Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of the audiobook for review.

I'm fully willing to admit when a book just isn't for me, and this one just wasn't. I think the style is wonderfully crafted, using four short stories to craft an interwoven narrative. It was difficult for me to connect with the characters at times, especially in the first two stories. I found the latter two stories the most interesting, with the last story being the best. I'm still trying to decide how I feel about the ending. It was overall a satisfying ending to wrap up the whole saga, but it still feels a little predictable, if not exactly beat for beat then in concept.

There is definitely a reason for the rave reviews; like I said these stories are all expertly crafted and create a longer running narrative about how one cursed object can have long lasting (and far reaching) consequences.

I really enjoy the way Ronald Malfi writes horror. It’s realistically scary - but also clearly fiction which I find to be the most entertaining way to read horror.

These novellas are great. The first one was by far my favorite but the rest were absolutely solid and worth the read. I really enjoyed the audio version and the narrator made the stories come to life in a way that had me sucked in and invested.

Thanks to NetGalley for the audio copy!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Ghostwritten is an anthology of 4 novellas, each of which revolve around the dangers of a certain kind of book or story. Books or stories that provoke haunting horror. Malfi delivers each with a unique and imaginative way of keeping the reader on edge with the perfect amount of creepiness lurking in each story.

A fairly well written, creepy collection, I really enjoyed Malfi’s writing. I wouldn’t call it terrifying horror per se but certainly spine tingling creepy and straight up disturbing at times. The characters in each story were solid and well written. While each novella is written to be a standalone short, some characters are interconnected with another story which I found enjoyable. I listened to the audiobook and I think I would’ve preferred to have been able to read it myself rather than have the narration though. While Joe Hempel’s narration was well done throughout each story, I feel I didn’t connect with the stories as much as I think I would’ve without. Either way, all the stories delivered on the creepy elements needed for the season of all things spooky.

Of the 4 stories; The Skin of Her Teeth, The Dark Brothers' Last Ride, This Book Belongs to Olo, and The Story, I’d have to say my favorite was This Book Belongs to Olo. Creepy children top the charts for me when it comes to horror anything. The Skin of Her Teeth being the first, was probably the least disturbing but still quite interesting and most realistic of the stories. The Dark Brothers’ Last Ride was very reminiscent of a Twilight Zone episode. And The Story was a choose your own adventure type story, slightly confusing but still so disturbing. Overall, a great little collection of unsettling and darkly tense stories for fans of all things creepy and bone-chilling.

Thank you to NetGalley and RB Media for a chance to listen to a copy of the audio in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first set of novellas/ short stories that I have every read for fun. I remember not liking them very much in school, but I didn't really like reading in general in school.

This collections was overall a 3.5/5 stars for me. With that being said, some of the stories were better then others.

Because they are all so short I don't want to give to much away but like the cover says, all of these stories have an element of a book being dangerous. So take that as you will.

The first story for me was good, but I actually wish it was just a tad bit longer, and we saw the view of the original victim. That was a 3.75 star for me.

The second story was about 2 brothers, that transport things for a crime boss. The story was fine, and I think other people may like it but again I needed a little bit more. The main plot point of this book needs more detail and explanation. 3.5 stars.

The third story was actually very interesting to me. I think this would actually be a really good paranormal ish horror movie. This one is about a loner kid with a magic book. This story was the perfect length for me and had the information I thought I needed. There are elements in this story that I think could have more explanation so that it can become a full length novel if the author wants, but its perfectly fine as a short story. 4 stars

The last story was my favorite out of all of them. This story had a "choose your own story" element that I thought was really fun! I feel like this story could 100% be longer, and I would still really enjoy it, but for a short story it was still really enjoyable. There were no plot holes, and I didn't feel rushed, but again I think this could be a fun movie adaptation. 5 stars for me.

I don't have a lot of experience with books like this so I have a hard time say I would recommend it, but I do think it's worth a read. People that would like this collection, probably also like, paranormal elements, thrillers, and books that make you go "huh" that's interesting.

Perfect for Halloween. I enjoyed how multifaceted this book was and it's hard to even pick a favorite story from here. The writing was great and it was aplified by the narration. I'll be reading more from this author.

If you’re a fan of horror and stories about books, this just what you’re looking for. Ronald Malfi’s Ghostwritten features four novellas, each revolving around a book/story. I blasted through this one in less than two days. While I enjoyed all the novellas, as each was an engaging story filled with excellent characters, there was just something about the third story “This Book Belongs to Olo” and the creepy title character. It had an almost Twilight zone-ish feel about it that I loved. As for the narration, I’ve been listening to Joe Hempel for years now and he just keeps getting better. Thanks to Tantor Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen an advanced audio copy of Ghostwritten.

https://www.amazon.com/review/R19OSJ5YQ396BR/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

Wowza! Another fantastic book by Ronald Malfi! There are four bone-chilling novellas in this book and they are all well-written with all the right creepy elements! Each novella feels like an episode from Twilight Zone or Creepshow!

While I enjoyed all of them, my favourite is This Book Belongs to Olo. I still think about this story after I finished it! I highly recommend adding this book to your spooky TBR this month!

Pub. Date: Out now


***Thank you Tantor Audio and NetGalley for this gifted listening copy. All opinions expressed are my own.***

FOUR novellas
about FOUR haunted books,
in ONE shared universe,
You will be hooked!

Ronald Malfi has quickly become one of my favorite go to writers when I’m in the mood to read creepy horror, and Ghostwritten is just that!

The Skin of Her Teeth, The Dark Brothers’ Last Ride, This Book Belongs to Olo, and The Story are a fantastic collection of ghost stories that really hit the spot this Halloween season!

Joe Hempel’s narration of the audiobook needs to be sped up, but he does a fantastic job as always.

I highly recommend this book if you are a fan of Steven King!

3.5/5 stars rounded up

Expected publication date: 10/11/22

Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor audio for the ARC of Ghostwritten in exchange for an honest review.

400 bloody pages , 4 stories and all 4 about spooky books. This book is a collection of 4 stories each is with a different plot of how a book can probably drive you crazy. With so many 4s in the book I am contemplating if the devil's number was 666 or 444 😈

I enjoyed 3 out of the 4 stories, my favourite was the first one where the book had teeths which reminded me of the monster book in Harry Potter 🙃. Now because all the stories are revolving around the plot of a different kind of book, but a book never the less - creates a perfect tie in for all these stories to be put together in a complication. The title of the book however could be something more relatable.

My only downslide while reading this book was the 4th story which my imagination just couldn't appreciate partially because of how it ended.

Still a decently enjoyable read that certainly has a few stories to destroy your brain cells 👻

“Once upon a time, Bartholomew Olo Higgins Timothy the Third dreamed about a book that was really a house, and a house that was really a book. There were many rooms inside the house, and the book, and in each one a new friend awaited Olo. How joyous it was to visit them and play with them whenever he wanted…”
This Halloween-season is going down as the Season of Malfi, as I’ve discovered a new favourite horror-author. With my experiences with Come With Me and Black Mouth still fresh in my mind, I was beyond excited to be approved for the ARC of his latest release, and it did not disappoint. Ghostwritten is a collection of 4 novella’s connected by the central motif of haunted books, all of them outstanding pieces of short horror on their own, but subtly interlinked into a cohesive whole.

In The Skin of Her Teeth, an editor tracks down the author of the titular horror-story who owes her the manuscript of the upcoming film-adaptation, but has gone missing shortly before the deadline. Expecting to find him in a drunken stupor, she isn’t prepared to find his dead body instead. Seeking answers ánd her payday from this manuscript, she finds a cursed document with a deadly will of its own; a will that defies adaptation… (4/5 stars)
In The Dark Brothers’ Last Ride, two brothers take on a delivery-job trafficking a strange book across country. As more and more unsettling events occur along the way, the brothers begin to suspect that what looked like a book, might be something much more dangerous and supernatural instead. (3.5/5 stars)
In This Book Belongs to Olo, a lonely and slightly disturbed child recreates his life inside an usual pop-up book, with devastating consequences for the “characters” within it. (4.5/5 stars)
Finally, in The Story, a woman’s unexpected suicide leads her brother down the path of an Alternate Reality Game of sorts, that she became obsessed with in her final days. A choose-your-own-adventure story that shared through the internet, that seemingly blurs the lines between fiction and reality. (4/5 stars)

It's rare for me to like all novella’s/stories within a collection, but as you can tell by my ratings, Malfi has done it. With sharp prose, tight pacing and dreadful imagination; Ghostwritten makes for a fantastic collection to accompany you during the upcoming dark October nights.

Many thanks to Titan Books and Tantor Audio for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Thank you Tantor Audio for this ALC. This was a great listen for the spooky season. While I wasn't familiar with Malfi before, I'll definitely be looking into his work after this.

Great narration! I really liked the quality of this audiobook.
These stories have something electric about them, something that makes them linger with you long after you finished reading.
A must for any horror fan, Ronald Malfi's writing style is one of my favorites. A fresh take on beloved horror tropes and some unique ideas that are bound to chill your bones.

A huge thanks to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for the ARC!

After reading the blurb, I knew this one would be right up my alley. Four genuinely creepy novellas featuring supernatural books and stories. This was more atmospheric/psychological/unsettling than gory and disturbing. I can see this not being scary enough for extreme horror fans. For me, it was that happy medium of being creeped out but still being able to fall asleep at night. I enjoyed that there were overlapping characters in the different novellas. I was surprised how odd and memorable each story was and don't think there's a weak one in the mix.

<I>The Skin of Her Teeth</I> wasted no time peaking my interest. A screenwriter is working on a movie adaptation of a book whose story is reluctant to be revised. I'll say this one was probably the least frightening but the intriguing writing style had me excited for all that followed.

<I>The Dark Brothers Last Ride</I> was a <I>Twilight Zone</I>-esque, visceral account of two brothers following one very strange map. They are en-route to deliver a book with dark energy to an anonymous client. Traveling through the desert they make several pit-stops in different dimensions. The development of the brothers relationship and all their familial trauma really drives the pace and adds a level of depth to a well thought out mind-bender.

<I>This Book Belongs to Olo</I> was really solid and didn't feel forced, unlike some creepy kid content. Olo has a vivid imagination and created a pop-up book replica of his already spooky looking mansion. Since he has a hard time making friends, he lures unknowing prisoners into the story he has created within the secret rooms of his "house." This one would be great as a movie and I loved all the dark, gothic vibes in this one. I do wish the mannequin's had been more incorporated into the plot, though.

Finally, <I>The Story,</I> was about a choose your own adventure style eBook that mysteriously chooses victims, I mean, readers. Once you begin playing, the lines between reality and fiction within the story are blurred. This read like an episode of <I>Black Mirror</I> and I loved every second of it! I was pleasantly surprised by how much I loved this cohesive collection and cannot wait to read more by Malfi!

#RonaldMalfi is like reading/listening to an episode of Stranger Things meets Stephen King

His imagination is outstanding and creative

This was my first #audiobook I have ever listened to, and my first book written by Ronald Malfi

He has a new fan , and I love his idea of short stories for a quick creepy read

I strongly suggest to buy this #book when its released

#bookreview #books #spooktober #spookyseason #reading #scarystories

When you look in the mirror do you see yourself or the person you want to be? or the person you fear you are?

This was an interesting collection of short stories meant to draw us into the dangers of certain books. While a fascinating trope, I didn't really get drawn into these worlds that he created. Here is my list of items from most to least favorite:
1) This Book Belongs to Olo
2) The Dark Brothers' Last Ride
3) The Skin of Her Teeth
4) The Story

Creepy children doing creepy things has it's own special way of creeping into my heart. Next comes the siblings dealing with their personal childhood trauma in a surreal world. The narrators of the other two stories really didn't resonate with me, but I suppose to each their own. This felt very much like a male/masculine voice, despite the fact that one of the stories was supposed to be from a woman's point-of-view.

The narrator, Joe Hempel, did the best that he could with the material that he had. I think it would have been better to have a woman voicing the first story, The Skin of Her Teeth, to really reinforce the female perspective, though I don't often feel strongly either way when a woman narrates a man's perspective, but I often am not the biggest fan when a man narrates a woman's perspective; it just always feels a bit off to me, so chalk that up to personal opinion.

Thank you to Tantor Audio for the ARC audio version via NetGalley.

Kind of creepy four different stories combined into this book by Ronald Malfi. Te first story will give you reminders about King's book Rose Red, a story on an expanding house. This time a young friendless boy entraps people and family withing the walls of his constructed home.
The other stories run the gauntlet from a book that has very strange powers to a sort of find your own adventure gone awry story.

People who enjoy having tingles go down their spine and love the creepy books of the season might enjoy this one.

I listened to this book written by Ronald Malfi and thank him, Titan books, and NetGalley for a copy of these stories which publishes on October 11,2022.

More of a Twilight Zone feel to the stories not straight horror and the stories touch on some deep traumas and serious subject matter but Malfi has a great imagination and some of the scenes he paints really stuck with me. Highly recommended.

Thank you to Netgalley and RB Media for sending me an audiobook arc of this title.

I was not familiar with Malfi's work prior to this, but oh my goodness am I definitely going to search him out going forward.. I found his storytelling style to work absolutely brilliantly in the audiobook format, particularly in a novella-length story - which I often find to be particularly suited to horror because it allows the reader to get in and get out in a single sitting. The narrator was excellent and I felt did a marvelous job setting the tone for the stories. The ability to shift from a misogynistic brother to a super creepy child in one audiobook is a talent indeed, and he managed to make both feel perfectly authentic without ever feeling melodramatic or over the top.

This was a fantastic collection of stories. I am a big fan of books about books, and evil books are even more intriguing than good ones! Each story felt wholly original and yet there is an underlying sensibility to them that made them recognizable as written by the same author, and made them feel a part of a coherent collection. I really enjoyed this series of stories and I'm definitely going to look for more from the author!

Ghostwritten is a collection of 4 horror novellas. I was looking forward to this for a good October book and while the stories were not really scary it's a great read for the spooky season.

The first story is called The Skin of Her Teeth. This is about a book that’s being adapted into a movie. There is a history of adoptions being made and they all had tragedies that stopped the movie from being made. The book did not want to be altered and it would do anything to stay as is. I really enjoyed this story and as the first story in the book, I could not wait to continue.

The next story was called The Dark Brothers' Last Ride. This one followed two brothers who are tasked with delivering a book to a buyer. I don’t even want to being to describe what happened because it was an experience. I did not like this story as much as the first but it was still a fun ride.

The third story was This book Belongs To Olo. I don’t know if this was the longest but it sure felt like it was. I could not get into this one at all. It follows a creepy boy named Olo who traps people in his pop-up book. The kid was creepy so this may have been the scariest of the stories but I just really struggled to get into the story. I was feeling good about this book until this story. Following this story, I thought my rating was going to drop, and it may have if it didn't have such a strong finish.

The final story was simply called The Story. This is the reason this is a five-star review. This was one of my favorite novellas I have ever read or listened to. This is a real life choose your own adventure and whoever is currently going through the story has to try to stay sane and take notes to know what’s the story and what’s reality. Choices become deadly and the end result, well you will just have to find out.

As a whole I recommend the book but The Story is definitely a novella that needs to be checked out.

First of all thank you for giving me the chance to listen to this ARC. I went into this book blind and I have to say that is the best way. The rollercoaster I went through was wild. Yes Wild. I did not wanna stop listening. I brought my phone into the bathroom with me while I showered so I could keep listening. I enjoyed this book and I will deff buy this one.