All Hallows Eve

by Ellen Datlow (Editor)

Hugo Award winning editor and horror legend Ellen Datlow presents this chilling horror anthology of 19 original short stories from a world-class line-up of the masters of horror, delving into the histories and traditions of the spookiest season of the year.

Featuring stories by Josh Malerman, Stephen Graham Jones, Garth Nix and many more.

Halloween, Samhain, Día de los Muertos—festivals across the world where we can commune with those we have lost, when spirits can cross over, and when the boundary between the living and the dead is far, far too thin.

A young boy encounters a woman with an ancient and terrifying link to the holiday, a group of college students attend a Halloween party to die for, and a troubled girl exploits a local urban legend to try and turn her life around.

From America to New Zealand via the rural Romanian wilderness, this anthology explores our worldwide obsession with the spookiest season of the year, when the veil is lifted and the spirits come alive. Featuring 19 original stories from bestselling and award-winning masters of the genre, and from Hugo, World Fantasy, Locus, Bram Stoker and Shirley Jackson award-winning editor and horror legend Ellen Datlow, this anthology invites you to carve a pumpkin, light the lanterns and welcome in trick or treaters from across the world. 

With stories
Josh Malerman
Lee Murray
Rich Larson
Clay McLeod Chapman
Livia Llewellyn
Michael Marshall Smith
Stephen Graham Jones
Linda D. Addison
Christopher Golden
Alma Katsu
Brian Evenson
Siobhan Carroll
Chịkọdịlị Emelụmadụ
Theresa DeLucci
Garth Nix
Jeffrey Ford
Richard Kadrey
Nathan Ballingrud
John Langan

Genres: Horror, Short Stories, Halloween, Anthologies, Adult, Fiction

336 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication September 8, 2026

About the author

Ellen Datlow has been editing science fiction, fantasy, and horror short fiction for forty years as fiction editor of OMNI Magazine and editor of Event Horizon and SCIFICTION. She currently acquires short stories and novellas for Tor.com. In addition, she has edited about one hundred science fiction, fantasy, and horror anthologies, including the annual The Best Horror of the Year series, The Doll Collection, Mad Hatters and March Hares, The Devil and the Deep: Horror Stories of the Sea, Echoes: The Saga Anthology of Ghost Stories, Edited By, and Final Cuts: New Tales of Hollywood Horror and Other Spectacles.
She's won multiple World Fantasy Awards, Locus Awards, Hugo Awards, Bram Stoker Awards, International Horror Guild Awards, Shirley Jackson Awards, and the 2012 Il Posto Nero Black Spot Award for Excellence as Best Foreign Editor. Datlow was named recipient of the 2007 Karl Edward Wagner Award, given at the British Fantasy Convention for "outstanding contribution to the genre," was honored with the Life Achievement Award by the Horror Writers Association, in acknowledgment of superior achievement over an entire career, and honored with the World Fantasy Life Achievement Award at the 2014 World Fantasy Convention.

Reviews

[Me, My Shelf, & I]

Anthologies are tricky for me both as a reader and as a reviewer, so I like to break down my thoughts by short story--

That Hannie Agnes:
Josh Malerman.

On the Path: Bleeding:
Lee Murray.

Good Kids:
Rich Larson.

Treats:
Clay McLeod Chapman.

The Levels:
Livia Llewellyn.

Forever Again:
Michael Marshall Smith.

The Devil's New Year:
Stephen Graham Jones.

Merciless Feast:
Linda D. Addison.

Or So the Story Goes:
Christopher Golden.

The Kuker:
Alma Katsu.

Ankou's Night:
Brian Evenson.

The Hungry Grass:
Siobhan Carroll. Author of my all-time favourite short story (For He Can Creep which you can read for free here).

Saturday:
Chịkọdịlị Emelụmadụ.

Give Me Something Good to Eat:
Theresa DeLucci.

Her Mother's Business:
Garth Nix.

The Thinning of the Veil:
Jeffrey Ford.

Dare Me:
Richard Kadrey.

On the Night of the Welcome Stranger:
Nathan Ballingrud.

The Auld Woman With the Broom:
John Langan.

Thank you to NetGalley and Titan for providing me with an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Aisha Faisal · Rating 3 out of 5]

The horror line-up this season is STRONG. We are definitely being TREATED, not tricked!

Thank you to NetGalley and Titan Books for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I love a good short story collection, and there is nothing quite like a brand-new horror anthology to signal the official start of the spooky season. If you are looking for the perfect "Summerween" kickoff or a stack of chilling tales to sink into as the autumn nights grow crisp, All Hallows Eve, curated by the legendary, award-winning editor Ellen Datlow, is an absolute must-read.

Anthologies are notoriously difficult to perfect; a common critique of short story collections is that the hit-or-miss nature of multiple authors usually averages out to a mediocre experience. All Hallows Eve completely defies that rule. It is a spookily gripping, diverse, and incredibly strong collection where at least three-quarters of the stories absolutely hit the mark. In fact, for a genre as subjective as horror, this comes remarkably close to a perfect anthology.

A Masterclass in Diverse Horror

Datlow’s greatest strength as an editor is her ability to curate an incredible diversity of voices, cultures, and styles. This collection doesn't just rely on standard boogeymen in the night; it weaves a rich tapestry of human nature haunts, blood and guts, campy comedic timing, and bizarre monsters.

While the collection leans heavily into Americanized trick-or-treat and costume traditions, the standout moments happen when the authors lift the veil on global folklore and alternative
celebrations.

The Standout:

1. "Treats" by Clay McLeod Chapman: A beautifully atmospheric piece that works perfectly as a seasonal anchor.

2. "The Kuker" by Alma Katsu & "Forever Again": Excellent examples of using the spooky season as a subtle, brilliant background feature rather than a loud prop.

3. "The Hungry Grass" by Siobhan Carroll: A phenomenal standout for classic horror lovers, offering a clear, affectionate, and deeply resonant nod to Sheridan Le Fanu’s vampire classic, Carmilla.

4. "On the Night of the Welcome Stranger": An absolute showstopper of a story- innovative, touching, hilarious, and satisfyingly gory.

5. "The Devil’s New Year" by Stephen Graham Jones and "Dare Me" by Richard Kadrey both deliver incredibly satisfying conclusions that linger long after the page is turned.

The collection’s most memorable surprise may be “On the Night of the Welcome Stranger.” It is inventive, emotional, funny and gloriously gory, capturing the strange combination of warmth and terror that makes seasonal horror so enjoyable.

Room for Tricks

While the content itself is spectacular, the pacing and sequencing of the book do get a little clunky. Pushing most of the longer stories to the final stretch slows down the momentum, and a few endings (like "Levels" and "The Thinning of the Veil") miss the mark. Leading the collection with "That Hannie Agnes" feels mismatched; it would have functioned much better as a subtle closer, whereas the beautifully written "Merciless Feast" or the punchy "Treats" would have made for a much stronger opening act.

My Verdict: 3.9⭐️

Minor structural critiques aside, All Hallows Eve is a triumphant addition to any horror lover's October reading list. It serves as both a brilliant cure for a reading slump and a fantastic gateway to discovering new favourite authors alongside beloved genre masters like Josh Malerman and Garth Nix.

All Hallows Eve is atmospheric, diverse and consistently entertaining. It celebrates the season without reducing it to familiar American imagery, exploring instead why cultures across the world remain fascinated by nights when spirits return, traditions become dangerous, and the veil between worlds grows thin.

For horror readers, this is an ideal autumn anthology: strange, bloody, playful, mournful and deeply unsettling. It is also the rare collection likely to introduce readers to several new favourite authors while delivering excellent work from writers they already know. We are definitely being treated this year, not tricked. Light your lanterns, carve your pumpkins, and prepare to keep the pages turning late into the night.

[Jennifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐️
Format: ebook

I want to start this off by saying I didn’t go into this book thinking I was going to like every story. I knew there was going to be some that weren’t just my cup of tea, but this is my worst read yet of 2026. I’m not going to mention all the short stories only the major ones that stood out to me.

That Hannie Agnes - 0/10 By the end of the first paragraph, I was done. It starts off with the narrator explaining they are a “proud kindergarten teacher” then later stating “their students are 10 years old”. Let’s just take a step back, what 10-year-old is in kindergarten? I reread this paragraph again and still that’s a huge error to make in 2026. I don’t get it. Also, the plot was nonexistent.

Good Kids - 1/10 Horribly twisted. This is when I had to stop reading and started to consider not finishing.

Treats - SKIPPED. Once I got the idea of the plot, I skipped. No one should even make light of this.

The Levels - 10/10. Different. Creative. Well written.

The Devil’s New Year - 0/10 Horribly written. It’s like a mash of one person’s incoherent thoughts. Also, disturbing to a point that is unenjoyable.

Or So The Story Goes - 3/10 Loved the writing but the ending ruined it.

Ankou’s Night - 10/10 The perfect amount of horror without making me want to cry or throw up. THIS is horror.

Give Me Something Good to Eat - 0/10 Unoriginal & cruel. The title doesn’t connect to the story per se, unanswered plot points, & the ending didn’t make any sense.

On the Welcome Night of the Stranger - 12/10 WOW! The best one by far out of the bunch. It was completely different than any of the other stories. I would actually read an entire book if it existed.

Overall, wouldn’t read again or recommend. Total flop.

Thank you NetGalley and Titan Books for an ARC of this book for my honest opinion and review!

[Hailey Kathryn]

Thank you to the publishers via NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The horror line up this fall is STRONG, and I feel this and something followed us home are going to be top reads when the weather drops. We are definitely being TREATED this year not tricked.

I would say at least 3/4 of the collection I really enjoyed. I love the horror genre in its entirety and how subjective it can be. Not all horrors and scares come in the form of boogeymen in the night. This had a good mix of human nature haunts, blood and guts, campy comedic timing, and even some bizarre monsters of the night.

The order for the collection itself is okay - I think leading with That Hannie Agnes isn’t the best route. I actually think that would be a stronger closer, something subtle to linger (Treats I think would both work as opener or closer, alternatively Merciless Feast to open would be quite beautiful.) Which, same thoughts, The Auld Woman with the Broom isn’t the right story to close on. Sticking most of the longer stories at the end was a little clunky, and would have liked to see them interlaced more.

Some stories miss the mark with their endings (Levels, The Thinning of the Veil,) and others are so satisfying (Dare Me, Saturday.) I wish there were more that weren’t so focused on Halloween trick or treat / costumes / Americanised central stories. The Kuker I think does an apt job of making it a background feature, as does Forever Again, but the stories taking us to other places (The Hungry Grass) or celebrations really resonated.

Overall it’s a great collection, I just wish the ordering was much different as it gets a little clunky and repetitive and then sticking all the long stories at the end slows the pace down.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been reading Ellen Datlow's anthologies for years, and she's one of the absolute best at bringing together outstanding horror fiction. I always come away having discovered a few new favorite authors alongside stories from writers I already know and love, and ALL HALLOWS EVE is no exception.

One of Datlow's greatest strengths as an editor is her ability to curate an incredible diversity of writers and stories. The range of voices, styles, and approaches to horror makes each anthology feel fresh and exciting. There is always something special about seeing so many talented authors bring their own unique perspectives to a shared theme, and this collection showcases that talent beautifully.

As with any anthology, some stories connected with me more than others, but that's part of the experience. The variety is what makes collections like this so rewarding - you never quite know what kind of tale is waiting for you on the next page, and there is always the possibility of discovering a new favorite author or story.

There's just something about a brand-new Halloween anthology that signals the start of the season. Crisp autumn nights, a stack of horror books, and chilling tales to sink into - it doesn't get much better than that. ALL HALLOWS EVE is a fantastic kickoff read to get into the Halloween spirit and a wonderful addition to any horror lover's October reading list.

Happy Halloween to all, and may your season be filled with great books and stories that keep you turning pages late into the night.

[ezra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Titan Books for this ARC!

Rating: 3.5 Stars rounded up.

“All Hallows Eve” is an anthology of 19 horror stories by different authors, all centered around the titular day.

Overall, I think this is a decent collection and certainly the kind of book that could be really fun to read on October 31st.

My ratings for the individual stories are:
That Hannie Agnes, Josh Malerman – 2.5
On the Path, Bleeding, Lee Murray – 3.5
Good Kids, Rich Larson – 3.5
Treats, Clay McLeod Chapman – 4.5
The Levels, Livia Llewellyn – 4
Forever Again, Michael Marshall Smith – 4
The Devil’s New Year, Stephen Graham Jones – 4.5
Merciless Feast, Linda D. Addison – 3.5
Or So the Story Goes, Christopher Golden – 4
The Kuker, Alma Katsu – 3.5
Ankou’s Night, Brian Evenson – 2.5
The Hungry Grass, Siobhan Carroll – 4
Saturday, Chikodili Emelumadu – 4.5
Give Me Something Good to Eat, Theresa DeLucci – 3
Her Mother’s Business, Garth Nix – 3
The Thinning of the Veil, Jeffrey Ford – 2.5
Dare Me, Richard Kadrey – 3
On the Night of the Welcome Stranger, Nathan Ballingrud – 5
The Auld Woman with the Broom, John Langen – 4

Overall, I would consider this a largely enjoyable collection of short stories, none of which feel repetitive despite all being set on the same day. I must admit that I don’t think any of them are scary, so this would probably be better suited for someone who doesn’t normally read a lot of horror, but wants to during spooky season.

[Rose Streamer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a short story collection, especially when I’m in a reading slump, so I was thrilled to receive All Hallows Eve, edited by Ellen Datlow. As a devoted Halloween enthusiast, this anthology felt like the perfect 'summerween' read.

What impressed me most was the range of stories included. The collection draws on different cultures, time periods, and styles of horror, which means there is genuinely something here for every reader. Some stories chilled me immediately, while others lingered in my mind long after I had finished the book.

The standout tales for me were “Treats” by Clay McLeod Chapman, “The Kuker” by Alma Katsu, “The Devil’s New Year” by Stephen Graham Jones, and “Dare Me” by Richard Kadrey.

A special mention must go to “The Hungry Grass” by Siobhan Carroll. My favourite novel is Carmilla by Sheridan Le Fanu, and I loved the clear, affectionate nod to that classic vampire tale.

Anthologies rarely achieve a consistently high standard across every story, so I almost never rate a collection five stars. All Hallows Eve is the closest I’ve come to a perfect anthology and, without question, the best short-story collection I’ve read to date.

Thank you to NetGalley and Titan Books for the ARC.

[Nikki Kossaris · Rating 5 out of 5]

All Hallow’s Eve is packed with 19 bite-sized horror stories, and there isn’t a bad one in the bowl. Whether you’re looking for creepy, emotional, or nostalgic Halloween tales, this anthology has something for every horror fan.

Standout stories include “Treats” by Clay McLeod Chapman, a heartbreaking tale of parents grieving the loss of their child on Halloween. Keep tissues nearby. “The Levels” by Livia Llewellyn builds delicious anticipation as an invitation to an exclusive college party leads somewhere unexpected. “Forever Again” by Michael Marshall Smith offers a fascinating Halloween twist on living a double life. “Dare Me” by Richard Kadrey begins with 1952 boyhood mischief before taking a much darker turn. And “Give Me Something Good to Eat” by Theresa DeLucci perfectly captures the bittersweet nostalgia of being a teenager in the 1990s.

If you’re looking for a Halloween anthology to savor one story at a time or binge in a single weekend, All Hallow’s Eve delivers.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for a review.

Ellen Datlow always curates amazing horror anthologies! She was the reason I requested a copy of this--I'm always interested to see what she'll choose, and she has introduced me to many new authors from all over the world. This Halloween anthology was maybe more "spooky" than true horror, but that didn't lessen my enjoyment at all. I loved the diverse sourcing of the stories, and often had a Wikipedia tab open on my browser to look up the Nigerian foods or Maori customs being referenced in the stories, which was super fun. As always, you don't love every story in an anthology, and some authors did not move me--but some riveted me! Standout stories included: Good Kids, Forever Again, The Hungry Grass, Saturday, Give Me Something Good to Eat, and On The Night of the Welcome Stranger. I would recommend this book for anyone looking to set the right vibes to kick off Spooky Season!

[Xanadu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ellen Datlow's latest collection is an enchanting selection of Halloween-themed stories with a who's who of horror for a table of contents. Unfortunately, the majority of these stories were not up the quality that these great writers normally deliver, many seeming rushed, simplistic or inchoate. All but one of the stories at least makes you want to get in the mood for the season (even in the middle of summer) but only a couple of them achieve the goal. Highlights include "Forever Again" by Michael Marshall Smith and "Give Me Something Good to Eat" by Theresa DeLucci.

Thank you to Edelweiss and Titan Books for the ARC.

[Fiona Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I once saw a review of a collection of short stories that claimed they were always 3 stars, purely because of the nature of a collection - some good, some less so. I can understand that, but it most definitely does not apply here.

With the exception of a couple that I found not great, this is a spookily gripping set of stories. The settings and tales are varied enough to avoid a sense of repetition, and each has the little twist that one knows to expect from a tale of the supernatural.

The absolute stand out for me is On the Night of the Welcome Stranger. Innovative, touching, hilarious and gory too - perfect for Halloween (don't eat me for calling it that!).

[Kheyra Santos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun collection that really captured the Halloween atmosphere. Some stories were genuinely creepy and stayed with me, while others leaned more into the eerie or unsettling side. As with most anthologies, I enjoyed some entries more than others, but there wasn't one that felt out of place. The variety of writing styles kept things interesting, and it was easy to read a story or two at a time. Overall, this was an entertaining collection that put me in the perfect spooky mood, especially if you're a fan of horror and Halloween.

[ScarlettAnomalyReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay so it's so secret I love a Datlow anthology and this one had some of my favorite authors so clearly I loved it.

A few of my favorites were Treats by Clay McLeod Chapman which as usual while being horror, got you with a solid grief gut punch.

The Hunger Grass by Siobhan Carroll, who is a new to be author, but one I will be watching for, this was such a good one, I don't want to spoil it but honestly might have been my favorite.

Forever Again by Micheal Marshall Smith was a super good one, living a double life is exhausting or so it sounds, but I cannot imagine dealing with this situation.

So many good ones and this will be a great October read!

[Kelcee |Booked&Busy📕 · Rating 3 out of 5]

🎃 thank you NetGalley & publisher for the early read 🎃
👻 3 ⭐️ 👻
When I think of Halloween, it’s the time of year I wanna be really SPOOKED. So when I seen this short story book I was immediately intrigued. However.. it fell a little flat for me. I was hoping it would SUPER spooky all throughout but a lot of them were hit & miss and didn’t spook or give me the horror aspect I wanted. Some were absolutely fantastic and could have been their own book, but a lot I felt kinda bored and would drift off. I had high hopes for this but in the end it wasn’t my favorite unfortunately

[julia ｡･:*˚:✧｡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley for the eARC!

Interesting and refreshingly different little collection of Halloween stories.
As is expected, there were some I really liked and some I didn't really care for.

I especially liked "That Hannie Agnes", "The Levels", "Forever Again", "The Devil's New Year" and "Or So the Story Goes"

[Evie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Titan and NetGalley for this ARC.

I had a lot of fun reading all the different stories by different authors. There was a couple new authors who I've been interested in and this really made me want to read more of their works. This was perfect to continue my summerween reading and I think I'll reread this later in the year for Halloween.

[Claire · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sadly this just wasn’t for me. Some of the stories were just okay, most I disliked and one standout 5 star which was Or so the story goes by Christopher Golden and made me want to read more from him.

Another 2 that stick out and rated probably about 4 stars are Forever again and Her Mothers Business.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the review ebook copy.

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. This was such a fun anthology of Halloween stories. All of them were uniquely different with the perfect amount of spooky; some also had a dash of horror. If you’re over the summer heat, this book will definitely hit the I’m-so-ready-for-Halloween spot.