A charming collection of sized spooky stories to make any day of the year feel like Halloween. Perfect for teens or adults looking for a little nostalgic treat.

🎃 Twisted Tales To Tell in The Night: A Halloween Horror Anthology 🎃

I was so stoked to snag this from NetGalley! This was a highly anticipated read for my 2025 release tbr and it did not disappoint 🙌🏻

This was such a fun, nostalgic collection of Halloween-Themed horror stories to get you in the mood for the holiday season. And as several of these stories reflected, Halloween is not just a holiday for some of us—it’s a lifestyle. I can definitely say all of the authors in this collection accurately represented that.

Many of us grew up on Goosebumps, Are You Afraid of The Dark, Scary Stories To Tell In The Night, The X-files, Unsolved Mysteries, and more. These stories pay homage to the spooky shows and books that raised us, all while creating their own unique scares. For instance, Booger Sugar 👃… I’m looking at you Clay McLeod Chapman. 👀

Pick this up when it releases next month, September 16th!

Twisted Tales to Tell in the Night offers bite size haunted tales of horror and devilish delight that will make you nostalgic for Halloweens past and the one-of-a-kind macabre magic it held in your youth. It’s one of the few Halloween set stories that really captures what Halloween was like as a kid, the excitement and thrill of all its tricks, treats, and monstrous marvels. Furthermore, I appreciated it balances what Halloween has become while also acknowledging its Samhain origins and how it has manifested throughout different cultures and time.

This is a perfect spooky lite introduction for budding youth horror enthusiasts ready for a sinister and intriguing adventure, but this is a collection that will especially resonate with millennials who have had a lifelong infatuation with all things spooky. There are ample 80s and 90s references and homages that will bring them back to their early fascination with fear and the joy of Halloween, including Goosebumps, Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Hocus Pocus, Jason Voorhees, and Warheads to name a few.

The book itself is like Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark meets Trick ‘R Treat with a dash of a more horror-centric Grimm Fairy Tales spirit. Stories feature a range of haunted characters from horror hosts and slashers to undead friends to Humanoid Jack-‘O-Lantern monsters. Some offer meta frights while others are more grounded and personal, showcasing a kindred connection between monstrous forces and the human experience through acceptance, healing, and catharsis. Among the fun, genre homages and twists, each offers substance, morality and growth journeys, and a unique voice from authors who are at their core clearly still as touched by Halloween and a passion for the horror-genre as they were in childhood. A perfect Halloween season read for young and adult readers a like craving a spooky, satisfying adventure.

This was reminiscent of the scary stories to tell in the dark I read all the time as a kid. Some were creepy and some were scary. Many of them had a retro 90s feel that made me nostalgic for my childhood halloweens.

Creating the same eerie feelings and dark atmosphere of known favorites like Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark or In a Dark, Dark Room can be difficult. This anthology attempts to bring back the feeling of unease that many readers look for when picking up a similar publication; unfortunately, it didn't invoke the same dread I hoped to encounter. Although the format of short stories was similar to its inspiration, it's challenging to understand who these stories were meant for. In this case, I wasn't sure if I was reading a book meant for children, YA, or adults. The anthology should have been curated a bit further to include short stories for one targeted audience. Most of the published short stories lacked the campfire type of storytelling a reader would expect from a similar publication to Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark or In a Dark, Dark Room. Overall, it doesn't seem like a finalized version of what it could have been, and it didn't pack the terror punch I was hoping to experience.


**I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This is an advance reader copy (ARC) and may contain errors or changes before final publication. My review is voluntary and reflects my personal thoughts.**

As someone who loved "scary stories to tell in the dark" as a kid, I was stoked to receive this and hopefully relive some of the nostalgia! Some of these stories are great and some were DNF.
Overall, 3/5

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun and spooky book that was full of nostalgia. I loved this and really enjoyed reading this book. I can’t wait to read it in the fall.

Twisted Tales to Tell in the Night is pure, spine-tingling fun. Stephanie Rose and William Sterling have created a collection that feels like sitting around a campfire with a master storyteller—except the stories here will follow you home and keep you glancing over your shoulder.

Each tale is short but razor-sharp, delivering just the right mix of dread, surprise, and dark humor. The authors know exactly how to pull you in with a few carefully chosen details and then twist the knife in the last moments. No two stories feel the same, yet they’re all bound by a deliciously unsettling atmosphere that makes you want to read “just one more”… until you realize it’s 2 a.m. and every creak in the house feels suspicious.

Whether you’re a horror veteran or just someone looking for eerie bedtime stories to jolt your imagination, this collection is a hauntingly good time. It’s creepy, clever, and compulsively readable—the perfect pick for a dark and stormy night.

I'm a bit sad about this one. The cover, and claims in the editor's notes at the beginning, made me think I was going to get to revisit Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. Nope, this is not that. The stories are mediocre. Not scary and it's unclear what audience they are trying to appeal to. What initially turned me off was the editor's note at the beginning. Yes, lets make this collection about scary stories political and make sure we point out what a fine job we've done with representation. None of that has anything to do with Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. Those collections are timeless, scary as hell, and just plain fun. Twisted Tales is a virtue signaling mess that needs editing. Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC

What a great Halloween anthology this is! I loved the bite size stories that still managed to pack a serious punch. Each tale had its own scary charm, from eerie and unsettling to nostalgic and spooky, perfectly capturing that Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark vibe while adding each author’s unique twist. It’s the perfect collection to pick up when you want a quick scare or a hit of Halloween magic any time of year!

Thanks to NetGalley & Death by TBR Books for the gifted copy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Death By TBR Books for the ARC of this really cool Horror Anthology.
Twisted Tales to Tell in the Night is a collection of horror short stories during the Halloween period. The stories ranged from 2-5⭐️ for me, with a great range of classic scary stories to things more sci-fi and more mystical.
Stories like The Light Across The Bridge, Trick of the Treat, Mrs King’s Candy, The Panthera Project, The Best Halloween, and Witch Apothecary were incredibly well written. They were engaging, fun, and some were heart warming in a cacophony of disturbing tales.
However, some tales were very immature and almost childish, relying on overused tropes and gross imagery to achieve an effect. This book is marketed (on NetGalley) under General Fiction (Adult) which I think is the wrong category. This is a book that I think is geared toward 10-16 year olds.
It would be absolutely fantastic for that age range!
Overall this was very strong in the second half, but I found the first half rather lacking and sometimes unnecessary. This is a great quick read for anyone looking to get a dopamine hit from ghouls, witches, and other weird things. 3.5⭐️ in all.

This was a bit of a disappointing read. I was excited to jump into this because I live reading spooky stories however it felt a little numbered and confusing. Unfortunately the stories did not keep my attention and I had to go back several times to make sure that I was not missing anything. Each story felt like an idea or a concept and not a complete story.

I am also unsure what who the target age group for this was. I initially thought it was for children or perhaps middle age but the langue in the book would suggest an older audience.

This is hands-down my favorite book of the year based on nostalgia alone. Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark was one of my absolute favorites growing up, so I had a feeling I’d love this, and I was right. The creepy, bite-sized tales brought me right back to those childhood nights of reading under the covers with a flashlight. It also gave me major Are You Afraid of the Dark? vibes, which holds a special place in my heart. Spooky, fun, and perfect for anyone who grew up on those classic scares.

Going from being raised on scary stories to tell in the dark to this! I loved it, the nostalgia and the escape back into something that I’ve carried into adult hood!

I really had fun with this one! Reading through this anthology reminded me of picking through your haul of trick or treating candy for your next sweet treat. This collection of bite-sized spooky stories really has me ready for October! There was a nice variety here; some stories were nostalgic, some creepy, some campy, but all were delightful! This was also a nice way to gain exposure to some more horror authors!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Death by TBR Books for the eARC!

This was ok. Based on the cover and description, I thought this would be similar to an adult scary stories to tell in the dark, but the stories were not scary at all.

Writing a scary short story for adults that features kids is never easy. Most of the stories were fine, but nothing better than that. Fortunately, it was a short book and I got through it quickly. I wish the book would have followed more in Schwartz’ direction, at least with the illustrations.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC. This review contains my honest, unbiased opinion.

This was such a fun anthology. There was definitely some nostalgic vibes and there are some things that I absolutely miss from childhood Halloween. I wish there were still ways to feel these vibes now as an adult and the closest I can get is reading books like this. I do wish I could rate this higher but some of the stores just fell short for me but I do appreciate all the work that was put into this to give us people who love Halloween to grasp on to and cherish and feel valued. I hope that thing’s like this keeps coming out because I would still read from these authors it’s just some of the stories were not a fav.

I loved this Anthology! It is really short, coming in at 224 pages. It is edited by Stephanie Rose and William Sterling. If you weren't aware, Stephanie Rose is the author of Hiding Lies, which is also a really good horror book. This Anthology is based upon Halloween and is a must read for horror fans who also love Halloween. My favorite story in this Anthology was, "You're Never Too Old for Halloween" by Brian McAuley. I love Brian's writing and their book Breathe in, Bleed Out is in my top books of 2025, so I was stoked they were in this Anthology. Definitely check it out as it releases soon on 09/16/2025. I want to thank the publisher, Death By TBR Books for allowing this book on NetGalley.

Thank you to Death by TBR Books, Stephanie Rose & William Sterling, and NetGalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

With spooky season creeping closer, this collection was the perfect way to summon that deliciously eerie mood. Each tale carried its own dark magic—some whispering chills, others sending full-body shivers—and together they wove into a hauntingly beautiful tapestry of terror. More than once, I caught myself glancing over my shoulder, wondering if something had followed me out of the pages… and maybe leaving the hall light on, just in case.

I picked this up because I spotted Brian McAuley among the authors, but I was delighted to discover several new-to-me voices I’ll be eagerly watching in the months ahead. Each brought something fresh to the table, making this an anthology with no weak links—only spine-tingling surprises.

If you’re looking for a read to curl up with on a crisp October night, pumpkin spice in hand and shadows dancing on the walls, this is it. Just… maybe keep a blanket nearby. You know, for warmth. And for hiding from whatever’s lurking in the dark.