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Mauls of the Wild: A Collection of Animal Attack Fiction
They bite. They slash. We scream…
In this twisted collection of animal-attack fiction, no one is safe from razor-sharp teeth, mandibles, pincers, talons, and powerful jaws!
Not World War II sailors escaping a torpedo-ravaged ship.
Not a group of thrill-seekers ziplining along an idyllic mountainside.
Not even extraterrestrial beings visiting from outer space.
All of these folks (and more!) encounter relentless, hungry creatures in the fang-and-claw-filled tales of horror wrangler Evan Baughfman.
“Audition Survival Island” unveils a multi-legged desert menace, and “We See You” showcases a new Halloween nightmare.
“This Little Piggy” features a murderous guinea pig (yes, you read that right!), and “The 79th Annual Cheerington Christmas Parade” hosts a team of rabid, magical reindeer.
Discover the many other bloodthirsty species stalking the pages of this book, and become
wary of your next trip to the great outdoors or the zoo!
In this twisted collection of animal-attack fiction, no one is safe from razor-sharp teeth, mandibles, pincers, talons, and powerful jaws!
Not World War II sailors escaping a torpedo-ravaged ship.
Not a group of thrill-seekers ziplining along an idyllic mountainside.
Not even extraterrestrial beings visiting from outer space.
All of these folks (and more!) encounter relentless, hungry creatures in the fang-and-claw-filled tales of horror wrangler Evan Baughfman.
“Audition Survival Island” unveils a multi-legged desert menace, and “We See You” showcases a new Halloween nightmare.
“This Little Piggy” features a murderous guinea pig (yes, you read that right!), and “The 79th Annual Cheerington Christmas Parade” hosts a team of rabid, magical reindeer.
Discover the many other bloodthirsty species stalking the pages of this book, and become
wary of your next trip to the great outdoors or the zoo!
266 pages, Paperback
Published November 25, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
December 20, 2025
Though it was far more amusing than gory or creepy, I had lots of fun reading a horror collection with a theme entirely new to me: animals really go bonkers in this one, pets turning on their owners, roadkill get payback, sharks attack sailors, mythical flying creatures enjoy the taste of humans, guinea pigs learn to enjoy splatter films, and a whole parade of insects, penguins, reindeers and dinosaurs, even a mammoth - they're all included in this totally unpredictable read of extravagant animal horror! The author even invents a couple of new creatures, eager to display even more over-the-top insanity in a wild variety of settings: a circus, a pet shop, a travelling zoo, a funeral home, the desert, to mention just a few. The story length also varies, from one page fiction to longer tales; and the story format varies as well: plain prose, found footage transcript, a stage play, a screenplay...!
The stories start horrific but they gradually get more and more closer to horror comedy. All the one-page stories are good, and the longer ones are well-written and entertaining, but the ones I liked most were the ones in the first half: "Slaughter Hearse," the opening story, brimming with imagination, takes some harrowing turns till the point is made - don't just stand by while people torture animals! "Audition Tape: Survival Island," the found footage tale, was simply awesome from start to finish, figuring an ambitious young artist making an audition tape for a survival show, unprepared for the worst kind of feedback. And "Afloat," a triumph of sea horror, suspenseful, fast-paced and intense!
The guinea pig on Matt Wildasin's cover says it all: this book bites! Prepare for tales filled with passion and frantic energy, biting humor, and nasty little critters going all out for our entertainment!
The stories start horrific but they gradually get more and more closer to horror comedy. All the one-page stories are good, and the longer ones are well-written and entertaining, but the ones I liked most were the ones in the first half: "Slaughter Hearse," the opening story, brimming with imagination, takes some harrowing turns till the point is made - don't just stand by while people torture animals! "Audition Tape: Survival Island," the found footage tale, was simply awesome from start to finish, figuring an ambitious young artist making an audition tape for a survival show, unprepared for the worst kind of feedback. And "Afloat," a triumph of sea horror, suspenseful, fast-paced and intense!
The guinea pig on Matt Wildasin's cover says it all: this book bites! Prepare for tales filled with passion and frantic energy, biting humor, and nasty little critters going all out for our entertainment!
January 3, 2026
This is an ARC review
This is a fun collection of horror. I never read anything like these stories.
 Slaughter Hearse and This Little Piggy were my favorites.
This is well written and fast paced. It also has one page short stories that are actually really good.
This is a new author for me, I will be looking for more of their work.
If you are looking for some comedy with your horror I would definitely recommend this his one.
January 21, 2026
Animals. They are cute, cuddly, fun to learn about, and deadly. Well, at least the animals in this book are. These animals are taking no prisoners, and you may not make it until the end of this book.
There are some crazy stories in this collection. You have a jaguar seeking revenge on animal-torturing people (Slaughter Hearse), Sharks devouring stranded soldiers (Afloat), a Native American creature hunting vacationers (Bird’s-Eye View), a horror loving Guinea Pig developing a taste for blood (This Little Piggy), and Santa’s reindeer turning violent (The 79th Annual Cheerington Christmas Parade). All the stories are a violent and bloody ride where animals are no longer the victims. They’re unapologetically the villains, and give humans a taste of their own medicine.
A wild ride from start to finish, and a gory good time. 4.25 stars.
Thank you BookSirens for a copy of this book. My opinion is my own.
There are some crazy stories in this collection. You have a jaguar seeking revenge on animal-torturing people (Slaughter Hearse), Sharks devouring stranded soldiers (Afloat), a Native American creature hunting vacationers (Bird’s-Eye View), a horror loving Guinea Pig developing a taste for blood (This Little Piggy), and Santa’s reindeer turning violent (The 79th Annual Cheerington Christmas Parade). All the stories are a violent and bloody ride where animals are no longer the victims. They’re unapologetically the villains, and give humans a taste of their own medicine.
A wild ride from start to finish, and a gory good time. 4.25 stars.
Thank you BookSirens for a copy of this book. My opinion is my own.
December 8, 2025
Wow!! This book of short stories is GREAT. If you love blood and gore and just crazy horror books, this one's for you. I received this as an ARC and I'm so glad I did. I'd never heard of Evan Baughfman, but I'll be looking for his books from now on. Keep them coming!!
January 13, 2026
Funny stories of the horrors animals can cause when they are left to their own devices.
From big to small, these horrible tales keep you guessing.
From big to small, these horrible tales keep you guessing.
January 7, 2026
Very interesting and a 'good for them' theme to me. It is a very quick pace with every short story with it going from very serious to comedy horror. It is really choppy however in some spots for the story that gets pedal to metal at the very beginning. Hits and a few misses but that's to be expected in a short story collection.
Check your trigger warnings.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Check your trigger warnings.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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November 23, 2025⭐ Mauls of the Wild – Review
Rating: 4/5
Mauls of the Wild is a chaotic, energetic, and surprisingly entertaining collection of animal-attack horror stories that feels both wild and playful at the same time. What I enjoyed most was the unpredictability. Every story comes at you with something different — a new creature, a new setting, and a new burst of danger. I never knew what kind of threat was coming next, and that made the reading experience genuinely exciting.
My emotional reaction while reading this collection was a mix of tension, amusement, and curiosity. Some stories made me laugh unexpectedly because of how absurd and over-the-top the situations became, while others made me pause and imagine how terrifying it would be to actually face these creatures in real life. The author does a great job capturing the frantic energy of survival, and even though the stories are short, many of them still manage to create vivid atmospheres.
One thing I appreciated was how quickly the book jumps into action. There’s very little waiting around, which works well for this type of horror. However, this strength also creates the biggest weakness: a few stories end too abruptly. There were moments where I wished the author slowed down just a little to build more suspense or develop the characters’ emotions more fully. With just a bit more breathing room, some of the stories could have had an even stronger impact.
As for constructive feedback, I think adding more variety in pacing would have helped balance the collection. A mix of slower, creeping dread and fast, chaotic attacks could have made the anthology feel richer. Also, a couple of creatures felt so exaggerated that they became more funny than scary — which isn’t bad, but it slightly shifts the tone away from horror at times.
Overall though, Mauls of the Wild is a fun, intense, and uniquely imaginative creature-feature collection. It delivers exactly what fans of this genre want: sharp action, bizarre threats, and lots of wild energy. Even with a few rushed endings, it’s an entertaining ride from start to finish, and I enjoyed the creativity behind each story.
Rating: 4/5
Mauls of the Wild is a chaotic, energetic, and surprisingly entertaining collection of animal-attack horror stories that feels both wild and playful at the same time. What I enjoyed most was the unpredictability. Every story comes at you with something different — a new creature, a new setting, and a new burst of danger. I never knew what kind of threat was coming next, and that made the reading experience genuinely exciting.
My emotional reaction while reading this collection was a mix of tension, amusement, and curiosity. Some stories made me laugh unexpectedly because of how absurd and over-the-top the situations became, while others made me pause and imagine how terrifying it would be to actually face these creatures in real life. The author does a great job capturing the frantic energy of survival, and even though the stories are short, many of them still manage to create vivid atmospheres.
One thing I appreciated was how quickly the book jumps into action. There’s very little waiting around, which works well for this type of horror. However, this strength also creates the biggest weakness: a few stories end too abruptly. There were moments where I wished the author slowed down just a little to build more suspense or develop the characters’ emotions more fully. With just a bit more breathing room, some of the stories could have had an even stronger impact.
As for constructive feedback, I think adding more variety in pacing would have helped balance the collection. A mix of slower, creeping dread and fast, chaotic attacks could have made the anthology feel richer. Also, a couple of creatures felt so exaggerated that they became more funny than scary — which isn’t bad, but it slightly shifts the tone away from horror at times.
Overall though, Mauls of the Wild is a fun, intense, and uniquely imaginative creature-feature collection. It delivers exactly what fans of this genre want: sharp action, bizarre threats, and lots of wild energy. Even with a few rushed endings, it’s an entertaining ride from start to finish, and I enjoyed the creativity behind each story.
January 18, 2026
Finished reading Evan Baughfman's newest release, MAULS OF THE WILD, published by Nathan D. Ludwig's GenreBlast Books. This book features a wide variety of "When Animals Attack" stories in different formats. Like flash fiction? Check. Short stories? Check. Screenplay? Check. There is even a stage play included. The stories are engaging and well-written, each progressing smoothly and quickly. Any creature you can imagine, or not, can be found in these stories, from the typical pet to the wildly imaginative. If you enjoy reading about animals going wild and appreciate an engaging, humorous, and fun read, pick this up! My favorites in this anthology are "AUDITION TAPE: SURVIVAL ISLAND," "AFLOAT," "HIS OFFERING," "THIS LITTLE PIGGY," "APPETITE FOR FEAR," "THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF POE," "THE 79TH ANNUAL CHEERINGTON PARADE," and "WE SEE YOU."
April 11, 2026
Horror comedy with a bite. Evan brings us all sorts of tales of animals that attack. Some are short and some longer, but all keep you invested with a smile on your face and your heart racing. They cover all kinds of different settings and creatures. It's fun to see what the next story is after you finish the one before it. I can't wait to see what else Evan has out there and what's coming next from him.
January 18, 2026
MAULS OF THE WILD
By: Evan Baughfman
Release: 11/25/25
Page count: 266
KU: Yes Hoopla: No
Synopsis: A collection of stories where the animals fight back and it gets bloody.
First line: “Standing on the sidewalk outside her apartment building, Jess shivered beside a tree mummified in toilet paper.”
Favorite line: “Love is doing what needs doing, Mr. Hickman, even when it’s hard.”
Thoughts: You would think 20+ short stories of animals participating in bloody shenanigans would get old, noooooope. Baughfman takes us from werewolves to upset marine life to traveling zoos and back again. Standouts are: Slaughter Hearse, Plenty of Fish, Afloat, and my personal favorite Bird’s Eye View. This story kept me tense and stressed out my jaw hurt from clinching so tight. One of my favorite stories I’ve ever read.
Rating: 5/5
Other recommendations: VANISHING OF THE 7th GRADE, BAD FOR YOUR TEETH
By: Evan Baughfman
Release: 11/25/25
Page count: 266
KU: Yes Hoopla: No
Synopsis: A collection of stories where the animals fight back and it gets bloody.
First line: “Standing on the sidewalk outside her apartment building, Jess shivered beside a tree mummified in toilet paper.”
Favorite line: “Love is doing what needs doing, Mr. Hickman, even when it’s hard.”
Thoughts: You would think 20+ short stories of animals participating in bloody shenanigans would get old, noooooope. Baughfman takes us from werewolves to upset marine life to traveling zoos and back again. Standouts are: Slaughter Hearse, Plenty of Fish, Afloat, and my personal favorite Bird’s Eye View. This story kept me tense and stressed out my jaw hurt from clinching so tight. One of my favorite stories I’ve ever read.
Rating: 5/5
Other recommendations: VANISHING OF THE 7th GRADE, BAD FOR YOUR TEETH
January 14, 2026
If PRIMATE and ANACONDA left you wanting more animalistic mayhem, don't miss GenreBlast Books' release of Evan Baughfman's wild collection MAULS OF THE WILD!
There's everything from a guinea pig with a knife to a werepanther to a frickin' thunderbird complete with lightning bolts, and even a sly nod to Edgar Allen Poe and all things nevermore. There's even a talking, walking cactus within these pages. Yeah. Not a typo.
Pick up MAULS OF THE WILD today and enjoy the most fun "when animals attack" piece of media you'll ever have the pleasure of surviving.
There's everything from a guinea pig with a knife to a werepanther to a frickin' thunderbird complete with lightning bolts, and even a sly nod to Edgar Allen Poe and all things nevermore. There's even a talking, walking cactus within these pages. Yeah. Not a typo.
Pick up MAULS OF THE WILD today and enjoy the most fun "when animals attack" piece of media you'll ever have the pleasure of surviving.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews