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The October Society: Season One
Halloween approaches, and The October Society gathers. They come to share their stories. Tales of dark magic and crooked lies. Of tragic pasts and wicked cruelty. Of misguided misadventure and sinister pranks…
Collected here are the first six episodes of the spookiest show that never was. A series only found in the static between channels, that can only be watched on broken TVs in dusty attics and damp basements. Tune in, if you can, because the author of My Zombie Sweetheart welcomes you to The October Society.
Collected here are the first six episodes of the spookiest show that never was. A series only found in the static between channels, that can only be watched on broken TVs in dusty attics and damp basements. Tune in, if you can, because the author of My Zombie Sweetheart welcomes you to The October Society.
232 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 1, 2021
85 people are currently reading
1982 people want to read
About the author
Christopher Robertson
19 books344 followersChristopher Robertson writes cinematic pulp fiction that's often described as both wholesome and gruesome, sometimes in the same sentence. He won both the Gold award for Best Novel and Silver for Best Audiobook at the 2023 Godless 666 Awards.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
August 4, 2022
This collection really shows how talented Chris is! The variety is amazing; there’s literally something for everyone in this one! His writing is so damn seamless and he makes it so easy to visualize every moment. Chris has quickly become one of my favourite authors! Highly highly recommend!!
dnf
October 12, 2025DNF at 15%
Came here for 90s Spooky Season nostalgia but this just didn’t fill the void. The first story was inferior and set the bar to hopeless for the remainder of the book. Not to mention my initial thought wasn’t one of endearment toward the Are You Afraid of the Dark resemblance. It felt like it was trying way too hard to be exactly the same. Also, it was written like it was a TV show which I understand was probably a creative endeavor for the author, but it was too weird for me to enjoy. Maybe if the stories would have been better… Anyway, Spooky Season is too short to waste! Moving on!
Came here for 90s Spooky Season nostalgia but this just didn’t fill the void. The first story was inferior and set the bar to hopeless for the remainder of the book. Not to mention my initial thought wasn’t one of endearment toward the Are You Afraid of the Dark resemblance. It felt like it was trying way too hard to be exactly the same. Also, it was written like it was a TV show which I understand was probably a creative endeavor for the author, but it was too weird for me to enjoy. Maybe if the stories would have been better… Anyway, Spooky Season is too short to waste! Moving on!
October 19, 2023
4.5 rounded up to 5 stars.
The October Society is the perfect book to read during the spooky season. Especially if you’re a fan of 90s nostalgia and shows like “Are You Afraid of the Dark?” Which the author borrows influences from and creates his own spin on the classic TV series. I’m a big fan of Robertson’s writing style and I don’t think anyone else would have been better suited to write a book that reads cinematic enough to feel as if you’re actually watching it. From a group of masked kids taking turns telling stories around a campfire to commercial breaks (that act like Easter eggs to the authors previous work) and chapters titled as episodes, it creates an immersive reading experience that is so well crafted and extremely entertaining. (Also can’t forget the spooky Spotify playlist that is included!)
Except for the story in the second episode that started off strong but then took a strange turn that felt a bit disconnected, I loved all the other episodes. I think my favorites are between “The Dead-End Drive-In”, “That Dog Life” and “The Last Halloween”. I also enjoyed the story of the kids telling the stories, which has a twist of its own that I didn’t see coming. Absolutely brilliant!
If you’re looking for a YA Horror short story collection, I highly recommend checking this out. Now on to Season Two!
The October Society is the perfect book to read during the spooky season. Especially if you’re a fan of 90s nostalgia and shows like “Are You Afraid of the Dark?” Which the author borrows influences from and creates his own spin on the classic TV series. I’m a big fan of Robertson’s writing style and I don’t think anyone else would have been better suited to write a book that reads cinematic enough to feel as if you’re actually watching it. From a group of masked kids taking turns telling stories around a campfire to commercial breaks (that act like Easter eggs to the authors previous work) and chapters titled as episodes, it creates an immersive reading experience that is so well crafted and extremely entertaining. (Also can’t forget the spooky Spotify playlist that is included!)
Except for the story in the second episode that started off strong but then took a strange turn that felt a bit disconnected, I loved all the other episodes. I think my favorites are between “The Dead-End Drive-In”, “That Dog Life” and “The Last Halloween”. I also enjoyed the story of the kids telling the stories, which has a twist of its own that I didn’t see coming. Absolutely brilliant!
If you’re looking for a YA Horror short story collection, I highly recommend checking this out. Now on to Season Two!
September 24, 2022
"The season turns, moving us ever closer to the night when the line between the living and the dead blur to the imperceptible. Restless things that once were come to life as the October magic whispers to them. They're drawn to it, to the season, to the Hallow Fire, as we all are"
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Very minor spoilers/ review for The October Society
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The October Society by Christopher Robertson aka @kit_romero opens with a young child coming home to their bedroom where their broken TV sits. But soon their TV comes to life and starts playing a show called "The October Society". The October Society centres around a group of teens, Derek and his dachshund Rascal, Braden, Chardea, Dino and Gwennie who gather round a fire and tell stories, jotting them down in the Society's black leather book. We hear some of their tales in the form of episodes including "The Cottage in the Woods", "The Tragedy of Old Man Maze" and others...
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Chris asked me if I'd do an arc review for this one and I was happy to read it ready for release day
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I did really enjoy this one! The characters and their tales are all very very good. My personal favourite was Gwennie and her tale "The Cottage in the Woods". But all the stories are great! All the stories offer you as the reader something new and original. As are the characters. You will like them all and they all have a nice level of depth to them! It's a very well done collection and the decision to frame it as a TV show really works. There are ad breaks included in the stories but they do work. I recommend you check this collection out when it launches! Horror fans will love it!
.
Very minor spoilers/ review for The October Society
.
The October Society by Christopher Robertson aka @kit_romero opens with a young child coming home to their bedroom where their broken TV sits. But soon their TV comes to life and starts playing a show called "The October Society". The October Society centres around a group of teens, Derek and his dachshund Rascal, Braden, Chardea, Dino and Gwennie who gather round a fire and tell stories, jotting them down in the Society's black leather book. We hear some of their tales in the form of episodes including "The Cottage in the Woods", "The Tragedy of Old Man Maze" and others...
.
Chris asked me if I'd do an arc review for this one and I was happy to read it ready for release day
.
I did really enjoy this one! The characters and their tales are all very very good. My personal favourite was Gwennie and her tale "The Cottage in the Woods". But all the stories are great! All the stories offer you as the reader something new and original. As are the characters. You will like them all and they all have a nice level of depth to them! It's a very well done collection and the decision to frame it as a TV show really works. There are ad breaks included in the stories but they do work. I recommend you check this collection out when it launches! Horror fans will love it!
October 5, 2024
I love this book so much! Christopher Robertson has such a unique writing style that draws you in instantly, and honestly, he's the perfect author for movie watchers. His writing style is like reading a movie, with cut scenes and commercial breaks that, while way shorter than an actual commercial break, are very interesting and intriguing. This book has a very strong Are You Afraid of the Dark feel with the same concept. A group of kids sitting around a fire in the woods telling scary stories within a bigger story with a twist. I guessed the twist very early on, but it didn't stop me from loving the book any less. Perfect October read for sure!
October 28, 2022
Every October the October Society come together. A group of kids sit around a campfire each telling a spooky story. There were stories about ghosts, zombies, time-travel and more. I loved the way it made you feel like you were reading a movie as there were adverts in the stories. Now for the adverts .............. now back to The October Society. All the kids telling the stories were great characters, and the stories were spooky fun. The book was very well written . This is the first book I've read by this Author. I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to read the second book.
September 17, 2023
Just read this mans books thankyou.
September 4, 2021
Also reviewed on www.curiosityboughtthebook.com
A 5 skull read:
A group of five kids sit around a glowing campfire in the deep, dark woods. They meet there every night in the days leading up to Halloween to share their best and creepiest stories. Every night another person takes a turn and the readers get to see their stories unfold.
When I say Christopher Robertson has a way with words, I mean he can quite literally pull you into a story and make you see what he does.
The October Society was different from books I’ve read in the past, as this one described the surroundings and scenes in such detail, that I sometimes felt I was watching a show instead of reading a book.
We have a phrase for this in Germany, called “Kopfkino”, which translates to “head cinema” and that’s exactly what I felt while reading. The writing is as clear and descriptive as seeing the scenes unfold in front of you on a TV screen.
The characters are all lovely, and I had a hard time picking my favorite. Well, you guys know me by now, so the dachshund is a big contender.
What I also found very interesting was the written commercials interrupting the stories from time to time, making it seem even more like a TV show.
The biggest of thank-you to the author for the advanced copy!
A 5 skull read:
A group of five kids sit around a glowing campfire in the deep, dark woods. They meet there every night in the days leading up to Halloween to share their best and creepiest stories. Every night another person takes a turn and the readers get to see their stories unfold.
When I say Christopher Robertson has a way with words, I mean he can quite literally pull you into a story and make you see what he does.
The October Society was different from books I’ve read in the past, as this one described the surroundings and scenes in such detail, that I sometimes felt I was watching a show instead of reading a book.
We have a phrase for this in Germany, called “Kopfkino”, which translates to “head cinema” and that’s exactly what I felt while reading. The writing is as clear and descriptive as seeing the scenes unfold in front of you on a TV screen.
The characters are all lovely, and I had a hard time picking my favorite. Well, you guys know me by now, so the dachshund is a big contender.
What I also found very interesting was the written commercials interrupting the stories from time to time, making it seem even more like a TV show.
The biggest of thank-you to the author for the advanced copy!
September 4, 2021
Review to come.
August 17, 2022
Cute October spookiness. I'm liking the way this writer makes you feel like you're watching something. This time it's a TV. There's adverts which I though were just weird but it does add a creepy touch later on and makes it seem real. This is a weird but fun anthology since it's more like a full story just filled with shorts too.
March 14, 2022
In the author blurb for this one, it explicitly says that Christopher Robertson likes to write books that think they’re movies - and it’s pretty accurate. The October Society does feel like a fun anthology flick, full of creepy characters, creepy stories, and even creepy ad breaks. In less talented hands, this approach would come off as a cheap gimmick, but Robertson has the talent and the swagger to pull it off, and the result is a book you’ll be desperate to whiz through, and a bold and creative offering from a writer with real potential. I will definitely be looking for more of his work.
October 18, 2022
Perfect Halloween read - all the nostalgia I was looking for. Beautiful writing as well!
September 14, 2022
6 kids meet around a Hallow campfire every October to tell scary stories around the campfire to countdown to Halloween. This book is 6 short "scary" stories and little bits of side story about the story tellers. I loved it so much I am going to read it to my 10, 12 and 15 yr old during October. It's a perfect mix of scary/fall/Halloween fun that isn't too over the top so you can share it with your kids if they are into horror/Halloween. If they scare really easily I wouldn't but my kids love it and it's a family pastime for us.
August 24, 2022
More bloodless than my usual fair, but I dig this writer's weird meta way so took this YA nostalgia trip, and I'm glad I did.
October 14, 2021
Christopher Robertson’s new book delves back into the 90s era of kid-friendly horror, taking a leaf or two from RL Stine and Are You afraid of the Dark's books. But any ideas of mere homage are quickly dispelled by the author's imagination and writing, which is sharp, poppy and most importantly for this type of book, fun.
We are introduced to the October Society, a group of friends who meet by the Hallowed Fire in October to share scary tales. The stories all vary in terms of sub-genre, but all have that balance of fun and spooky and end with a classic anthology horror twist ala Creepshow.
My favourites included The Cottage In The Woods, dark fairytale perfection about two sisters living in a cottage surrounded by foreboding woods. But where are their parents, and who is that man that approaches the border of their property, eager to get in? With shades of Red Riding Hood, this is an excellent opener and a good indicator of the many strings to Robertson's bow.
The Harmless One sees two recently orphaned teens come to stay with a wealthy family and the twisted games begin when their new stepsister develops feelings for the brother. This is a wicked tale with hints of The Good Son, Poison Ivy and similar 90's thrillers with another great sting at the end.
The final story, The Last Halloween was also a cracker, with its mix of coming of age and ghost story with heart.
The book's format as a TV show adds a ton of flavour, with ad breaks, credits and intro paragraphs that help move the action along. In fact, with a bit of formatting and editing, the whole book could work as a screenplay for the film or TV version of this story. As someone who enjoys reading scripts, I really liked this aspect, but it still reads and works well as a piece of fiction.
I can't recommend this enough for fans of kid-friendly horror with heart and a pleasing amount of bite, and is a perfect read for this time of year.
Roll on season 2.
We are introduced to the October Society, a group of friends who meet by the Hallowed Fire in October to share scary tales. The stories all vary in terms of sub-genre, but all have that balance of fun and spooky and end with a classic anthology horror twist ala Creepshow.
My favourites included The Cottage In The Woods, dark fairytale perfection about two sisters living in a cottage surrounded by foreboding woods. But where are their parents, and who is that man that approaches the border of their property, eager to get in? With shades of Red Riding Hood, this is an excellent opener and a good indicator of the many strings to Robertson's bow.
The Harmless One sees two recently orphaned teens come to stay with a wealthy family and the twisted games begin when their new stepsister develops feelings for the brother. This is a wicked tale with hints of The Good Son, Poison Ivy and similar 90's thrillers with another great sting at the end.
The final story, The Last Halloween was also a cracker, with its mix of coming of age and ghost story with heart.
The book's format as a TV show adds a ton of flavour, with ad breaks, credits and intro paragraphs that help move the action along. In fact, with a bit of formatting and editing, the whole book could work as a screenplay for the film or TV version of this story. As someone who enjoys reading scripts, I really liked this aspect, but it still reads and works well as a piece of fiction.
I can't recommend this enough for fans of kid-friendly horror with heart and a pleasing amount of bite, and is a perfect read for this time of year.
Roll on season 2.
September 14, 2022
I tried. I made it 100 pages in and just couldn’t do it anymore.
November 13, 2021
You know that feeling when you want to read a book quickly to see how it ends but you also want to take your time because you don't want it to end?
Yeah, that.
This book is just the right level of spooky, nostalgic and honestly... beautiful.
Without giving away too much the book is split into different stories told by a group of children around Halloween. Each story is then "interrupted" by a commercial break.. which I believe has hints of the authors next works.. (very clever!)
It's hard to say which story was my favourite because they were all very different and the messages you take away from each all ring true but the last story will definitely stick with me for my own personal reasons.
I enjoyed the humour throughout and the relationship between the friends. I hope we see more of that explored in the next book.
The ending was fantastic and has definitely peaked my interest to see where the story will go next!
Highly recommend. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Yeah, that.
This book is just the right level of spooky, nostalgic and honestly... beautiful.
Without giving away too much the book is split into different stories told by a group of children around Halloween. Each story is then "interrupted" by a commercial break.. which I believe has hints of the authors next works.. (very clever!)
It's hard to say which story was my favourite because they were all very different and the messages you take away from each all ring true but the last story will definitely stick with me for my own personal reasons.
I enjoyed the humour throughout and the relationship between the friends. I hope we see more of that explored in the next book.
The ending was fantastic and has definitely peaked my interest to see where the story will go next!
Highly recommend. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
September 16, 2022
I really wanted to like this book as it’s all about Autumn, Halloween and Spooky stories told by a camp fire but ultimately I didn’t like it.
I didn’t like the format of the book itself as the teenagers that gathered to tell the stories were part of a tv series so every now and again random adverts were thrown in. I personally don’t feel like the whole tv aspect was set up enough to establish that that was what it was.
I also didn’t like the characters very much so this book was a big miss for me.
I didn’t like the format of the book itself as the teenagers that gathered to tell the stories were part of a tv series so every now and again random adverts were thrown in. I personally don’t feel like the whole tv aspect was set up enough to establish that that was what it was.
I also didn’t like the characters very much so this book was a big miss for me.
October 6, 2023
This was such a fun a nostalgic story! This was written as a tv show akin to Are You Afraid of the Dark, made complete with campy commercial breaks.
These stories varied from those of folk tales, to precautionary, to heartfelt, and also to straight up ‘wtf!’
The kids in the society also have their own secrets and story aside from the stories they share, giving this book a well-rounded feel.
I can’t wait to read the rest of this series! Quick, and hard to put down, I highly recommend this book if you’re looking for a fun Halloween read!
These stories varied from those of folk tales, to precautionary, to heartfelt, and also to straight up ‘wtf!’
The kids in the society also have their own secrets and story aside from the stories they share, giving this book a well-rounded feel.
I can’t wait to read the rest of this series! Quick, and hard to put down, I highly recommend this book if you’re looking for a fun Halloween read!
October 11, 2022
I don’t know what I thought this book would be about but, this was not what I was expecting. It’s reminded me of don’t be afraid of the dark but, not good. Or maybe I just don’t like ya thrillers?
Not scary enough and the stories were very slow moving.
Not scary enough and the stories were very slow moving.
December 14, 2021
I love this book! It's full of nostalgia as well excellent characters, intrigue and beautiful storytelling.
July 25, 2022
Perfect light hearted horror which transported me back in time to watching "Are you afraid of the dark"
As with all of Christopher Robertson's books, I highly recommend!
As with all of Christopher Robertson's books, I highly recommend!
September 8, 2022
The October Society is a book that allows you to delve into the atmosphere and feels of Are You Afraid of the Dark with a dash of that early 2000s r/nosleep style and creativity.
It’s set up like a TV series in book form, each episode a new chapter. I especially enjoyed the Commercial Break segments. The basic plot is a group of kids joining together on various nights in October to tell a spooky story to each other over a campfire. But there’s a level of meta frameworking around this that is admirably done. I enjoy how we get a sense of the characters of the kids both from the story they tell during their turn as well as their interjected comments and reactions during other kids’ tales.
The only critique I have is regarding the dialogue. It was great during the tales themselves. But when the Society kids are talking to each other around the campfire, the amount of slang and colloquialisms that are tossed around was a bit over the top. I get the impression it was to enhance the twist at the end but it still was a bit more sprinkled slang than I think the average teen would use. However, it definitely was not something that took away from enjoying the book overall!
I’m looking forward to Season 2 and joining The October Society around the Hallow Fire!
It’s set up like a TV series in book form, each episode a new chapter. I especially enjoyed the Commercial Break segments. The basic plot is a group of kids joining together on various nights in October to tell a spooky story to each other over a campfire. But there’s a level of meta frameworking around this that is admirably done. I enjoy how we get a sense of the characters of the kids both from the story they tell during their turn as well as their interjected comments and reactions during other kids’ tales.
The only critique I have is regarding the dialogue. It was great during the tales themselves. But when the Society kids are talking to each other around the campfire, the amount of slang and colloquialisms that are tossed around was a bit over the top. I get the impression it was to enhance the twist at the end but it still was a bit more sprinkled slang than I think the average teen would use. However, it definitely was not something that took away from enjoying the book overall!
I’m looking forward to Season 2 and joining The October Society around the Hallow Fire!
September 30, 2022
[4.5/5]
This is not my first Christopher Robertson book, it won't be the last and he damn well better keep going with getting books out there into the world. This brought me back to my childhood ("Are You Afraid of the Dark" anyone?) and it was wonderful nostalgia. Each of the characters in the October Society are well developed and feel like real people one could meet in life.
Each of the members' stories were executed perfectly, all having their own special flair and taste of the macabre or scary. In addition to telling their own tales, the October Society members had their own story going on. So much emotion and detail there as well (no spoilers)!
The "commercial" interludes between the stories were amazing. Robertson has this great way of making you feel like you're watching a program vs reading a book. If I had to choose a favorite story, it's a tie between "The Dead-End Drive-In" or "That Dog Life."
This is not my first Christopher Robertson book, it won't be the last and he damn well better keep going with getting books out there into the world. This brought me back to my childhood ("Are You Afraid of the Dark" anyone?) and it was wonderful nostalgia. Each of the characters in the October Society are well developed and feel like real people one could meet in life.
Each of the members' stories were executed perfectly, all having their own special flair and taste of the macabre or scary. In addition to telling their own tales, the October Society members had their own story going on. So much emotion and detail there as well (no spoilers)!
The "commercial" interludes between the stories were amazing. Robertson has this great way of making you feel like you're watching a program vs reading a book. If I had to choose a favorite story, it's a tie between "The Dead-End Drive-In" or "That Dog Life."
October 13, 2022
A 90’s kid friendly homage to “Are you afraid of the dark?” and “Goosebumps”. Filled with a collection of weird and original short stories that’s narrated in a unique and charming dialogue. Couldn’t recommend this book enough!
November 6, 2022
Oh this one was fun! I like how different the stories told around the campfire were and how well they reflected each kid's personality. The first story was especially spooky, and the twist at the end was absolutely classic (and yet I still didn't see it coming)!
November 2, 2022
Cute. Very much like reading Are You Afraid of the Dark
October 7, 2022
A great spooky read for fans of AYAOTD!!
I was going to say I found this book by accident, but now looking back, I think it was fate!! My kids are obsessed with the reruns of GOOSEBUMPS and ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK? And have gotten me into it as well! The 90’s hold a special part of me, and this book transported me right back there! Love the format, the stories themselves, and I actually saved it till October so I can really be in the mood. Now, I can’t wait to go read the second book!! Thank you Christopher for writing this awesome series, and I hoping there will be at least 10 more seasons to come!!
I was going to say I found this book by accident, but now looking back, I think it was fate!! My kids are obsessed with the reruns of GOOSEBUMPS and ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK? And have gotten me into it as well! The 90’s hold a special part of me, and this book transported me right back there! Love the format, the stories themselves, and I actually saved it till October so I can really be in the mood. Now, I can’t wait to go read the second book!! Thank you Christopher for writing this awesome series, and I hoping there will be at least 10 more seasons to come!!
October 24, 2022
4.25 very fun halloween read. some of the stories were too good to be that short ngl
August 9, 2022
Truly a Work of Art
This tale will pull you through every emotion a human can feel. The good, the bad, and the spooky. This book engulfed me in a brisk autumn charm that I really can’t put into words. As a Halloween lover from literal birth(yay Halloween birthday!) I could not have stumbled upon a more perfect story for myself. All I can say is bravo.
This tale will pull you through every emotion a human can feel. The good, the bad, and the spooky. This book engulfed me in a brisk autumn charm that I really can’t put into words. As a Halloween lover from literal birth(yay Halloween birthday!) I could not have stumbled upon a more perfect story for myself. All I can say is bravo.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews