Something Wicked for Halloween: Wicked Things is a collection of dark, terrifying poetry that captures the Halloween spirit in verse

 

 

Wicked Things: A Collection of Halloween Horror

Amanda Ruzsa

Independently Published, 2025

ISBN-13: 979-8270854034

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There are many Halloween poetry books out there, but none of them are as captivating as Wicked Things: A Collection of Halloween Horror. And horror is what readers are in for when they read these poems! They are written in a way that draws readers in from the very beginning. Ruzsa does well in setting a dark, creepy mood for these many Halloween poems, each one better and scarier than the last!

 

While I enjoyed reading all of the poems in this book, here are the poems that really stood out for me:

 

“All Hallow’s Eve”

So many people romanticize how the veil is thin on Halloween, making it easier for the dead to walk among us.

 

Not here, in this poem:

 

“All Hallow’s Eve—

Everything hidden

becomes the seen.

Faces you once knew

begin to twist.

And loved ones’ voices

ooze and hiss,

spilling through

broken teeth.”

 

 

“Pumpkin King”

I loved this poem. Nothing says “Halloween” like pumpkins, and the Pumpkin King is one of the many things associated with this day. But in this poem’s case, the Pumpkin King is a little different and has quite the effect on everyone.

 

 

“Candy Corn”

I gotta admit, I’m one of those people who loves candy corn. But after reading this poem, I don’t think I will be enjoying them the same way again! Especially with how they are a little waxy; it will remind me of what happens in this poem!

 

 

“The Rot That Binds Us”

This is such a powerful and very sad poem. It’s about loss, grief and despair. After a couple lose their little girl, they turn to their pumpkin patch for comfort, where they have spread their daughter’s ashes. There they allow themselves to feel their sadness, pain and a profound desire to have their child back. Reading this poem made me sad but it was also a little eerie as well, with the pumpkins containing the child’s ashes. This poem really stands out.

 

 

“When Darkness Falls”

I love the mood of this poem. It captures the eeriness and the spookiness of Halloween night so well. I especially liked this part of the poem:

 

“Halloween isn’t just a

celebration, a time for

children to run amok.

It's the night we pretend

to love the darkest pieces

of existence, so that it

will love us back. It’s the night we

pay homage

To the beasts who

lie in wait.”

 

 

“Wicked Things”

This is my favorite poem of them all! This poem is very dark and spooky. Beware the grinning Jack-O-Lanterns! Something dark and evil lurks within on Halloween night, and woe to those who don’t observe the traditions!

 

Wicked Things is a wickedly good book of poems to read for Halloween – or anytime of the year for those who enjoy reading dark and spooky poetry. The poems in this book capture the spirit and essence of Halloween, leaving readers with a sense of something lurking in the shadows or hiding around a corner. Read these poems if you dare!

 

 

Five stars

 

 

Disclaimer: I downloaded a free copy of this book through my Kindle Unlimited subscription and this review is entirely voluntary

Stories of Halloween Thrills and Chills: Horton's Halloween Hauntings is a must-read for every fan of horror stories

 

Horton’s Halloween Hauntings: 14 Tales of Halloween

Edited by Chisto Healy

Independently Published, 2025

ISBN-13: 979-8268332650

Ebook, 179 ppg.

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If you’re looking for a collection of Halloween stories to read, look no further than the anthology, Horton’s Halloween Hauntings: 14 Tales of Halloween, edited by Chisto Healy. Not only will you read some frightening and terrifying stories but your love for Halloween will grow thanks to the many stories in this book that put a new spin on many Halloween traditions.

 

Even though this anthology is filled with stories by authors whose work I have enjoyed reading in the past, here are the stories that really stood out for me:

 

“Turnip Head” by Desiree Horton

The veil is thin on Halloween, allowing the dead easy passage into the land of the living. But one woman’s late husband comes back in an unusual way!

 

“Anything for Candy” by Ashley Fox

This was a very dark tale. There are so many stories of Halloween tricks gone wrong, but not many of them explore what happens afterward. This story does, and what happens after the tragedy is all the more horrifying.

 

“Devil of the Eden” by Boe Healy

What happened in this story was completely unexpected! It’s full of scares and a lot of tension. It’s a good father and son Halloween story but it’s also very dark and creepy.

 

“The King of the Gourds” by E.M. Otero

This story takes a very bizarre turn after an expert pumpkin carver starts experiencing some body horror while carving pumpkins. I loved the ending!

 

“Riddles Three” by Z Martin

This is another creepy story that took an unexpected turn! I really enjoyed reading it. I thought the riddles were really clever.

 

“The Birthright” by Eve L. Fell

I was excited to come across this kind of story, as they are one of my favorites. At first, I was frightened by what was happening to the main character, then the story had a twist and it went in an entirely different direction!

 

“Jaq-O-Lantern: The Pumpkin Queen” by Chisto Healy

The name in the title confused me, but I loved the story behind it! Yes, it’s sad, but there is at least some peace behind it. I love how the legend comes to life in this story. There are some horrible things that happen, but it’s a really good story. 

 

While those stories really resonated with me, I enjoyed reading all of the stories in this book. They are all good stories and I was happy for the chance to read these creative tales written by some very talented writers.

 

Horton’s Halloween Hauntings: 14 Tales of Halloween is the kind of book that every horror lover should include in their library. It’s a great book to read during Halloween season, as well as any time of the year. The stories in this book will surprise and terrify readers, keeping them turning the pages for tales that never cease to entertain.

 

 

Five stars

 

 

Disclaimer: This review is completely voluntary. I downloaded a copy of this book through my Kindle Unlimited subscription and I am posting this review by choice.

No Spoilers Here: Tell Me How It Ends is a Collection of Horror Stories That Will Surprise, Frighten and Terrify Readers

 

Tell Me How It Ends: A Horror Collection

Desiree Horton

Independently Published, 2025

ISBN-13: 979-8285804628

Ebook, 98 ppg.

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A woman makes a horrifying discovery after her husband’s death. Trick-or-treaters get more than they bargain for after they follow a young girl into the woods. And an unusual convention has an unlucky guest. These are just some of the horror stories that await readers of the book, Tell Me How It Ends: A Horror Collection by Desiree Horton. Within the pages of this book lurk people who delight in committing the most heinous of crimes and monsters eagerly hungry for the humans in their sights. The next story I read was even better than the last one. I read this book in a day, as it was hard to put down! I could not stop reading it once I began, and the cryptic endings made me hold my breath as I got to the very last surprising sentence.

 

This collection of stories starts off strong. The first story, “The Beach House,” had me thinking that it was a story about loss or grief, but then something completely unexpected happens that changed everything I thought I had figured out about this story. This plot twist had me eagerly reading more and what happened next took me by surprise. It’s a great story that lingered in my head long after I finished reading it.

 

“Penny’s Tea” was really horrific! I had no idea what to expect, though I understood what was happening. They say we should trust our instincts when we feel that something isn’t right with our bodies, and the character, Penny, really knew that she was dealing with something not only wrong but also unnatural. Loved the surprise at the end of this story! It’s a great body horror story that sent chills down my spine!

 

“Sweeter than Candy” was another enjoyable read. I have read this Halloween story before, when it was published in Halloween Horrors: A Fundraising Anthology, but of course I read it again and it was just as enjoyable to read again! That’s one good thing about spooky Halloween stories; they can be enjoyed many times over, especially during the month of October!

 

“Family is Forever” was also another awesome story in this book. When I started reading it, I had no idea what to expect. But as I got into this story, I was drawn into the mutual grief the cousins felt over yet another death in the family. They say that grief affects everybody differently, but for Daisy’s cousin, Rosie, she puts her unusual hobby to creative use in coping with the most recent loss.

 

All of the stories in this collection were enjoyable and I loved the last one, the title story, the best.

 

Tell Me How It Ends is a collection of spooky, haunting tales that are sure to frighten, terrify and alarm readers. These stories offer a combination of monstrous characters, horrifying spectacles and spinetingling scares that are unlike any other stories out there. Pick up this book to read if you’re looking for some scary stories to enjoy and you won’t be disappointed.

 

  

Five stars

 

 

 

Disclaimer: I downloaded a free copy of this book through my Kindle Unlimited subscription.