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Twisted Trysts: A Spicy Monster Horror Anthology
They are the stuff of nightmares, these creatures in the shadows and under our beds, yet we can't look away.
Fear is part of the allure, after all—drawing us into the woods, into the mist, into the dark water, while others run the other way.
We yearn to be craved by what wishes to consume us.
Open yourself to 23 twisted trysts from authors and Hannah Birss, Terry Campbell, Monica Chen, Sam Crain, Astra Crompton, gaast, Arlo Z. Graves, Joachim Heijndermans, LaRita Janae, Tonja K. Johnson, C. Charles Knight, Mandy S Knight, Indigo Larkspur, David O Mahony, Jeannie Marschall, Kelsey McConnell, Dyana McGowan, Evan Noren, David Simon, Jon Stubbington, Nik Sylvan, DC Valentine, Celia Winter
Fear is part of the allure, after all—drawing us into the woods, into the mist, into the dark water, while others run the other way.
We yearn to be craved by what wishes to consume us.
Open yourself to 23 twisted trysts from authors and Hannah Birss, Terry Campbell, Monica Chen, Sam Crain, Astra Crompton, gaast, Arlo Z. Graves, Joachim Heijndermans, LaRita Janae, Tonja K. Johnson, C. Charles Knight, Mandy S Knight, Indigo Larkspur, David O Mahony, Jeannie Marschall, Kelsey McConnell, Dyana McGowan, Evan Noren, David Simon, Jon Stubbington, Nik Sylvan, DC Valentine, Celia Winter
- GenresHorror
321 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 13, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
June 24, 2026
The line between being desired and being consumed is thinner than you think.
This collection leans hard into monster desire as both threat and invitation, where fear isn't the thing keeping characters away, but the thing pulling them closer. Every story treats attraction as both temptation and risk, where desire often comes with a cost. These stories put horror first and romance second, weaving together transformation, obsession, hunger, longing, and the unsettling comfort of being wanted by something that may not be safe.
From haunted forests and forgotten caves to remote islands, swamps, mountains, roadside campgrounds, and small towns steeped in folklore, the settings are as varied as the monsters themselves. You'll find sirens, hags, spirits, shapeshifters, eldritch entities, cryptids, vampires, and creatures that resist easy labels. Some stories feel mythic and folkloric, while others are surreal, contemporary, or deeply uncanny.
What ties the collection together is the question of what happens when the thing lurking in the dark sees you more clearly than anyone else ever has. Across the anthology, characters grapple with grief, loneliness, identity, fear, isolation, and desire. The tone shifts from melancholy and tender to grotesque, unsettling, and outright horrific, but the emotional thread remains consistent: people standing at the edge of the unknown and choosing connection anyway, even when it changes everything.
A high-heat monster romance anthology exploring longing, transformation, obsession, belonging, survival, and desire in all its strange forms. It's about characters who feel lost, isolated, or unseen finding connection in the places they were taught to fear. Sometimes love looks like comfort. Sometimes it looks like surrender. And sometimes the thing waiting in the dark understands you better than anyone else ever could.
The Elevator Pitch: Sixteen stories explore the dangerous space where desire and dread become impossible to separate, bringing together monsters, myths, spirits, and creatures lurking just beyond the edge of ordinary life. The collection moves from folklore and gothic horror to body horror, dark fantasy, and supernatural romance, offering a wide range of voices and visions. At its heart is a shared fascination with transformation, belonging, and the irresistible pull toward the things that frighten us most.
Heat Level: 🖤🔥 Erotica / Kink-Forward
This collection leans hard into monster desire as both threat and invitation, where fear isn't the thing keeping characters away, but the thing pulling them closer. Every story treats attraction as both temptation and risk, where desire often comes with a cost. These stories put horror first and romance second, weaving together transformation, obsession, hunger, longing, and the unsettling comfort of being wanted by something that may not be safe.
From haunted forests and forgotten caves to remote islands, swamps, mountains, roadside campgrounds, and small towns steeped in folklore, the settings are as varied as the monsters themselves. You'll find sirens, hags, spirits, shapeshifters, eldritch entities, cryptids, vampires, and creatures that resist easy labels. Some stories feel mythic and folkloric, while others are surreal, contemporary, or deeply uncanny.
What ties the collection together is the question of what happens when the thing lurking in the dark sees you more clearly than anyone else ever has. Across the anthology, characters grapple with grief, loneliness, identity, fear, isolation, and desire. The tone shifts from melancholy and tender to grotesque, unsettling, and outright horrific, but the emotional thread remains consistent: people standing at the edge of the unknown and choosing connection anyway, even when it changes everything.
A high-heat monster romance anthology exploring longing, transformation, obsession, belonging, survival, and desire in all its strange forms. It's about characters who feel lost, isolated, or unseen finding connection in the places they were taught to fear. Sometimes love looks like comfort. Sometimes it looks like surrender. And sometimes the thing waiting in the dark understands you better than anyone else ever could.
The Elevator Pitch: Sixteen stories explore the dangerous space where desire and dread become impossible to separate, bringing together monsters, myths, spirits, and creatures lurking just beyond the edge of ordinary life. The collection moves from folklore and gothic horror to body horror, dark fantasy, and supernatural romance, offering a wide range of voices and visions. At its heart is a shared fascination with transformation, belonging, and the irresistible pull toward the things that frighten us most.
Heat Level: 🖤🔥 Erotica / Kink-Forward
February 14, 2026
Thank you to the editor for sending an ARC of this collection!
I loved this collection of horror erotica! Horror is my favorite genre and I've been trying to read more erotica. I love that this book featured such a variety of stories from many diverse voices. There were plenty of LGBTQIA+ stories in this collection. I loved that it featured cryptids, forest gods, vampires, etc. I'm a huge nature lover, and so many of these stories were set in nature. There was a constant theme of empowerment, as well. All of the stories were well written, but a few that stood out were Fisher of Men, In the Blood, Solomon's Song, Headless, and Prey. I think that the erotic was done exceptionally well. I also loved that in most of the stories (not all), everything was consensual, which is a huge plus for me when it comes to horror erotica.
I loved this collection of horror erotica! Horror is my favorite genre and I've been trying to read more erotica. I love that this book featured such a variety of stories from many diverse voices. There were plenty of LGBTQIA+ stories in this collection. I loved that it featured cryptids, forest gods, vampires, etc. I'm a huge nature lover, and so many of these stories were set in nature. There was a constant theme of empowerment, as well. All of the stories were well written, but a few that stood out were Fisher of Men, In the Blood, Solomon's Song, Headless, and Prey. I think that the erotic was done exceptionally well. I also loved that in most of the stories (not all), everything was consensual, which is a huge plus for me when it comes to horror erotica.
February 27, 2026
Okay a collection of spicy monster stories with lots of horrible men getting their comeuppance? Uh, yes please. Especially relevant in today’s political climate. There is such a good mix in this anthology. Body horror, fantasy, supernatural, feminist rage, sapphic romance, it’s so so good if you are a fan of all those things.
Only a 4 star because some spicy terms didn’t do it for me, but overall very fun to read!
Only a 4 star because some spicy terms didn’t do it for me, but overall very fun to read!
April 7, 2026
Some truly unsettling stories in this anthology collection.
Shitty men getting what's coming to them (my fave). Absolutely weird and obscure and unique monsters. Spice that made me blink twice. Some didn't land for me, while others certainly did.
Definitely recommend if horror and monster sex is your thing. And heck, even if it's not!
Shitty men getting what's coming to them (my fave). Absolutely weird and obscure and unique monsters. Spice that made me blink twice. Some didn't land for me, while others certainly did.
Definitely recommend if horror and monster sex is your thing. And heck, even if it's not!
May 7, 2026
This is a spicy monster horror anthology. Each writer had a unique voice and made the nightmarish creatures alluring. There were many stories that were imaginative and well written. They made me think about what could be lurking in the shadows or could tempt me to enter a dark forest. 👀
23 Short Stories | Horror | Paranormal | Dark | Spicy | Romance | Sapphic | 📖 321 Pages
23 Short Stories | Horror | Paranormal | Dark | Spicy | Romance | Sapphic | 📖 321 Pages
July 3, 2026
Fisher of Men by Hannah Birss - From ecstasy to bound forever… yikes! I didn’t realize that the “Fisher” part of the title wasn’t literal until the end!
A Sigil to Bind the Night by Tonja K. Johnson - Beautiful and terrifying, surprisingly emotional at the end. I think Tisiphone and Ozil will live on in my girl-goals.
Winch Cave by gaast - what did I just read? I didn’t find it to be horror so much as completely bonkers. A truly wild concept.
A Rotting Crown of Birch by Celia Winter is morbid and symbolically resonant, all at once. I enjoyed the Marya gained power over men, though it is a bit gristly…
For in that Sleep of Death by Jon Stubbington - illustration
A Place of No Mercy by Jeannie Marschal is a satisfying read, with perfectly executed revenge and surprisingly tender ending. I quite liked this one!
The Kulwin Siren by Evan Noren brings two old lovers together in a terrible way. I found this one both poignant and sadly sweet.
Earth Song by Monica Chen tells the story of a mysterious unmaking, and of women claiming their own way and their own destiny.
One Last Kiss by Terry Campbell - illustration
Sweetheart by DC Valentine - ugh. This one was disturbing. I’m fine with MM, but that final interaction… eeeew.
There’s Something in the Forest by Mandy S Knight is sadness and darkness. A poignant read.
In the Blood by Joachim Heijndermans was oddly monstrous, and had a slightly manic vibe.
Tentacle Satisfaction by David M. Simon - illustration
Devout Consummation by Sam Crain brings a touching story of a love that lasts forever, beyond death and monstrous acts. A touching read.
Angel Beyond the Flames by. C. Charles Knight is ephemeral retribution that leads to a wonderful forever.
Inheritance by David O’Mahony has a disturbing ritual that keeps the land satisfied. I’m not sure how I feel about it…
Solomon’s Song by LaRita JaNa is a tale about heading warnings… and what happens to you when you don’t. Dark, very dark.
Siren by. Dyana McGowan - illustration
You Go into the Woods to Die by Arlo Z. Graves is an interesting take on transformation.
Headless by Astra Crompton is intimately disturbing, yet beautiful as death.
Prey by Indigo Larkspur brings together forest goddess, a little doe, and one who thinks he’s in charge. I definitely had to skip a couple of paragraphs, but I wasn’t sad he got what he deserved.
Satyr by Nik Sylvan - illustration
Swamp Pearls by. Kelsey Christine McConnell - I loved the ending - finders keepers - and the finding of beauty in the monstrous was wonderful.
We Deliver! by Syd - this one, I barely know what happened, let alone what to think…
Eyes in the Dark by. K. York - is terrifying in the uncertainty and the unavoidable impending doom, with an ending that was hopeful and satisfying.
A Sigil to Bind the Night by Tonja K. Johnson - Beautiful and terrifying, surprisingly emotional at the end. I think Tisiphone and Ozil will live on in my girl-goals.
Winch Cave by gaast - what did I just read? I didn’t find it to be horror so much as completely bonkers. A truly wild concept.
A Rotting Crown of Birch by Celia Winter is morbid and symbolically resonant, all at once. I enjoyed the Marya gained power over men, though it is a bit gristly…
For in that Sleep of Death by Jon Stubbington - illustration
A Place of No Mercy by Jeannie Marschal is a satisfying read, with perfectly executed revenge and surprisingly tender ending. I quite liked this one!
The Kulwin Siren by Evan Noren brings two old lovers together in a terrible way. I found this one both poignant and sadly sweet.
Earth Song by Monica Chen tells the story of a mysterious unmaking, and of women claiming their own way and their own destiny.
One Last Kiss by Terry Campbell - illustration
Sweetheart by DC Valentine - ugh. This one was disturbing. I’m fine with MM, but that final interaction… eeeew.
There’s Something in the Forest by Mandy S Knight is sadness and darkness. A poignant read.
In the Blood by Joachim Heijndermans was oddly monstrous, and had a slightly manic vibe.
Tentacle Satisfaction by David M. Simon - illustration
Devout Consummation by Sam Crain brings a touching story of a love that lasts forever, beyond death and monstrous acts. A touching read.
Angel Beyond the Flames by. C. Charles Knight is ephemeral retribution that leads to a wonderful forever.
Inheritance by David O’Mahony has a disturbing ritual that keeps the land satisfied. I’m not sure how I feel about it…
Solomon’s Song by LaRita JaNa is a tale about heading warnings… and what happens to you when you don’t. Dark, very dark.
Siren by. Dyana McGowan - illustration
You Go into the Woods to Die by Arlo Z. Graves is an interesting take on transformation.
Headless by Astra Crompton is intimately disturbing, yet beautiful as death.
Prey by Indigo Larkspur brings together forest goddess, a little doe, and one who thinks he’s in charge. I definitely had to skip a couple of paragraphs, but I wasn’t sad he got what he deserved.
Satyr by Nik Sylvan - illustration
Swamp Pearls by. Kelsey Christine McConnell - I loved the ending - finders keepers - and the finding of beauty in the monstrous was wonderful.
We Deliver! by Syd - this one, I barely know what happened, let alone what to think…
Eyes in the Dark by. K. York - is terrifying in the uncertainty and the unavoidable impending doom, with an ending that was hopeful and satisfying.
May 1, 2026
What a collection! If you are looking for weird, grotesque, and still somehow beautiful short stories about monstrous desire - look no further.
Twisted Trysts explores tiny worlds of horror and want, wrapped up in very real situations and needs; escapism, revenge, transformation, and companionship. You might feel uncomfortable as the stories and abominations unfold, but you may also feel a sense of kinship with monster and prey. Carnal desire comes in all forms, and these stories explore the vastness of possibility through a bloodied, grimy lens.
This is definitely a collection to read the trigger warnings for first! The scenes can be very graphic, and many of the topics can be upsetting. But, I think that is the beauty of this kind of collection. The authors all handled their ideas and characters with care, and there was ample representation and understanding of different cultures and queer experience.
My favorite stories were of those that re-told folk tales from a different perspective, or had them take on a new life and understanding all together. Overall, these stories were incredible creative and moody, and I can't wait to explore some of these author's works more! Praise to Dead Fox for highlighting such a diverse cast of writers and stories.
Spice: 5/5
Twisted Trysts explores tiny worlds of horror and want, wrapped up in very real situations and needs; escapism, revenge, transformation, and companionship. You might feel uncomfortable as the stories and abominations unfold, but you may also feel a sense of kinship with monster and prey. Carnal desire comes in all forms, and these stories explore the vastness of possibility through a bloodied, grimy lens.
This is definitely a collection to read the trigger warnings for first! The scenes can be very graphic, and many of the topics can be upsetting. But, I think that is the beauty of this kind of collection. The authors all handled their ideas and characters with care, and there was ample representation and understanding of different cultures and queer experience.
My favorite stories were of those that re-told folk tales from a different perspective, or had them take on a new life and understanding all together. Overall, these stories were incredible creative and moody, and I can't wait to explore some of these author's works more! Praise to Dead Fox for highlighting such a diverse cast of writers and stories.
Spice: 5/5
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I am not typically a smut reader however, I thoroughly enjoyed this anthology! This collection has everything from fantasy to body horror to vengeance and feminine rage. All unique, and all spicy. The stories are all beautifully written and feature plenty of goddesses, monsters, demons and LGBTQ relationships. There is something for everyone in this collection and it’s a perfect Valentine’s Day read!
April 7, 2026
Eighteen short stories with five drawings and two bonus stories. One of the things I really enjoyed about this collection was the monsters were monstrous in appearance and actions though they were not the only ones. I also liked that the authors played around with what we think we know about certain monsters and the tropes that come with them. Overall a satisfying way to spend your time.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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July 2, 2026This collection is "not for the faint of heart". And yet, it balances heavy trigger warnings—including trauma, power imbalances, and extreme violence—with profound compelling character dynamics. This is for readers who want their romance fiercely queer, passionate, and dripping with monster lore, and more!
Final Verdict: 4.5 / 5
A must-read!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Final Verdict: 4.5 / 5
A must-read!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 20, 2026
This was the perfect mix of modern and historical tales of monstrous love, or lust; depending on which story you read. I loved the uniqueness of each story, and how no monster was the same. The lack of popular monsters was also a blessing; a girl can only read so much about the same monster. I appreciated how there were also a ton of queer stories included in this anthology.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 1, 2026
This is a collection of stories from a few different authors. Each story is quite short, with some spice and a whole lot of creepy horror. It made for a fun and entertaining read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 18, 2026
10/10 no notes. I love seeing shitty men get eviscerated by monsters.
March 29, 2026
25 amazing monster horror romance shorts that will have you hooked and having dreams or nightmares! A great way to meet new authors
May 17, 2026
Fantastic and fun read
July 1, 2026
This was a great collection of twisted and spicy monster stories. I devoured these. Definitely some good stories in this.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews