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Of Beasts & Bones
Not yet published
Expected 28 Apr 26Creatures. Grotesqueries. Aliens. Cryptids. Ghosts. These are just a few of the anomalies we’ve unearthed.
Join us as we pursue monstrosities, unwittingly stumble upon unspeakable horrors, and bring terrifying abominations to life. They’re all waiting for you—the monsters from your nightmares, the noises you ignored as a child, the shadows hiding atrocities you can’t fathom. They’re all there—creeping in the darkness, waiting to be discovered.
Allow us to lure you in. Let us captivate and tantalize you with the unknown. But beware, you might not be ready for what you find. Or what finds you.
Join us as we pursue monstrosities, unwittingly stumble upon unspeakable horrors, and bring terrifying abominations to life. They’re all waiting for you—the monsters from your nightmares, the noises you ignored as a child, the shadows hiding atrocities you can’t fathom. They’re all there—creeping in the darkness, waiting to be discovered.
Allow us to lure you in. Let us captivate and tantalize you with the unknown. But beware, you might not be ready for what you find. Or what finds you.
- GenresHorrorAnthologies
447 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication April 28, 2026
3 people are currently reading
13 people want to read
About the author
Robin Knabel
17 books48 followersRobin Knabel is the owner of Inky Bones Press and a horror author who covers her eyes during scary movies. She’s a member of the Chicago HWA chapter, and her stories can be found in numerous anthologies and online magazines. She enjoys drinking copious amounts of coffee & taking photographs. You can usually find her reading on her couch while being weighed down by a cat (or two).
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Each of these stories describes a new unimagined horror! If you think you have read every creature horror story, think again. All of these authors are ridiculously talented, and I was blown away by each one. I think my favorite story was Courting the Cadaver by Jessica Gleason. I think I particularly enjoyed that one because I have been obsessed with mummies since I was a young child, maybe just not to the same extent as the main character..Overall, this collection is perfect for all horror fans who want to experience unique thrills!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
The moment I finished the superb story opening the volume, Tim W. Burke's "Whale Song," I knew there were gonna be plenty of amazing stories in this huge cryptid anthology! And I was not at all disappointed: of the 43(!) tales, more than half were right up my alley: cool ideas, compelling characters, unique and clever takes on the oversaturated cryptid scenario - and the variety! Creatures in the woods, closet monsters, mutant cats, vampiric children, kaiju, exotic goddesses, lots of maritime horror, ancient bugs and giant centipedes, worms and even more worms! I had lots of fun with creatures I'd never heard of before, from aboriginal legendary beings to creatures of European lore, unfrozen fossils and ancient pests - and things go horrifically pear-shaped quickly in these stories, so I was always entertained by some horrific twist or a darkly humorous story turn (check the ending of the last story, for example). The writing style also varies: there's the standard short story but also epistolary horror, podcast transcripts, and so on. Robin Knabel, the editor, nailed it once again!
It's obviously not possible to mention all the stories I liked, so I'll just say a few words about four I had the most fun with. First and foremost, the Burke story I mentioned, a kaiju tale with fantastic imagery and a brilliant (and appropriately bleak) ending. Secondly, Jen Mierisch's "Food Baby," vacation horror comedy, was the funniest story in the book. Third, "A Classic Case" by Alex Tucker, almost a sequel to (a version of) Lindqvist's "Let the Right One In," kept me on my toes from start to finish. Finally, J.D. Sanderson's "Are You Lost, Too?", a deceptively undemanding story about a girl who's just moved and feels lonely, really gave me the chills and then warmed my heart with its ambiguous ending.
Overall, most stories were hits for me: detailed enough to creep me out, short and sweet to hit the right notes very quickly - but to be honest, I'd consider them all worth a read. Recommend!
It's obviously not possible to mention all the stories I liked, so I'll just say a few words about four I had the most fun with. First and foremost, the Burke story I mentioned, a kaiju tale with fantastic imagery and a brilliant (and appropriately bleak) ending. Secondly, Jen Mierisch's "Food Baby," vacation horror comedy, was the funniest story in the book. Third, "A Classic Case" by Alex Tucker, almost a sequel to (a version of) Lindqvist's "Let the Right One In," kept me on my toes from start to finish. Finally, J.D. Sanderson's "Are You Lost, Too?", a deceptively undemanding story about a girl who's just moved and feels lonely, really gave me the chills and then warmed my heart with its ambiguous ending.
Overall, most stories were hits for me: detailed enough to creep me out, short and sweet to hit the right notes very quickly - but to be honest, I'd consider them all worth a read. Recommend!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This anthology completely pulled me in and refused to let go.
Of Beast & Bones is one of those rare collections where almost every story delivers. The horror feels sharp, intimate, and deeply unsettling in a way that sticks with you long after you finish a piece. The imagery is vivid and raw, creating an overall atmosphere that I loved.
The collection has a real emotional depth baked in as well. Themes of grief, loneliness, desperation, and loss give the horror a foundation that makes it land much harder. These stories all carry a type of weight that manages to give a lot of stake to each piece, which is impressive given the length of each story.
Anthologies often have a few standout pieces surrounded by weaker entries. That was not my experience here. The quality stays remarkably consistent, and even the quieter stories contribute to the oppressive mood and thematic cohesion. The book feels carefully curated and delivers fresh ideas while maintaining a mood throughout.
If you enjoy horror that is visceral, and emotionally grounded, this collection is an easy recommendation.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Of Beast & Bones is one of those rare collections where almost every story delivers. The horror feels sharp, intimate, and deeply unsettling in a way that sticks with you long after you finish a piece. The imagery is vivid and raw, creating an overall atmosphere that I loved.
The collection has a real emotional depth baked in as well. Themes of grief, loneliness, desperation, and loss give the horror a foundation that makes it land much harder. These stories all carry a type of weight that manages to give a lot of stake to each piece, which is impressive given the length of each story.
Anthologies often have a few standout pieces surrounded by weaker entries. That was not my experience here. The quality stays remarkably consistent, and even the quieter stories contribute to the oppressive mood and thematic cohesion. The book feels carefully curated and delivers fresh ideas while maintaining a mood throughout.
If you enjoy horror that is visceral, and emotionally grounded, this collection is an easy recommendation.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I was thrilled to receive a copy of this book ahead of release to give an honest opinion about it. What struck me as I waded into the maelstrom of monsters was the sheer variety and imagination the authors here conjured. There were comedic stories, stories with twists and turns, tripping you up at the end, still others which went for dread inducing terror, and a few which were so gross I had to take a minute after finishing before diving into the next tale.
The editor did a great job here of creating a playlist which ebbed and flowed between those more intense stories and those which were a little lighter in mood. This helped me to have the courage to press on to the next story, and also meant there were so many surprising and innovative ways of presenting a creature, which popped up when I least expected them.
Oh, and I should have heeded Deborah Sheldon's warning about the worms in the introduction. Some of those ones were deeply disturbing.
Overall, a great collection of monstrous tales. There's something here for every kind of horror lover.
The editor did a great job here of creating a playlist which ebbed and flowed between those more intense stories and those which were a little lighter in mood. This helped me to have the courage to press on to the next story, and also meant there were so many surprising and innovative ways of presenting a creature, which popped up when I least expected them.
Oh, and I should have heeded Deborah Sheldon's warning about the worms in the introduction. Some of those ones were deeply disturbing.
Overall, a great collection of monstrous tales. There's something here for every kind of horror lover.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Of Beast and Bones, curated by Robin Knabel is the best work of art that Inky Bones Press as produced, and that's saying a lot because they have several great anthologies.
Spolier free, here are SOME of my favourites:
Courting The Cadaver by Jessica Gleason
Ancient Egypt meets suburbia.
Swept Downstream by David Jon Fuller
Lingustics, Africa and horror—was this written for me?
Colony by Sarah Chamberlain
I hate ants—like, seriously. This creeped me out like you wouldn't believe.
Then of course there's three other contributing authors that I know and love that that deserve to be mentioned for their amazing contributions and overall greatness.
They are Robin Knabel herself, Megan Diedericks and Corinne Pollard. These writers know how to keep you on the edge of your seat and make you consider sleeping with a night-light again.
This is a must read for any horror fans, because it has something for everyone in the most natural way.
Spolier free, here are SOME of my favourites:
Courting The Cadaver by Jessica Gleason
Ancient Egypt meets suburbia.
Swept Downstream by David Jon Fuller
Lingustics, Africa and horror—was this written for me?
Colony by Sarah Chamberlain
I hate ants—like, seriously. This creeped me out like you wouldn't believe.
Then of course there's three other contributing authors that I know and love that that deserve to be mentioned for their amazing contributions and overall greatness.
They are Robin Knabel herself, Megan Diedericks and Corinne Pollard. These writers know how to keep you on the edge of your seat and make you consider sleeping with a night-light again.
This is a must read for any horror fans, because it has something for everyone in the most natural way.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book is a monster lover’s dream, and a reminder that creature horror is far from exhausted. Across 43 stories, the book delivers relentless imagination: towering beasts, maritime nightmares, ancient legends, urban terrors, and things far stranger than anything lurking in familiar folklore. Such a great variety in terms of tone, too - sharp bursts of dread, a dollop of comedy, and some with real emotional clout. A handful of the stories shine, including the first story, Whale Song, also Courting the Cadaver and Food Baby. There were very few misses for me. On the whole, the collection feels bold, inventive, and mostly unpredictable. If you’re convinced you’ve seen every version of creature horror before, this book is here to prove you wrong. Recommended.
Review of advance copy
Monsters are everywhere. Some created. Some existing. Some coming from places unseen. They wait. From the quiet unsettling stories to the fights for survival, from searching for the unknown to wandering into its path, these stories offer tales of horror and dread to wonder and exploration. A book full of 43 stories, everyone is sure to find a few they love. And a few that will haunt them forever.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Another fantastic anthology from Inky Bones Press!!!! So much variety in the stories. Something for everyone who enjoys horror. I love short stories, and I enjoyed taking this book around with me and reading it while waiting for appointments. A perfect way to pass the time and be entertained.
Review of advance copy
I do have a short story inside, but it's one amongst 43 (forty-three!!!) others, so I'd be remiss if I didn't gush about how amazing this book is just a little.
Of Beasts & Bones is absolutely fantastic! I can't tell how you many times I finished reading a story, only to realize I'd once again broken out in goosebumps.
"Horrifying" isn't the only word you can use to describe this book though, as there's a lot of heart and love in some of these stories!
This collection also has a wide range of characters—I think any reader will find at least a little part of themselves inside.
The creatures are just as all-encompassing, from Sci-Fi to Fantasy under the Horror-umbrella: you are very likely to find your next favorite cryptid inside!
Beautiful, scary, perfect!
Of Beasts & Bones is absolutely fantastic! I can't tell how you many times I finished reading a story, only to realize I'd once again broken out in goosebumps.
"Horrifying" isn't the only word you can use to describe this book though, as there's a lot of heart and love in some of these stories!
This collection also has a wide range of characters—I think any reader will find at least a little part of themselves inside.
The creatures are just as all-encompassing, from Sci-Fi to Fantasy under the Horror-umbrella: you are very likely to find your next favorite cryptid inside!
Beautiful, scary, perfect!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews