Beware the Spider King: The Cult of the Spider People is a YA horror novel of mutant spiders and terrifying secrets

 

 

The Cult of the Spider People (Bone Chillers #1)

Heddy Johannesen

Bone Chillers, 2024

ISBN-13: 979-8342887618

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I’m not a fan of spiders. I only like the kind that exist in fiction. And with a book like The Cult of the Spider People by Heddy Johannesen, there are a lot of spiders to contend with in this YA horror novel!

 

The town in which 17-year-old Piper and her boyfriend, Cory, live in has a spider problem. Tales of spider people abound, all of which the two teenagers shrug off as just urban legend. But when a strange spider creature is discovered in Piper’s home, the two teens investigate to find out where it came from. They enter through a door which Piper had said her father kept locked, and end up going through a portal that takes them to a horrific world called Arachnall, where a Spider King is set on making Piper his queen.

 

This is quite a scary story! From terrifying creatures that are half-human and half-spider to aggressive spiderlings that attack humans and drink their blood, this novel kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end!

 

I loved how the author describes the setting. It is so imaginative! As well as scary. She really knows how to set the stage for a frightening scene and create tension that kept me holding my breath!

 

I liked how Piper and Cory stayed true to each other no matter what happened, never abandoning their love for each other. Even as the two of them both had doubts about the ghost Josephine who claimed to be Piper’s mother, they kept working as a team and looked out for each other.

 

Josephine was a surprise character in the story. I knew that Piper’s mother was dead, but not much is revealed about her death. Readers find out why she is even in Arachnall later in the story, as well as how she tries to help the young teens to escape.  

 

The author describes the setting so well. Here is an example of good description, taken from the scene where Piper and Cory enter the Spider Queen’s lair:

 

“An enormous black web spanned twenty meters swaying like a spectral ghost. The lair was replete with decrepit skeletons. Dead insects, humans, and animals hung from the web like baubles. Spiderling Arachnas wove silk cocoons, eager for an unwary victim. The stench of blood permeated the lair. 

 

Something menacing rested above the web. The cocoons bearing dead and alive prey made her want to scream. Bones of every shape and size riddled the ground beneath the massive web. Blood coated everything. More of the strange Arachnall symbols were etched onto the cave walls. Lifeless eyes stared at her as she passed them. A spiderling crept out from the hollow mouth of a skeleton.”

 

The description of the Spider Queen is likewise terrifying. Then we have the scene describing something terrible happening to Piper close to the end of the story and it really sent a chill down my spine! Just picturing this made me shiver and as much as I wanted to finish reading the story to find out what happens next, I also wanted to stop reading because it was so frightening. (It really tapped in to my fear of spiders!) But I did finish reading until the end and it only made me hungry for more!

 

The Cult of the Spider People is a gripping tale of two teens who try to escape from a world of mutant spiders as well as a relentless Spider King. This story is full of shock and surprises, keeping readers guessing as they read each chapter. This book was enjoyable to read and it offered lots of good scares. I can’t wait to read the sequel, in the event there will be one.

 

 

Five stars

 

 

 

Disclaimer: I downloaded this ebook as part of my Kindle Unlimited subscription and this review is entirely voluntary.

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.