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.

I think I may have outgrown this anthology - I was really excited upon seeing this listed on here, but nothing really "hit" for me. Overall, I'm feeling a bit lukewarm.

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.