I am not one to steer towards horror but when I saw this line-up of authors, I knew it was a must read! Some of these stories had me glad I was reading on a bright sunny day and not at bedtime and some of these stories had me wanting more! Each story represented a queer, person of color and incorporated culture into the story. One of my favorites in this collection was called "Hey There Demons." This collection has something for everyone! Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own!

Thank you Wednesday Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Night of the Living Queers offers a diverse collection of spooky tales, catering to a wide range of readers with its mixed bag of themes and storytelling. From gore to comedy and classic retellings, there's something for everyone. The anthology is written by queer BIPOC authors, bringing their perspectives and experiences to the forefront. If you are a lover of all things Halloween, you need this book!

Now, let's dive into individual ratings and blurbs for each story:

Welcome to Hotel Paranoia By Vanessa Montalban ★★★★:
This classic spooky story was an enjoyable read. While it followed a predictable path, the author infused it with intriguing mystery that kept me both anxious and curious. The chilling ending left a lasting impact, making it a great introduction to the anthology!

The Visitor by Kalynn Bayron ★★★:
Exploring themes of grief and loss, this story had a haunting approach. Although the beginning was a bit slow, the ending delivered a strong horror element that left me wide-eyed. It effectively portrayed how grief can consume an entire home.

A Brief Intermission by Sara Farizan ★★★:
The characters in this short story made the chapter fun! Set in a haunted drive-through, the plot takes an eerie turn once a long-kept secret is revealed. Overall, it's a great read.

Guested by Rebecca Kim Wells ★★★★★:
Among the collection, this story was my favorite. It follows Nina's concern for her sister after she returns from the infamous 'Guested Party.' The concept felt original and kept me curious throughout. The unexpected ending gave me chills, although the second-person narrative style was occasionally distracting. Still, the story was too good to put down!

Rocky Road with Caramel Drizzle by Kosoko Jackson ★:
This story took some time to dissect as I had a fundamental disagreement with its overall message. Personally, I don't support storylines where demonic entities are portrayed as 'friendly.' While it explored important topics, it relied heavily on violence, murder, and vengeance as solutions. I was heartbroken by the real-life events that impacted our main character. Although I empathized with Julian's agony and his tragedy pierced my heart, the outcome and final message didn't resonate with me.

The Three Phases of Ghost Hunting by Alex Brown ★★:
This story offers a joyful, silly, and lighthearted blend of horror and comedy, appealing to readers who enjoy that mix. As a fan of psychological thrillers/horror, I found it a bit challenging to connect with this story. Still, it provides a refreshing break from the usual tone, and I believe many readers will appreciate its light-hearted approach.

Nine Stops by Trang Thanh Tran ★★★★:
For fans of classic horror, this story is a winner! The short tale gradually builds a sense of disturbance and fear, reminiscent of movies like Final Destination or Paranormal Activity. The protagonist's encounter with a cursed Internet video has severe consequences, while the story also touches upon Asian hate crime and loss. Overall, the author weaves a great short story!

Leyla Mendoza and the Last House on the Lane by Maya Gittelman ★★★:
I appreciated how this storyline honestly explores the tension and struggle between identity and cultural/family expectations. However, the descriptions during the climax were confusing and took away from the overall themes and storytelling, which is why I gave it a lower rating.

In You to Burn by Em X. Liu ★★:
This story proved to be confusing, as I struggled to understand the author's intended message. I made an effort to analyze and re-read, but I was still left confused. Perhaps it was a personal difficulty, but I noticed other readers felt the same.

Anna by Shelly Page ★★★:
Drawing inspiration from classic horror tropes, this story delves into themes of loneliness and abandonment. The story itself was quite creepy, effectively crafting a new tale from the babysitter-at-home-alone scenario.

Hey There, Demons by Tara Sim ★★:
This short story provided a fun read, although the writing felt somewhat cheesy. The main character's journey of self-discovery and stepping out of their comfort zone had its moments of humor. However, the pacing didn't quite work for me. Moreover, I personally struggle with stories that present demons as friendly beings, which hindered my connection to the narrative.

Save Me from Myself by Ayida Shonibar ★★★★:
Among the stories, this one carries the heaviest weight, and readers should approach it with caution. It delves into the main character's struggle with suicidal ideation and self-loathing, presenting a dark and brutally honest inner monologue. The tragic ending left me feeling sad and hopeless. Characters like Mona are not often portrayed, and I appreciated the author's candor. However, I advise readers to be mindful of the trigger warnings provided before diving into this chapter.

Knicknack by Ryan Douglass ★★★★:
Fans of Cemetery Boys will find joy in following Noah and Leo's story. They are so fun and wholesome in this short story! Despite Noah's heavy background, which I believe resonates with many young readers, the author skillfully provides a wealth of information about Noah in a short span of time. I loved how Noah cared for his younger brother, and a killer clown on the loose was creepy. The story uses urban-legends to spin this fun tale! The struggle of whether or not Leo reciprocates Noah's feelings adds depth to the story. It was an enjoyable, horrifying, and sweet read.

Overall, this collection is something to be celebrated. We need more authors from diverse backgrounds sharing their life experiences and taking up space in literature. If you were a fan of Goosebumps or In the Dark, Dark Room and Other Scary Stories, you will love this collection as well!

I was excited when I read the blurb for Night of the Living Queers, because I love horror and I love representation, so I was all in. Unfortunately, the first several stories failed to grab my interest, so it took me a while to actually finish the book.
Don't get me wrong, there were definite stand outs, like Rocky Road with Caramel Drizzle, Leyla Mendoza and the Last House on the Lane, In You to Burn (the best in my opinion), and Save Me From Myself. The rest, however, just ran together, and in the end were forgettable.
I'm giving 4 stars because In You to Burn and Save Me From Myself were just so good.
This book was provided to me at no cost by the publisher and NetGalley. My opinions are freely and honestly given.

Night of the Living Queers is a chilling and outstanding anthology! This anthology truly has something for everyone. It ranges from the terrifying, to the stories with a twist at the end that will make you shriek, to quietly ominous endings. I loved that there was plenty of queer joy amidst all the Halloween magic and blue moon horrors.

One of my favorite stories was Sara Farizan’s A Brief Intermission. While the story initially did not seem scary, by the end the quiet menace and haunting last words rang in my mind long after the final page. I also loved Kalynn Bayron’s The Visitor, because I desperately wanted to know what happened next! I couldn’t stop reading to find out what the night was building towards and the conclusion made me shriek.

Some of the stories show that there is a future where things will improve (Maya Gittelman’s Leyla Mendoza and the Last House on the Lane) or that there will be a chance for justice at last (Kosoko Jackson’s Rocky Road with Caramel Drizzle). Other stories end with a spine-chilling revelation that leaves the characters in dire circumstances (Trang Thanh Tran’s Nine Stops). There are also stories that will leave readers wondering if the characters will ever escape the supernatural trap they’ve wandered into (Rebecca Kim Wells’ Guested) (Vanessa Montalban’s Welcome to the Hotel Paranoia).

I loved that there were such strong sibling bonds in many of the stories and glimpses of first love/queer joy (Alex Brown’s The Three Phases of Ghost-Hunting). I really enjoyed the opposing magics of Em X. Liu’s In You to Burn and was so curious to see how their story continued off the page! Shelly Page’s story Anna was the stuff that babysitting nightmares are made of! I loved the romantic element and the petrifying final twist.

Tara Sim writes a compelling story (Hey There, Demons) about what happens when a demon is summoned to deal with a poltergeist. Ayida Shonibar’s Save Me From Myself was heartbreakingly beautiful and will definitely stay with me for a long time. Ryan Douglass’ Knickknack was a wild and fun rollercoaster ride ! This was another of my favorite stories! I could’ve read a full novel about the town battling Knickknack and the continuation of their romance.

I would highly recommend this anthology to anyone! Readers who love queer stories with a spooky twist, Halloween magic, and LGBTQ+ characters will devour this delightful book.

Thank you so much to all the authors in the anthology, Wednesday Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review

For publisher: My review will be posted on Instagram, Goodreads, Amazon, Storygraph, and Barnes & Noble etc

If you want to read a good YA horror book don’t read this. I did not like it. Nothing about this gave me scary vibes. If you want to read good YA horror read R.L. Stine.

I loved the organizing principle behind this collection – a bunch of YA horror stories by exclusivly QTBIPOC authors? Hell yes! But the stories themselves felt like a bit of a mixed bag – some very good, some much weaker. most landed somewhere in a range of "fine but underdeveloped."

Standouts included "The Visitor," "Rocky Road With Caramel Drizzle," "Leyla Mendoza and the Last House on the Lane," and "In You to Burn."

I'd say this is worth a read if you're a YA horror fan, and I definitely have some authors whose work I'll be looking into further because of it, but I just wanted a little bit more from most of the stories, personally. Thanks so much to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for the ARC!

I think I'm just starting my horror era and I've been in my LGBTQ+ reads era for a long time now so I though the combination of the two might be something that I would really enjoy. I wasn't wrong. I found this collection to be generally successful. There were a few installments that weren't for me, but that's just it: they weren't for me. I think that there is a story in this collection for everyone. Something I will mention is that some of these stories lean more into fantasy than horror and others are more paranormal. It provides such a great variety. Let's get into each story a bit then.

Welcome to Hotel Paranoia by Vanessa Montalban – 4 Stars

“It’s bad soil, Anabel. We were already tainted from the start.”

Anabel messed up her kiss with Chrys last year, but she’s not going to do it again this year. After receiving an invitation to a Halloween party at the Sinkhole Hotel, she’s determined to go make things between her and Chrys right this year.

This was perfectly creepy and a lot of fun. I really enjoyed it.

Representation: Sapphic MC/LI, Latine MC (I think)

Content Warnings: General creepiness, discussions around a genocide, mention of a parent with a drug problem, mention of general teenage bullying, dead people, underaged drinking


The Visitor by Kalynn Bayron – 2 Stars

“People told me that the grief would ebb and that I would find some kind of normalcy on the other side of all the sadness, but as time passed, the pain worsened.”

Toya’s mother loved Halloween. After her death, Toya and her father have continued to celebrate the holiday with all of their family traditions. However, this year things don’t go exactly to plan.

This feels like a combination of two different horror stories that author wanted to tell so she mashed them together and this is what came out. I haven’t read a full length novel by her, but her short stories (of the two that I have read) seem to lack something for me in the execution.

Representation: Black Sapphic MC

Content Warnings: General creepiness, Death of a Mother (off page)

A Brief Intermission by Sara Farizan – 3 Stars

“Hey Kiddos,” Harry says from his hospital bed. I think he always calls us kiddos because he’s unsure of Rusty’s pronouns or how to pronounce my name.”

Afsaneh and Rusty work at the local drive-in. However, when their boss has an incident, they are tasked with taking over his special Halloween ritual.

This was more fun than anything else. It wasn’t as creepy as the first one. It was more campy, but I enjoyed it well enough.

Representation: Sapphic Persian MC

Content Warnings: Blood, Violence, Graphic Imagery related to an animal attack and car crash victims.


Guested by Rebecca Kim Wells – 1 Star

“Why would a Guest take over a body?”

You, yes you, must solve the mystery of your sister’s personality switch.

This is definitely a me thing. I hate 2nd person POV, even more than I hate 3rd person present. Just outright hate it. I find it so distracting. Maybe it is because I’m neurodivergent and they’re all like “you do this”. I’m always going, “there is no way in hell that I would do that”. So, it ends up just being my brain versus the story. I found it so distracting that I don’t really have anything to say about the story itself. Interesting idea? I won’t hold this against the author and will try out something else by her in the future.

Representation: Korean MC and SCs

Content Warnings: Personality swapping


Rocky Road with Caramel Drizzle by Kosoko Jackson – 4 Stars

“I am only here because of you, Julian. Because of the pain that has gone unquenched. The lust for vengeance that pulses within your heart.”

After being beaten by his classmates last Halloween, Julian decides to go to a party the next year. However, things aren’t the same as before and Julian wants justice.

This was heartbreaking and reminded me why I’ve been meaning to read more things by Kosoko Jackson. I’ll try to slot another one in this year.

Representation: Gay Black MC, diverse SCs

Content Warnings: Racism, Bullying, Violence against a Black and Gay MC, Blood, Descriptions of injuries

The Three Phases of Ghost Hunting by Alex Brown – 3 stars

“The ghost of a pirate haunts the Golden City Mall food court.”

Daisy and her best friend Iris stake out the food court after hours in the search for the pirate that steals pizza. However, Daisy may get more than just a ghost sighting from the evening.

This was cute, but it isn’t going to be a standout for me. I think that I’ll probably forget it in about a week. However, I think it was a needed reprieve after how serious Jackson’s was before it and the next one by Tran.

Representation: Sapphic Relationship

Content Warnings: Possession

Nine Stops by Trang Thanh Tran – 3 Stars

“My name is Sabrina Pham, and I must tell you: if you stop watching this video, you will die.”

Two friends watch a creepy online video on their way to a Halloween party.

I’m sad. I was hoping that this would be super amazing and creepy so I would want to read the author’s debut, however, I generally felt it was lackluster. It’s definitely a modern horror story taking advantage of things like TikTok trends, but the build-up for me and the creepy factor wasn’t there.

Representation: Non-binary Vietnamese MC, Queer Dominican SC

Content Warnings: Death of an animal, death of a sibling, murder, blood


Leyla Mendoza and the Last Home on the Lane by Maya Gittleman – 3 Stars

“There’s an old man at the end of the lane, and you weren’t always afraid of him, but you can’t remember what it felt like not to be.”

Leyla’s mother has a very strong opinion for what he should wear for Halloween, but the wizard at the end of the lane is going to help them.

This was cute enough. I think it would be better off in a fantasy anthology compared to a horror/scary anthology.

Representation: Filipino Cast, Trans MC, Genderfluid SC

Content Warnings: Misgendering


In You to Burn by Em X. Liu – 3 Stars

“She’s seventeen and she’s angry, and there’s the fire, leaping eagerly through her veins.”

Luce is having problems controlling the fire within her, but she’s not the only one with powers.

Interesting concept, but the execution I don’t think quite worked for me. Honestly, it mostly made me want to reread The Poppy Wars, I think one of the characters in each has the same name. I also think this would have been better in a fantasy anthology.

Representation: Chinese MC/SC, Sapphic

Content Warnings: Arson, Fire

Anna by Shelly Page – 2 Stars

“Tonight happens once in a blue moon. Literally.”

Elise decides to babysit on Halloween instead of going to a party with her girlfriend. She regrets this decision.

This literally put me to sleep. I’m sure it’s going to be fine for most people though. It just didn’t speak to me.

Representation: Sapphic

Content Warnings: Ghosts, Haunting, Violence

Hey There, Demons by Tara Sim – 5 Stars

” ‘Why would I want a child?’ the demon muttered. ‘Disgusting.’ “

Noah decides to try a spell he found online to get rid of the presence in his house. It doesn’t quite work exactly to plan.

This was great. I’m ready for the novel. Noah was adorable and I’m ready for the adventures of him and his demon friend.

Representation: Gay/Queer MC

Content Warnings: Poltergeist, Panic Attack, Blood, Violence


Save Me from Myself by Ayida Shonibar – 4 Stars

“Paraphrasing the great Judy Blume probably isn’t what Mom meant when she reminded me to ask for a divine blessing earlier today.”

Mona enters the local costume contest, hoping that Kali Maa will give her a little extra aide to win. However, be careful what you wish for.

This had a darker turn than I thought it was going to have because it had a younger feel to it when compared to some of the other stories. Honestly, I think it’s more likely to make someone cry at the end as opposed to feeling scared.

Representation: Sapphic South Asian (Bengali) MC

Content Warnings: Possession


Knickknack by Ryan Douglass – 3 Stars

“Living near a haunted mansion is cooler in theory than in practice.”

A boy has to figure out how to save his brother from a ghost clown.

Clowns. I dislike clowns. I find them creepy, but not really in the horror sort of way. Basically, the general premises of this was not to my taste, but I think it was solidly written.

Representation: Bi MC and SC?

Content Warnings: Clowns, Kidnapping, Violence, Blood

Overall, I think this is a really successful collection. A lot of readers are going to really enjoy them, especially readers who truly love horror and scary stories. However, there are some shorts in here for fantasy readers and paranormal readers as well.

Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday books for providing me with an eARC of this book, however, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you so much to Netgalley for an E-ARC of this book! This collection of short stories had such a great premise, being a collection of queer horror stories by queer authors. Sounds like a perfect combination right? Unfortunately.... it did not work out for this collection. For starters, the stories were all incredibly short. I know that it is a short story collection, but these stories were so short that they felt stunted, like more could have happened during the story. There was also very little plot or character development, with the queer representation almost feeling like an after thought for most of the stories. Because the collection had so many authors, the stories feel short. Each author likely had a limit to how many pages their story could be and you could clearly tell. If the author list had been fewer, there would have been a chance for the stories to be longer, and with the stories being longer, the collection would greatly improve.

The shortness of the stories and the basic queer representation was really the nail in the coffin for me.

I loved the overall concept of this book, but the stories were very hit or miss. I loved that every story featured a queer POC. I think my favorite story was A Brief Intermission by Sara Farizan.

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.

This was a fun romp, and some of the stories were legitimately chilling. I liked how many of them ended with enough room to speculate about how things would proceed from there; I don't necessarily always like being spoonfed a resolution, so I appreciated having the room for my imagination to go wild. It made the stories feel more interactive. I did dnf some of the stories, but for the most part, this was a strong anthology. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the review copy!

The short stories in this collection are wonderful!

My favorites were Em X Liu and Kosoko Jackson's.

Shoet story collections always leave me aching for more from the world's they let us glimpse. Many of these felt like a piece to a bigger world if they wanted to be.

YA horror seems to be on the rise and I think this is going to be an accessible book for many more casual readers looking for something spooky at halloween!

This is an exhilarating read that will keep you engrossed from start to finish. It's a testament to the power of queer storytelling and the boundless creativity of its authors. Whether you're a horror aficionado or simply seeking a thrilling and inclusive collection, this anthology is a must-read. Prepare to be enthralled by the atmospheres, characters, and sheer brilliance that graces its pages.

Suspenseful, Enjoyable, great pacing, exciting settings kept me hooked. Great novel that will be the perfect to lose yourself in. Thank you Net Galley for ARC in exchange for my honest opinion

This was a good collection. I know short stories are supposed to be short, but I wish some of these, like Welcome to the Hotel Paranoia or Nine Stops were a bit longer so they would have more time to flesh out and really dig into their concepts. There are also some stories I just couldn't get into like The Three Phases of Ghost Hunting or Anna, but the rest were just fine, I guess. Just something spooky and queer to pick up when Halloween comes.

Night of the Living Queers is a creepy, fun, and extremely queer YA anthology. One of my favorite stories was Nine Stops by Trang Thanh Tran, author of She is a Haunting. This short has some of the same eerie, place-based body horror vibes that I loved in SIAH. They also have a way of incorporating haunted technology in a way that feels organic, which is very cool.

Another fave was Leyla Mendoza and the Last House on the Lane by debut author Maya Gittelman. This story weaves lush imagery into the deeply relatable teen angst of being in-between, in many senses. The twist at the end left me with a really beautiful sense of hope.

My middle schoolers have loved queer anthologies in the past, and the kids who take after my own spooky heart will adore this one as well.

Halloween is special and so is this book! I loved this book of short stories focusing on queer characters and their Halloween nights. Blue moons, possessions, Ouija boards and so much more! I was surprised at how creepy some of the stories were, I honestly would have each story turned into a whole book. All of the stories were fun, spooky and entertaining. Do yourself a favor and read this book!

Initially, this wasn't a collection of stories I selected for myself; I got an email explaining that I had an automatic copy if I wanted it, and that they'd love it if I would give the book a read. I figured, why not? I like horror stories and ghost stories, and I really like short story collections. I didn't recognize any of the authors, but that didn't seem to be a particular issue.

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the stories in this collection. Overall, the balance between proper thrillers and spooky but happy is pretty good; there's usually a buffer story between two that are really terrifying. Maybe they're just terrifying to me, but I can say that reading some of these stories at night before bed was a choice that I might regret just a little.

Notable stories include Guested, Rocky Road with Caramel Drizzle, Nine Stops, Anna, and Knicknack.

The title alone is worth 5 stars. This is the short story anthology that queers have been waiting for and it's by QPOC! The stories have an incredible range from funny to creepy to inspiring to scary. I want to say, "Oh, this one was the best of the stories", but I honestly loved them all.
Do yourself a favor this Halloween and read this book!
#NetGalley

I received an ARC from Netgalley. My thoughts are my own.

Note: I wrote this review largely as I read, finishing a story and writing my thoughts, then adding to it later on as the anthology unfolded and I noticed trends.

<b>Overall thoughts:</b> I liked every story to varying degrees, no clunkers. All the stories featured queer characters of color, with those aspects always represented, but taking more of a center stage in some stories more than others. I am a romance fan, but I came to this anthology looking for the scariness to be front and center. Which means that the stories I rated a little lower might be the ones you like more than my top stories.

That doesn’t mean I didn’t want deeper meaning in the stories and so my favorite ones were scary, but also thoughtful, insightful, and moving.

My favorite story was Leyla Mendoza and the Last House on the Lane, by Maya Gittleman. Not the scariest, but spooky Halloween vibes with a little fantasy, but what stole my heart was the hopeful message of – well, no spoilers, darlings!

Lots of Ouija Boards, at least 3. Being YA, there are also a lot of babysitting gigs and siblings in distress.

I love short stories and find them their own artform. Some of the authors handled this perfectly, and others missed a beat or two to allow their story to fully realize its potential. A couple of the stories needed a few more pages than they were allotted.

<b>Welcome to the Hotel Paranoia, by Vanessa Montalban.</b> *** ½ The first story, Welcome to the Hotel Paranoia, by Vanessa Montalban had great vibes. Set in a never-opened hotel (the ground was no good, you all, and an earth goddess might not be pleased with the violation) in the middle of nowhere that seems surprisingly intact. Overlook vibes, complete with a party that cannot (should not) be. Some glaring plot holes, though. I have questions!

This is in so many ways my ideal setting with my ideal mood, filled with my ideal tropes. My confusion on a couple points, though, weaken this a fair amount for me, but this as the first story in the anthology still made for a strong start. Based on what was done near perfectly, I’d love to read more from this author! Looks like she has a book called A Tall Dark Trouble, which I’m very interested in. Sapphic.

<b>The Visitor, Kalynn Bayron:</b> **** Another story with great atmosphere. The author did a great job of setting up a familiar Halloween in America, and foreshadowing. I really felt the fall air as a father and daughter sit down to watch horror movies ... and wait. The story felt really meta, as the character who are well aware of horror tropes fall into horror tropes, as if they had to fulfill the requirements of the night. I think there were elements there just to be a misdirect, but I don't know, and so I have questions. There's something missing here stopping me from full love. I would have liked an extra beat or two to even better establish the longing that lead to the choice. What was the catalyst?

If I could compare it to one classic horror story, I’d have to go Monkey’s Paw, by W.W. Jacobs, but it’s very much it’s own story.

This was the story that made me, in May of 2023, turn on the wax melter for the scent of cocoa and leaves and campfire. Sapphic.

<b>A Brief Intermission, Sara Farizan: *** ½ </b> Afsaneh and Rusty are drive-in employees and film buffs. They're asked by the incapacitated owner, mauled by an invisible something, to do him a favor. Also not to interact with any visitors. They do anyhow. "Hilarity" ensues. Nice.

While set in the modern era, there are links to the 1950s, when people weren’t fans of non-conformity. It reminds me that there’s a portion of Stephen King’s Christine, a novel about a possessed 1958 Plymouth Fury, called Teenage Death Songs. I’m also reminded of the line from Into the Woods about nice being different from good. Sapphic.

<b>Guested, Rebecca Kim Wells:</b> ****1/2 Nina goes to a different kind of Halloween party in order to help her sister, who has been acting strange. Genuine chills. At first, I rolled my eyes at the story being told in 2nd person, but it very much works. The premise of a mysterious company trying to change people, but something goes wrong, reminds me of More Happy than Not, by Adam Silvera. Sapphic.

<b>Rocky Roads with Caramel Drizzle, Kosoko Jackson: </b> **** A boy has an opportunity to exact revenge after a hate crime. Ouija board! Moving story that asks why we have to always turn the other cheek, or rise above. I didn’t 100% gel with the writing, but found myself moved and introspective as to what we expect of victims – to be so much better than those that hurt them in a world where justice feels sometimes like the least likely result. Why? I suspect this is going to be one of the hardest reads due to the subject matter. Achillean.

<b>The Three Phases of Ghost Hunting, Alex Brown:</b> *** 3 words: Food court ghost. Nice, and I love the mall setting, Daisy de la Cruz and Iris Chen, but I'm not sure this one will stick with me. In fact, I’m writing this a few days after reading it, and the title brought up nothing, but once I had my memory triggered, I smiled. The romance is sweet, so no chills but several of the feels. According to her bio, the author loves rooting for the final girl, especially if she’s a monster. Sapphic.

<b>Nine Stops, Trang Tranh Tran:</b> ***** This one IS scary. Watch the video, or die, but watch the video and maybe die anyhow. Creepy, and seemed to be a commentary on the way we passively watch real-life tragedies as if they exist for our voyeuristic entertainment. Nine Stops is also about the connection between those grieving loss. Very The Ring, and stories in that vein. The author has She is a Haunting coming out this winter, and it looks amazing.

<b>Leyla Mendoza and the Last House on the Lane, Maya Gittleman:</b> ***** I’m writing the reviews as I go, talking about each story as I finish it. At this point, this is very much my favorite story so far. It’s horror, but it’s fantasy. It takes place at the house everyone is afraid of – you know that place. It’s a story about fear, and when it is and isn’t justified, and it’s ultimately hopeful. And it definitely made me cry. Even if I read a story Iike as much, I definitely won’t read one I like more. Some of the family dynamics reminded me of The Cemetery Boys, by Aiden Thomas. Maya Gittleman is definitely on my radar now. Trans rep.

<b>In You to Burn, Em X. Liu:</b> ***1/2. Luce/Lucy (a name that refers to light) unintentionally starts fires with her mind, pyrokinesis, when she’s angry. She thought she’d burned Harley alive, but Harley is still walking around, and now she’s at the party. Based on a Chinese tale called Nezha and the Dragon King. As much fantasy as horror. Objectively, a good story, but not fully my vibe, and I really think it called for at least as novella. Maybe animal death, not clear. Sapphic rep.

<b>Anna, Shelly Page: </b>**** This story has A LOT going for it: a New Orleans setting, a main character who believes in ghosts & is off to babysit, a Ouija Board, and a scary attic. A couple moments didn't land for me, but there was so much right with it. Sapphic rep.

<b>Hey There, Demons, by Tara Sim: </b> ***1/2 Noah thinks his house has a poltergeist. Will trusting a (cute) demon to exorcize it work or be a big mistake? Possibly one of the most romantic tales in this anthology up until this point. Also, funny and creepy. The ending felt a bit rushed for me, even as a short story. Achillean.

<b>Save Me from Myself, Ayida Shonibar: </b> ***1/2 was perhaps the hardest book for me to read on an emotional level, & that's saying something in a book with a story about hate crimes. "Save" is about how intrusive thoughts/depression/anxiety steal joy and keep us from forming bonds.

Not every writing choice felt smooth for me, and the tone varied a little too much, but the concept touched me deeply. I mean, I related. The ending is an absolute gut punch. Sapphic

<b>Knickknack, Ryan Douglass: </b>
*** The story had a scary dead clown and a Nightmare on Elm Street echoes, and was one of the stories that prioritized attraction/romance, but the tone didn't sell the horror for me. I love romance, but came to this book wanting horror as the star. Obviously, subjective, and a personal preference, and I might have liked it more on a different day. Achillean.

<b>Final Thoughts:</b> Publication is set for 8/29/23. Terrific book to pick up then, and have on your TBR pile when October rolls around. This would be wonderful to read while the wind blows and the smell of burning leaves is in the air.

This was a terrific and perfectly balanced collection of queer BIPOC horror stories, some more identity driven and some more horror driven. I loved all of them.