This is my very most favorite anthology of short stories. I loved each and everyone of them. The stories that were my favorite were by Kailynn Bayron, Kosoko Jackson, and Em x Liu. I loved them all so much. They were all so creepy and well written. I love how diverse the stories were and how unapologetic the main characters were. I loved every minute reading this anthology.

This was such a wonderful collection of queer, spooky stories. I haven’t read from any of these authors before (though I have a few in the neverending TBR), so this was a great way to sample from so many different authors.

Favorites included:

The Visitor by Kalynn Bayron: a dead mother visits her daughter and husband on Halloween, but cannot be let inside.

Rocky Road With Caramel Drizzle by Kosoko Jackson: a demon is summoned to exact revenge following a hate crime (but also a romance?)

Nine Stop by Trang Thanh Tran: friends fall victim to a viral video they can’t stop watching.

If you’re looking for an anthology that celebrates queerness and diversity definitely check out Night of the Living Queers!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy.

I usually don't read or buy too many anthologies because there is always a few stories I really don't care for, but all the stories were fun and interesting to read. My favorite story was the one by Jackson called "Rocky Road with Caramel Drizzle." It was a sorrowful revenge tale; revenge is a great trope and this one was so emotional.

This review was previously withheld in line with the Speak Up SMP boycott.

Original review:
If you’re looking for a YA horror anthology written by and about queer people of color then look no further than Night of the Living Queers edited by Shelly Page and Alex Brown. With 13 stories that all take place on Halloween during a rare Blue Moon–all with varying degrees of spookiness–there’s something for everyone.

This short story anthology was such a great read with a refreshing take on classic horror stories. Each story is unique and explores the endless–and often creepy–possibilities that can happen on Halloween night. I loved being introduced to many new-to-me authors whose work I am looking forward to exploring more.

What I liked most about this collection of short stories–and what made me excited to read it in the first place–is that it’s turning the negative portrayal of queer people and people of color on its head. In the past, they’ve often been portrayed as “monsters” to be feared yet every story in this anthology allows its queer people of color to take control of their own story. (for the most part anyway. These are still horror stories.)

“Welcome to the Hotel Paranoia” by Vanessa Montalban (🎃🎃🎃🎃)
Great introduction to the collection. Nothing says Halloween quite like a party for rich kids at an abandoned hotel. I loved the use of mirror imagery in this story.

“The Visitor” by Kalynn Bayron (🎃🎃🎃🎃 ½ )
One of my favorites of the collection and one that’s more suspenseful. Great use of many classic horror vehicles that increasingly builds tension up to the reveal which I did not expect.

“A Brief Intermission” by Sara Farizan (🎃🎃🎃 ½ )
A fun, spooky ghost story with 1950s nostalgia that doesn’t whitewash the prejudice that often comes with nostalgic pieces.

“Guested” by Rebecca Kim Wells (🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃)
Another one of my favorites with Invasion of the Body Snatchers vibes. Masterful use of 2nd person POV that adds to the shock value of the ending.

“Rocky Road with Caramel Drizzle” by Kosoko Jackson (🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃)
A tragically heartbreaking story about vengeance and letting go. One of–if not the only–story to move me to tears.

“Three Phases of Ghost-Hunting” by Alex Brown (🎃🎃🎃)
A fun, campy Sapphic ghost-hunting story that any fan of Fear Street would appreciate.

“Nine Stops” by Trang Thanh Tran (🎃🎃🎃🎃)
A chilling example of the horrors of obsession, grief, and technology.

“Leyla Mendoza and the Last House on the Lane” by Maya Gittelman (🎃🎃🎃🎃)
Very low on the spooky scale–has more of Howl’s Moving Castle vibes that deal with not feeling at home in your own body with an “it gets better” message.

“In You to Burn” by Em X. Liu (🎃🎃🎃)
Intriguing take on destiny with aspects of Chinese mythology.

“Anna” by Shelly Page (🎃🎃🎃🎃)
One of the scarier stories of the collection. Excellent use of suspense with added bits of Cajun folklore.

“Hey There, Demons” by Tara Sim (🎃🎃🎃)
Super cute, cheesy demon romance. Low on the spooky scale.

“Save Me From Myself” by Ayida Shonibar (🎃🎃🎃🎃)
Striking use of body-swapping with the classic theme of “be careful what you wish for.”

“Knickknack” by Ryan Douglass (🎃🎃🎃)
Somewhat cheesy story with a killer clown yet filled with hope of what’s to come.

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Wednesday Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The more short story collections I read, the more I think they may not be for me. This was fine, there were a few good ones but mostly nothing stood out too much for me to remember.

Although not new to the library shelf, we selected Night of the Living Queers as the heart of our young adult book club selection for Pride month and it was a huge hit! As with any anthology, different readers engaged with different stories, but overall the stories in this collection balanced "enjoyably creepy" with "viscerally terrifying" across the length of the collection with most readers enjoying the bulk of the offerings. A nice recommendation for a reader who has enjoyed the works of Andrew Joseph White or Rory Power.

I very much appreciate being gifted this copy of Night of the Living Queers, and the opportunity to read & review it. Thanks to the publisher. I've read works from several of the authors, but was also introduced to many more! What a delightful collection.

“Night of the Living Queers” is a must-read for fans of horror and LGBTQ+ literature. Its variety of stories ensures that there’s something for everyone, whether you prefer spine-chilling scares or more lighthearted fare. The anthology not only entertains but also highlights the importance of representation in genre fiction, making it a significant contribution to both the horror and LGBTQ+ literary landscapes.

Like all anthologies, there are some big hits and a couple of misses, with most of the stories here being solidly good to read. This has the bonus of great representation and a cool premise that they're all working with. It's not super scary or gory, but a good level of spooky and fun that you want in a YA collection like this. There's a great mix of authors, and just overall it's a good read.

In this diverse Halloween-themed anthology, teens encounter the eerie and unsettling.

Editors Shelly Page and Alex Brown's introduction highlights the importance of positive representation for marginalized groups in the horror genre, a mission this queer and racially-diverse collection of stories aims to fulfill. Set against the backdrop of Halloween during a blue moon, each tale offers a unique exploration of themes ranging from grief to romance amidst danger and the intersection of queerness with the holiday.

From gothic to campy to melancholic, each story varies in style and tone, catering to a wide range of reading tastes. While the subtitle promises "terror," many of the narratives offer gentler takes on horror, making them accessible to sensitive readers without sacrificing intrigue. Standout tales include Rebecca Kim Wells's spine-chilling "Guested," where guests at a peculiar party transform into someone else for the night, and Trang Thanh Tran's captivating "Nine Stops," following a Vietnamese American girl drawn into a disturbing viral video.

At its core, the anthology delves into the human experiences of overcoming fear and confronting darkness, within both oneself and the wider world alike. A spooky and inclusive Halloween read, this anthology offers a diverse array of tales to satisfy any reader's appetite for the uncanny.

I always feel the need to read more anthologies! Short stories are incredibly difficult to write but I feel reading them gives an excellent sense of an author's voice and writing style even though they vary so much from a novel structure. I very much enjoyed reading these queer stories, especially from authors that I haven't read from yet. It makes me want to pick up their novels and enjoy more of their writing, in particular Kalynn Bayron, Tara Sim, and Kosoko Jackson (who I have read but I enjoyed seeing the improvement). These stories are the kind of things teens should study in English class in high school. While they often lack the classic structure seen in the usual short stories, I feel they are more relevant and are a gateway into longer novels, as well as a much needed theme of queer horror.

A bit disjointed, but no more than you can expect from any anthology. The tone varies wildly between the stories, but still managed to maintain the book´s theme and because of that each one managed to maintain my interest to the very end. One positive from the stories being so different is that the book feels delightfully diverse, no one point of view dominates the narrative. Even if you don´t connect with every story you will find at least one you can identify with.

This review is possible thanks to an advanced copy provided by NetGalley

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for sending me an ARC of this - all opinions are my own.

Love love love this! I love the idea of a queer horror anthology, and this didn’t disappoint. I did find that some stories worked better for me than others, but I loved the diversity in the authors and the different approaches to the genre. I also love the idea of this all being set on the same night - this would be great for a burgeoning horror fan, or a young reader wanting something spooky. 4/5 stars

This is the perfect collection to get you in the mood for Fall!! When I saw this book full of horror stories centered around queer characters I was over the moon and knew I had to read it. It was everything I could have wanted. Now the stories weren’t genuinely terrifying, but it was a young adult book and while they were spooky they were also fun and entertaining.

Night of the Living Queers is a fascinating collection that looks at different queer diverse ethnic groups in iconic horror situations. Kalynn Bayron's story stole the show for me, but it also introduced me to some new authors that I will be looking into in the future.

This anthology may be a hit for readers who don't read a lot horror. It is just spooky enough and it got me so digging some of the characters and their relationships.

Seriously awesome collection of creepy and haunting horror stories written by/about queer characters. A blend of the invisible horrors of day to day life for queer people, and literal stomach churning horrors you find in the dark. I loved the stories and appreciate the compilation of LGBTQIA+ writers. We need more queer horror!

An inventive and innovative collection, with some gems and just a couple of duds. Loved the Kosoko Jackson story in particular. I'm going to seek out the backlist of more than one of these authors. There's a little something for everyone in this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this review copy in exchange for an honest opinion. Review has been posted on Amazon.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.