What Lurks: A Cryptid Anthology

by Graveside Press, Rey Revelli, Liddell Rayne

cryptid
noun
cryp·tid
plural cryptids
: an animal (such as Sasquatch or the Loch Ness Monster) that has been claimed to exist but never proven to exist by scientific means. There's no solid proof they exist … but the audio recordings and video transcripts, the old journal entries and first-hand accounts and tales passed down through the generations, the evidence can't be so easily dismissed. You'll know them by the smell of sulfur and rot, or by the steady ringing in your ears. You'll hear them knock if you don't keep that lantern in the window lit or forget to leave an offering. And if you catch it on film … don't look a second time.

Monsters that were once human … and monsters who want to be. From the deepest parts of Appalachia and the darkest parts of coastal forests, to old rail yards and your very own backyard, there's always somewhere for them to hide.

Featuring stories and illustrations by A. Atkins, Laura Barker, Hannah Birss, Alex Burnstein, Terry Campbell, Jamie Churchman, Gio Clairval, Gabrielle Contelmo, Z.D. Dochterman, Aldrian Estepa, gaast, Micah Giddens, Chrissy Gray, P. N. Harrison, R.R. Harrow, Liam Hogan, S.E. Howard, C. Charles Knight, Joshua Lim, J. Needham, J Neira, David O Mahony, Caterina Minezzi, Liddell Rayne, Frankie Regalia, Adrielle Reina, Rey Revelli, Marta Riva, Leon Saul, Brahn Smith, AM Sutter, and LR Woods.

474 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 28, 2025

Reviews

[Lisa Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

What Lurks: A Cryptid Anthology is a big book with a whopping 29 stories and some amazing interior artwork. It’s a fun and involved reading experience of cryptids and legends and folklore and terror. And let’s all take a moment to be more than a little creeped out by the cover art before we proceed.

Okay, now …

With this many stories, I’m not even going to try to mention them all. Even choosing favorites is difficult because of the impressive diversity of styles and stories. For me, this diversity is part of what made the anthology so enjoyable. In addition to engrossing takes on some of the classic cryptids, there are compelling tales of more obscure cryptids and creatures from folklore and some I had never heard of before (seriously, I had never heard of a snow wasset, and I’m now a bit terrified of the snow). I felt a few of the subjects were more creature or ghoul than cryptid (like Liddell Rayne’s “The Spectergraph,” but what a riveting read!), but I also don’t think it’s a bad thing because it shows the scope of interpretation of cryptid and cryptid origins (speaking of interesting origins, there’s Terry Campbell’s “The Teague Thing,” which twists and twists again and is ultimately terrifying).

These stories range from deeply poignant to intense intrigue to suspense and terror. The variety of styles, POVs, and cryptids makes for chilling, fascinating, and entertaining reading. It’s a great anthology for fans of cryptids as well as fans of dark folklore and creature stories. A highly recommended read.

A Bibliophilia Templum review
https://bibliophiliatemplum.wordpress.com/2025/10/12/what-lurks-a-cryptid-anthology/

[Adrielle Reina · Rating 5 out of 5]

So grateful to have been included in such a fun and frightening anthology. Wonderful stories by amazing people. 🫶🏼

[Milt Theo · Rating 5 out of 5]

"What Lurks" is the best cryptid anthology I've ever read, and I've sure read a lot of them! Such variety, and the writing is extraordinary! The editor also smartly allowed stories not only about creatures, but about entities involved in urban legends too, as well as spectral presences, and otherwise unclassifiable beings of lore and legend (of Japanese mythology, for example). Plenty of terrifying situations and disturbing imagery, creepy settings, and occasionally some incredibly original ideas! I enjoyed it immensely.

My favorites were “The Spectergraph" by Liddell Rayne, and S.E. Howard's “Pop Goes the Wasset," two totally different stories and completely opposite approaches to the theme; the first taking a passive-aggressive, subtle stance to the supernatural, the second adopting a wholly confrontational, so to speak, outlook towards the cryptid concept (and I was glad to see my (rare) first name mentioned in there as well lol) - but with such a large book (featuring 29 stories!), there's something for everyone! Some amazing illustrations too!

I received a free copy of this book via Graveside Press and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Showing my support for this grisly and gory indie press anthology. To be honest and transparent, my partner Rey Revelli's story "Den Mother" is included in the mix, and, still being honest and transparent, it's one of my favorites. My other favs are "Pop Goes the Wasset," "Out of the Woods," and "The Sounds of the Forest." Not all the stories are my cup of tea, but major props to all the contributing authors for getting their stories out there and for coming up with some bizarre and frightening creatures. Reading all of these really brought to mind some of my favorite creature features (like "Tremors," "The Ritual," "The Thing," "The Hallow," and "Creepshow" to name a few).

[David O'Mahony · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s such a joy to see my story alongside such a consistently top drawer cast of authors. There’s something for everyone in this collection, including some new creatures summoned just for the book.

[Amanda Sloan · Rating 5 out of 5]

​What Lurks: A Cryptid Anthology by Graveside Press is a collection of short horror stories featuring cryptids of all shapes, sizes, and origins. Some have previous lore attached to them, while others have come out of the authors’ imagination.

Some stand-out creatures for me include, in no particular order, a fox mother with multiple snarling, bloody mouths; an underwater tentacle monstrosity; a skeleton that sucks out brains; gigantic, rabid deer; and a creature with slits for eyes that infects you with a rattling sound.

As with most horror, our very real and human fears and traumas are explored throughout What Lurks.

​Many of the stories are tales of resilience and revenge. Domestic violence and shitty men take centre stage more than once, with cryptids empowering women to take back control, often resulting in dead husbands and newfound freedom.

​I also loved that there were multiple drawings and paintings depicting inventive cryptids, straight from the talented artists’ imagination. These were fabulous inclusions that only added to the creepy vibe the entire What Lurks anthology builds.

​No matter what type of cryptid, and what type of story you’re looking for, What Lurks is guaranteed to have something that suits your taste. But beware: a full list of content warnings exists in the back of the book and on the Graveside Press website, so make sure to take a peek at this if you’re wary.

Read the full review on Treat Your Geek

[Paul Pope · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not fan of the short story genre. Each tale in this anthology was jusssst getting good and then suddenly ended.
Plenty of creatures, bits of suspense, a tiny amount of gore.
Cannot recommend.

[Barbara (Booslittlehausofhorror) Drake · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute treasure trove of cryptid horror! Each story was just as creepy and unsettling as the next! There is a cryptid for every taste in this thoughtfully horrifying collection! Definitely had me closing my curtains at sunset so I couldn’t see into the woods! Perfect! 👌

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm new to the cryptid craze, but I had a lot of fun here. A creepy collection of cryptids, What Lurks is a unique standout if you're a fan of monsters wearing the skin of something else. There are some original interpretations of the word cryptid, which both surprised and delighted me for many of the stories. Honestly, you can never go wrong with a Graveside Press anthology. They truly have an eye for the perfect short story.

My personal favorites were:
Out of the Woods by Jamie Churchman
It Knows My Shape by Gio Clairval
Den Mother by Rey Revelli
The Red Ghost by Frankie Regalia
On the Nature of Grief and Ghouls by Hannah Birss
The Sounds of the Forest by gaast
RIP Dag Gadol Diner by Laura Barker

I received a free copy of this book via Graveside Press and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Ingrid · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection offers a fun and varied dive into the world of cryptids—not through detailed descriptions, but through an anthology of stories centered around each creature. With multiple authors contributing, the tone and style shift from tale to tale, which is completely expected and actually adds to the charm of the book.

There are a few small illustrations included, but the focus is clearly on the stories themselves. It’s an engaging format, especially if you enjoy picking up a book, reading a single short piece, and coming back later for more. You also get a good sense of the different interpretations and folklore surrounding each cryptid.

Overall, it’s an interesting and educational read, perfect for anyone who wants to dip into cryptid lore one story at a time.

I received a free copy of this book via Graveside Press and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Micki-D · Rating 4 out of 5]

A creepy, frightening, horrifying, fun & unsettling anthology with a bit of gore & suspense, as well as many different creatures. Bring back some of the classics in my mind like the thing, tremors, creepshow & more. There are stories that aren’t for me but there are also many that I loved “The Spectergraph by Liddell Rayne”, “Pop Goes the Wasset by S.E. Howard”, “Out of the Woods by Jamie Churchman”, “The Teague Thing by Terry Campbell”,

I also enjoyed the picture before couple of the stories.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like reading about things that go bump in the night, then you should check this book out. Not only do you get multiple stories but they're actually all good. Some better than others and some you'll recognize but they all have their own unique way of being original. Worth reading if you're a horror fan!.

I received a free copy of this book via Graveside Press and am voluntarily leaving a review.