“Creature Feature” - (5 Stars) (Pub Date:9/25/23) is a wonderful collection of brand new “monster stories” by some of my favorite horror authors. These stories are perfectly paced, bite-sized, “ewww, wha?!?!” shorts to help get anyone in the mood for Spooky Season. Loved every one of them.

The Pram by Joe Hill - Great tension building with a knee-breaking “Holy Shit” for an ending. Like all good stories, this one had layers (and teeth). Can’t stop thinking about babies.

Ankle Snatcher by Grady Hendrix - Yup. Won’t be getting out of bed after dark. Ever again. Like, ever ever ever.

It Waits in the Woods by Josh Malerman - Rumplestiltskin meets The Three Billy Goats Gruff. With a twist. Finished it reflecting on how thankful I am that I don’t camp.

In Bloom by Paul Tremblay - Blooms can be intoxicating and for some, all-consuming. Confirms why I don’t go to Myrtle Beach in July - August.

Best of Luck by Jason Mott - Made me wonder what I might do to ensure my luck held. Probably not that.

Big Bad by Chandler Baker - I’ve always thought of myself as a Mama Wolf, rather than a Mama Bear. This one puts that in a new perspective.

Good Things: The whole collection and my luck at finding it. Wish List? Not a damn thing. Great collection for Halloween and for year-round horror lovers. Read all of them. But don’t get out of bed after you’ve turned the light off.

As always, I appreciate the opportunity afforded me to have an early read by netgalley and Amazon Original Stories. The opinions in this review are expressly those of ButIDigressBookClub and are intended for use by my followers and friends when choosing their next book. #butidigress #butidigressbookclub #creaturefeature #gradyhendrix #joehill #joshmalerman #paultremblay #jasonmott #chandlerbaker #netgalley #netgalleyreviewer #amazon #spookyseason #arc #arcs

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Review Shared on Goodreads - www.goodreads.com/leah_cyphert_butidigressbookclub
Publishing Review 9/25/2023

Creature Feature is a collection of six original horror stories by Amazon Originals, all featuring some kind of terrifying creature. The stories can be purchased individually as well.

The first story is The Pram by Joe Hill. The Pram is a unique take on the desire for a child. Willy and Marianne have moved to a farmhouse in Maine for fresh air and a new start. It's a quaint little town they've moved to. Some of the local residents are odd, but Willy doesn't mind. He enjoys his walks through the woods to town. It's a little hard carrying groceries home though. Like a good neighbor the owner of the grocery store lends him an old pram to cart his purchases home. The pram is no ordinary pram though. It's decrepit condition is the least of the problems though as Willy begins to hear and see things on his walks.

The story is very creepy and the unease starts early. These types of stories are usually from the mother's perspective so it was nice to see a different point of view. It's fun watching the horror build. The writing is enjoyable and has a classic horror feel to it. There are a few parts where I felt I was missing something between scenes but overall I really enjoyed the story.

Next up is Ankle Snatcher. Be careful about getting out of bed at night without turning on a light. Marcus grew believing his mother was killed by his father who blamed her death on the boogeyman. Who could blame Marcus for not believing him? Still that didn't stop him from heeding his father's advice about getting out of bed in the dark. Now Marcus is an adult and his girlfriend is staying the night.

This story is the stuff of nightmares. Good job, Grady Hendrix, playing on childhood fears. Despite the dreadful creature I was more sad than scared. I was also left with a lot more questions than answers.

The third story is It Waits In The Woods. There is an urban legend about the woods in the Michigan forest. People have been known to disappear after hearing hooves and seeing bridges in odd places. One night Brenda's sister dissappears, seemingly for good. Three years later Brenda sets out because she has never given up on her sister.

I really enjoyed this. I like how the story is told. Brenda is likeable and I was worried about her as she walked and hunted in the dark..The story is definitely creepy and the creature is very original. I was invested in the plot the whole time and I wouldn't mind a follow up story.

Next we come to In Bloom. There is a toxic algae bloom along the coast of Cape Cod. Journalist Helen is investigating. A local named Jimmy tells her his story. Something happened on a baseball field, a pond filled with algae nearby, when be was a kid. It's something no one ever believed. Can Helen herself believe him?

I didn't care for this story. The writing is fine but there is too much talk about baseball. I question the connection between Jimmy's story and Helen's or which one we're supposed to care more about. The creature had a lot of potential but I don't feel it is fleshed out. The idea is scary but the story itself doesn't give chills. The ending is confusing and it's hard to find any meaning.

Best Of Luck was by far my favorite story in this collection. Barry and Will are best friends. Their situations in life are completely opposite. You would say Barry has all the luck. One night Will comes to him, making wild claims while holding him at gunpoint. We learn just how bad things are for Will. It's easy to see why he feels the way he feels but is he just desperate and crazy?

I couldn't stop reading. I felt for both characters, at least until the end. The creature is truly terrifying. The ending is shocking and that's when you realize the true depths of horror. The Best Of Luck gets its point across clearly from beginning to end. It's one you shouldn't miss.

The last story is Big Bad. What a great title for a nice horror story. A family lives in an isolated farmhouse. All is not well though. Wolves constantly come and go from the woods. The father Sam is acting strangely. The mother Rachel is taking a vacation. A mysterious man comes knocking st the door. The children are afraid. But what is that they are really fighting?


I don't want to spoil anything about the creature featured in this story. Big Bad is a classic tale. I wasn't sure who to root for besides the children. I was confused for a while. By the end though you get a clear picture as to why some tales of horror last beyond the page. I think horror readers will enjoy this story.

Overall I really enjoyed this collection.

Many of my favourite writers are featured in this collection including Grady Hendrix. I am a fan of horror stories and I really enjoyed reading each story and seeing the different authors styles of writing, pace and imagery which added to the enjoyment of reading this collection.

Thank you to NetGalley, and the author's for a chance to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.

If you are looking to kick off spooky season this is the perfect collection to get you in the mood. What an absolute amazing lineup of powerhouse authors showcasing some short stories that will have you questioning everything that goes bump in the night and will make you wonder....are you really alone in the dark?

Grady Hendrix, you have taken a childhood fear and amplified it to a whole other level.

I read some of the authors before (Grady Hendrix; Josh Malerman; Paul Tremblay) and some of them I read for the first time (Jason Mott; Chandler Baker, Joe Hill). It was a great short story collection. Especially for the upcoming spooky season. Overall, it is difficult to rate short story collections, but this one came to 4 stars. I'll recommend it to every horror reader. It will be a great way to know their writing style, especially if you never read these authors before.

If you read this, you won't hate it. But if you don't read it, you're not missing out...

The collection felt like average done well? None of the stories were really bad, and none were great. It was just a really flat experience. The writing was straightforward and made it easy to quickly orient myself in each story. The stories covered a variety of topics, while still managing to feel cohesive. But that is the end of the positives for me. There wasn't a lot of personality to any of the stories. They didn't take chances. They didn't offer anything new. Also, there was a serious failure on all of them to stick the landing.

Pram - Creepy, but not always for the right reasons. This has a promising premise. Short horror centered on miscarriage but told from the dad’s perspective. It had good pacing, and atmosphere. I just didn’t like where the story ultimately went, and some passages felt more like odd subconscious insertions from the author, rather than intentional plot.

Ankle Snatcher - Fluffy play on the Boogeyman trope. Light in tone, with some vivid imagery, but kept things solidly on the fun side of spooky. Felt like Goosebumps for adults. Not sure if/what commentary was intended about the prison system?? Also, the dating scenes were weird, but luckily that was limited to the first few pages. Worth a read if you like Grady Hendrix or you’re in the mood for fun horror. (Probably my favorite)

It Waits in the Woods - Similar setup to Nos4a2. A woman looking for her missing sister crosses a creepy bridge into another… realm? The coolest part was how the main character recorded her search in a way that felt very found footage. This was okay. I’m still waiting for one of these ‘Creature Features’ to really stick the landing.

In Bloom - Yeah, IDK, maybe try this if you like baseball? I feel bad for not having more to say, but it just really had no lasting impact for me. On the plus, I thought the writing of this one was the best of the ‘Creature Features’ so far, but the story and ending were my least favorite. I feel like there’s a lot to explore with environmental horror, but this just didn’t go there.

Best of Luck - The opening joke/story in the first few pages was pretty entertaining and got my hopes up. Unfortunately, that was the high point of an otherwise average experience. I’d guess there was supposed to be feelings of escalating tension and a moment of shock at the end, but.. 🤷🏻 it’s probably just me losing patience with this collection.

Big Bad - Glad to see a woman author included in the collection. This ending might have had a little more shock value if the cover wasn't a spoiler?! Ugh

A fun and chilling collection of horror shorts from some of horrors most well known and loved authors. I couldn't pick a favorite. I've read Grady Hendrix and Paul Tremblay before but the other authors were all authors I've not read before but have heard about and seen recommended everywhere in horror groups. This collection is a great way to sample these authors works and get a taste before committing to one of their standalone books. I really enjoyed this and am thankful for receiving a copy.

This is a wonderfully unsettling collection of short horror stories by some of the biggest names in the genre! It put two new authors (to me) on my radar: Jason Mott and Chandler Baker. My two favorite stories were Ankle Snatcher by Grady Hendrix and Best of Luck by Jason Mott . Ankle Snatcher was a surprise to me since I previously haven’t had success with Hendrix’s novels, but maybe it’s just a matter of finding the right theme that scares me (since I do have a monster living under my bed who seems to gain power from me reading scary books). Jason Mott’s story was the best written of the bunch and shocked me the most, so much so that I’ve put all of Mott’s books on my TBR! I could see all these stories being filmed à la The Twilight Zone – the twists and creepy endings would be perfect. The best horror has underlying themes of the horror of reality and these tales are no exception (miscarriage, greed, climate change…). Very thought-provoking and scary! Thank you NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for letting me read this in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first short story collection and it did not disappoint! I loved the creepy tales and I will definitely be thinking about one of them for a long time.

Just in time for Halloween, a sampler of stories from some of the greats of contemporary horror!
Fall into The Pram by Joe Hill and follow Willy and his haunted stroller. Grab Ankle Snatcher by Grady Hendrix and subscribe to Marcus's obsessive rules for survival. Read It Waits in the Woods by Josh Malerman and enter into the deep woods to face urban legends and past mysteries.

There is also the fantastic In Bloom by Paul Tremblay set in Cape Cod and focuses on a strange bloom of algae
Best of Luck by Jason Mott features four friends at gunpoint and the truths that they have kept hidden.
Followed by the creepy Big Bad by Chandler Baker set in an isolated farmhouse with a family who is growing more and more restless

All of these stories are gems and are perfect for any horror fan!
#Amazon #Amazonstories

A frightening new anthology featuring six terrifying stories from some of the top authors in horror.
-The Pram by Joe Hill follows a young couple who after a traumatic miscarriage move to an old farmhouse in Maine where a creepy vintage baby carriage strangely consoles the husband.
- Ankle Snatcher by Grady Hendrix features a young man whose father was accused of murder but swears it was the monster under the bed…he might not have been lying.
-It Waits in the Woods by Josh Malerman explores an urban legend which one young woman believes to be the cause of her missing sister years earlier.
-In Bloom by Paul Tremblay investigates a toxic algae bloom that might be hiding something even more monstrous.
- Best of Luck by Jason Mott explores the balance between good and bad luck in which two friends are on opposite sides of the scales discover the horrifying reason why.
- Big Bad by Chandler Baker shows that despite a little monstrous behavior one can find love and have a family…or can they?

Typically with anthologies I find that I don’t enjoy every story but that was not the case with this thrilling new creature feature. Every story offers something different and each one is just as terrifying as the next. Keep the lights on for this one.

I love short stories and anthologies. Even the best author must flex their writing skills to deliver quality short stories. In less than a usual chapter length, they must introduce us to the characters and their communities/ back stories, commit to an "event" and then solve it, all while keeping the reader engrossed and flipping pages. I often find that an author will switch genres in an anthology, which gives me an even better appreciation for their talent.
Many have a similar theme with the writers giving their story an unusual “spin” to meet the theme’s intent without copying each other. This one is creepy creatures. It is not unusual to find a true gem mixed in with the overall excellent stories, making anthologies a triple threat/ treat.
These authors have done an excellent job of creeping me out in several of the stories. There are no duds in this volume and each gives a fresh spin on their story line. I'm recommending to everyone in my reading circle and definitely to anyone who loves their horror in small bites.

Awesome short stories by some of my favorite horror authors! These are great little bites to get you in the mood for Halloween! Loved this so much!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this in advance of publication.

I requested this collection because it featured four of my favorite authors in Paul Tremblay, Josh Malerman, Joe Hill and Grady Hendrix. And all four delivered short tales as excellent as I could have wanted from them. Prior to this I wasn't familiar with Jason Mott or Chandler Baker, but both their stories also worthy of addition in the collection. Most of the tales felt like they could be episodes of The Twilight Zone or Supernatural, and all of them delivered on the promise of "spooky tales to keep you up all night."

A fun set of spooky monster stories, for me a majority of them kind of dragged, or felt like they were a concept for a novel but not really retrofitted into a short story. So they just sort of lacked. That being said, "Best of Luck" by Jason Mott in this collection was actually stunning, please check that one out.

A super fun short story collection by some big name authors! All were a 3.5 ⭐ or above with my favorites being It Waits in the Woods and Best of Luck.

I enjoyed this horror short story collection. It's fun and spooky and all of the covers are amazing! I love them so much and wish so badly that I could get a few on their own as physical copies because they are just that good.

Anyway, some of the stories were better than others, as with all story collections. The ones that stood out the most for me were The Pram by Joe Hill, which comes in at 58 pages, and In Bloom by Paul Tremblay which is 35 pages of excellence.

If you're looking for quick, chilling reads to devour when the lights get low, go on and get this! You won't be disappointed.

This is an amazing collection of short stories that is perfect for the upcoming spooky holidays. A great selection and wonderful authors - perfect introductions to these writers if you haven't read their works before.

The Pram by Joe Hill

Willy and Marianne recently moved to Hobomeck, a small town in Maine where religious folk are known as Sin-Planters, which is not creepy at all. One of the locals loans Willy an antique baby carriage so he can cart his groceries home. Also not creepy.

“”Leave it here,” she said, her voice a kind of angry whisper. “Just leave it.””

Before long, Willy begins to hear a baby in the carriage, a baby that doesn’t exist.

Although I’ve had good intentions for years, this was my first Joe Hill read. It was easy to get into and I enjoyed the growing dread as the story progressed.

Willy’s story highlights, in a way that only horror can, that when resentment and grief are allowed to fester, it can result in something, well, not great. I was convinced I could hear the sound effects associated with the body horror.

One of my favourite bookish things, accidental learning, came into play here. I’m loving learning more about the Ship of Theseus.

I already own a bunch of Joe Hill books. I think it’s about time for a binge.

Content warnings include miscarriage.


Ankle Snatcher by Grady Hendrix

Marcus and Tess both volunteer at a crisis hotline. They may have only just started dating but already their banter is down pat. It feels like it’s meant to be.

They both have survived the dark days of the past.

““When I was six,” I said. “My dad killed my mom.””

Marcus has always followed the rules his father taught him. Then Tess breaks a very important rule.

There was an inevitability to the trajectory of this story, which had me hoping I’d encounter some insides are now your outsides squishiness. The need you had to check under your bed before you went to sleep as a kid may be reignited, and for good reason.

“You can’t hide from the boogeymen”


It Waits in the Woods by Josh Malerman

“No matter how unbelievable they are, some stories ring true.”

Legend says that the demon imp who owns the white and yellow bridge is searching for a replacement for its lost face.

Brenda was fifteen when her sister, Amanda, went missing. Three years later, Brenda decides it’s time to chase the myth. She grabs some supplies and heads into the forest. She doesn’t tell anyone where she’s going.

Along with her recording equipment, Brenda also brings Larry the mannequin, because apparently traipsing in the forest alone in search of a demon imp isn’t scary enough for her.

Myth and reality collide in this story of grief and guilt. I loved Brenda’s tenacity. I wanted to spend more time in the cave and need to know what happens next. I’d be keen to read about the events from Amanda’s point of view.

“Do you have my face?”


In Bloom by Paul Tremblay

Working on a story about Cape Cod Canal’s blue-green algae bloom, Heidi interviews Jimmy, who is apparently the person to talk to about the bloom in ‘83.

Jimmy tells Heidi a story that’s difficult to believe. Until it’s not.

“Honestly, though, I don’t feel a burning need to prove to myself that what I saw was what I saw. I know it to be true, even if it was all a hallucination.”

I was with Jimmy as he yearned to be the son his father wanted him to be. I couldn’t wait to see where his story was leading. The conclusion itself didn’t surprise me but I was expecting the story to wrap up a day later than it did, in a different location.

I probably enjoyed the descriptions of the body horror more than I should admit. It was a lot of fun imagining what unfolded after the final page.


Best of Luck by Jason Mott

Have you ever had a friend with a charmed life? Will’s best friend of twenty years, Barry, has had a recent string of good luck, resulting in all round prosperity. Meanwhile, Will’s luck appears to have run out.

Will knows where his luck has gone, though. He’s so sure, in fact, that he shows up at the architectural masterpiece Barry calls a home with a shotgun. It’s time to introduce Barry to Henry.

I wasn’t sure which of the friends was going to have the worst day but when someone brings a gun to a confrontation, you know it’s not going to end well. Although I had hoped for a specific outcome, the way the events unfolded made more sense.

“Sometimes you have good luck. Sometimes you have bad luck. Everything can ultimately be traced back to luck in some form, right?”


Big Bad by Chandler Baker

“There’s an order to these things, a way that events must unfold.”

Sam knows all too well what can happen when things don’t go to plan so he makes sure everything is done just right. What’s not part of the plan, though, is his wife, Rachel, arriving home late.

With wolves too close for comfort and an unexpected visitor at the door, thing are about to go bad, in a big way.

While I was here for the horror, unexpected bonuses came in the form of Odie and June, Sam and Rachel’s daughters. Odie tries to be a good big sister, despite June being June. As I waited for the inescapable bloodshed, Odie warmed my heart. She’s determined to protect her younger sister from something neither of them understand and I was in awe of her courage.

“There are things we’ve never told you.”


Thank you so much to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for the opportunity to read these short stories.

This was a good collection of horror stories, I thoroughly enjoyed each one! I loved that I recognized some familiar names, but then also got introduced to writers I hadn't heard of previously.