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Twisted Tales to Tell in the Night: Another Halloween Horror Anthology
Not yet published
Expected 23 Jun 26Return to the streets where fall leaves crunch underfoot and the glow of a harvest moon lights your way.
From the new trick-or-treaters to the big kids who know which houses give out the full-size bars, these tales deliver all the thrills of Halloween night in bite-sized pieces.
In the tradition of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, each author brings their own deliciously twisted take on the season. Some stories will make you squirm, others will send an icy chill down your spine. Whether you crave the nostalgia of flickering jack-o’-lanterns or the shock of something moving in the shadows, this collection invites you to savor Halloween every night of the year because for some of us, October never lets go.
From the new trick-or-treaters to the big kids who know which houses give out the full-size bars, these tales deliver all the thrills of Halloween night in bite-sized pieces.
In the tradition of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, each author brings their own deliciously twisted take on the season. Some stories will make you squirm, others will send an icy chill down your spine. Whether you crave the nostalgia of flickering jack-o’-lanterns or the shock of something moving in the shadows, this collection invites you to savor Halloween every night of the year because for some of us, October never lets go.
- GenresHorror
147 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication June 23, 2026
About the author
Stephanie Rose
4 books165 followersStephanie Rose is a disabled, neurodivergent, and queer horror writer and editor who finds
comfort in the dark corners of storytelling. She is the author of Hiding Lies, Small Town Slasher, Roadkill Revolution Tour, and serves as editor of the Twisted Tales to Tell in the Night anthology series.
A lifelong Halloween devotee and unapologetic house goblin, she thrives on horror, true crime, and the delicious unease of the macabre. Music, especially dance and karaoke, keeps her heart beating just long enough to write another story. She lives in Washington with her partner and four cats.
comfort in the dark corners of storytelling. She is the author of Hiding Lies, Small Town Slasher, Roadkill Revolution Tour, and serves as editor of the Twisted Tales to Tell in the Night anthology series.
A lifelong Halloween devotee and unapologetic house goblin, she thrives on horror, true crime, and the delicious unease of the macabre. Music, especially dance and karaoke, keeps her heart beating just long enough to write another story. She lives in Washington with her partner and four cats.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 31, 2026
ARC REVIEW
All the short stories are Halloween-related. I enjoyed this thoroughly.
Bunny Man was a great short story. When given a warning, you should listen.
The Trap Door is an excellent short story; you never know what's really lurking behind closed doors.
Scare of a Lifetime is another good story, and the moral of the story is to be careful what you wish for.
It Lurks had an unsettling feeling throughout the story, and there is a reason for that.
The Haunting of Thornwood Cemetery is like an urban legend; you should always let the dead rest.
When Leaves Burn is pretty sinister. Small towns have stories that you should listen to if you want to live.
No Strings Attached is definitely a favorite of mine; clowns are drawn to clowns.
Trick or Treatment is another favorite of mine: we reap what we sow.
Back Home Again is creepy; what would you do if you thought a zombie was following you?
Nightmare Realm was a good story; some people you shouldn’t trust.
The Man Who Would Be Death starts out with one of my favorite Stephen King quotes and ends with a head.
Specter Halloween is another good one; animatronics freak me out.
Mallrat was good; some stories don’t want you to leave.
The Thirteen Things You Found In Your Trick-or-Treat Bag was creepy; you have to leave the past in the past to have a future. 
Thanks to Book Sirens for sending me an advanced copy to read and review.
All the short stories are Halloween-related. I enjoyed this thoroughly.
Bunny Man was a great short story. When given a warning, you should listen.
The Trap Door is an excellent short story; you never know what's really lurking behind closed doors.
Scare of a Lifetime is another good story, and the moral of the story is to be careful what you wish for.
It Lurks had an unsettling feeling throughout the story, and there is a reason for that.
The Haunting of Thornwood Cemetery is like an urban legend; you should always let the dead rest.
When Leaves Burn is pretty sinister. Small towns have stories that you should listen to if you want to live.
No Strings Attached is definitely a favorite of mine; clowns are drawn to clowns.
Trick or Treatment is another favorite of mine: we reap what we sow.
Back Home Again is creepy; what would you do if you thought a zombie was following you?
Nightmare Realm was a good story; some people you shouldn’t trust.
The Man Who Would Be Death starts out with one of my favorite Stephen King quotes and ends with a head.
Specter Halloween is another good one; animatronics freak me out.
Mallrat was good; some stories don’t want you to leave.
The Thirteen Things You Found In Your Trick-or-Treat Bag was creepy; you have to leave the past in the past to have a future. 
Thanks to Book Sirens for sending me an advanced copy to read and review.
April 4, 2026
This was such a fun collection of stories! Every page made me feel so nostalgic and I couldn’t help but wish I was a kid on Halloween night again. Each story in the book just kept getting better and better, which I didn’t even think was possible.
Some of my favorites include:
•Trick or TrEATment by Haley Newlin
•Back Home Again by Allan Dellascio
•No Strings Attached V. Castro
Lastly, a HUGE thank you to the amazing Stephanie Rose for the ARC! I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to read this one 🥰
Some of my favorites include:
•Trick or TrEATment by Haley Newlin
•Back Home Again by Allan Dellascio
•No Strings Attached V. Castro
Lastly, a HUGE thank you to the amazing Stephanie Rose for the ARC! I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to read this one 🥰
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I love Holiday horror and especially stories set on or around Halloween. I'm always on the lookout for new Halloween anthologies, even when my TBR is overflowing. I happened to notice this one when I went to update my profile on Book Sirens (which oddly still lists my social reach at less than a third of what it is) and decided to request it. After a couple of days, when it was neither approved nor declined, I withdrew my request and decided to stick with the mountain of ARCs I already have. A week later, it showed up in my email anyway, so here we are.
Why am I telling you so much about the process of getting this book instead of just getting on with a review? Because I'm struggling with this one. Not because there aren't some great stories here, but because I am not sure what age group the target audience is meant to be. Some of the stories seem to be written for young children. Others seem geared more towards a teenage audience, like those who outgrew Goosebumps and moved on to Fear Street. So while I enjoyed several stories, I'm not sure what age group to recommend it to.
A few of my favorites were The Trap Door by Skylar Crowter, in which 2 teens set out for their last ever night of trick or treating, now that they feel they are too old. They plan to make the best of this final time by starting at the home of the street's oldest and kindest resident, where full-sized candy bars are always guaranteed. When they get there, the lights are off, and something is very wrong in this house.
Scare Of A Lifetime by Joseph Buckly- A man who tries to outdo himself year after year with the best Halloween decorations in town is on the hunt for something spectacular to display in his yard this year. He will impress the neighborhood if it's the last thing he ever does.
When Leaves Burn by Donna Taylor-Who doesn't love the sharp crackle of freshly fallen leaves? It's one of the best parts of the season. But there are rules to abide by in Autumn Hollow and there are consequences for gazing up at the trees in the month of October.
Trick Or Treatment by Hayley Newlin - A woman in an abusive marriage with a man who has been experimenting on her like a mad doctor finds that revenge can be electrifying.
Back Home Again by Alan Dellascio A man who had Halloween ruined for him as a child takes his daughter trick-or-treating in his old neighborhood.
Nightmare Realm by Leigh Kenny- Friends head out to a Halloween attraction in hopes that it will be scarier on Halloween than it was on opening night. Be careful what you wish for.
These were my favorites; your mileage may vary.
My thanks to Book Sirens and Stephanie Rose
Why am I telling you so much about the process of getting this book instead of just getting on with a review? Because I'm struggling with this one. Not because there aren't some great stories here, but because I am not sure what age group the target audience is meant to be. Some of the stories seem to be written for young children. Others seem geared more towards a teenage audience, like those who outgrew Goosebumps and moved on to Fear Street. So while I enjoyed several stories, I'm not sure what age group to recommend it to.
A few of my favorites were The Trap Door by Skylar Crowter, in which 2 teens set out for their last ever night of trick or treating, now that they feel they are too old. They plan to make the best of this final time by starting at the home of the street's oldest and kindest resident, where full-sized candy bars are always guaranteed. When they get there, the lights are off, and something is very wrong in this house.
Scare Of A Lifetime by Joseph Buckly- A man who tries to outdo himself year after year with the best Halloween decorations in town is on the hunt for something spectacular to display in his yard this year. He will impress the neighborhood if it's the last thing he ever does.
When Leaves Burn by Donna Taylor-Who doesn't love the sharp crackle of freshly fallen leaves? It's one of the best parts of the season. But there are rules to abide by in Autumn Hollow and there are consequences for gazing up at the trees in the month of October.
Trick Or Treatment by Hayley Newlin - A woman in an abusive marriage with a man who has been experimenting on her like a mad doctor finds that revenge can be electrifying.
Back Home Again by Alan Dellascio A man who had Halloween ruined for him as a child takes his daughter trick-or-treating in his old neighborhood.
Nightmare Realm by Leigh Kenny- Friends head out to a Halloween attraction in hopes that it will be scarier on Halloween than it was on opening night. Be careful what you wish for.
These were my favorites; your mileage may vary.
My thanks to Book Sirens and Stephanie Rose
Review of advance copy
4/5: Twisted Tales to Tell in the Night; Another Halloween Horror Anthology
As a Halloween lover I was SOOOOO excited when I was approved for this ARC; I couldn't wait to dive into all the Halloween vibes (many of them feeling very 1990's-inspired).
Unfortunately this one was a bit of a mixed bag. I suppose most anthologies do tend to swing that way.
The problem with this collection isn't that there were any BAD stories (because, truthfully, none of them were just plain bad). I think the problem is that the collection is confused on WHO this book is meant for.
Many of the stories would fall directly into the YA horror camp. One or two could perhaps even be middle grade friendly. And a couple of the stories are darker, more complex, and clearly intended for adults.
Personally I really adored the stories "No Strings Attached" (VC Castro), "Trick or Treatment" (Haley Newlin), and "In Your Trick or Treat Bag" (Gwendolyn Kiste). I really truly wish the rest of the collection was more in line with the vibe of these stories, vs the ones that leaned maybe more juvenile.
I hope that the editor in the future maybe considers having a "Young 'uns" Collection and an "Old Folks" collection. Because these stories are FUN, they are just a little confused with an identity crisis.
Nonetheless, if you are a Halloween fan...YES, this book is worth picking up, and YES it's enjoyable, and YES it's nostalgic. Enjoy with a candy bar or two.
......
Thank you to BookSirens for the ARC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. All views expressed are my own.
As a Halloween lover I was SOOOOO excited when I was approved for this ARC; I couldn't wait to dive into all the Halloween vibes (many of them feeling very 1990's-inspired).
Unfortunately this one was a bit of a mixed bag. I suppose most anthologies do tend to swing that way.
The problem with this collection isn't that there were any BAD stories (because, truthfully, none of them were just plain bad). I think the problem is that the collection is confused on WHO this book is meant for.
Many of the stories would fall directly into the YA horror camp. One or two could perhaps even be middle grade friendly. And a couple of the stories are darker, more complex, and clearly intended for adults.
Personally I really adored the stories "No Strings Attached" (VC Castro), "Trick or Treatment" (Haley Newlin), and "In Your Trick or Treat Bag" (Gwendolyn Kiste). I really truly wish the rest of the collection was more in line with the vibe of these stories, vs the ones that leaned maybe more juvenile.
I hope that the editor in the future maybe considers having a "Young 'uns" Collection and an "Old Folks" collection. Because these stories are FUN, they are just a little confused with an identity crisis.
Nonetheless, if you are a Halloween fan...YES, this book is worth picking up, and YES it's enjoyable, and YES it's nostalgic. Enjoy with a candy bar or two.
......
Thank you to BookSirens for the ARC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. All views expressed are my own.
Review of advance copy
Twisted Tales to Tell in the Night: Another Halloween Horror Anthology
Edited by Stephanie Rose and published by Death by TBR Books
Wanna get in the of Halloween spirit a little early this year? Last year Stephanie Rose edited a wonderful Halloween anthology and she’s done it again! This one gives off all the Halloween feels: nostalgia, fear, tenderness, the hopefulness of crisp fall evenings and good candy in your bag.
Some of the stories bring us back to childhood and are fun for our little trick or treating parts. Some of the stories evoke those too cool adolescent parts and the bittersweet sadness of becoming almost too old to enjoy Halloween festivities. I think most of them are written on an adult level. Some of the stories are sweet, some are salty, and some will make you gag.
I enjoyed all the stories immensely, and here are a few of my favorites:
No Strings Attached gave me more of an adult air and made my feminine warrior part stand up and yell, “Towanda!, yes, I am that old, thank you.
Trick OR TrEATment was wonderfully full of feminine rage and.. Well, I’ll let you find out the rest!
Specter Halloween had a very poignant story about a sister and a brother and was beautifully written.
Happy early Halloween, y’all!
My thanks to Death TBR Books for allowing me to read this ARC.
Edited by Stephanie Rose and published by Death by TBR Books
Wanna get in the of Halloween spirit a little early this year? Last year Stephanie Rose edited a wonderful Halloween anthology and she’s done it again! This one gives off all the Halloween feels: nostalgia, fear, tenderness, the hopefulness of crisp fall evenings and good candy in your bag.
Some of the stories bring us back to childhood and are fun for our little trick or treating parts. Some of the stories evoke those too cool adolescent parts and the bittersweet sadness of becoming almost too old to enjoy Halloween festivities. I think most of them are written on an adult level. Some of the stories are sweet, some are salty, and some will make you gag.
I enjoyed all the stories immensely, and here are a few of my favorites:
No Strings Attached gave me more of an adult air and made my feminine warrior part stand up and yell, “Towanda!, yes, I am that old, thank you.
Trick OR TrEATment was wonderfully full of feminine rage and.. Well, I’ll let you find out the rest!
Specter Halloween had a very poignant story about a sister and a brother and was beautifully written.
Happy early Halloween, y’all!
My thanks to Death TBR Books for allowing me to read this ARC.
May 16, 2026
Another solid anthology of story for the spooky season. All of them were twisty, creepy, and reminded you to steer clear of things that go bump in the night.
Some of my favorites were:
Do You Know the Bunny Man?-a brother and sister head to a dark house for the Halloween treats. They ignore the warning and candy limit, and find out the hard way why they shouldn’t have.
Scare of a Lifetime-Lance heads to the Halloween store in search of the perfect terrifying prop for his massive display in front of his house. He finds it, and gets exactly what he wanted.
The Haunting of Thornwood Cemetery-a group of friends meet in a cemetery late at night for a dare-to go down a set of stairs under a rusty door/slab to prove it’s not haunted. But hauntings aren’t real, right?
When Leaves Burn-a payment is due every Halloween in the town of Autumn Hollow. How do you avoid it? Don’t look up at the trees. If you do….your time is up.
Halloween lovers, and horror fans alike, check this collection out. It’s the perfect book to put you in the spooky mood. 4.5 stars.
Thank you BookSirens for my arc. My opinion is my own.
Some of my favorites were:
Do You Know the Bunny Man?-a brother and sister head to a dark house for the Halloween treats. They ignore the warning and candy limit, and find out the hard way why they shouldn’t have.
Scare of a Lifetime-Lance heads to the Halloween store in search of the perfect terrifying prop for his massive display in front of his house. He finds it, and gets exactly what he wanted.
The Haunting of Thornwood Cemetery-a group of friends meet in a cemetery late at night for a dare-to go down a set of stairs under a rusty door/slab to prove it’s not haunted. But hauntings aren’t real, right?
When Leaves Burn-a payment is due every Halloween in the town of Autumn Hollow. How do you avoid it? Don’t look up at the trees. If you do….your time is up.
Halloween lovers, and horror fans alike, check this collection out. It’s the perfect book to put you in the spooky mood. 4.5 stars.
Thank you BookSirens for my arc. My opinion is my own.
Review of advance copy
Like a spirit rising from the grave, Twisted Tales is back with another installment of Halloween spookery. Overall, I felt this second go round was even better than the first!
With anthologies, you're always going to have highs and lows in the mix and I'm happy to say that even the lows are still pretty good!
For me, Halloween has always been about the magic of the night and not so much straight out horror or gore. Anything can happen but it's also a little spooky and weird. That's the prevalent feeling I had as I Trick or Treated through the neighborhood of these 13 authors.
If you need something to keep on the nightstand for a quick hit of Halloween before bed, definitely put this in your TBR pile.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
With anthologies, you're always going to have highs and lows in the mix and I'm happy to say that even the lows are still pretty good!
For me, Halloween has always been about the magic of the night and not so much straight out horror or gore. Anything can happen but it's also a little spooky and weird. That's the prevalent feeling I had as I Trick or Treated through the neighborhood of these 13 authors.
If you need something to keep on the nightstand for a quick hit of Halloween before bed, definitely put this in your TBR pile.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
*4.5 stars rounded up.* I really enjoyed this anthology! I love the concept: a collection of short stories focusing around the theme of Halloween. And they all really do focus around the holiday, but in vastly different ways that keep every story interesting. Reading this in the thick of spring made me feel like I had a piece of Halloween with me each day (yes I'm counting the days down lol). There were tricks, treats, magic, monsters, gore, eerie spaces - a bit of the many faces of horror. I loved the mix of authors and how there were some well known voices as well as voices I had not heard before. All in all, I'm very grateful to have received an ARC of this book from Booksirens as I love Rose's own writing and think she did an incredible job putting this collection together.
**I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.**
**I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.**
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This was such a fun, spooky collection of stories based around halloween.
Within the 14 stories you'll find haunted houses, trick or treating going wrong, fighting to find the perfect costume & things that lurk in the dark.
A great read to get into the halloween spirit.
I enjoyed all the stories but some of my favourites were The Trap Door by Skylar Crowter, Scare of a Lifetime by Joseph Buckley, The Haunting of Thornwood Cemetery by Maria Giahoumatos & Nightmare Realm by Leigh Kenny.
Enjoying these anthologies by Death by TBR Books & hope they release more.
Thank you to Death by TBR Books & BookSirens.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Within the 14 stories you'll find haunted houses, trick or treating going wrong, fighting to find the perfect costume & things that lurk in the dark.
A great read to get into the halloween spirit.
I enjoyed all the stories but some of my favourites were The Trap Door by Skylar Crowter, Scare of a Lifetime by Joseph Buckley, The Haunting of Thornwood Cemetery by Maria Giahoumatos & Nightmare Realm by Leigh Kenny.
Enjoying these anthologies by Death by TBR Books & hope they release more.
Thank you to Death by TBR Books & BookSirens.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is yet again another amazing hit for the Scary Stories collection! There's a story for everyone. These were my all time favorites books growing up and now that there's new books coming out or feels like a small piece of my cherished childhood had been brought back up to the surface. I found myself staying up late than intended just to keep reading more. 'Just one more story' became the lie that I kept telling myself. I ended up reading the whole book in one sitting! Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
I am utterly thankful to the editors of this amazing Halloween horror anthology for reaching out to me with an ARC. Twisted Tales II is a great foray into short horror fiction which even non horror readers will appreciate. Full of diverse voices, both established and brand new, it was simply put a joy to read. It is very similar to the Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark and thus has a sense of nostalgia too. My favourites in this series were the stories by Donna Taylor and Maria Giakoumatos respectively.
Review of advance copy
I really enjoyed getting to read this book, it worked well as a sequel anthology in the Twisted Tales to Tell in the Night. I loved the use of Halloween during this book and how each storyline worked with the characters and overall theming of the book. I enjoyed that each story had that element of difference from each other and how the authors were able to weave a tale and keep them working with the concept of the anthology.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy
5 Stars - Stephanie Rose does it again!!!! Another brilliant book of twisted tales. All the authors have done brilliantly, its a great read and its perfect for spooky season and should be read with the first book.
I liked all the stories but I do have some favourites - Do You Know The Bunny Man, The Trap Door, No Strings Attached and Nightmare Realm.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I liked all the stories but I do have some favourites - Do You Know The Bunny Man, The Trap Door, No Strings Attached and Nightmare Realm.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
ARC REVIEW- This was so fun and nostalgic, it hit in all the right spots! I really enjoyed the aesthetic, it’s an anthology so different authors and stories, but the nostalgic Autumn vibes were strong in each story, it felt super cozy. Consistent good stories and a good flow! This was a really fun read. Especially if you enjoy anthologies, love Halloween, and love nostalgia! 🧡🖤
Review of advance copy
These stories bring the magic of Halloween to life. It was a delightful collection to read. Full of nostalgic trick or treats from a wide range of authors. You are bound to discover a new favorite.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews