Twisted Tales to Tell in the Night: Another Halloween Horror Anthology edited by Stephanie Rose is a fun collection inspired by Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz, but written for adults.

The anthology features 14 writers from diverse backgrounds. Some stories celebrate the magic of Halloween, while others focus on the terror it brings.

Every story is centered around Halloween in some way. This is the second anthology in the Twisted Tales to Tell in the Night series. It differs slightly from the first volume. There are more female writers, the collection is a little less playful, the stories tackle deeper themes, and editor Stephanie Rose is the only returning contributor.

The authors I was most excited to read were V. Castro, Gwendolyn Kiste, and Haley Newlin, and they all delivered.

One of my favorite things about last year’s collection was discovering new authors, and that happened again here. My favorite new discovery was Donna Taylor with When Leaves Burn. That story shook me with its vivid descriptions and haunting sense of dread. Other new-to-me authors I enjoyed were Alan Dellascio, Joseph Buckley, Skylar Crowter, and Rikki Goodwin.

After finishing each story, I wrote a mini review with my immediate thoughts.

Twisted Tales to Tell in the Night: Another Halloween Horror Anthology was first published on June 23, 2026, by Death By TBR Books.

Why did I read Twisted Tales to Tell in the Night: Another Halloween Horror Anthology?

I read and loved the first Twisted Tales to Tell in the Night. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting four of the contributors and telling them how much I enjoyed their stories. I originally read that collection as an ARC through NetGalley.

This year the publisher reached out and asked if I wanted to read the second volume, which was an easy yes. Then I saw the contributor list and got even more excited. I hope they continue this series.

My Ranking and thoughts of all the stories from Least Favorite to Favorite:

IT LURKS by Zelda Zito is about two kids trick or treating when one spots something in the distance. The story was short and opened with a confusing metaphor. It used too many words to convey simple ideas, making it harder to read than it needed to be. The ending was just okay because the setup felt weak.

DO YOU KNOW THE BUNNY MAN? by Angela Sylvaine is a fairly standard story. Kids go trick or treating and find a candy dish that warns them to only take two pieces or the Bunny Man will come after them. One girl ignores the warning, and the rest plays out predictably. There wasn’t much that surprised me.

THE MAN WHO WOULD BE DEATH by Greg Patrick has a good premise but weak execution. The dialogue didn’t work for me, and there were far too many adverbs, which made the writing feel clunky. The final image was excellent, though, with just the right amount of description. The story follows a serial killer on Halloween who ends up being tricked himself.

SPECTER HALLOWEEN by Briana Morgan is a heartfelt story with a strong sibling relationship. The emotional moments worked well, but the horror element felt underdeveloped. It appeared suddenly without much explanation. The character reveals were excellent, and I empathized with the siblings throughout.

NIGHTMARE REALM by Leigh Kenny is an okay story with a decent ending. A group of friends visits a haunted attraction called Nightmare Realm after being warned not to. It reminded me of Dean Koontz’s The Funhouse. It took me a while to get invested, but it finished stronger than it started.

THE HAUNTING OF THORNWOOD CEMETERY by Maria Giakoumatos has a great setup but doesn’t fully stick the landing. The story centers on a rumored staircase in a cemetery that supposedly leads to hell. A group of goth kids decides to test the legend, with unsettling results. I loved the premise, but the ending only partially worked for me.

MALLRAT by Rikki Goodwin is a very atmospheric story built around the death of the shopping mall. It made me nostalgic for how lively malls once were and how empty many feel today. It isn’t particularly scary, but it has an unsettling atmosphere. The prose is beautiful, and the descriptions are memorable.

THE TRAP DOOR by Skylar Crowter follows two girls celebrating what may be their last Halloween together. The story builds strong tension with creepy atmosphere and vivid descriptions as the horror slowly unfolds. The final line perfectly ties the story together. I wanted a little more originality, but it was still well told.

TRICK OR TREATment by Haley Newlin follows a woman recovering from a mysterious medical treatment. At first I assumed it was chemotherapy, but the truth is much darker. The story has a dreamlike quality that reminded me of The Yellow Wallpaper. It explores an unhealthy domestic power imbalance, where a husband wants his wife to become someone else. The story takes a bloody turn, and I appreciated its message of female empowerment.

THE THIRTEEN THINGS YOU FOUND IN YOUR TRICK OR TREAT BAG by Gwendolyn Kiste tells its story through items collected on Halloween night. Each object reveals another piece of the narrative. Kiste writes with tremendous confidence, and the story unfolds in a clever way. The ending is quiet and emotional. It worked well, although I personally wanted just a little more.

SCARE OF A LIFETIME by Joseph Buckley is a strong horror story that works on multiple levels. The writing is excellent, with vivid descriptions throughout. A man throws himself into Halloween as a way to honor his late spouse, searching for one final scare. The horror, emotion, and humor all blend together very well.

BACK HOME AGAIN by Alan Dellascio is a creepy, atmospheric horror story with a fantastic ending. A father returns to his old neighborhood to take his child trick or treating, only to find himself followed by a rotting corpse. The opening is a little slow, but the payoff is excellent. It’s a horror story with real heart.

WHEN LEAVES BURN by Donna Taylor is a beautifully atmospheric horror story set in the autumn woods. The imagery is haunting, and the story filled me with dread despite its short length. The title fits the story perfectly. Donna Taylor is an author I’ll definitely be looking for in the future.

NO STRINGS ATTACHED by V. Castro is an outstanding haunted puppet story. It begins like a traditional cursed puppet tale before twisting the concept into something far more original. Castro cleverly ties the puppet’s strings into the story’s themes of relationships and control. The character work is excellent, and the writing is some of the strongest in the collection. It was an easy standout.

Recommendation:

Twisted Tales to Tell in the Night: Another Halloween Horror Anthology is a fantastic Halloween collection that’s perfect for both October and Summerween. There were a few misses for me, but most of the stories landed in the 3, 4, or 5 star range. If you’re looking for bite-sized horror with plenty of variety, I highly recommend checking out this anthology to get into the Halloween spirit.

Rating:

Twisted Tales to Tell in the Night: Another Halloween Horror Anthology edited by Stephanie Rose

4 out of 5