The most famous monsters of yesterday are given new life today by multiple award winning authors in this entertaining new anthology.
There were not a lot of scares, but there was a lot of fun, some social commentary and even the Invisible Man was an allegory of today's social climate.
Several stories pay homage to Mary Shelley with reimaginings of Frankenstein and his monster.
We learn how The Wicked Witch of the West made flying monkeys, dabble in the dangers of artificial intelligence with a headless horseman, and more in this huge volume of stories and illustrations.
Not every story was a huge hit with me but that is not unusual with such a massive selection. Much like a box of assorted chocolates you can take what you like and leave the rest.

A few of my favorites were They Call Me Mother by Geneve Flynn but I am not going to tell you the classic monster it was derived from because I didn't know myself until nearly halfway through so I'm not going to spoil it for you.
She Creature from the Golden Cove by John Palisano in which a boat trip turns dangerous when a family stops to help what they think is a woman in trouble.
Dreams by F. Paul Wilson is about a woman who dreams she is a monster
Beautiful Monster by JG Faherty - is another Frankenstein's monster story with a sad twist and a female lead.
Give Me Your Hand by David Surface is a different sort of werewolf tale.
A Tale of Wickedness by Kelsea Yu in which a very captive audience hears and experiences a witchy story.
Moonlight Serenade by Gaby Triana was another very original werewolf tale.

These for me were the 5 star stories, your favorites may differ from mine.

Didn't get to it before it was archived. Sorry, Giving feedback based solely on the cover and my own ineptitude. I apologize for my lack of focus. I'm working on me. I may have gone a little request-crazy once I discovered this platform. My bad.

Classic Monsters Unleashed
Edited by: James Aquilone
4 stars
Horror, Adult, Anthology, Retellings


I’m a big fan of classic monster movies, anthologies and retellings so I was excited to read a book that had all three of three things I love. This book was fun, there are 30 stories and most of them are pretty creepy. There are some that are a little predictable but most of them are really clever and as a bonus there are some illustrations in the book. If you like any of the things I listed above I would recommend you giving this book a read.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Black Spot Books for the e-ARC in exchange for n honest review. Pub date: July 12, 2022.

It's common for collections like this to have a few hits and a few misses. This one I found pretty middle of the road. No great stories, but none that were awful. A good introduction to different authors and their craft overall. Worth checking out.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing an arc for an honest review.

As a fan of classic monsters & hammer horror, the second I saw this one, I just knew this anthology was for me. Consisting of 30 short stories and 10 stunning illustrations, you can tell a lot of love and thought went into this one.

While there are plenty of Dracula, Frankenstein & Werewolf stories, each was different enough to stand on their own. There were also plenty of underrated monsters that finally got the spotlight they deserved thrown inbetween. My favourites being the Blob, the Fly and the Headless Horseman.

I can easily say this was my favourite anthology to date. Highly recommend this one for fans of mad scientists and the monsters that lurk in the shadows.

This collection, as the title suggests, pays homage to the monsters (human and inhuman) from classic literature, legend and film. The usual suspects of Dracula, werewolves and Frankenstein's monster are reimagined but there's also a wide range of ones you less commonly see retold, like The Fly. As with most short story collections, what you end up with is a bit of a mixed bag, some stories that sing from the page and others that left me ambivalent or (in a couple of cases) just completely confused. It makes the book as a whole hard to rate.

As someone whose classic monster background is firmly based on the literary kind, I found the less satisfying stories were often the ones based on film monsters. While they were standalone short stories I think I would have appreciated them more if I understood the originals and how they were being twisted into new shapes. So, if you're a fan of classic monsters films, I think this would probably be a really fun read.

I did appreciate the way that the gender, sexuality and race norms of the originals were played with, a modern take on old themes that worked well. And some of my favourites were the ones where the monsters weren't necessarily the villains; there were some satisfyingly morally grey monster protagonists mixed in here.

4.5 Stars

I love a good horror anthology, especially one based on old school monsters, so I was really excited to read this.

As with all anthologies, some entries are better than others but the positives definitely outweigh the negatives in this one. Whilst I found it to be better balanced than most anthologies, I do feel that it was somewhat front-loaded with the stronger entries.

From Jonathan Maberry's brilliant epilogue to H. G. Well's "The Island of Doctor Moreau", to Kelsey Yu's wicked tale of witchy revenge, and Owl Goingback's wild west showdown, I loved reading the unique and creative tales that the authors masterfully brought to life.

Whilst I definitely have my favourites (Maurice Broaddus's "The Invisible Man: The Fire This Time" & Linda D. Addison's "Da Noise, Da Funk, Da Blob" among them), I found that I enjoyed each entry in its own way. Some for their characterisations, some for their originality, and others for the imagery they invoked.

Speaking of imagery, the intermittent illustrations were a nice touch of eye-candy.

So, whether you're a fan of classic literature such as Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" and Oscar Wilde's "The Picture of Dorian Gray", a Universal Monsters fan, or simply appreciate a good reimagining, this anthology is certain to entertain you.

I should note, one thing that did make me uncomfortable was a throwaway line in Leverett Butts & Dacre Stoker's "Enter, The Dragon" in regards to an explosion in Romania and a jest about Russians mistaking it for the Ukraine. I suspect the story was written prior to the current invasion but it still felt really inappropriate to me.

Thank you to NetGalley, Black Spot Books, and Kim Newman for giving me a free digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Link to reviews will be updated the week of publication.

This is one of the best horror anthologies I have ever read. I love the new takes on the classics. So good highly recommend so all horror fans.

A multitude of short stories, revitalizing a selection of universal horror creatures. We have a slew of heavyweight authors contributing their fresh takes on classic monsters: vampires, werewolves, frankenstein, etc. There are a few illustrations in the pages, all well drawn, but they only serve as eye candy; would have loved to have seen more. The ratio of good stories versus bad is enough for me to give it a marginal recommendation. If you are a true fan of classic horror monsters, then this would be a delightful addition to your reading list. Otherwise, I can see why some readers may be less than impressed.

Ah. Monsters. I love all monsters. Classic ones, modern ones, pink ones. You name it, I love ‘em.
So this collection attracted my attention immediately. Not only does it unleash on its audience an absolutely awesome selection of original takes on classic monsters, but its contents page read like the who’s who of horror fiction. Ok, granted, there was a number of author’s who names I didn’t recognize, but a small number compared to the sum total.
And the stories were terrific, one after another. Only a few out of the well over 20 entries didn’t quite work for me and even those were still pretty good, just not as bombastic as their companions.
Selection wise…well as one might have expected Dracula took the cake. Of course. Vampires have got to be the least original and the most overdone monsters out there and yet…
Tragically, only one mummy story. What? Why?
Most of the spins on the classic themes were notably clever and fun. Sure, there were some predictable clichés done over and over again, like gender-swapping, but some of that was quite clever too. In fact, a couple of stories were particular stand-outs using the monster genre to address social evils, such as sexism and racism. Those might have gone preachy had they not been so well done.
Also, some art. Not one for each story, but still…added bonus.
Overall, a killer anthology, pun intended. Very enjoyable, fun, and a must for monster fans. Recommended. Thanks Netgalley.

New life breathed into old horrors. Dracula to the Phantom, everyone is present. I as surprised to see the Wicked Witch of the West present but very happy to read that tale as well.

What's so great about these stories is the very clear distinction that what scares us, thrills us, and interests us regarding monsters and how we see them evolves over time. Monsters reflect our culture at large, not just the dark recesses of one heart. What scared us 50 or more years ago does not send chills down the spines of current readers. Our hearts and minds are different from those of our ancestors and yet...fear is still abundant.
I loved how these stories reflected that all in unique ways.

Highly recommend for lovers of old school monsters AND new school horror.

For people fans of classic monster stories and horror they would really love this sort of book. This is a combination of all the classic monsters that people are well known with. The cover is foretelling of what the book will be about which i like. If i saw this cover on a shelf i would gravitate towards it. This book isn’t for me anymore though, its just not something im interested in at the minute. But i can see many people loving this.

Great anthology.
If you love classic monsters like I do this book is for you.
(Would love an audio version at some point.)

There are 30 unique bite sized stories here, and any fans of classic horror villains will enjoy it. There are vampires, and werewolves, witches and Frankenstein monsters. My favourite unexpected story was of The Blob, told from its point of view, but I enjoyed each of these pieces of short fiction. Some were set in their original times, and some were current, including our Co-vid era. I was surprised to see a Dr. Moreau story in the mix, and some interesting twists on Jack the Ripper. Highly recommend this collection!

Having been a fan of the horror genre for a long time, I was very excited when I had the chance to read this book before its publication. And I wasn’t disappointed — mostly.

Though there were a few weak links in the anthology, most of the stories were quite compelling, building their own worlds from the bones of some of the most famous horror narratives of all time, transforming the classic monsters in new and imaginative ways.

What I believe to the greatest strength of this collection is the passion shown by the writers, the care with which they treat the characters and the respect and contemplation shown for the original material.

I would not only recommend this anthology ro fans of the genre, but also to those looking to get into it, as the short stories, even if modernized, bring the genre back to basics.

#ClassicMonstersUnleashed #NetGalley
A love letter to well-known Dracula, Wolfman and Frankenstein, amazing collection for masters of horror and cinema lovers.

I obtained a free copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review

What a tribute. any fan of the classic horror delights will find something here. from Nosferatu to The Headless Horseman.

not all are winners in my opinion. I felt the Jekyll and Hyde take was a weak and quick work, the Phantom and Raoul story was essentially bad fanfiction, there are a couple of others that I don't really remember [not a good sign] but that stuff that is good IS good. the slowly built She-Creature of the Lagoon, a modern-day Frankenstein that goes from sweet to spine-chilling, a deeply unsettling jaw-dropper about The Wicked Witch of the West and the hooker to this book - a brilliant epilogue for The Island of Dr. Moreau, just masterful. credits to all authors involved.

Solid anthology!
Great amount of well written creepiness and mix of old/new school horror that could appeal to different readers. Loved seeing some old school characters most of us are all familiar with (Dracula, Frankenstein, etc).

What is a monster? According to a dictionary it’s meaning is: a legendary animal combining features of animal and human form or having the forms of various animals in combination, as a centaur, griffin, or sphinx. I agree mostly with the meaning but it’s missing something. I know — it should include this in explains what a monster is. It is also person of unnatural or extreme ugliness, deformity, wickedness, or cruelty. The definitions I have included is due to understand classic monsters. Besides Frankenstein, Dracula and more — there is the Invisible man, the headless horseman and the phantom of the opera. Several of the authors in this horror anthology are well known and Brahm Stoker winners. What I truly loved about this anthology I read some I’ve never heard of. I will be looking for more of their work. I hope then stay in the horror genre. The stories are creative without saying or making it too easy what monster story is rewritten. . One of my favorites in the book is “Dream” by F. Paul Wilson. Actually for myself I enjoyed all the stories except one. That is amazing for me. If you like horror stories, get this book!

A book with a little something for everyone. Kim Newman wrote a great introduction to classic monsters. Several stories where the classic monster was recast as female, such as the one where a body made from parts of others had the brain of a lovesick woman. I'm a sucker for funny horror so a story about an ancient great aunty living (sort of living, that is) in a family's basement was a hoot. It sounds like something that would happen to me if mummies scooted around cellars and ate legs of lamb. (My dad is in the cabinet above the washing machine, but that's another story.) And there were hybrid animal/people thingies that ate fascists. That's always a nice touch. If we could only end all wars with hybrid animal/people thingies.

Every once in a while, there was a story that made me think, "And then what happens?" In one, I figured Mrs. Dracula would wake up the next day, wonder where all these skinny kids came from, and wander away again. She seems to have wandered away on more than one occasion. So, what happens when she forgets her kids again? I'd like to see her steal Mr. Dracula's credit card, go online, and buy a nice gown from Vampire's Wife.

Anyway, some fun stuff that you'll remember from your grandparent's childhoods. Watch the old movies, then let these modern versions scare you a second time. I have to go now because my dad needs something to eat, but thanks to Netgalley and Monstrous Books for allowing me to read and critique "Classic Monsters Unleashed."