Kind of a mixed bag, as usual with these types of anthologies. I want to like them more than I do. Thanks to NetGalley for the arc!

Thank you to Page Street and NetGalley for the eGalley to review!

The House Where Death Lives is overall a celebration and analogical analysis of marginalized ethnic and queer identities and how they intersect with horror and folklore. Each main character is one or both, representing a kaleidoscope of humanity, giving each story a personal level of relativity to whomever the reader may be. Not all of them are scary--some are just observations of the paranormal, a look into cultural folklore, and above all, social commentary and a reclamation of what makes us human. Some are pretty darn messed up (looking at you, The Grey Library) and there are plenty of morally grey characters here to keep it interesting! Most are in first person perspective, though there are a few third person ones. It's a refreshing, nuanced look into horror that I know teens are going to appreciate.

Yet, while I really enjoyed this one, I feel that too many of the stories end too abruptly without any real resolution or at least a good cliffhanger that makes you think about all the potential ways for the story to end. It was as if the writers took a break, never came back to write more, and just submitted what they had. I'm all for open-ended horror, but some of these were too open ended, not giving us enough to work with to get the impact the writer was trying to go for. This made those stories a bit weak, but the rest of the stories were stronger and a few have stuck with me even now, days after reading them.

Every anthology is going to have its mix of hits and misses, I'll admit. This one has more hits than misses, so I'm definitely recommending it. And for those curious, my favorites were What Lies in Silence and The Shoe.

Thank you NetGalley and Page Street YA for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book!

The House Where Death Lives is a YA speculative fiction anthology that features an array of spooky short stories, each of which is set in a specific room of a house. I thought this was a fun concept, and I loved that the stories were written by diverse authors and included many different cultural traditions and folklore. As with most anthologies, some of the stories resonated with me more than others. Some of my favorites were Good Morning, Georgia by Courtney Gould and The Grey Library by Nova Ren Suma. Overall, I thought this was a solid collection for YA readers who like things spooky but not too scary.

In this collection of 16 creepy and diverse tales by various YA authors – including Courtney Gould, Nova Ren Suma, and Traci Chee – the unifying theme is the power of place. Beginning with the top floors and moving down, and out, the stories’ locations bring new life to tales of haunted houses. Standouts include Kay Costales’ “Cradle and All,” in which the Tiyanak, a blood-sucking creature from Filipino mythology, haunts the mirror of a girl with a secret, and Gina Chen’s “Like Mother,” in which a storage room houses a demon who promises freedom from a parent’s weighty expectations. Each tale features its own take on the effects of grief, loss, and change, but all are unsettling enough to have teen readers switching on lights and checking in closets before going to sleep.

This is the perfect book to get you in a spooky mood! This YA anthology of dark, horror stories will make your spine tingle and have you racing to turn on all the lights! The cover is fun and the stories are even better!

I really enjoyed these short stories! I loved how it took you through the house from beginning to end. All of the stories were very different and creepy in their own way. I enjoyed that there were some that had cultural references in them with their own scary stories. I also enjoyed the different cultural representation. I enjoyed that it was more ghost related and that the house always had something to do with it. A perfect October read!

Thanks to NetGalley and Page Street Publishing for the ARC.

It's a cool YA horror anthology. I liked how it's structured around the layout of a house from the top down. It covers a wide variety of folklore and styles of horror, as well as tone. Vanishing Point by Traci Chee was my favorite. The grief and guilt that Viv feels over her mother dying, how she feared watching her waste away, it's immediately familiar to me from when my grandmother passed away. The months leading up to her death, I couldn't bring myself to visit because I didn't want to see her change. Even though I was a child then, the guilt from that choice still bothers me, so this story hit hard.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6891551366

https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/5b93d933-2967-43c5-9831-557287eac50b

Check out this review of The House Where Death Lives on Fable. https://fable.co/review/4987d364-a6a5-48ac-9ce2-3efac0cad5f4/share

This anthology took my favorite type of ghost stories (creepy and mysterious, yet short and sweet) and added a pleasantly surprising amount of depth. They encapsulate the feeling of being freaked out by something everyone else sees as normal when you’re a kid while also showing that the scariest things can be the emotions we don’t understand.

I also loved how the stories are organized as if you are making your way through a haunted house.

I would recommend for anyone who loves:
👻 paranormal podcasts (such as And That’s Why We Drink and Scared To Death)
🏕️ campfire stories
🌎 folklore from different cultures

Thank you NetGalley and Page Street Publishing for the digital ARC for the collection of short horror stories “The House Where Death Lives”

The collection started really strong with “Good Morning, Georgia” by Courtney Gould. From there the stories were a hit and miss - but this is always something I expect from short story collections. Even the stories that were a miss for me, were still really spooky and atmospheric, and still matched the overall aesthetic of the book. If I had to pick a favourite it would be a toss-up between “Cradle and All” by Kay Costales, or “Mirror, Mirror” by Nora Elghazzawi - I think this was because of the realistic element involving personal trauma.

I feel like this would be something those that want a quick read, or enjoy those atmospheric stories around the holidays would enjoy.

Overall 4/5

The House Where Death Lives is an anthology that really doesn't have any stories that miss, a rare trait for an anthology. It's a diverse array of YA horror stories, concentrating on haunted houses (and arcades and BnBs and anything else that could be a house), organized by section of the house, starting in the attic and moving down. It has unaware ghosts, demons of many flavors, even the fairies. It's a really good collection. I definitely recommend it.

This book had everything I look for in horror and was such a fun read. I have read and enjoyed the previous works of many of the authors included in this collection so I had high expectations for this and it definitely did not disappoint!

If you’re a fan of dark, spine-chilling stories that linger in your mind long after you’ve turned the last page, The House Where Death Lives by Alex Brown is a must-read. Here’s why this anthology deserves a spot on your TBR list:

1. A Unique Concept with a Sinister Twist
Imagine a house that isn’t just haunted but alive, with each room telling its own terrifying tale. This anthology takes you on a journey through a house that defies the laws of time and space, where the walls shift, the halls devour, and every room holds a monstrous secret. It’s not just a house—it’s a living, breathing entity that will keep you on edge with every turn of the page.

2. Diverse Monsters from Global Folklore
One of the standout features of this anthology is its exploration of monsters from a wide array of cultural traditions. From the demonic Trickster to the water-loving Rusalka and the horrifying, baby-imitating Tiyanak, each story introduces you to a new creature that brings its own brand of terror. This rich diversity adds layers to the horror, making each story feel fresh and uniquely unsettling.

3. Echoes of The Haunting of Hill House
If you loved Netflix’s adaptation of The Haunting of Hill House, you’ll find yourself right at home in The House Where Death Lives. The anthology mirrors the eerie, atmospheric horror that made Hill House a hit, but with a YA twist that’s perfect for fans of speculative fiction. It’s a deep dive into psychological horror, where the house isn’t just a setting—it’s a character in its own right.

4. Compelling Characters with Dark Secrets
At the heart of each story are characters as compelling as they are twisted. Whether it’s a girl as monstrous as H.H. Holmes or inhabitants grappling with the sinister forces within the house, you’ll be drawn into their lives, even as you’re horrified by their actions. The character development is top-notch, making you care about their fates—even when you know it’s unlikely to end well.

5. A Perfect Blend of Horror and Speculative Fiction
This isn’t just a horror anthology—it’s a masterclass in speculative fiction. Each story in The House Where Death Livesblends horror with elements of fantasy and science fiction, creating a reading experience that’s as thought-provoking as it is terrifying. If you’re looking for a book that challenges your imagination while sending chills down your spine, this is the one.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I was very excited for this collection of stories! Several of my favorite YA authors were a part of this collection including Courtney Gould. There were so many stories that were full of sadness, regret, and guilt. Each story was beautifully written by the author and I like that each was so different from the others.

Its always hard to rate short story collections because some stories can be weaker than others. Overall, I gave this collection a 4 star rating. Loved in the rep in this book.

This anthology started at on an incredibly high note, and most of these stories were great. There were a few that just really bored me, or that I didn't find spooky at all. I really loved the concept of the stories all revolving in some way around a house, and having the sections divided up into the different rooms of the house.

THE HOUSE WHERE DEATH LIVES edited by Alex Brown is excellent. To start, the concept of all the short stories taking place in different rooms of the house is brilliant. I also love how they are arranged, too, starting in the attic, then the second floor, first floor, and concluding with the grounds. I want to use this as a model for some of my students to develop as their own writing project (not copy, but use as an inspiration point). In addition to the brilliant concept, the stories are all high quality and offer a nice range of reading. I'm especially loving the stories by Nova Ren Suma and Courtney Gould. I recommend this for anyone looking for a great YA short story collection to use with students. I also recommend this book for anyone looking for a great short story anthology!

Thank you Page Street Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with this arc in exchange for my honest review.

This creepy and emotional anthology, brings together so many incredibly talented authors. My yaw dropped when I saw the list!! This resulted in an anthology with not a single bad or even mediocre story. Every story immediately sucked me in and didn’t let me go until it was over.

The first stories even made me cry, something that rarely happens. The final story was so gripping (pun intended xd) and scary, I wanted to look away but couldn’t.

Every story was spooky but also a journey through the mind of the main characters, uncovering emotions like loneliness and/or grief for example. That made this so good and unique in a way.

I cannot recommend this book enough. A new favorite I will not easily forget!

The House Where Death Lives is a YA horror anthology that takes readers through the eerie halls of a house that defies the laws of time and space. Edited by Alex Brown, this collection features stories that explore the haunting nature of a home as a place of transition, change, and terrifying creatures that lurk in the shadows. With tales of a deadly dance, a monstrous girl akin to H.H. Holmes, and a hallway that is both hungry and ever-changing, this anthology promises a variety of chills and thrills.

The premise is intriguing, with each story focusing on a different room in the house and showcasing unique monsters from various cultural traditions, including a demonic Trickster, a water-dwelling Rusalka, and a horrifying Tiyanak. The anthology's structure and concept are reminiscent of other dark YA collections like His Hideous Heart and Slasher Girls & Monster Boys, as well as the unsettling atmosphere of Netflix’s The Haunting of Hill House.

As with many anthologies, some stories stand out more than others. There are tales that lean more toward speculative fiction than outright horror, and while a few stories may fade from memory, others linger with their creepiness and inventiveness. Overall, this is a solid anthology that will satisfy fans of horror, a genre that deserves more recognition outside the realm of Stephen King.

While not every story hits the mark, The House Where Death Lives offers enough variety and scares to make it a worthwhile read, particularly for those who enjoy exploring the darker corners of speculative fiction.

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

This is a dark horror filled short story collection with an absolutely amazing premise to it. Each story focuses on a different room in this house the book takes place in and features unique takes on monsters from a wide array of cultural traditions. How freaking cool is that? and can confirm, it is cool! So perfect for spooky season. It was interesting reading the different perspectives from each author and how they add to this creepy house atmosphere.

This is a terrific concept for a collection of stories: sort of a trip through a Clue board style haunted house, and for the most part I think the collection was successful in meeting the theme.

I would have loved to see more cohesive atmosphere (or maybe just more atmosphere in general out of a number of the included stories), but there are several of them that really get this right, and plenty that do a good enough job.

As with all collections with multiple authors, the quality of the individual stories and how successfully they meet the theme varies wildly from one to the next. I’d say this group did better on the latter than the former, though there’s a good volume of truly good quality ghost stories included.

The best of the collection are: Good Morning, Georgia, The Grey Library, Mirror, Mirror, Smart Monster, and What Lies in Silence. You can skip Cradle and All, After Midnight, and A Helping Hand. The rest do a solid job of rounding out the collection, and for the most part I think the author did well in selecting material and writers for this.

I love me a really good horror anthology, and this one was one of the best ones. I read in quite a bit of time. All the stories were so unique, there are some themes that I believe are difficult for certain readers, but if you’re able to get past that, the stories definitely shine