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Of Monsters and Menses
The debut collection from Maisie Culver, screenwriter of '80s Satanic Panic TV show HYSTERIA!
"Equal measures of glitter and gore... This book doesn't march to its own beat, it sachays, and the beat f*cking slaps." – Dani Parker, screenwriter of Netflix's MIDNIGHT MASS and Amazon's CARRIE
Of Monsters and Menses is a collection of short stories that are comedic, feminist, batsh*t takes on classic horror monsters as told by five women hiding in a bar bathroom from a guy who’s a total creep, or maybe something worse...
Includes an introduction by Jamie Flanagan, screenwriter of Netflix's THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER, and more.
"Equal measures of glitter and gore... This book doesn't march to its own beat, it sachays, and the beat f*cking slaps." – Dani Parker, screenwriter of Netflix's MIDNIGHT MASS and Amazon's CARRIE
Of Monsters and Menses is a collection of short stories that are comedic, feminist, batsh*t takes on classic horror monsters as told by five women hiding in a bar bathroom from a guy who’s a total creep, or maybe something worse...
Includes an introduction by Jamie Flanagan, screenwriter of Netflix's THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER, and more.
300 pages, Paperback
Published October 13, 2026
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Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Well, this was a rather unusual little read, and I mean that in the best possible way!
We start with our narrator hiding out in a bar bathroom, where she meets Bangs, Glitter Cheeks, the Kiwi and Spooky Teen. They’re all taking refuge from a creepy guy, and before long, they’re sharing stories about monsters. Because obviously, when you’re hiding from a creepy bloke, a spot of storytelling is the next logical step!
I loved the mix of horror, supernatural nastiness and dark humour. Each story has its own personality, and I enjoyed not knowing what Maisie was going to throw at me next. Some of the ideas are wonderfully twisted, and there’s a fair bit of weirdness thrown into the mix. Not that I’m complaining!
What I really liked was how the stories gradually connect. At first, they feel like separate tales, each doing its own thing, but as the book progresses, you begin to see how they fit together. I thought Maisie did a great job of weaving the different threads into one bigger story, and I was curious to see where everything was heading.
The monsters were great fun, too. I liked the way Maisie plays around with familiar monster tropes and gives them her own spin. There’s plenty here to satisfy horror lovers, but the dark humour stops things from becoming too serious. It’s creepy, occasionally gruesome and sometimes downright bonkers. Just how I like my horror, really!
My favourite thing, though, was Maisie’s writing style. It feels so natural and conversational, almost as though she’s sitting beside me, talking directly to me as she tells her stories. I never felt as though I was being lectured or having a story formally presented to me. Instead, it felt like being drawn into a conversation, with Maisie letting me in on what’s happening as we go along. I really enjoyed that personal touch. It’s as though she’s having a chat with you while casually introducing you to a few monsters. Nothing out of the ordinary, then!
Some stories stood out more than others for me, but I enjoyed the imagination behind the collection and the way everything fits into the bigger picture. It’s certainly not your everyday horror read, and I liked that it dared to do something a little different.
Overall, I had a lovely time with this one. The mix of monsters, horror and dark humour really worked for me, and I loved how Maisie brought the different stories together. It’s a little weird, a little creepy and a whole lot of fun. Definitely a different kind of horror read, and I’m glad I gave it a go!
Thank you to NetGalley, Shortwave Publishing, and Maisie Culver for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Publication date: October 13th 2026
We start with our narrator hiding out in a bar bathroom, where she meets Bangs, Glitter Cheeks, the Kiwi and Spooky Teen. They’re all taking refuge from a creepy guy, and before long, they’re sharing stories about monsters. Because obviously, when you’re hiding from a creepy bloke, a spot of storytelling is the next logical step!
I loved the mix of horror, supernatural nastiness and dark humour. Each story has its own personality, and I enjoyed not knowing what Maisie was going to throw at me next. Some of the ideas are wonderfully twisted, and there’s a fair bit of weirdness thrown into the mix. Not that I’m complaining!
What I really liked was how the stories gradually connect. At first, they feel like separate tales, each doing its own thing, but as the book progresses, you begin to see how they fit together. I thought Maisie did a great job of weaving the different threads into one bigger story, and I was curious to see where everything was heading.
The monsters were great fun, too. I liked the way Maisie plays around with familiar monster tropes and gives them her own spin. There’s plenty here to satisfy horror lovers, but the dark humour stops things from becoming too serious. It’s creepy, occasionally gruesome and sometimes downright bonkers. Just how I like my horror, really!
My favourite thing, though, was Maisie’s writing style. It feels so natural and conversational, almost as though she’s sitting beside me, talking directly to me as she tells her stories. I never felt as though I was being lectured or having a story formally presented to me. Instead, it felt like being drawn into a conversation, with Maisie letting me in on what’s happening as we go along. I really enjoyed that personal touch. It’s as though she’s having a chat with you while casually introducing you to a few monsters. Nothing out of the ordinary, then!
Some stories stood out more than others for me, but I enjoyed the imagination behind the collection and the way everything fits into the bigger picture. It’s certainly not your everyday horror read, and I liked that it dared to do something a little different.
Overall, I had a lovely time with this one. The mix of monsters, horror and dark humour really worked for me, and I loved how Maisie brought the different stories together. It’s a little weird, a little creepy and a whole lot of fun. Definitely a different kind of horror read, and I’m glad I gave it a go!
Thank you to NetGalley, Shortwave Publishing, and Maisie Culver for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Publication date: October 13th 2026
August 24, 2026
“Guess who’s in their Mental Breakdown Era—”
I’m going to be honest with you, I’ve had the best conversations, gotten sage advice, and even made best friends who would have my back in an instant in the ladies restroom at a bar, club, etc. I’m not sure why that is but I’m not arguing because I don’t want to lose that vibe. This book brought that vibe plus some.
Nothing makes ladies, gays, and theys bond more over being harrassed by the same creep or talking about those experiences. Stories are ways of distraction and this is what these ladies do while waiting out a creep. The stories were beyond bizarre and some were downright creepy. They all packed that same hair-raising punch that we all need in our lives. This really wasn't what I was expecting but in the best way possible. Plus who in their right minds would have guessed that ending? I sure as hell didn't.
"Of Monsters and Menses" was pure adrenaline hooked right up to your veins. It was wild and bizarre as all hell with some laughs thrown in. Can't forget those on a gloomy day.
I’m going to be honest with you, I’ve had the best conversations, gotten sage advice, and even made best friends who would have my back in an instant in the ladies restroom at a bar, club, etc. I’m not sure why that is but I’m not arguing because I don’t want to lose that vibe. This book brought that vibe plus some.
Nothing makes ladies, gays, and theys bond more over being harrassed by the same creep or talking about those experiences. Stories are ways of distraction and this is what these ladies do while waiting out a creep. The stories were beyond bizarre and some were downright creepy. They all packed that same hair-raising punch that we all need in our lives. This really wasn't what I was expecting but in the best way possible. Plus who in their right minds would have guessed that ending? I sure as hell didn't.
"Of Monsters and Menses" was pure adrenaline hooked right up to your veins. It was wild and bizarre as all hell with some laughs thrown in. Can't forget those on a gloomy day.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
“Of Monsters and Menses” - “All women should be unapologetically feral.”
★★★★☆ (4,5)
This was a delicious treat, (almost as good as those Gingerbread cookies from Grandma Jo *wink wink*) I absolutely devoured this book and it’s delightfully disturbing stories! (Literally in a day because I couldn’t stop reading) The concept felt like reading multiple short stories while also getting “the whole” story and it was filled with feminine rage, unhinged energy and monsters in multiple shaped and forms.
If Maisie Culver isn’t writing more novels I will cry!
Thank you NetGalley for my ARC, I leave this review voluntarily and in my own words.
★★★★☆ (4,5)
This was a delicious treat, (almost as good as those Gingerbread cookies from Grandma Jo *wink wink*) I absolutely devoured this book and it’s delightfully disturbing stories! (Literally in a day because I couldn’t stop reading) The concept felt like reading multiple short stories while also getting “the whole” story and it was filled with feminine rage, unhinged energy and monsters in multiple shaped and forms.
If Maisie Culver isn’t writing more novels I will cry!
Thank you NetGalley for my ARC, I leave this review voluntarily and in my own words.
October 18, 2026
WHAT A DEBUT
I recently read Maisie Culver’s debut collection Of Monsters and Menses and I devoured it in one day.
Of Monsters and Menses features a group of women who are hiding in a bar bathroom from the same man and they begin to tell each other stories. Every story is a feminist take on classic monsters and horror tropes.
This book is SO MUCH fun. Culver treads the line so well with the horrors of being a woman and genuine laugh-out-loud humor. The stories here are written with a confident voice and book is paced so well with moments of the through line interspersed between the stories.
My personal favorite stories were “The Antichris”, “28 Pills Later”, “How to Disappear”, and the darkly hilarious “The Best Gosh Darn Gingerbread Recipe That Had Nothing to Do with All Those Missing Kids”.
If you’re not sold by those story titles alone, I don’t know what to tell you.
Pick up Of Monsters and Menses. It’s a hell of a debut.
Huge thanks to Shortwave for an eARC for review on NetGalley!
I recently read Maisie Culver’s debut collection Of Monsters and Menses and I devoured it in one day.
Of Monsters and Menses features a group of women who are hiding in a bar bathroom from the same man and they begin to tell each other stories. Every story is a feminist take on classic monsters and horror tropes.
This book is SO MUCH fun. Culver treads the line so well with the horrors of being a woman and genuine laugh-out-loud humor. The stories here are written with a confident voice and book is paced so well with moments of the through line interspersed between the stories.
My personal favorite stories were “The Antichris”, “28 Pills Later”, “How to Disappear”, and the darkly hilarious “The Best Gosh Darn Gingerbread Recipe That Had Nothing to Do with All Those Missing Kids”.
If you’re not sold by those story titles alone, I don’t know what to tell you.
Pick up Of Monsters and Menses. It’s a hell of a debut.
Huge thanks to Shortwave for an eARC for review on NetGalley!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Shortwave Publishing | Shortwave for providing me with the ARC.
The set-up of this book is campy and most of the stories are also camp, but I liked that a lot. Each story is a unique reimagining of a famous monster. I really enjoyed the humor. There are а lot of media and celebrity references, which works well with the themes. The story I enjoyed the most was The Walking Deadbeat and the one I disliked the most was Frankenface.
My individual rating are:
28 pills later – 3/5 I liked the way it was written
The Walking Deadbeat – 5/5 laughed all the way through
The Antichris – 4/5 This was so funny and I always enjoy an interview style narrative
The White Knight – 4/5 Great vibes, this was a ghost story with a solid ending and story arc .
Frankenface – 3/5 it was okay, but very unbelievable, not like the others aren’t, just in here it was a bit too much
The best gosh darn gingerbread recipe that had nothing to do with all those missing kids - 5/5 Short and sweet, thank you for actually providing the recipe. I wish I could try this but I lack the skills to even boil an egg right
Mummies Mummies Mummies – 3/5 For a cat centered story this fell short for me
How to disappear – 4/5 The most complex story, it was thought provoking, solid story overall
Let me just also say that I was put off by the beginning of the acknowledgments – like, wishing bad on a person who expressed opinion speaks more about you that the other person. It just left a bad taste in my mouth, because it wasn’t even funny.
The set-up of this book is campy and most of the stories are also camp, but I liked that a lot. Each story is a unique reimagining of a famous monster. I really enjoyed the humor. There are а lot of media and celebrity references, which works well with the themes. The story I enjoyed the most was The Walking Deadbeat and the one I disliked the most was Frankenface.
My individual rating are:
28 pills later – 3/5 I liked the way it was written
The Walking Deadbeat – 5/5 laughed all the way through
The Antichris – 4/5 This was so funny and I always enjoy an interview style narrative
The White Knight – 4/5 Great vibes, this was a ghost story with a solid ending and story arc .
Frankenface – 3/5 it was okay, but very unbelievable, not like the others aren’t, just in here it was a bit too much
The best gosh darn gingerbread recipe that had nothing to do with all those missing kids - 5/5 Short and sweet, thank you for actually providing the recipe. I wish I could try this but I lack the skills to even boil an egg right
Mummies Mummies Mummies – 3/5 For a cat centered story this fell short for me
How to disappear – 4/5 The most complex story, it was thought provoking, solid story overall
Let me just also say that I was put off by the beginning of the acknowledgments – like, wishing bad on a person who expressed opinion speaks more about you that the other person. It just left a bad taste in my mouth, because it wasn’t even funny.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
📖 Title: Of Monsters And Menses
🖋️ Author: Maisie Culver
📅 Pub Day: October 13, 2026
💌 Publisher: Shortwave Publishing
📚 Format: Digital
🏷️ ISBN: 9798897320462
⏱️ Length: 211 pages
📌 Genre(s): Horror, Dark Comedy, Feminist Horror
⭐ Star Rating: 3.75
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
Of Monsters And Menses was a fun collection, but I wasn't necessarily as blown away by it as I was hoping to be.
I liked the idea of women hiding out in a bar bathroom and telling each other creepy stories about classic horror monsters. The stories themselves were definitely the stronger part for me. Some were funny, some were disturbing. I especially liked the parts that brought us back to the women in the bathroom, and honestly, I would've happily taken more of that.
My biggest gripe was the chapter lengths and structure. Some stories were short and flew by, while others felt like they went on a little longer than they needed to.
That said, there was enough dark humor, creepy men, and feminine rage here to keep me entertained. Not every story was a hit for me, but there were definitely some standouts.
Not a home run for me, but a solid, entertaining collection. I still had a good time with it and would recommend it to anyone looking for something spooky, funny, and a little unhinged for Halloween.
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
If you like:
✔️ Feminine rage
✔️ Classic monster stories
✔️ Creepy men getting what they deserve
✔️ Dark humor
✔️ Bloody short stories
✔️ Campy horror
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
Thank you to NetGalley, Maisie Culver, and Shortwave Publishing for gifting this ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.
This review is cross‑posted across multiple platforms.
🖋️ Author: Maisie Culver
📅 Pub Day: October 13, 2026
💌 Publisher: Shortwave Publishing
📚 Format: Digital
🏷️ ISBN: 9798897320462
⏱️ Length: 211 pages
📌 Genre(s): Horror, Dark Comedy, Feminist Horror
⭐ Star Rating: 3.75
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
Of Monsters And Menses was a fun collection, but I wasn't necessarily as blown away by it as I was hoping to be.
I liked the idea of women hiding out in a bar bathroom and telling each other creepy stories about classic horror monsters. The stories themselves were definitely the stronger part for me. Some were funny, some were disturbing. I especially liked the parts that brought us back to the women in the bathroom, and honestly, I would've happily taken more of that.
My biggest gripe was the chapter lengths and structure. Some stories were short and flew by, while others felt like they went on a little longer than they needed to.
That said, there was enough dark humor, creepy men, and feminine rage here to keep me entertained. Not every story was a hit for me, but there were definitely some standouts.
Not a home run for me, but a solid, entertaining collection. I still had a good time with it and would recommend it to anyone looking for something spooky, funny, and a little unhinged for Halloween.
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
If you like:
✔️ Feminine rage
✔️ Classic monster stories
✔️ Creepy men getting what they deserve
✔️ Dark humor
✔️ Bloody short stories
✔️ Campy horror
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
Thank you to NetGalley, Maisie Culver, and Shortwave Publishing for gifting this ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.
This review is cross‑posted across multiple platforms.
September 1, 2026
This book contains a collection of individual short stories which all felt like they could have been written by different authors, like an anthology, which I love, with the good, the bad, and the standout stories. I enjoyed each story (the final one is the exception) with the gingerbread cookie recipe being one of my favorites.
Very feminist satire, campy, dark, and amusing as hell, I enjoyed this book immensely.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book. 4.5⭐
Very feminist satire, campy, dark, and amusing as hell, I enjoyed this book immensely.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book. 4.5⭐
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Many thanks to Shortwave Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC releasing Oct 13, 2026.
"I saw in him the rare quality which makes a man stand out amongst men, height. Humans always listen to those who are taller and louder than them. Unless they're women. Those they tend to burn."
A collection of short stories about monsters of various kinds, told by a group of five women bonding in a bathroom while hiding from an extra creepy jerk of a guy in a bar.
With titles like 28 Pills Later, The Walking Deadbeat, Frankenface, and The Best Gosh Darn Gingerbread Recipe That Had Nothing To Do With All Those Missing Kids, you know you're in for a wacky, unapologetic, unhinged read. The short stories in this collection are fun, clever, twisted and surprising, filled with rage, wonder and delightfully mad premises and plot twists.
From new takes on classic monsters like werewolves, vampires, and ghosts, to modern inventions like family therapy, museums, and botox, Of Monsters and Menses examines a variety of evils from a contemporary, humorous, female-centric perspective.
This is a book for all the girls out there who wanted to be cool, not pretty. This is one for all the readers who like their horror with a healthy dose of humour and social critique, and this is one for anyone who has ever thought that the end of the world might actually in some ways be a relief from the soulcrushing drudgery of everyday life.
Fun, fierce and refreshingly imaginative, each story has a distinctly different feel, offering its own unique take on a monster story. And the overarching story of the five women in the grubby bar bathroom makes for the perfect intro and outro to this collection. Highly recommended for anyone who likes their horror and humour on the sharp, witty, and gritty side.
"I saw in him the rare quality which makes a man stand out amongst men, height. Humans always listen to those who are taller and louder than them. Unless they're women. Those they tend to burn."
A collection of short stories about monsters of various kinds, told by a group of five women bonding in a bathroom while hiding from an extra creepy jerk of a guy in a bar.
With titles like 28 Pills Later, The Walking Deadbeat, Frankenface, and The Best Gosh Darn Gingerbread Recipe That Had Nothing To Do With All Those Missing Kids, you know you're in for a wacky, unapologetic, unhinged read. The short stories in this collection are fun, clever, twisted and surprising, filled with rage, wonder and delightfully mad premises and plot twists.
From new takes on classic monsters like werewolves, vampires, and ghosts, to modern inventions like family therapy, museums, and botox, Of Monsters and Menses examines a variety of evils from a contemporary, humorous, female-centric perspective.
This is a book for all the girls out there who wanted to be cool, not pretty. This is one for all the readers who like their horror with a healthy dose of humour and social critique, and this is one for anyone who has ever thought that the end of the world might actually in some ways be a relief from the soulcrushing drudgery of everyday life.
Fun, fierce and refreshingly imaginative, each story has a distinctly different feel, offering its own unique take on a monster story. And the overarching story of the five women in the grubby bar bathroom makes for the perfect intro and outro to this collection. Highly recommended for anyone who likes their horror and humour on the sharp, witty, and gritty side.
September 19, 2026
I judged a book by its cover+ title without any knowledge about the author, nor did I read the synopsis. And it turned out to be my favourite cheesy feminist guilty pleasure novel that I’ve read this year. Without giving too much away the author combines a novel with a series of short horror stories being told by the main protagonists to one another in a bar public bathroom.
The short stories themselves are very remarkable of Creepshow or Tales of The Crypt. cheesy but funny horror tales of poetic justice and functional as allegorical warnings for women. Kind of like fairy tales written by George A. Romero if he was a woman. Which kind of makes a lot of sense considering the author was a writer for the tv series Day of the Dead.
This book reads like a combination of Creepshow and Dawn of the Dead (if the characters were trapped in a bar rather than a mall).
I’m a huge Romero fan so I loved it.
I read it in a day and a half. It felt like the most satisfying guilty pleasure. Like eating a whole box of super fancy chocolates all in a day.
I get sent emails from the publishers with a list of upcoming books that they are releasing with small synopses and a link to a site where I can request review copies of any upcoming releases that I am interested in reading. This novel/short story collection was sent to me as an epub arc book for the purpose of reviewing by publishers through NetGalley.
The short stories themselves are very remarkable of Creepshow or Tales of The Crypt. cheesy but funny horror tales of poetic justice and functional as allegorical warnings for women. Kind of like fairy tales written by George A. Romero if he was a woman. Which kind of makes a lot of sense considering the author was a writer for the tv series Day of the Dead.
This book reads like a combination of Creepshow and Dawn of the Dead (if the characters were trapped in a bar rather than a mall).
I’m a huge Romero fan so I loved it.
I read it in a day and a half. It felt like the most satisfying guilty pleasure. Like eating a whole box of super fancy chocolates all in a day.
I get sent emails from the publishers with a list of upcoming books that they are releasing with small synopses and a link to a site where I can request review copies of any upcoming releases that I am interested in reading. This novel/short story collection was sent to me as an epub arc book for the purpose of reviewing by publishers through NetGalley.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 14, 2026
Thank you Shortwave Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
A compilation of short stories told by a group of girls hiding from a creepy dude in a bar bathroom, some of which hit while others were just alright. I liked the overall camaraderie that was felt among the ladies while they were sharing their spooky tales. I was able to pick this up back and forth in between finishing other books and I really appreciated how I didn’t feel like I had to play ‘catch up’ with where I was in the story when doing so.
A compilation of short stories told by a group of girls hiding from a creepy dude in a bar bathroom, some of which hit while others were just alright. I liked the overall camaraderie that was felt among the ladies while they were sharing their spooky tales. I was able to pick this up back and forth in between finishing other books and I really appreciated how I didn’t feel like I had to play ‘catch up’ with where I was in the story when doing so.
August 24, 2026
This collection was such a surprise. Tied together by a central theme, it felt like a very cohesive collection with something for everyone.
As with any collection, some stories were definitely stronger than others, but the only two I wasn’t particularly keen on were the Frankenstein and mummy tales. The rest I thought were so original and funny.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free ARC provided in exchange for my honest review.
As with any collection, some stories were definitely stronger than others, but the only two I wasn’t particularly keen on were the Frankenstein and mummy tales. The rest I thought were so original and funny.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free ARC provided in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I'm pleasantly surprised by how much I loved these short stories. Each story manages to stand on its own, and while tied together with a theme ("scary stories" focusing on womanhood - from a more feminist perspective) I didn't find them similar or repetitive at all. This is a really great collection! I highly recommend to anyone who enjoys feminist horror and short story collections.
Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for this arc!
Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for this arc!
October 29, 2026
Great individual tales with an amazing story interwining them.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Note: This review is based on an ARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and Shortwave Publishing in exchange for my honest review.
Of Monsters and Menses by Maisie Culver is a collection of short horror comedy stories. The book is framed with five women hiding in a bathroom at a bar because of a creepy guy at the bar (with the exception of one of them who was just dumped). They decide to pass the time by sharing monster stories, which are the short stories we read.
As tends to happen with short story collections, there are some that were great, some that were okay, and some that were misses for me. I enjoyed the framing narrative a lot and also the conclusion of that was interesting! I did find times that I genuinely laughed outloud throughout a few of the stories. There were two in particular that I found a bit boring and predictable. However, this collection is definitely a quick read and enjoyable overall!
Check this one out if you like horror comedy and want some fun, feminist takes as well! I did enjoy most of my time reading this one and I’m interested in what more will come from Maisie Culver in the future! Thank you again to Shortwave Publishing for this ARC!
Of Monsters and Menses by Maisie Culver is a collection of short horror comedy stories. The book is framed with five women hiding in a bathroom at a bar because of a creepy guy at the bar (with the exception of one of them who was just dumped). They decide to pass the time by sharing monster stories, which are the short stories we read.
As tends to happen with short story collections, there are some that were great, some that were okay, and some that were misses for me. I enjoyed the framing narrative a lot and also the conclusion of that was interesting! I did find times that I genuinely laughed outloud throughout a few of the stories. There were two in particular that I found a bit boring and predictable. However, this collection is definitely a quick read and enjoyable overall!
Check this one out if you like horror comedy and want some fun, feminist takes as well! I did enjoy most of my time reading this one and I’m interested in what more will come from Maisie Culver in the future! Thank you again to Shortwave Publishing for this ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book immediately called to me as a series of short stories centered around womanhood and the monstrosities of men. The short stories were a bit horror, a bit camp, and a lot of fun.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Quick fun and odd with an absolutely amazing cover to go with it, these stories were so horrifically fun, each one was a monster in its own way.
The Antichist had me cackling a bit as a read it and the formatting was unique, definitely one I thought about after I was done.
The Best Gosh Dark Gingerbread Receipe The Had Nothing To Do With Those Kids, oh how I loved this and one guess as to what monster this story deals with. Also a receipe, be still my heart.
How To Disappear oh how do I even tell you about this one, it was deep and dark and just perfect.
There were so many more stories in this and I really really enjoyed it, I need to add this to my get a signed copy list.
If you love some feminist horror along with a little blood and gore this one is for you.
I will be looking for more Maisie.
The Antichist had me cackling a bit as a read it and the formatting was unique, definitely one I thought about after I was done.
The Best Gosh Dark Gingerbread Receipe The Had Nothing To Do With Those Kids, oh how I loved this and one guess as to what monster this story deals with. Also a receipe, be still my heart.
How To Disappear oh how do I even tell you about this one, it was deep and dark and just perfect.
There were so many more stories in this and I really really enjoyed it, I need to add this to my get a signed copy list.
If you love some feminist horror along with a little blood and gore this one is for you.
I will be looking for more Maisie.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was an incredible fun collection of very dark and humorous stories filled with female rage. I thoroughly enjoyed how the stories were linked together and felt like I was with these girls (in a state of drunkenness) in the bathroom of this bar. Could not put it down. My favorite story was definitely The Walking Deadbeat, but Frankenface also reminded me of The Skin I Live In which I really liked. The Best Gosh Darn Gingerbread Recipe That Had Nothing to Do With All Those Missing Kids made me even text my parents and friends how funny it was (I never do that).
Thank you to NetGalley, Shortwave Publishing, and Maisie Culver for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley, Shortwave Publishing, and Maisie Culver for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I am they demographic for this novel. I had no idea what it was about, this author was not on my radar, but when I saw the title and cover and the quick blurb the publisher put out, I knew I had to read it.
This novel is multiple stories in a story. We have a group of women who meet in the restroom. They are all mostly being bothered by a creepy man and so they are just hiding out in there. They decided, instead of leaving, to sit around and tell horror stories.
If you are like me, a woman of about 40 who had a heavy party phase from around ages 16-25, you are going to relate to this book. (And I am only putting women my age in here because I have no idea what "kids" are up to these days). Listen, making drunk bathroom friendships are like a pivotal moment in girlhood. Everyone is pretty. Everyone looks great. WE ARE FAMILY in the women's restroom. Yes, even the little underage girl who sneaks in, we got you. Full sisterhood.
Then, this group of women proceed to tell horror stories. In reality, it is just story after story of horrific things that happen to ALL WOMEN. I swear to you this book tackles each micro experience we all have - issues with our birth control, our weight, our appearance, our worth, THE PATRIARCHY... all of it. Just the daily shit we all deal with every morning when we wake up.
So. Freaking. Relatable.
Minor Complaints:
- Chapters were inconsistent. This would have been a five star read for me if the chapter lengths were more consistent. I prefer the shorter stories and some of them just went on and on... much like this sentence. See how we could have just wrapped this up??? :)
- Also found the chapters didn't consistently go back and forth between real time/the women and the stories they were telling. i think at least once we had back to back horror stories.
- I honestly wanted more from the women. It was my favorite part.
Recommendation: If you are into girl power, female rage, vengeance, and a crazy kick-in-the-face to the patriarchy ending, then this book is for you. It was simultaneously nostalgic and brand new. It was relatable. It was a good time. Definitely recommend!
Thank you to NetGalley and Publishers for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
This novel is multiple stories in a story. We have a group of women who meet in the restroom. They are all mostly being bothered by a creepy man and so they are just hiding out in there. They decided, instead of leaving, to sit around and tell horror stories.
If you are like me, a woman of about 40 who had a heavy party phase from around ages 16-25, you are going to relate to this book. (And I am only putting women my age in here because I have no idea what "kids" are up to these days). Listen, making drunk bathroom friendships are like a pivotal moment in girlhood. Everyone is pretty. Everyone looks great. WE ARE FAMILY in the women's restroom. Yes, even the little underage girl who sneaks in, we got you. Full sisterhood.
Then, this group of women proceed to tell horror stories. In reality, it is just story after story of horrific things that happen to ALL WOMEN. I swear to you this book tackles each micro experience we all have - issues with our birth control, our weight, our appearance, our worth, THE PATRIARCHY... all of it. Just the daily shit we all deal with every morning when we wake up.
So. Freaking. Relatable.
Minor Complaints:
- Chapters were inconsistent. This would have been a five star read for me if the chapter lengths were more consistent. I prefer the shorter stories and some of them just went on and on... much like this sentence. See how we could have just wrapped this up??? :)
- Also found the chapters didn't consistently go back and forth between real time/the women and the stories they were telling. i think at least once we had back to back horror stories.
- I honestly wanted more from the women. It was my favorite part.
Recommendation: If you are into girl power, female rage, vengeance, and a crazy kick-in-the-face to the patriarchy ending, then this book is for you. It was simultaneously nostalgic and brand new. It was relatable. It was a good time. Definitely recommend!
Thank you to NetGalley and Publishers for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Shortwave Publishing for the eARC in exchange for an honest review! ♡
The women’s bathroom is honestly one of the best places you could set a horror collection like this.
There’s already this weird fleeting intimacy built into it. You can meet a someone five minutes ago and suddenly you’re fixing her eyeliner, giving her a pad, holding her hair back, telling her the guy outside is a fucking creep, helping her escape through the smoking area lmao. Everyone is a stranger until they very suddenly aren’t.
That bit of Of Monsters and Menses really worked for me.
I also liked how often the horror comes back to bodies. Blood, sex, ageing, beauty, hunger, being looked at, being judged, being expected to make yourself easier for everyone around you. Eugh. The monsters fit into that because women’s bodies are already treated as public property half the time. Everyone has an opinion on how they should look, what they should do, how much space they should take up, whether they’re attractive enough, maternal enough, agreeable enough, young enough. So having a monster show up and ruin someone’s day feels pretty cathartic lol.
The humour is very broad and very camp, which moooostly worked for me. Some of the formats were fun, and I liked that Culver was willing to be a bit stupid with the premise sometimes. Horror does not always need to be solemn to have bite.
I did feel the collection was uneven though. A few stories had a really strong idea and then ended before I felt like they had done much with it, while others felt much more complete. I also wanted more of the women between the stories. Their little bathroom alliance was probably the thing I found most interesting, and I kept wishing the book would stay with them for longer.
There are some really good observations in here about womanhood, misogyny, bodies and the ways women learn to protect each other, but there were also moments where the commentary felt a little obvious to me. I understood what the story was saying before it had finished saying it.
A solid 3.5 for me.
The women’s bathroom is honestly one of the best places you could set a horror collection like this.
There’s already this weird fleeting intimacy built into it. You can meet a someone five minutes ago and suddenly you’re fixing her eyeliner, giving her a pad, holding her hair back, telling her the guy outside is a fucking creep, helping her escape through the smoking area lmao. Everyone is a stranger until they very suddenly aren’t.
That bit of Of Monsters and Menses really worked for me.
I also liked how often the horror comes back to bodies. Blood, sex, ageing, beauty, hunger, being looked at, being judged, being expected to make yourself easier for everyone around you. Eugh. The monsters fit into that because women’s bodies are already treated as public property half the time. Everyone has an opinion on how they should look, what they should do, how much space they should take up, whether they’re attractive enough, maternal enough, agreeable enough, young enough. So having a monster show up and ruin someone’s day feels pretty cathartic lol.
The humour is very broad and very camp, which moooostly worked for me. Some of the formats were fun, and I liked that Culver was willing to be a bit stupid with the premise sometimes. Horror does not always need to be solemn to have bite.
I did feel the collection was uneven though. A few stories had a really strong idea and then ended before I felt like they had done much with it, while others felt much more complete. I also wanted more of the women between the stories. Their little bathroom alliance was probably the thing I found most interesting, and I kept wishing the book would stay with them for longer.
There are some really good observations in here about womanhood, misogyny, bodies and the ways women learn to protect each other, but there were also moments where the commentary felt a little obvious to me. I understood what the story was saying before it had finished saying it.
A solid 3.5 for me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This debut collection from Maisie Culver is everything the title promises. It's a series of women-centric stories told within a campfire-style framing of a group of women trapped in a bar bathroom by an aggressive man. As they wait out the asshole pounding on the restroom door they decide to take turns telling stories, which stand on their own but also inform us about the characters telling the story. I'm a sucker for meta-fictional devices so I thought it was a fun way to handle it.
The stories all balance some dark themes and topics with a kind of tongue in cheek humor that helps it go down easier. Some favorites of mine were "28 Pills Later" where a woman goes off her birth control while being a bridesmaid to a real bridezilla, plus some unexpected changes.
"The Antichris" is told in an interview format, and will have you screaming at the pages that they should just listen to the woman and stop ignoring her.
"The Best Gosh Darn Gingerbread Recipe That Had Nothing to Do With All Those Missing Kids" wins best title for doing all the heavy lifting for setting up the story. I might even try the listed recipe... with a few modifications.
And my favorite story was "Mummies Mummies Mummies" telling the story of a revived "pet" of a pharaoh who just wants one simple thing - world domination.
Honorable mention goes to "Frankenface" which really put it's thumb on some societal issues surrounding body dysmorphia.
All-in-all it's a solid debut and I'm looking forward to seeing Culver's next foray into fiction.
The stories all balance some dark themes and topics with a kind of tongue in cheek humor that helps it go down easier. Some favorites of mine were "28 Pills Later" where a woman goes off her birth control while being a bridesmaid to a real bridezilla, plus some unexpected changes.
"The Antichris" is told in an interview format, and will have you screaming at the pages that they should just listen to the woman and stop ignoring her.
"The Best Gosh Darn Gingerbread Recipe That Had Nothing to Do With All Those Missing Kids" wins best title for doing all the heavy lifting for setting up the story. I might even try the listed recipe... with a few modifications.
And my favorite story was "Mummies Mummies Mummies" telling the story of a revived "pet" of a pharaoh who just wants one simple thing - world domination.
Honorable mention goes to "Frankenface" which really put it's thumb on some societal issues surrounding body dysmorphia.
All-in-all it's a solid debut and I'm looking forward to seeing Culver's next foray into fiction.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5⭐ rounded up
Oh, my! (Imagine Takei’s voice there.) This book was an absolute riot! A collection of eight stories plus the current plot of the girls telling the story and you get nine tales of chaotic, humorous horror!
Most of the stories were unique while a couple were spins of existing stories but still fun in their own right. Because these were all short stories, we didn’t get much in the way of getting to know the characters and everything was plot-focused, which is fine by me! The plots were fun and fast.
My favorite story was Frankenface because I love body horror. My least favorite story was Mummies Mummies Mummies which seemed to go on and on. Seriously, it felt like it was never-ending. The Antichris and The White Knight get honorable mentions, the former for being hilarious and the latter for being more on the creepy side.
The pacing of all but the one I disliked was very fast and I got through the book surprisingly quick. I didn’t want to put it down! I would have liked a little more feminine rage included but it was moderately satisfying all the same.
Overall, I very much enjoyed this book and would absolutely recommend to all.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an eARC.
Oh, my! (Imagine Takei’s voice there.) This book was an absolute riot! A collection of eight stories plus the current plot of the girls telling the story and you get nine tales of chaotic, humorous horror!
Most of the stories were unique while a couple were spins of existing stories but still fun in their own right. Because these were all short stories, we didn’t get much in the way of getting to know the characters and everything was plot-focused, which is fine by me! The plots were fun and fast.
My favorite story was Frankenface because I love body horror. My least favorite story was Mummies Mummies Mummies which seemed to go on and on. Seriously, it felt like it was never-ending. The Antichris and The White Knight get honorable mentions, the former for being hilarious and the latter for being more on the creepy side.
The pacing of all but the one I disliked was very fast and I got through the book surprisingly quick. I didn’t want to put it down! I would have liked a little more feminine rage included but it was moderately satisfying all the same.
Overall, I very much enjoyed this book and would absolutely recommend to all.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an eARC.
September 11, 2026
Of Monsters and Menses is a bundle of fun wrapped in justifiable feminine rage and love of monsters. The framing tale of a bunch of women hiding from a jerk in the bathroom while our narrator has secrets of her own starts strong, wobbles a bit, then ends delightfully. The individual stories are part of them passing time by telling monster stories that cover a variety of things that go bump in the night. There's a delightful balance of playfulness and anger throughout, and honestly cathartic scenes of monster violence. 28 Pills Later is a fun one considering the protagonist isn't all the likeable. Walking Deadbeat is a playful of the ancient vampire boyfriend trope in an ask reddit format. The Best Gosh Darn Gingerbread Recipe That Had Nothing To Do With All Those Missing Kids is a really creative use the format of online recipe posts with a sprinkling of Hansel and Gretel. Mummies Mummies Mummies starts with a Terry Pratchett shout out and does not disappoint. Would definitely recommend for a fun read if you want some spook or need some cathartis.
Thank you to Netgalley and Shortwave Publishing for the ARC of this book.
Thank you to Netgalley and Shortwave Publishing for the ARC of this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for my candid review.
An unlikely cast of women swap horror stories in a club restroom after realizing that mostly all of them had runs ins with the same creep.
The stories are all over the place. The main theme is that they all touch on everyday issues that affect women somehow but make it scary (and these things usually are scary). There’s partner violence, grooming, loss of control, and the invisibility of changing yourself to fit the needs of others.
I liked the idea of starting with the fleeting community women build in public restrooms all over the world. What if instead of quickly touching up your hair and giving the woman in the stall next to you your last pad, that the conversation continued? All of that was great. The ending just felt a little too slapstick for me.
An unlikely cast of women swap horror stories in a club restroom after realizing that mostly all of them had runs ins with the same creep.
The stories are all over the place. The main theme is that they all touch on everyday issues that affect women somehow but make it scary (and these things usually are scary). There’s partner violence, grooming, loss of control, and the invisibility of changing yourself to fit the needs of others.
I liked the idea of starting with the fleeting community women build in public restrooms all over the world. What if instead of quickly touching up your hair and giving the woman in the stall next to you your last pad, that the conversation continued? All of that was great. The ending just felt a little too slapstick for me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a fun collection of short stories with a creepy twist. I liked how the different stories connected through the 5 woman who were stuck in the bathroom. Their short stories were nice to read and I liked how the woman had their own voices shine through in the ones they told. However, I was a bit confused with the 'extra' ones since they discussed that everyone would tell one story but a lot more stories where told. So did some tell more or where some just random? This didn't make a lot of sense to me. Still, it was fun to read and the creepy elements were nicely done. The ending was a bit random but also kind of funny so I appreciated that.
The writing style was nice and I flew through this book. If you are looking for a quick and funny horror book filled with perspectives from different woman, this might be your next read!
⭐️⭐️⭐️
The writing style was nice and I flew through this book. If you are looking for a quick and funny horror book filled with perspectives from different woman, this might be your next read!
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was an interesting short story collection about five women hanging out in a bathroom waiting for a creepy guy to leave and they are sharing stories while they kill time. This book has a lot of feminism and some of the common, draining things women go through. It does get speculative in some of the stories which I really appreciated. The writing is a bit simple, but that does make it easy to digest. I really liked the story 28 pills later, that one took an unexpected turn which I enjoyed. The last story tied things together, but it wasn’t the best story in the bunch. I recommend this book if you enjoy short story collections especially if it’s a little campy, and with some creepy monsters.
Thank you, NetGalley and Shortwave Publishing for allowing me to read this book early. The opinion in this review is my own.
Thank you, NetGalley and Shortwave Publishing for allowing me to read this book early. The opinion in this review is my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
When four women convene in a bathroom to hide from a lecherous creepazoid, they deliver their own version of campfire tales to distract themselves from the lack of a safe escape plan. Each tale is tinged somewhat with this singular trapped feeling, and if you've ever been a woman with femininity presenting outward appearance or happened to walk past a construction site, I'm sure you've experienced the skin crawling dread of sexualizing unwanted stares. These stories give us women who lose themselves in the presence of lesser than them men, vampires, zombies, blood suckers in the metaphorical sense, and short kings being humbled in the presence of a Red Lady type. There is something for everyone, truly- I did not give this one enough credit initially for how utterly titillating it is. Thank you to NetGalley and Shortwave Publishing for the eARC. All opinions are entirely my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of Of Monsters and Menses in exchange for an honest review.
Of Monsters and Menses is a strange, dark, and wonderfully unsettling collection that isn't afraid to explore the uncomfortable, grotesque, and deeply personal. I really enjoyed the way these stories blended horror with themes surrounding womanhood, the body, and the experiences that can sometimes feel monstrous themselves.
Some stories hit harder than others, but overall, I appreciated how bold and unapologetic this collection was. It's weird, bloody, emotional, and definitely not afraid to make you uncomfortable.
If you enjoy feminist horror, body horror, and stories that embrace the strange and disturbing, this is one to check out.
Thank you again to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
Of Monsters and Menses is a strange, dark, and wonderfully unsettling collection that isn't afraid to explore the uncomfortable, grotesque, and deeply personal. I really enjoyed the way these stories blended horror with themes surrounding womanhood, the body, and the experiences that can sometimes feel monstrous themselves.
Some stories hit harder than others, but overall, I appreciated how bold and unapologetic this collection was. It's weird, bloody, emotional, and definitely not afraid to make you uncomfortable.
If you enjoy feminist horror, body horror, and stories that embrace the strange and disturbing, this is one to check out.
Thank you again to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Of Monsters and Menses
Authored by Maisie Culver
Published by Shortwave Publishing
I have a hard time enjoying short stories, but this book blew me away. Maisie is an excellent writer with a most wicked sense of humor and I relished every page of her writing. Stories within stories, characters who are relatable, and wonderful gore with a hearty dose of righteous feminine fury and lots of newfound friend camaraderie.
I love the take offs of the stories we read/watch in secret (Twilight, etc.), again, wicked humor. The Gingerbread story just about had me peeing my pants I was laughing so hard!
This was the first book I’ve really been able to concentrate on in months and I am so grateful to Maisie as I thought my passion for reading had vanished. If you need a laugh and a fabulous read, please, please check this book out!!!
Authored by Maisie Culver
Published by Shortwave Publishing
I have a hard time enjoying short stories, but this book blew me away. Maisie is an excellent writer with a most wicked sense of humor and I relished every page of her writing. Stories within stories, characters who are relatable, and wonderful gore with a hearty dose of righteous feminine fury and lots of newfound friend camaraderie.
I love the take offs of the stories we read/watch in secret (Twilight, etc.), again, wicked humor. The Gingerbread story just about had me peeing my pants I was laughing so hard!
This was the first book I’ve really been able to concentrate on in months and I am so grateful to Maisie as I thought my passion for reading had vanished. If you need a laugh and a fabulous read, please, please check this book out!!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I couldn’t sleep after The Chain House (adrenaline rush) and opted to dip into Maisie Culver’s debut short story collection.
It starts with a group of women trapped in a club bathroom by the presence of a creepy guy standing outside. To kill time as they wait him out, they opt to share tales of monsters and from this we are gifted 8 short fictions (number 9 is the bathroom situation).
I honestly couldn’t have read this in one sitting but I had to stop due to it being the middle of the night and my laughter was at risk of waking the household.
My favourites were Antichris, and Mummies Mummies Mummies for the most laughs, and How to Disappear for the most thought provoking.
Feminine rage, camp content, and just generally unhinged fun make this perfect for me. It’s going to be released in time for Halloween too.
It starts with a group of women trapped in a club bathroom by the presence of a creepy guy standing outside. To kill time as they wait him out, they opt to share tales of monsters and from this we are gifted 8 short fictions (number 9 is the bathroom situation).
I honestly couldn’t have read this in one sitting but I had to stop due to it being the middle of the night and my laughter was at risk of waking the household.
My favourites were Antichris, and Mummies Mummies Mummies for the most laughs, and How to Disappear for the most thought provoking.
Feminine rage, camp content, and just generally unhinged fun make this perfect for me. It’s going to be released in time for Halloween too.
October 30, 2026
Thanks to Shortwave Publishing and Netgalley for copy of this Arc
Of monsters and Menses is a short story collection that i think would fit nicely into the pink horror or bubble gum horror category. What I mean by that in particular is that its irreverent, hyper femme and has feminist overtones. Its funny absurd and campy.
If you enjoy books that are satirical I think that it will work a bit better for you than it worked for me.
That being said there were a few stories that I did really enjoy and enjoyed the framing story.
The highlights for me were
The Antichris
The best gosh darn gingerbread recipe that had nothing to do with all those missing kids
Frankenface
If you like this I think your would also enjoy
Maeve Fly by Cj Leeds, Queen of Teeth by Hailey Piper and My Monsters Aint Like Yours by R. j. Joseph
Of monsters and Menses is a short story collection that i think would fit nicely into the pink horror or bubble gum horror category. What I mean by that in particular is that its irreverent, hyper femme and has feminist overtones. Its funny absurd and campy.
If you enjoy books that are satirical I think that it will work a bit better for you than it worked for me.
That being said there were a few stories that I did really enjoy and enjoyed the framing story.
The highlights for me were
The Antichris
The best gosh darn gingerbread recipe that had nothing to do with all those missing kids
Frankenface
If you like this I think your would also enjoy
Maeve Fly by Cj Leeds, Queen of Teeth by Hailey Piper and My Monsters Aint Like Yours by R. j. Joseph
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