Modern Mummies: A Horror Anthology

by A.C. Bauer (Editor)

They've been dead for centuries, but all that changes right now.

Mummies are front-and-center in the second anthology from Cat Eye Press. But these aren't your typical mummy horror stories from centuries past. No, Modern Mummies takes place in the here and now, amidst the horrors of our modern world.

Follow the iconic mummy as it travels in new and exciting directions-through the watery graves of bogs, frozen wastelands, an EDM dance floor, and far beyond the boundaries of the traditional mummy trope.

Experience a 21st-century mummy unwrapping party gone awry.

Become haunted by long-dead felines.

Unravel the mysteries of modern-day mummification.

Thirteen tales featuring mummified remains await within this chilling anthology from Cat Eye Press. Are you brave enough to read them and witness what happens when ancient death meets the modern world?

Featuring stories Meg Candelaria, Mia Dalia, Kristin Dearborn, Ray DeChant, Christopher La Vigna, Carter Lappin, Jennifer Lesh Fleck, Stewart Moore, Ute Orgassa, J.R. Santos, Zach Shephard, B.F. Vega, and Morgan West-Burnham.

Genres: Horror

156 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 26, 2025

Reviews

[little blue haired old lady X · Rating 4 out of 5]

Modern Mummies: A Horror Anthology edited by A.C. Bauer features various short stories on mummies in modern society.

Bound by Love by Stewart Moore explores a relationship between a landlord with abandonment issues and their boarder.
Going Home by Ute Orgassa reminds us that there’s no place like home.
Our Hearts a Hectacomb by J.R. Santos shows us that mummies do have a hard no.
Dead Kings, No Crowns by Christopher La Vigna shows us that mummies can keep the beat.
#Rich-Tok by B.F. Vega takes us to a gore-filled party where we may not escape.
One Hundred Dead Cats by Kristin Dearborn shows us that two out of two live cats agree that dead should stay dead.
Reanimation by Carter Lappin takes us on a journey through the ages.
Painted As a Villain by Morgan West-Burnham shows that cats may not be all that forgiving after all.
In my Little Dead Way by Jennifer Lesh Fleck explores life after death for an influencer.
Rot by Ray DeChant explores better living through mummia.
The Telltale LVAD by Meg Candelaria is a wonderful take on Edgar Allen Poe’s famous work.
Servants of Frost and Madness by Zach Shepard shows that climate change can be deadly.
By The World Forgot by Mia Dalia has a tinge of the Gift of the Magi.

This is only the second book I’ve read featuring mummies and it was delightful! As a mom of cats, the stories about cat mummies were especially fun. I was not expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did. This was a wonderful way to experience new writers and make decisions on my future reads. I appreciate the craft and thought that was put into this book and would recommend it if you’re a horror fan.

[Amanda Russell · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Thank you to NetGalley and Cat Eye Press LLC for the ARC*

This anthology is very well curated. Each story feels entirely unique, and every author put their own spin on what a "modern mummy" would be. Many stories took directions that were unexpected but completely fit the mummy in the modern world idea. Tropes that are shared between various stories, such as a mummified body retaining consciousness, are still utilized in different ways that in no way felt repetitive. I enjoyed the various nods to cats in the stories whether background characters or the narrator. I am not normally a fan of anthologies, but I enjoyed every story in this collection. I am hopeful that some of the authors have novel-length stories. If they can write such enrapturing stories in a few pages, what can they do with 100+ pages?!

Overall, I would highly recommend this anthology for horror readers that are looking for well-written mummy stories in a world that is saturated with vampires and zombies but doesn't put much love on our bandaged-wrapped baddies.

[Katie B · Rating 4 out of 5]

As with their previous anthology, Cursed Cooking, I ADORE the cover art, formatting, and inclusion of Frankie the Cat. It makes these books so much fun, and honestly, earns them an extra star.

As for the stories, they were a bit of a mixed bag this time around. With such a specific topic it's challenging to get an abundance of great, unique takes, although they did a good job mixing the traditional mummy tales with newer ones. And, admittedly, there were a few that could have used a bit more polishing, and a couple that weren't bad, but also didn't really add anything new to the mummy concept. However, there were several that were fantastic and fun! Oddly, among my favorites were the two cat mummy stories (One Hundred Dead Cats - Kristin Dearborn, and Painted As a Villain - Morgan West-Burnham) with honorable mentions to Rot - Ray DeChant, and In My Little, Dead Way - Jennifer Lesh Fleck.

Modern Mummies is a fun little read, great for lovers of creature features and supernatural horror!

*Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

They say you can't judge a book by its cover and boy does Modern Mummies prove it true! Looking at the cover, I expected mildly scary stories that would be perfect for a light horror fan such as myself. I mean, in my defense, there is a cartoon cat on the front after all. Nope. These stories were quite hair-raising to me. While each story varies in both its modernity and chilling factors, each undoubtedly qualifies as horror.

Of all the short stories presented in Modern Mummies, my favorite is Dead Kings, No Crowns because in my mind it blends ancient mummy lore with the present day. Plus, I could totally envision the story in my head as it unfolded due to the fantastic writing.

If you're a mummy fan who is tired of the same old mummy tropes or someone who has stayed away from mummy stories because you think they all happen in a museum, you owe it to yourself to pick up a copy of Modern Mummies today!

[Cat Treadwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised by this anthology - who'd have thought that Mummies, that most underrated of the horror monsters, would have such potential in modern-day stories?

Bringing the ancient into the 21st Century, this was a pleasure to read. I'm some knowledge of Egyptian mythology, which made it more fun as I connected the dots between archaeological facts, historical events (I've never been able to comprehend how mummies were originally treated by treasure-hunters!) and humanity's ongoing relationship with cats.

Plus at its core, this is about our relationship with death and the afterlife. What happens when that returns to face us? Is mummification such a crazy idea - what if it were to be revived (sorry!) as a contemporary practice?

Tremendously fun, thoughtful and more sensitive than you might expect, this is a treat that I thoroughly enjoyed unwrapping.

I was kindly sent an early copy of this book by the publisher, but the above opinions are entirely my own.

[Shireen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

This was a rather fun and interesting set of short stories, most of them loosely based on the curse of the ancient mummy trope, but with a more contemporary spin on things. Each story was a different take on some sort of mummy-type horror, from bog bodies to mummified cats to modern DJ worship cults, and they were each pretty cool. I particularly enjoyed "Going Home", "One Hundred Dead Cats", and "Servants of Frost and Madness". Most of the stories are simply written; the prose would be suitable for young adults and up, although a lot of the subject matter might be pretty gory/frightening for a younger audience, so be warned.

Thanks to NetGalley and Cat Eye Press LLC for granting me access to a free digital ARC for this book to read and review. All opinions are my own and are provided here voluntarily.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not usually a big horror reader, but I’ve always had a soft spot for mummies (thanks, Brendan Fraser!), so I was excited to give this a read.

Modern Mummies contains 13 short stories that have something for everyone—scary, tragic, satirical, beautiful. “Going Home” by Ute Orgassa is my personal favorite but I enjoyed all of them.

As someone who is not a huge fan of gore and other specific acts of violence, I especially appreciate the content warnings at the back of the book. But not to worry, there is no extreme violence for extreme violence’s sake in this book. Every story shines for its plot and characters in addition to horror elements.

This is Cat Eye Press’s second anthology. I’m excited to see what’s next!

[Ron Baumer · Rating 2 out of 5]

The premise of the book was intriguing, but the execution of the stories was not. One or two of the stories were well-written and attention grabbing, however the most were similar in storylines and poorly done in my opinion. The stories were disjointed and sometimes hard to follow. Overall, this was a quick read, but not one I would recommend to anyone.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Dan Mckeithan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great selection of modern mummy tales! Baur didn't bring us tales that we can tell our children. These are dark and creepy stories that stick with you for a long time. This anthology still uses some of the tropes of mummies, but is able to put a more modern spin on it. In a world where werewolves, vampires, and ghosts seem to take precedence, it is very refreshing to have an anthology that focuses on the mummy.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an anthology that centers around Mummies. If you like short story collections, then this is a book for you. I personally like anthologies because they help you see if you are going to like a writing style and ultimately discover a new favorite author. This particular anthology will be great to read around Halloween 🎃.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Kaylee Sharp Bauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great anthology from Cat Eye Press! All the stories were great and fit together perfectly. A.C. did a fantastic job curating an anthology with intention and the perfect flow. I highly recommend!

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

An entirely new way to look at mummies!!

These stories are bound to have you gasping and turning on the light. Each story within this anthology are well done, and will definitely keep you engaged!

A fun horror read.

[Shelby Suderman]

I love mummy horror.

Shouting out In My Little, Dead Way by Jennifer Lesh Fleck - I was cackling the whole time! 🤣

Mia Dalia’s By The World Forgot was a fascinating read. I really enjoyed the science fiction take on mummies and the self.

[Eric]

Bound by love

full review at MonsterBookClub