The Heart of Elder Horrors

by Jessica Cranberry, C. Vonzale Lewis, Meg Dailey

A woman awakens in the river with a dead man beside her. A creature is chased into the human realm and cut off from safety. A practical effects artist is drawn into a cursed production responsible for her mother’s disappearance. An investigator is called to a manor harboring a dark secret. A private investigator must prove the guilt of her prey before the next full moon. A teacher learns the horrible price of being an outsider. A deadly game promises death to a young woman whose identity is in question.

Presented with unspeakable danger and a mystery not easily solved, in The Heart of Elder Horrors creatures from lore embark on a perilous journey to find the truth. Will they succeed? Or will the very answers they seek cost them all they hold dear.

345 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication October 6, 2026

Reviews

[Geff Ratcheson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carla Lewis Story: 5/5
Entire Book: 3.43 / 5


Anthology. Part gothic styled horror, part supernatural/paranormal. I am mainly reviewing C Vonzale Lewis' (also referred to as Carla Lewis in the book) story, but will also leave stars & quick comments on the other stories. This is my first experience with all the authors other than Ms Lewis who's writing I find very enjoyable & thoughtful.

1. Undertow by AJ Verana 3/5

It took me a few pages to get into this one, but the further I got, the more I enjoyed it. Nice surprise ending.

2. Godsworn by Jason Bustard 3/5

Similar to the previous story, really boring to start & improved as it went on.

3. To Carry The Witche's Lanter by Jessica Cranberry 4/5

I enjoyed this one a bit more. It has to do with a school teache in a small town being turned into a witch. Includes a romance that doesn't happen (rare in books these days!) Held my attention.

4. The Beast Lay Still by C Vonzale Lewis. 5/5

This is the main reason I read the book. Historically I really enjoy Ms. Lewis' work, And this is no different. 1 small part Dorian Grey, 1 small part The Werewolf, This feels to me like a crime fantasy. Our heroine is both a Werewolf (related by blood to Dorian Grey), & a very good P.I.) Definately a page turner that I couldn't put down from start to finish. I hope at some point that Ms Vonzale-Lewis gets the recognition she deserves. She also manages to make a very dangerous werewolf quite likeable. Great story!

5. Skin Of The Sea by Katya De Becerra 4/5

I enjoyed this, Plot revolves around making a sequel to a fictional movie of Creature From The Black Lagoon.

6. Wicked Game by Meg Dailey 4/5

A very scary party. Fun Read.

7 Road signs by Kristin Jaques 1/5

I just couldn't get drawn in by this one & did not finish it.

I received an Advanced Reader's Copy at no charge & am leaving an unbiased review

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Heart of Elder Horrors is a wonderfully eerie, imaginative collection that blends folklore, dark fantasy, and creeping dread into a series of stories that feel both mythic and deeply human. Each tale drops you straight into a world already in motion — a woman waking beside a corpse in a river, a creature stranded far from home, a cursed film set, a manor hiding secrets, a hunt under the full moon. The variety is impressive, yet the tone remains cohesive: unsettling, atmospheric, and full of that delicious sense that something ancient is stirring just out of sight.

What I loved most is how each story balances its supernatural elements with emotional weight. These aren’t just monsters and mysteries; they’re characters grappling with identity, loss, belonging, and the cost of truth. The anthology moves seamlessly from gothic tension to folkloric horror to cinematic unease, and every entry feels like a doorway into a larger, darker world.

The pacing is tight, the imagery vivid, and the sense of danger constant. Even the shortest pieces linger, leaving behind that prickling awareness that the answers you seek might be the very thing that destroys you. It’s a collection that rewards curiosity — and punishes it, too.

A rich, atmospheric anthology perfect for readers who love their horror steeped in lore and layered with emotion. Strange, haunting, and beautifully crafted.

with thanks to the writers, publisher and netgalley for the ARC

[Ivy Bookdragon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great collection of short stories based on several types of folklore mixed with dark fantasy and horror elements.
I greatly enjoyed these new spins on classic folklore entities and how their myths, magic or simply their very being impacts the land and people around them.

All the stories are well written, each author chose a folklore legend and wrote their own twist on it going from a woman who wakes up at a river who lost her memories to a young student who works at a horror movie remake and finds the secrets of her mother to a very intriguing spin on the tale of Dorian Gray with a twist of werewolf.
Like with every anthology, there are stories you like, some you find less entertaining and those you absolutely devour.
My favorites here are definitely Undertow by AJ Vrana and To Carry The Witch's Lantern by Jessica Cranberry.

Overall I enjoyed this whole collection though, a great read for the spooky season!

[Leslie Rush · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance copy from Carla Lewis through Bookfunnel. No spoilers!

I'm not a regular horror reader, but these stories are my favorite kind--something in the "normal" world gets turned inside out and we get a brief, unexpected glimpse into another one. Or, a new twist on an old classic, like Ms Lewis's reimagined Dorian Grey.
Every story in this collection is creepy and will grab you by the throat when you least expect it. From a Jersey Devil to werewolves, to a lantern that facilitates the changing of the witchy guard, the "elder horrors" are ancient, ancestral dwellers of the woods, the rivers, and the night itself. And they have something to tell you!

[Marianna (marylest) Porcino · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great stories..Full review coming soon!

[Jessi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such an interesting book! With 7 novella from all different folklore categories, it was so fun! The Jersey devil, fae, werewolves and vamps and other creatures that bump in the night. If you are looking for a quick folklore exploration then read this book! I could not pick a favorite, they were all fantastic in their own way.

Thank you so much Netgalley for my ARC copy.