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Come Sing for the Harrowing
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Expected 21 Apr 26From British and World Fantasy award-winning writer and editor Dan Coxon, Come Sing for the Harrowing is an uncanny folk horror collection for fans of John Langan and Robert Aickman.
A young man working at a tourist attraction is singled out for unholy transformation, a gang of burglars are ambushed with something unworldly when they attempt to rob a local farm, and a daughter seeks revenge on her abusive father after his death. Invoking the sense of natural surreal found in Midsommar, these stories are always a little to the left of what’s expected.
Weaving macabre contingencies into realities, Dan Coxon crafts unsettling and eerie worlds through hauntingly literary prose. Including a featured story from Ellen Datlow’s “Best of Horror” round-up and a foreword from Brian Evenson, Come Sing for the Harrowing will haunt your dreams and gnaw at you during the daylight.
A young man working at a tourist attraction is singled out for unholy transformation, a gang of burglars are ambushed with something unworldly when they attempt to rob a local farm, and a daughter seeks revenge on her abusive father after his death. Invoking the sense of natural surreal found in Midsommar, these stories are always a little to the left of what’s expected.
Weaving macabre contingencies into realities, Dan Coxon crafts unsettling and eerie worlds through hauntingly literary prose. Including a featured story from Ellen Datlow’s “Best of Horror” round-up and a foreword from Brian Evenson, Come Sing for the Harrowing will haunt your dreams and gnaw at you during the daylight.
260 pages, ebook
Expected publication April 21, 2026
13 people are currently reading
1341 people want to read
About the author
Dan Coxon
48 books72 followersDan Coxon is an award-winning editor and writer based in London. His non-fiction anthology Writing The Uncanny (co-edited with Richard V. Hirst) won the British Fantasy Award for Best Non-Fiction 2022, while his short story collection Only The Broken Remain (Black Shuck Books) was shortlisted for two British Fantasy Awards in 2021 (Best Collection, Best Newcomer). In 2018 his anthology of British folk-horror, This Dreaming Isle (Unsung Stories), was shortlisted for a British Fantasy Award and a Shirley Jackson Award. His short stories have appeared in various anthologies, including Nox Pareidolia, Beyond the Veil, Mother: Tales of Love and Terror and Fiends in the Furrows III. His latest anthology - Isolation - was published by Titan Books in September 2022.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
November 30, 2025
*Thanks to NetGalley, CLASH, and Dan Coxon for this ARC. This review contains my honest, authentic thoughts and opinions.*
4.5 rounded up. These stories were hella unsettling. I read somewhere that they have Midsommar vibes, and they absolutely do. It was like the equivalent of that phobia people have of a bunch of holes? The creepy-crawly feeling was pervasive throughout this collection. I will definitely read more from Coxon.
4.5 rounded up. These stories were hella unsettling. I read somewhere that they have Midsommar vibes, and they absolutely do. It was like the equivalent of that phobia people have of a bunch of holes? The creepy-crawly feeling was pervasive throughout this collection. I will definitely read more from Coxon.
January 5, 2026
Come Sing For The Harrowing by Dan Coxon is a dark and immersive horror anthology that delves into spirits, witches, folklore, and unsettling fantasies, keeping the reader thoroughly entertained from beginning to end. Each story stands apart with its own distinct tone and idea, making the collection feel fresh and unpredictable throughout. What truly works in its favor is the author’s ability to craft complete, impactful narratives within a limited space, never letting the horror feel rushed or shallow. It is difficult to single out a favorite because every story offers something unique—some chilling, some eerie, and others deeply atmospheric. A few tales are so richly imagined that they easily have the potential to be expanded into full-length novels. Overall, this anthology stands out as one of the most engaging and entertaining horror reads of 2025, appealing to readers who enjoy variety, dark imagination, and well-executed short-form horror storytelling.
Read more at https://bibliophileverse.blogspot.com...
Read more at https://bibliophileverse.blogspot.com...
November 17, 2024
Dan Coxon surprises, unnerves, and - mostly importantly - scares with this fabulous short story collection. I'm still mulling over which stories are my favourites but it's a very strong collection in general, with great variety in style and subgenre.
October 17, 2024
Come Sing for the Harrowing is a new, wonderfully weird horror-based short story collection by Dan Coxon. There were several really good stories in here. I found I appreciated the slightly longer ones more than the stories that were just a few pages. I particularly loved “Bring Them All Into The Light,” “The Darkness Below,” “A Broken Vessel,” and “Bumblethatch.” A story doesn’t have to be long to be good and Coxon does an excellent job in demonstrating that in a lot of these tales. Some of his descriptions alone were chilling. However, there were quite a few tales that ended abruptly just as I felt they were getting started. I found myself saying “heyyyyy” several times when a story would just end. My main complaint was that he occasionally changed the names of characters by accident. A character named Jack was later referred to as Jake. A character named Kirstie was referred to several times as Katie and then it changed back to Kirstie for the rest of the story. It kind of jerked me out of the story and it happened in one of the best ones. Coxon played with folk horror, revenge horror, psychological horror, grief horror, and even toyed with some sci-fi horror. Overall, this collection had a little bit of everything for a horror lover. Special thanks to Goodreads for the free copy. 3/5 stars
January 1, 2026
"Come Sing for the Harrowing" is a relentless anthology where each story is more horrifying than the last. Coxon preys on the fear of the unknown, masterfully blending Lovecraftian dread with modern folk horror.
The standout for me was "From the Earth," an unsettling, melancholy story about a young girl who hears the voice of god.
The standout for me was "From the Earth," an unsettling, melancholy story about a young girl who hears the voice of god.
October 8, 2024
A gorgeously powerful and often disturbing collection of tales where the uncanny feelings are delivered brilliantly. Strongly recommended!
Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...
Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...
January 6, 2025
Coxon has a gift for creepy stories, but unfortunately all too often he starts from a shaky conceit - his skills enable him to do great things with those, and yet you can't really have great stuff when the foundations are wobbly. Still, these shots of dread are well worth reading, so four stars it is.
December 11, 2025
With thanks to the author, publishers CLASH Books, and NetGalley for providing me with a DRC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
A nice little collection of fun and quirky short horror stories. None especially scary, and really probably more supernatural than horror I would say, but entertaining nonetheless and overall a quick and enjoyable read.
A nice little collection of fun and quirky short horror stories. None especially scary, and really probably more supernatural than horror I would say, but entertaining nonetheless and overall a quick and enjoyable read.
December 7, 2025
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC
An easy read, I had fun! It was a nice quick collection with some pretty creative story ideas, although some felt a bit half-baked or not fleshed out enough, and a couple followed a prescriptive bait and switch premise as a vehicle for the horror to start.
An easy read, I had fun! It was a nice quick collection with some pretty creative story ideas, although some felt a bit half-baked or not fleshed out enough, and a couple followed a prescriptive bait and switch premise as a vehicle for the horror to start.
December 27, 2024
Full review at Happy Goat Horror:
https://happygoathorror.com/2024/12/1...
Dan Coxon does not disappoint with this collection of short horrors that had me thoroughly entertained from start to end.
https://happygoathorror.com/2024/12/1...
Dan Coxon does not disappoint with this collection of short horrors that had me thoroughly entertained from start to end.
September 15, 2024
The best part about being a publisher is being the first to read an incredible book. That is the case with Dan Coxon's newest collection of short horror fiction, "Come Sing for the Harrowing." It's at times touching, gruesome, and thought-provoking, but the language is visceral and the imagery haunting.
"Come Sing for the Harrowing" - A boy works a summer job at an off-brand theme park and gets more attention than he bargained for.
"The Wives of Tromisle" - One woman's quest to find closure after the death of her child brings her to a remote island with a strange overseer.
"Bring Them All Into the Light" - A family on vacation finds a perfect spot for building...but what they build conjures power beyond their imagination.
"Bumblethatch" - Revenge is sweet, especially for one teen girl's otherworldy heartthrob.
"A Broken Vessel" - When a group of thieves take on an easy job to steal from an older home, they have no idea of the hidden strings that are attached.
"Vile Jelly" - A violent act. A terrible price to pay. A strange tale ripped from the background of one of Shakespeare's great plays.
"From the Earth" - Arwen has a gift that keeps her a prisoner in her small town. But can she learn to use it to waken one who will set her free?
"Bodies on the Dance Floor" - A young man bumps into an old friend from school in a busy bar. But their conversation turns strange as it becomes clear that nothing is what it seems to be.
"Clockwork" - A young woman has a strange compulsion to dig up an unidentifiable object she finds in her late father's garden.
"The Darkness Below" - One father's tale about taking his wife and children on an excursion to a cave. But what goes in is not necessarily what comes back out.
"Long Gone (Slight Return)" - A found-footage record about mysterious disappearance of a famous rock star as told by his closest friends.
"In Flickering Light" - A videophile and filmmaker reflects on the missed love of his life and her obsession with a strange movie.
"Gorphwyfsa" - The same spot, but in two different times. Yet, there is one thing that binds them—a malevolent and vengeful force.
"Grains of Sand" - Tep is a modern mummy looking for love in all the wrong places. But when he finds Daisy, could it be he's finally found true love at last?
"London Deep" - One man's search for his missing brother will take him on a journey into the weird.
"Beyond the Beach, the Trees" - A vacation to a tropical paradise sours quickly when one man is approached by a familiar stranger bearing a dead friend's face.
"Come Sing for the Harrowing" - A boy works a summer job at an off-brand theme park and gets more attention than he bargained for.
"The Wives of Tromisle" - One woman's quest to find closure after the death of her child brings her to a remote island with a strange overseer.
"Bring Them All Into the Light" - A family on vacation finds a perfect spot for building...but what they build conjures power beyond their imagination.
"Bumblethatch" - Revenge is sweet, especially for one teen girl's otherworldy heartthrob.
"A Broken Vessel" - When a group of thieves take on an easy job to steal from an older home, they have no idea of the hidden strings that are attached.
"Vile Jelly" - A violent act. A terrible price to pay. A strange tale ripped from the background of one of Shakespeare's great plays.
"From the Earth" - Arwen has a gift that keeps her a prisoner in her small town. But can she learn to use it to waken one who will set her free?
"Bodies on the Dance Floor" - A young man bumps into an old friend from school in a busy bar. But their conversation turns strange as it becomes clear that nothing is what it seems to be.
"Clockwork" - A young woman has a strange compulsion to dig up an unidentifiable object she finds in her late father's garden.
"The Darkness Below" - One father's tale about taking his wife and children on an excursion to a cave. But what goes in is not necessarily what comes back out.
"Long Gone (Slight Return)" - A found-footage record about mysterious disappearance of a famous rock star as told by his closest friends.
"In Flickering Light" - A videophile and filmmaker reflects on the missed love of his life and her obsession with a strange movie.
"Gorphwyfsa" - The same spot, but in two different times. Yet, there is one thing that binds them—a malevolent and vengeful force.
"Grains of Sand" - Tep is a modern mummy looking for love in all the wrong places. But when he finds Daisy, could it be he's finally found true love at last?
"London Deep" - One man's search for his missing brother will take him on a journey into the weird.
"Beyond the Beach, the Trees" - A vacation to a tropical paradise sours quickly when one man is approached by a familiar stranger bearing a dead friend's face.
November 30, 2025
Hmm.
I’ll be honest I expected a lot more from this collection of short stories than I was given. The description was quite misleading. I wouldn’t call these folk-horror, not even horror if I’m to be honest. Nothing bone chilling or eerie, or even anything leaving me in a stupor of “what the hell”.
The writing itself didn’t do much for me either. The stories were somehow too short and too crowded at the same time. There was a habit of dumping way too much information right at the start, leaving me floundering. Why do I have to know the names of every single character in the first paragraph? The endings also came abruptly. It must have been in the attempt to leave the reader shocked and unsettled, but I felt nothing of that sort. Just a constant miss. A story would end and I was just like okay… I guess that’s it then.
Going back to the horror aspect. I’d say it’s less horror and more so loose themes of the supernatural. A bit of folk, others demons or ghosts, and one oddly enough, containing fish people. Perhaps that falls under eldritch? Anyways a lot of this felt uninspired and lackluster to put it frankly. There was only one story here that I liked, this being ‘The Darkness Below’. Wouldn’t recommend reading the entirety of this book and maybe just hopping around and seeing which takes your fancy.
Thank you to NetGalley for the arc!
I’ll be honest I expected a lot more from this collection of short stories than I was given. The description was quite misleading. I wouldn’t call these folk-horror, not even horror if I’m to be honest. Nothing bone chilling or eerie, or even anything leaving me in a stupor of “what the hell”.
The writing itself didn’t do much for me either. The stories were somehow too short and too crowded at the same time. There was a habit of dumping way too much information right at the start, leaving me floundering. Why do I have to know the names of every single character in the first paragraph? The endings also came abruptly. It must have been in the attempt to leave the reader shocked and unsettled, but I felt nothing of that sort. Just a constant miss. A story would end and I was just like okay… I guess that’s it then.
Going back to the horror aspect. I’d say it’s less horror and more so loose themes of the supernatural. A bit of folk, others demons or ghosts, and one oddly enough, containing fish people. Perhaps that falls under eldritch? Anyways a lot of this felt uninspired and lackluster to put it frankly. There was only one story here that I liked, this being ‘The Darkness Below’. Wouldn’t recommend reading the entirety of this book and maybe just hopping around and seeing which takes your fancy.
Thank you to NetGalley for the arc!
December 5, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and CLASH Books for the ARC of this book
Come Sing for the Harrowing by Dan Coxon is a short collection of eerie stories broadly under the category of folk horror. The title story, in particular, feels very much referential to your Wickerman or The Ritual, with isolated cults, transforming bodies and something old lurking in the trees. Some stories, like ‘Bubmblethatch’ and ‘From the Earth’, have more of a dark fairytale vibe with creeping children and grotesque fables about how you should be nice to said children. Alongside references to Shakespeare, Lovecraft and Poe, this collection feels like a love letter to uncanny folklores and weird mythologies.
The stories are bite-sized, occasionally ending abruptly and leaving me wishing for more. Though these stories have the imaginative and infected seeds of horror, some definitely could have been given more time to grow into trees.
Come Sing for the Harrowing by Dan Coxon is a short collection of eerie stories broadly under the category of folk horror. The title story, in particular, feels very much referential to your Wickerman or The Ritual, with isolated cults, transforming bodies and something old lurking in the trees. Some stories, like ‘Bubmblethatch’ and ‘From the Earth’, have more of a dark fairytale vibe with creeping children and grotesque fables about how you should be nice to said children. Alongside references to Shakespeare, Lovecraft and Poe, this collection feels like a love letter to uncanny folklores and weird mythologies.
The stories are bite-sized, occasionally ending abruptly and leaving me wishing for more. Though these stories have the imaginative and infected seeds of horror, some definitely could have been given more time to grow into trees.
December 11, 2025
I thought this was an interesting collection of folksy, gruesome, grim horror. It reminded me a lot of a podcast I love--The Magnus Archives--for anybody who's familiar with that. My favorite stories were "A Broken Vessel," a group of thieves encountering a supernatural horror; "Clockwork," a young woman digging up gears and parts from a garden in the wake of her father's death; "Vile Jelly," a very gross Shakespeare reference. The collection succeeded in creeping me out! This would be great to read on a dreary November day.
I'm giving this 3/5 because the pacing was a little too abrupt for me to be fully invested in the world of each story. Most of the stories felt a little too short, or wrapped up a little too quickly. I'm thinking about Stephen King's "Night Shift" and how those grabbed my attention more (although I actually think I liked the concepts less than this collection), and I think there's a difference in style that gives you a feeling of more background/context into the world. Perhaps it's partly because in "Come Sing," the stories tend to feel like they have a very similar setting and point of view, with less variety.
Read in advance thanks to NetGalley!
I'm giving this 3/5 because the pacing was a little too abrupt for me to be fully invested in the world of each story. Most of the stories felt a little too short, or wrapped up a little too quickly. I'm thinking about Stephen King's "Night Shift" and how those grabbed my attention more (although I actually think I liked the concepts less than this collection), and I think there's a difference in style that gives you a feeling of more background/context into the world. Perhaps it's partly because in "Come Sing," the stories tend to feel like they have a very similar setting and point of view, with less variety.
Read in advance thanks to NetGalley!
November 21, 2025
“Come Sing For The Harrowing” - Dark and Beautiful, like my soul.
★★★★★
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an ARC for his novel.
Not having read anything by this author before I basically went in blind. The premise of eerie short stories, with a hint of folklore was enough to get my attention. After finishing this book I can say Dan Coxon has a way with words that give his stories the ability to weave themselves into my soul, leaving a mark. Each story is unique and beautifully written. They feel like enchanting, dark, horrible tales with hints of folklore and an undeniably charm, leaving you guessing and pondering, wondering if there’s something more lurking between the veils.
★★★★★
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an ARC for his novel.
Not having read anything by this author before I basically went in blind. The premise of eerie short stories, with a hint of folklore was enough to get my attention. After finishing this book I can say Dan Coxon has a way with words that give his stories the ability to weave themselves into my soul, leaving a mark. Each story is unique and beautifully written. They feel like enchanting, dark, horrible tales with hints of folklore and an undeniably charm, leaving you guessing and pondering, wondering if there’s something more lurking between the veils.
December 11, 2025
Come Sing for the Harrowing by Dan Coxon is an anthology of folk horror stories that also leans into gothic and cosmic horror. While only a few of the stories I felt could use more time to flesh them out, the majority were done very well for the short amount of time they were allotted. Coxon does an excellent job of providing a collection of tales that feature a variety of settings, periods of time, and cast. The stories definitely delivered on the horror aspects it advertises. This would be a great read during spooky season to quickly get you into the mood.
Thank you, CLASH Books, for providing me this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Thank you, CLASH Books, for providing me this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
December 1, 2025
This was a really solid, creepy collection of folk horror stories! I know a short story is good when I wish it was a full-length novel, and there were several stories in here that fit the bill.
I really enjoyed the unique spin the author put on folk horror here - so often when people hear folk horror they think cults and weird rituals, but there’s way more to the genre than that, it can be the dance floor at a disco or a work house turned retirement home.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
I really enjoyed the unique spin the author put on folk horror here - so often when people hear folk horror they think cults and weird rituals, but there’s way more to the genre than that, it can be the dance floor at a disco or a work house turned retirement home.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
October 15, 2024
Dan Coxon is a fascinating short story specialist whose impressive body of work straddles the supernatural, the uncanny, the weird and Folk Horror. His great strength lies in the fact he is impossible to pigeonhole, with his work effortlessly encapsulating odd events which occur in daily life, threats the countryside holds, odd trips into historical fiction, families in crisis, strange encounters and, of course, the occasional creature. Coxon uses subtlety before bangs, often smoothed over with a level of reflection and melancholia, raising his work above genre writers and edging into more literary areas.
You can read Tony's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
You can read Tony's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
December 26, 2024
Each story is a painting, meant to evoke a feeling more than anything else. Rad the book in one sitting.
I appreciate the book for the raw little morsels of emotion it throws at us, these impeccable lines planted to keep you going.
"I've slept too long. I do not belong here."
"But still the fact remained: I had made a man."
"It's no wonder people hate you."
I appreciate the book for the raw little morsels of emotion it throws at us, these impeccable lines planted to keep you going.
"I've slept too long. I do not belong here."
"But still the fact remained: I had made a man."
"It's no wonder people hate you."
August 8, 2025
Fans of horror will find a lot to enjoy in this collection - my particular favourites involved a family trip to Cheddar Gorge that went wrong, one where a chaps worries about what happened to his missing brother and one where an Ancient Egyptian seems to be working at Tesco Metro. Plenty to enjoy, so if the rumour of a rerelease in the Autumn of 2025 is true, I highly recommend it.
December 22, 2025
This book is filled with short horror stories that keep you wondering. That’s what I ended up enjoying the most. The stories sometimes felt like something was missing, but I feel like that was the point. Your imagination continues to run rampant filling in “gaps” or extending the story more. I found that unique.
January 6, 2026
(Read via NetGalley- thank you!)
I enjoyed this, some genuinely unsettling stories here and the anthology format makes for an easy read and allows the author to touch on a range of subgenres without getting too bogged down in any one theme. Nicely paced read that I'd recommend for anyone looking for some quick horror stories.
I enjoyed this, some genuinely unsettling stories here and the anthology format makes for an easy read and allows the author to touch on a range of subgenres without getting too bogged down in any one theme. Nicely paced read that I'd recommend for anyone looking for some quick horror stories.
August 20, 2025
Not as “Horror” as I’d have liked
I found the stories less of horror and more like just regular stories with a supernatural element near the end of each. I would’ve preferred something a tad creepier that makes me second guess things I’ve read.
I found the stories less of horror and more like just regular stories with a supernatural element near the end of each. I would’ve preferred something a tad creepier that makes me second guess things I’ve read.
November 21, 2025
Really enjoyed these short stories! I enjoyed folk-based horror and felt this collection loved up to expectations.
Some of the stories surprised me with how creepy they were, although a few could have benefitted from an extra couple of pages to tie the story up better.
Some of the stories surprised me with how creepy they were, although a few could have benefitted from an extra couple of pages to tie the story up better.
December 5, 2025
These are absolutely fantastic stories! I enjoyed every single one of them (which is rare for me). They all have a bit of a folk-horror vibe, yet they're all vastly different and kept me very intrigued.
December 21, 2025
received as a NetGalley arc in exchange for an honest review
Come Sing for the Harrowing is a collection of insidious, creeping stories; many of which will haunt you. Coxon melds horror, sci-fi, and fantasy into a series of unsettling events and delivers few misses.
Come Sing for the Harrowing is a collection of insidious, creeping stories; many of which will haunt you. Coxon melds horror, sci-fi, and fantasy into a series of unsettling events and delivers few misses.
January 8, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for the E-arc.
Come Sing for the Harrowing was like Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, but for adults. The stories were creepy & very unsettling. Though they were short stories, they all roped me in and sunk their claws into me. I will definitely be recommending this one.
Come Sing for the Harrowing was like Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, but for adults. The stories were creepy & very unsettling. Though they were short stories, they all roped me in and sunk their claws into me. I will definitely be recommending this one.
January 2, 2026
An absolute banger of a collection of 16 folk horror stories that hit all the right notes for me
While all these stories roughly align under the folk horror umbrella they're all so much more. Nothing pigeon holes itself or gets so easily categorized because in this book there's stories that are cosmic, bizarre and a little bit of everything in between. I've always been a huge advocate for short stories, especially in horror, and this collection nails the assignment.
I'm on a hunt to get my hands on Dan Coxon's other short story collection now because after reading this I'm hungry for more. If you're a fan of short form horror this collection is one you can't miss, honestly.
While all these stories roughly align under the folk horror umbrella they're all so much more. Nothing pigeon holes itself or gets so easily categorized because in this book there's stories that are cosmic, bizarre and a little bit of everything in between. I've always been a huge advocate for short stories, especially in horror, and this collection nails the assignment.
I'm on a hunt to get my hands on Dan Coxon's other short story collection now because after reading this I'm hungry for more. If you're a fan of short form horror this collection is one you can't miss, honestly.
March 23, 2025
Absolutely stunning collection. Not a weak story to be found
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews