more about it. The main characters are Keanu and Oli. Oli is looking for medicine for her mother when she runs into the Night Marchers. What will she do? She ends up married to the Chief King Keanu. I found Keanu and Oli to be amazing together. I loved watching them fall in love. Will they stay married to each other? I would say this is marriage of convenience which I normally am not crazy about but I loved this. The third story is Horseman and Hot Chocolate by Ashley Evercott. This story is a retelling of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow which I have heard of but it has been a long time. Thankfully, I was given a reminder at the beginning of the story. I was excited and curious about this book wondering how she would write it. The main characters are Willem and Katrina. They were an amazing couple. Katrina has set out to find her brother. Will she find him? This story had historical aspects to it which I loved. I also love a good protective MMC and that is what we got in this story. I think this was a great retelling of Sleepy Hollow. The fourth and final story is Mocha and Monsters by Sarah Beran. This story is a retelling of Frankenstein which I was very excited about. Most people are familiar with Frankenstein but if you aren’t the author gives you some information before you start the story. The main characters are Fitz and Darby. I loved them together. Watching them fall in love was amazing. The banter was great. This was a more gory book than the others so be warned. I do believe the author did a great job with this retelling though. I wanted to give a little reminder to read the trigger warnings before reading these stories. Also, I recommend reading other reviews as people have different opinions. Some of these books had gore while some didn’t. These stories may not be for everyone.
The trigger warnings for Elves and Espresso are Kidnapping, being chased/hunted, and attempted murder. Trigger warnings for Ghosts and Ginger Tea are mentions of alcohol addiction, murder (no graphic details), and death of a parent.
The trigger warnings for the Horseman and Hot Chocolate are warfare, death of comrades, and characters suffering from PTSD.
The trigger warnings for Monsters and Mocha are medical descriptions, attempted murder, off-page amputation, kidnapping, and discussions of warfare and PTSD.

[One Last Petal Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Haunted Brew anthology is a collection of four deliciously moody stories full of fall vibes and poignant romances. While each is unique, they all are sweet and thought-provoking. I especially enjoyed the short summaries of each original tale, told in each author’s unique voice.

Scarlett Luna Strange’s “Elves and Espresso” is inspired by the Portuguese tale, “The Enchanted Maiden.”
Java’s life gets upended when Aleixo, a clueless human accidentally proposes to her, followed immediately by a demand for her hand by the fearsome Realm Guard. Java and Aleixo go on the run and romance builds as they learn to trust each other amid a whimsical world of strange creatures and riddles. But don’t forget to stop for an espresso along the way. It’s vital for traipsing through the woods.
This story was cute and quirky. The whimsical elements reminded me of Wonderland. Dewdrop was my favorite and I wanted more of her spidery self.

A couple of sweet kisses only
No swearing
On page non-descriptive death - self-defence

“Ghosts and Ginger Tea” by Leialoha Humpherys is based on a Hawaiian tale, “Huaka’i Po,” the night marchers.
Oli is on a desperate mission to find medicine for her ailing mother when she first encounters the night marchers, a meeting that will change her life forever. A bargain finds her wed to a chief king, Keanu. But betrayals and impending war put them all at risk, and Oli must find her faith before she can find love. And a quiet cup of ginger tea might be just the thing to help love bloom.
The tone was moody and atmospheric while the story stayed sweet and cozy. I loved the Hawaiian lore and how Oli had to learn to trust she was loveable. Keanu was sweet and he had the funniest endearments that always cracked me up.

Chaste kisses. “Only one bed” but no cuddling or even touching.
No swearing
Some injuries and mention of death. Not descriptive

“Horsemen and Hot Chocolate” by Ashley Evercott is a continuation of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” that starts the evening before Ichabod Crane disappears and follows Katrina’s search for her brother and the truth behind the headless horseman. A shared cup of the perfect hot chocolate helps bring these two together.
I adore Evercott’s writing and this story did not disappoint with a delightful historical tone paired with a cozy autumn vibe. Full of swoony moments, heartfelt connections, and all the hot chocolate, it’s perfect for a quiet fall read.

Swoony kisses
No swearing
Mention of war, brief descriptions of battle, loss

Sarah Beran’s “Monsters and Mocha” retelling of Frankenstein is the perfect conclusion to this anthology. I love the steampunk world Beran has created that is perfectly suited to a tale of bodybuilding.
Darby is a brilliant and determined medical intern who doesn’t believe a soldier who jumped on a grenade to save his men deserves to die. She performs an impossible surgery and saves him from the brink of death. But their troubles don’t stop there. Thankfully, there’s always a mocha to make things better.
While this story may have more darker moments that we typically see from Beran, it is still full of the light and hope we love from her. The romance is perfect, the lore is amazing, and the message heartfelt.

Adorable swoony kisses
No swearing
Minor battle and medical descriptions, not gory. A corpse.

If you’re looking for the perfect book to read alongside your favorite fall beverage, this is the collection for you!

[funkelbunt.liest · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not a fan of Halloween and really don’t like scary books and movies. But since I have read and enjoyed several books by three of the authors and already wanted to read a book by the fourth, I wanted to give this collection a try.

It’s a collection of four completely different retellings. They all start with a different hot beverage, are spooky but in a … cozy way? and have a sweet and swoony romance.

And what can I say? - I was actually surprised by how much I enjoyed this anthology!

Elves and Espresso by Scarlett Luna Strange probably came the closest to what I am used to as a lover of fairy tales and fairy tale retellings. Calista and Alexio were adorable. Alexio was so sweet and funny. I mean I would be more than confused, I would be terrified! But he seems only worried about Calista and the banter between them was perfect. The world building was quite intriguing, I would love to read more from this world!

Ghosts and Ginger Tea by Leialoha Humpherys is probably the scariest of the four, although this is of course subjective up to a point. It’s a mix between historical fiction and fantasy based on a Hawaiian legend and I really loved the setting. This was quite a unique and fascinating read with a riddle to solve and a marriage of convenience which - of course - turned into a sweet and real love story!

Horseman and Hot Chocolate by Ashley Evercott surprised me the most, because - don’t judge - I hate the Sleepy Hollow movie. (Haven’t watched it in over 15 years, but since I’ve gotten even more sensitive when it comes to anything horror related, I’m pretty sure I still would hate it.) But - I loved this version of the story. The romance was so sweet and just perfect. I loved the characters and that Katrina fell in love with the horseman not because of his looks (haha). This is actually a story that made me cry and swoon and was just pretty much perfect.

Monsters and Mocha is in some way not what I am used to by Sarah Beran and in other ways is especially what you can expect from her. I loved it! I will never read the original Frankenstein but now I feel somehow really well-read. :D I have said it before, I could actually read a whole book only with summaries of fairy tales and classics by Sarah Beran. She always manages to entertain as well as educate me.
This story is definitely creepy but it’s also really funny. I immediately loved Darby and her sense of humor. Fitz was also amazing as were the side characters. This is such a unique mix and I enjoyed it a lot!

Definitely recommend checking this anthology out for a cozy fall reading session. (The stories come with content warnings and a level of spookiness, so just choose the one that feel comfortable, but from a scaredy cat - I had no problems with nightmares, just with going to sleep because I couldn’t stop reading!)

* Thank you to the authors for letting me read an advanced copy of this book. I leave this review voluntarily and the expressed opinions are my own.

[Bri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great anthology! Perfect for those who are looking for a spooky atmospheric read for the fall! There are a couple more obscure tales retold, but don't worry! The authors each recap their stories at the beginning of each book. Side note: I really need Scarlett Luna Strange and/or Sarah Beran to make a book of fairy tales told in the style of their recaps, because they were brilliant and funny, and I particularly enjoyed them.

Elves and Esspresso: This is a retelling of the first part of The Enchanted Maiden, so if you like obscure fairy tales, this one might be for you. While it was a bit spooky, it was also very cute, with an unexpected engagement and forced proximity. I love how the Calista falls in love slowly. (Mild spoiler) There was also a laugh out loud moment (for me anyway) where the hero and the villain stop in the middle of a sword fight (dagger fight?) to look over the fine print of a contract. This was probably the coziest of the stories in the anthology.

Ghosts and Ginger Tea: This one is based on a Hawaiian myth and is steeped (pun intended) in Hawaiian history and culture, making it a fascinating read for someone who is looking for fantasy without the standard European bent. I loved all the pet names Keanu had for Oliana! There's also a mystery of who killed the titular ghost to keep you guessing!

Horsemen and Hot Chocolate: I would describe this one as historical fantasy. I am not a big fan of historical fiction (not enough magic lol), but this story brought the horror of war and emotional impact of history (and the Revolutionary War in particular) to life better than the few pure historical fictions I've read. Katrina and Willem are so cute and wholesome! Ashley Evercott did an amazing job of keeping the original story completely intact while telling a new story where nothing is what you expect it to be!

Monsters and Mocha: This steampunk fantasy retelling of Frankenstein is not for the faint of heart. While the romance is very sweet, there are descriptions of medical procedures and war time injuries that you may want to skip if you are squeamish. This took Frankenstein in a very different direction while still keeping the themes of the original story. What makes a man, and what makes a monster? Who are we to play God, and where's the limit on how far we should go? Fitz and Darby are great together, and I love their matching sense of humor! Also, Raven is a good bird.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Haunted brew was a riveting collection of retellings. Each ranging from cozy to spooky stories. Perfect reads for Fall and Halloween! I love how unique and intriguing each novella was. The authors did a fantastic job of weaving the drinks from the titles in their novella. I did not find the stories scary but full of suspense. Each story had me glued to the plot as I wanted to find out what happened! All the stories were no spice with swoony kisses only.

☕️Elves and Expresso☕️
This one made me laugh 😂 Alexio and Calista were hilarious! Oh my word, their banter was fantastic! Their adventure together was action pact with many twists and turns. I loved how their relationship developed as well. So many sweet and swoony moments. The world building was well done and I cannot wait to read more in the realm of Wylionis.

favorite quote, “I’m trying to have a moment of evil terror here, and I’ll not have that ruined!”

🫖Ghosts and Ginger Tea🫖
This was a fascinating tale based on the Hawaiian legend of Huaka’i Pō, the Night marchers. I loved this one! The mystery was intriguing and suspenseful! I read this one quickly to find out who the murder was! One of my favorite parts was Keanu’s nicknames for Oli, such as “Moon of my tide.” Swoon!

☕️Horseman and Hot Chocolate☕️
I have never read a retelling of Sleepy Hollow before and this novella quickly captured my attention! The suspenseful plot had me glued to the pages. Katrina and Horseman’s journey of moving on from grief and regret was heartwarming. Also, I am a huge history nerd and especially love the American Revolution. The attention to historical detail was well done. I loved the mixture of fantasy in a more historical setting.

Favorite quote, “You have this glow,” he said, gesturing a palm in a circular motion in her direction. “A… soft radiance I cannot ignore. Since I laid eyes on you, I’ve been unable to turn away.”

☕️Monsters and Mocha☕️
Steampunk isn’t a genre I normally read, but this one capture my attention. It was a unique twist on Frankenstein. The mixture of science and magic was a fascinating aspect of the story. The world building was well done. There were twists and turns that I did not see coming. Darby was admirable and always willing to help others. She and Fritz had great banter. I love how Beran incorporated faith elements throughout the story. It was well done!

I volunteered to read an ARC copy of the book and all thoughts are my own.

[Kayt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this entire anthology from start to finish. The cups of coffee with the spooky ratings were super cute and awesome and also gave the readers warning to avoid certain triggers should they need to do so. My personal feeling is that all 4 of these authors should dip their pens into the spooky ink more often because all of these short stories were unique, fantastically well-written and riveting. I've long been a fan of Sarah Beran and I've enjoyed some of Scarlett and Leialoha's books (I haven't read that many, truth be told) but this was my first introduction to Ashley Evercott and I absolutely want to read more books by her now!
Each retelling had an overview of the original story in the beginning (Scarlett's made me laugh so hard that I read it aloud to a friend via voice notes) which lent a nice foundation to the stories for those of us who haven't read the original, and each story had just the right smattering of swoony romance scattered within the spooky! All in all, this group of authors is one that should DEFINITELY write another anthology together, cause OH WOW!
I loved how each story could be read on its own and it was the perfect palate cleanser between longer books, but if you read the anthology as a whole like I did it doesn't get too heavy (I was worried about that with the spooky aspect.)
This is a perfect book for Halloween but also for anytime of the year, cause let's face it: you can't go wrong with a little touch of Scarlett, Sarah, Leialoha and Ashley and the four of them together is literally the perfect brew!

[Nic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haunted Brew Anthology ARC Review

*I received this ARC voluntarily and all thoughts are my own*

These four stories are full of coziness with a dash of spooky. They were so much fun to read! No spice, no language, PG violence/gore) These are great reads for any age!

Elves and Espresso by Scarlett Luna Strange is inspired by The Enchanted Maiden. This was a whimsical tale full of great banter!

Ghosts and Ginger Tea by Leialoha Humphreys is a retelling of Huaka’i Pō (The Night Marchers). The Hawaiian culture signs through and it’s so fun to see. The all-round tension in this story is top notch!

Horsemen and Hot Chocolate by Ashley Evercott is a retelling of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (The Headless Horsemen). This is the cutest, sweetest story! Our two main characters are adorable and so well rounded.

Monsters and Mocha by Sarah Beran is inspired by Frankenstein. This story was so clever! The way it mixed science and magic was well done. The grumpy sunshine vibes will make you swoon!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Love love love the bookl This book gave me all the feels! I laughed, cried, put the book in time out when it upset me. I can't stop thinking about this book.

[Adrianja · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elves and Espresso
My second book by this author! It was a nice quick paced story set in her unique fantasy world! I liked the FMC's growing relationship with her unwanted fiance :)

Ghosts and Ginger tea
It's an interesting look at Hawaiian mythology, culture, and history. I was unfamiliar with traditional Hawaiian beliefs and they are very prominent in the story. I really liked the relationship that develops between the FMC and the chief as they learn what trust is!

Horsemen and Hot Chocolate
My first by this author! I really enjoyed the relationship between Katrina and the headless horseman. Super sweet and I loved the wrap up as it followed up on their happily ever after :)

Monsters and Mocha
Oh my gosh! I just love every book by Sarah Beran. She masterfully manages to take a creepy tale with lots of deaths (Frankenstein) and retells it in a way that is still spooky, but also heartwarming and swoony!

All of the short stories have little pages of trigger warning and levels of spookiness for readers to have a heads up before they dive in! Highly recommend checking out this anthology!

[Ami Jacobs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Story #1) Elves, magic worlds and cute spiders! I thought this story had the flavor of Orpheus and Eurydice. There were several elements of the Greek myth throughout the little tale. I really enjoyed it!
Story #2) Hawaiian legend, an owl familiar, apple cider, and fated love. This enchanting story had a lot of Beauty and the Beast woven into the love story! I loved it from the first!
Story #3) The Headless Horseman with a touch of Beauty and the Beast thrown in. Also a cat sidekick and some yummy hot cocoa! I loved the twist on the classic American folk tale!
Story #4) More than a touch of Frankenstein, rivers of coffee, and a crow called Raven! I loved this one! A mystery combined with a grumpy sunshine romance. All four of these tiny tales are clean and uplifting while being well written and complete all on their own!

[Bryanna Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ARC Review✨

The four novellas in The Haunted Brew anthology were amazing! I enjoyed every single one! All four stories are unique twists on classic spooky legends and stories. The stories were the perfect blend of cozy and spooky some being a little more intense than others. Scarlett Luna Strange, Sarah Beran, Leialoha Humpherys, and Ashley Evercott all did a phenomenal job on this book and I highly recommend it!!!

The Haunted Brew anthology releases on August 26th 2025 ♥️ 🧝‍♀️ 👻 🎃 🥼

[Sabrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not one for spooky retellings but the ones in these were worth reading. Each one was clean, was not too scary, and had sweet romance. Although, Monsters and Mocha was a little bit more scarier than the others (which I will not say why because of spoilers) but that makes sense since its a retelling of Frankenstein. All in all, a perfect read for Halloween!

[K. Q. Kimler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5 stars

This was a very nice read! It’s especially nice to get through for the autumn season! Each story was very unique in its own way and I appreciate each author weaving in their own story in this wonderful anthology! However, I gave it 4.5 stars due to I feel a couple of the anthologies could’ve had better pacing, but other than that? Not a bad read!

[H.S. Kylian]

Read Horsemen and Hot Chocolate, and did so late last night when I should've been getting into bed because of today being Sunday (although considering we go to the last service I wasn't super tired). I also kind of sped-read it, and probably should re-read before I give out a proper review but...it did suck me in and so I HAD to keep reading!

[R · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't like Strange's story. Beran's was really good. Skipped the other two because I am not a fan of either author.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elves and Espresso by


I really love the author's writing. The story was engaging and suspenseful. I would definitely say it is more on the cozy side, even with the spooky vibes.

I really enjoyed Aleixo and Callista's banter. There were a lot of cute, witty lines between the pair.

There was also a looming feeling of suspense because they are being chased. Despite this, the author was able to kick in some sweet and swoony romantic moments.

The villain in this story is creepy and definitely gives the story a spooky feel.

I haven't been disappointed by this author yet, and I doubt I will. Definitely recommend this story (anthology).


Ghosts and Ginger Tea

This was a really good story. I love that this was a retelling of a lesser known (or not as commonly used) tale. I love how the author weaves her culture into her stories and shares it with us.

This story was a little sad, be warned. There is a nice ending though.

I did know who the traitor was from the beginning, but it was satisfying watching the story play out.

Keanu Is a very likable character. He is mysterious and he makes some questionable choices, but at the end of the day he has a good heart.

Oli is a great herione. She is clever, strong, and kind. It was good to see her learn to trust herself.

I like the religious allegory in the story as well.

Overall a very good read.



I am a little behind on reviews. I am sorry this one is late.

I absolutely loved this story. I will absolutely be reading this short story again. It was so touching and beautiful.

I absolutely loved the movie Sleepy Hollow when I was younger, so I was so excited to see a Headless Horseman retelling in this anthology.

It did not disappoint.

This story had everything... a spooky, suspenseful tone (at times), autumn feels, romance, family dynamics, and themes of grief, forgiveness and self-worth.

It was also beautifully written.

Katrina had such a big heart. Her willingness to help others, he ability to forgive, and her longing to avoid hurting others proves this.

This version of the Horseman was wonderfully written and I enjoyed watching them solve the mystery in the story.

I cannot recommend this story enough. If you haven't gotten your copy of the Haunted Brew yet go get it NOW...it is perfect for this time of year... (and make sure you read this story because I would give it 10 stars if I could)(or 10 piping hot cups of hot chocolate).


This story was really good. I always enjoy Sarah Beran's writing.

I enjoyed Frankenstein when I was in school and I had never read a retelling of Frankenstein, so I was really excited to read this story.

I think the author did a good job creating a retelling, keeping elements of ghe story but making it unique.

This story was definitely more heavy than the other stories in this anthology, so know that going into the story.

However, the author managed to add enough humor and romance to still give a cozy vibe.

Fitz was such a lovable MMC! Hus reaction was very realistic and his grumpiness countered Darby's quirkiness perfectly. Despite struggling and being grumpy, Fitz was still a kind, honorable man.

Darby was such a fun FMC. Her humor & quirkiness brought a lightness to shat could have been a really heavy story.

I also really lived Raven!

The banter was wonderful! The romance was great. I loved this spooky-sweet Frankenstein retelling!

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Haunted Brew (a spooky anthology)
This book contains four delightful novella-length retellings all perfect for the Halloween season. All have sweet (no spice) romance.

Horsemen and Hot Chocolate by Ashley Evercott
This was overall my favorite of the four. It's a retelling of the Headless Horseman with the Headless Horseman as the MMC so it was pretty unique to have the MFC falling for a ghost (of sorts). Really enjoyed the mystery aspect. Set after the American Revolution.

Monsters and Mocha by Sarah Beran
This one was rather different than the other books I've read by this author. The setting and vibe felt a lot more like historical fiction than fantasy to me. It's a Frankenstein retelling which made me rather hesitant to enjoy it but fortunately strays from the original a lot. The climax is very intense.

Elves and Espresso by Scarlett Luna Strange
This one is a retelling of a rather obscure fairytale that the author kindly summarizes at the beginning. Of the four it had the most traditional fantasy feel. Kept my attention quite well for having a small cast of three characters (and a jumping spider).

Ghosts and Ginger Tea by Leialoha Humphreys
This one turned out to be my least favorite of the four. It just got a bit confusing in the middle causing me to put it aside for a while. The setting is quite unqiue as it's a retelling of Hawaiian folklore but I guess just didn't resonant with me as much. Still a cool idea!