I was thrilled when I saw this book’s cover, as it evoked nostalgia for the Scary Stories series I loved as a kid. Unfortunately, the book fell far short of expectations. After reading, I noticed several reviews suggesting possible AI assistance in its writing. While I can’t confirm this, some stories felt like they could have come straight from ChatGPT.

A couple of stories stood out positively. The first story, captured the eerie vibe making it a highlight. However, many stories were complete misses, and without a review I likely wouldn’t have finished the book.

This is a great collection of short stories for spooky season. For me it was a glad I read but probably don’t see myself going back to it.

Some of the stories were super enjoyable and creepy while I found a few a little meh. I felt like they were a little clunky.

I went in this with a bit too night of expectations.

I absolutely loved the scary stories to tell in the dark series when I was growing up! I thought this was going to be similar but was sadly mistaken. I unfortunately agree with the other reviews and feel like this could have some stories that could be AI made. Just the way its worded and such makes it seem like it. The only real plus about the book is that cover art got me right away! As soon as I saw the cover art I wanted to read it right away! 😄 so kudos whoever made it 👏

I was really excited for this when I saw the cover of it. Growing up I was a huge fan of the Scary Stories books, so a nostalgic play off of those completely drew me in. Unfortunately this book vastly under delivered. In reading reviews since finishing quite a few people have mentioned the possibility of AI assistance, and while I can’t say definitively if that’s the case, some stories very much feel like something straight out of ChatGPT.
I found a couple stories to be decent. I enjoyed the idea of the first story, All Horrow’s Eve, which to me was the most reminiscent of the series they were emulating. Witch Apothecary, as well I would probably read if it were cleaned up and turned into a novel. Some stories were just misses completely though and honestly if it weren’t for NetGalley I probably wouldn’t have finished it.

I discovered Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark for the first time when I was in 4th grade. It was what led me to my love of horror and all things scary. So when I saw the cover of this book, I didn't hesitate to pick it up and give it a read. I rated each story as I went, and my rating for the book overall is the average of those ratings. There were a handful of 5 star stories in here, but it was mostly filled with 1 and 2 stars.

I'm really confused on what the target audience for this book is. I thought it was geared towards younger readers, similar to Scary Stories, but some of the stories here used words like "pussy" and "fuck" which is not suitable for 4th grade eyes in my humble opinion. But the contents of most of the other stories don't seem geared towards an older audience that needs a little more umph to get scared.

As a lover of horror and Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, I was incredibly excited to dive into this horror anthology. Rather than reading in order, I decided to read based on the title that intrigued me the most and work my way through the book.

I started my journey with Sweet Tooth. Sweet Tooth is a little monster version of Bloody Mary. You say his name a few times, and he’ll come to eat the candy. Only problem is, the candy isn’t nearly as appetizing to him as the kids playing the game. I thought the story was interesting enough. I liked the premise, but it just didn’t do it for me. It was incredibly cheesy, and I didn’t feel like the stakes were as high as they could’ve been in this situation. I did feel like the attitudes of the girls (I think they’re tweens?) felt very real in terms of peer pressure and a group mindset.

The next one I read, and the final I will be discussing, is We Don’t Go In The Howards’ House. I didn’t enjoy the way this one started. I didn’t enjoy our main protagonist. I thought she was a smidge annoying and made me almost not continue reading. Once we really got into the house. I started to enjoy the story, but I didn’t like any of the characters enough to really care. It felt almost stereotypical haunted house, and even with the twist, it still felt very overdone to me.

If you’re not obsessed with all things horror, you might find yourself enjoying this collection. As someone who has read probably hundreds of horror books and seen even more horror movies, these felt very predictable and not very intriguing to me. I have each of them a fair chance, and none of them really jumped out as being particularly exceptional to me.

I’m giving this book three stars for the ideas only. I liked the ideas, but the execution wasn’t there.

Thank you very much to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you so much for the arc!

Unfortunately I will be dnfing this at about 15%.
I was a huge fan of the original scary tales to tell in the dark, so I was excited to see another author take up the mantle of this anthology.

The anthology offers a variety of authors, some stories were stronger than others. I struggled with some that seemed kind of nonsensical, so I'd recommend maybe another round of editing.
I'm not sure if it was because I am older, but I'm sure kids would enjoy this.

Due to the front cover art, I thought this book would be similar to Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, but I was wrong. This book was a complete miss and I had to push hard through it to give it a fair chance, but I wanted to DNF it so badly. They were not scary stories and in actuality, none of the stories seemed finished and put together. I was really looking forward to this book.

Thank you to Netgalley, Stephanie Rose, William Sterling, and Independent Book Publishers Association for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest feedback.

This was just okay, for me. I absolutely loved the cover. These are a collection of short Halloween and horror stories. It's good for the autumn time and Halloween time. Honestly, I'm kind of bummed out I didn't really like this more than I did. I think two stories stuck out to me, but that's about it. I would recommend reading if you like short horror stories or Halloween stories in the style of Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark but more grown up Goosebumps style.

Thank you for the ARC of this, to all of the authors, editor, publisher, and Netgalley. I wish I liked it more, but maybe others will!

The cover is amazing…that’s about it. This is a rare dnf for me. I really feel like there is some AI generation here and I hate it. These stories are also not made for adults but rather children.

Very fun read, great way to start the spooky season. Each story was just long enough to build a bit and have a good payout. Most stories have the same structure of you think you know what’s going on and then it has a spooky twist.

Out September 16th, 2025
This anthology is like knocking on the creepiest house on the block and getting a full-size candy bar—every story is a treat, and some are downright tricks. Edited by Stephanie Rose and William Sterling, Twisted Tales to Tell in the Night is a deliciously dark homage to the classic Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, but with fresh voices and modern twists that make it feel both nostalgic and new.
Why I Loved It:
*Perfectly Packaged Horror: Each tale is short, sharp, and spooky—ideal for late-night reading or campfire storytelling.
*Seasonal Vibes All Year: The stories drip with Halloween atmosphere, from haunted houses to cursed candy, making it feel like October no matter the calendar.
*Standout Stories: “We Don’t Go in the Howards’ House” by William Sterling gave me chills, and “You’re Never Too Old for Halloween” by Brian McAuley was surprisingly poignant.
Final Musings:
This is the kind of book you keep on your shelf and pull out every fall—or whenever you need a little fright. Whether you're a horror aficionado or just love Halloween, this anthology is a must-read. It’s scary good fun, and I’ll definitely be rereading it with the lights off.

I won't be posting a review for this one on any of my platforms because I don't have even one remotely good thing to say to this book. I was excited and hoping for all the nostalgia of the Scary Stories books we all grew up with. Instead what I read was vague, confusing, scary adjacent, and honestly, for a lot of the stories, the writing felt AI generated. What was meant to be a tribute to one of the best horror anthologies of our childhood was just a mess.
Maybe my expectations were just too high and that's on me, but I will not be recommending this one.

I really wanted to love this anthology, especially as an elder millennial who has read and reread the famous Scary Stories series as both a kid and an adult. These stories, however, feel unfinished and unpolished, at times revealing a “twist” that is fairly obvious or generally lacking a sufficient hook to invest the reader. This book is, I am guessing, intended for a young audience, but it is unfortunately lacking the punch of the original books, which managed to be terrifying despite their elementary-aged target audience.

Spook Alley and the Witch Apothecary were probably my favorites of the stories, and the Light Across the Bridge, while not scary, was unexpectedly sweet and heartwarming.

I really did love the intention behind this book and am sorry to leave a less than positive review for a generous ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley, Stephanie Rose and William Sterling, and TBR books for sharing an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

I was hoping for some nostalgia to the books I would get from our school library weekly. Maybe the stories were just as tame and unfinished as these are but I just don’t remember the old versions being so lifeless.

However, this is a fun quick read for spooky season.

Thank you to Death by TBR books and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Death by TBR Books for my arc in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

Okay, "Twisted Tales to Tell in the Night" promises to be a short story collection that will spook and creep you out. In the preface, editor Stephanie Rose refers to the likes of Goosebumps and Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (a clear reference seen in the title) as inspirations for the collection. So, as a kid who grew up loving (and still loving) creepy stories, I knew I had to read this collection. That said, I am baffled.

From the preface, I assumed this was going to be a collection for the adults who grew up reading the previously mentioned series, but actually reading the short stories, it seems that this collection was made specifically for children. If that's the case, then I am the wrong audience. If it's not the case, this was very bad. Each story lacked that creepy factor that I still associate with something like the Scary Stories... series and the fun of Goosebumps. I mean, truly, it felt like each short story was writing using a ChatGPT prompt. They were not enjoyable to read and so many of them ended so quickly with an ending that seemed to want the reader to go "Oh! Wow, what a TWIST." I mean, this collection had such uninspired, bland, and lifeless stories that as a queer woc, I feel insulted that Rose points out the collection's use of work from OwnVoices authors.

I would not recommend this seemingly AI-written collection to anybody to be honest. Unless you are reading this to an absolute child.

I think this is great book for young readers although I expected it to have more of the vibe that Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark did but these stories were pretty mild in comparison. Still a very cute read!

Twisted Tales to Tell in the Night: A Halloween Horror Anthology
Edited by Stephanie Rose & William Sterling
Published by Death TBR Books

“It’s Halloween. Weird stuff happens.” Says Shannon in Morgana Macabre’s Halloween Special by Wendy Dalrymple.

This is quite the anthology, a little sweet, a little spicy and all of it just right. A well-written anthology that put me back in the mood of being 10 and in Woolworth’s with all the sparkle and promise of Halloween coming soon with all of the decorations and excitement! And then I read the next story and the next and none of them disappointed. I floated on a high while reading this and I did not want this journey to end.

From classic horror tales, to the bizarre, (I’m talking to you, Booger Sugar!), from slightly bloody to buckets of blood, to the ultimate revenge - this book delivers a fun time. The sense of nostalgia stayed with me until the end, there’s just something that really grabs me by the guts in these tales. I also appreciate the diversity of voices in this collection.

When I began this book I thought it was for kids, and most of the stories are middle school friendly, but I would recommend it to adults who are Halloweenies as well (any story that mentions Wet & Wild has my attention). The stories are rich and the writing is vibrant. I am looking forward to reading more from these writers and it was a great way to dip my toes into the new era of horror writers and find new favorites.

My thanks to Death TBR Books for allowing me to read this ARC which gave me much joy.

Holy adolescently inspired AI-slop Batman. I can’t remember the last time I gave a one star review, but if there was ever a book that embodied what a one star review looks, smells, tastes, feels like… this is the one. What a terrible way to pay homage to such an iconic series.

This book was very nostalgic for me to read! I remember reading the others when I was a child and I had to jump on it to read it when I saw it on NetGalley! It was a great collection of scary stories I got to tell to my little boy! Hopefully, he'll have a place in his heart for these stories like I did for the other books ♡!