Wicked Things: A Collection of Halloween Horror
Amanda Ruzsa
Independently Published, 2025
ISBN-13: 979-8270854034
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
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