Phobias: A Collection of Terror is a creepy and entertaining collection that takes some of our most common fears and turns them into genuinely unsettling horror. The stories explore a variety of phobias, giving each one its own disturbing twist and making the collection feel nicely varied from beginning to end.

What I enjoyed most was the way the stories play on fears that can feel surprisingly relatable. There’s something particularly effective about horror that takes an everyday fear and pushes it into something much darker. A few of the stories definitely got under my skin more than others, and there were several moments that made me think twice about some of my own fears!

As with most anthologies, some stories worked better for me than others, but overall I found this to be a fun and creepy read. The collection offers a good mix of different types of terror without becoming repetitive, and fans of short horror fiction should find plenty to enjoy.

A solid choice for anyone who likes quick, disturbing reads and stories built around the things that make us uncomfortable.

I'm generally not a big fan of third-person narratives, which was also true for the first book I read by this author. But once again, CAM Muñoz won me over. The writing and story flow are so smooth that I found myself thoroughly enjoying the collection despite my usual preference.

As a reader, I love seeing how an author weaves different concepts together. This collection offers four eerie tales that turn everyday moments into something unpredictable, creepy, and bizarre.

Here is my quick, spoiler-free breakdown of each story:
1. Worm: A light, short, and fast-paced opener. While it didn't completely spook me as an adult reader, experiencing this concept through a child's point of view makes it genuinely creepy. It's a fun, entertaining start.

2.The Staircase: This one leans heavily into psychological horror, which is right up my alley. It follows a protagonist descending into an unsettling mystery. As a book lover, there is a specific scene describing a personal home book collection that brought a genuine smile to my face,so relatable! (Also, I have to wonder if the author has a special love for sandwiches, as they popped up here just like in his previous book! Haha) The atmosphere is solid, though the heavy environmental descriptions occasionally slowed down the pacing and tamed the suspense a bit.

3.Don’t Look Back: Pure horror . This story centers on a hunting trip gone wrong after a swim in a lake. It hits all the right notes with its tension and thrill, it left me wanting even more!

4.Frozen Paradox / Strange Ain't It: Easily the most eerie atmosphere in the collection. The sheer claustrophobia of zero visibility due to heavy fog, paired with strange, unpredictable weather anomalies, builds a deeply unsettling dread. It taps into the terror of being trapped in an endless situation where reality completely breaks down. (Note for ARC readers: There was a slight formatting hiccup with the chapter title transition between these sections, but the underlying narrative concept is fantastic.)

CAM Muñoz is undeniably a talented writer with fantastic, original plot concepts. I personally connected the most with the second and third stories. If I have one honest critique, it’s that I wanted the fear element to hit just a little harder. Because of the third-person perspective and the dense surrounding descriptions, I occasionally felt like an outside observer rather than being fully immersed in the terror. It feels like the author is holding back just a bit. I want to see him unleash the horror, thrill, and dark intensity in full force next time! Lols.

Despite that, the storytelling creates a truly unique world that keeps you hooked. I will never get tired of reading his work, and I’m already looking forward to picking up Déjà Vu next.

Thank you to the Publisher and Netgalley for providing an early copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

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