𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
𝗥𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘 𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: February 11, 2025
𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪:

Absolutely YES. 100% YES. I loved this spooky eerie and creepy collection. Every page of this book held some type of terror and you didn’t know what was looming on the next page. Each collection story is crafted with perfection and gives its reader that goosebumps heart racing feeling. I enjoyed ALL of the stories and refuse to choose just one.

I think that if you are into collections of terrorIFIC stories and love feeling as though someone is watching you while you read 👀…then you should pick this up and add to your collection. Try to read it alone in the dark if you dare 😉. Really though friends, I am already recommending this book to all of my friends who love these types of books. There is a story or more than one in this book (in my case ALL) for everybody.

Large thank you to our Author, NetGalley as well as William Morrow, William Morrow Paperbacks

Don't come after me y'all. This just wasn't the type of story for me. If it is your jam, then I think it was well written. Some of the short stories were just a little too on the disturbing side for me and creeped me out although I guess that is the point! Other readers raved about this so I honestly think it just isn't *my* cup of tea but I still finished it and tried something new and if you like this type of genre then go for it when it comes out in February. ☺️

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow Books for the ARC in return for my honest review.

I want to preface my review with stating that it has been a while since I have read any horror novels. When I was reading horror regularly, it tended to drift more towards the classic horror (think Dracula) and Stephen King. So dipping my toes into a new release by a fairly new author is not my forte. Thankfully, I took the plunge.

This is a series of short stories, all written by Sam Rebelein, with a connection to Renfield County and the murders committed by Lawrence Renfield. Now I need to emphasize that all of these stories are written by the single author because they don't read like that. Each story has a unique voice. They're told from a unique perspective. And the fear factor, the creepiness, it isn't the same for each story. There's body horror, paranormal horror, psychological horror. It's just a bit of everything and it feels like it shouldn't be cohesive but it works perfectly. Honestly, reminded me so much of the movie: V/H/S.

The entire book was so well done that I couldn't put it down, while I still needed to take a breather between each story. I cannot express enough how much I enjoyed this. I loved it enough that as soon as it is released, I will not only purchase a hardcopy for myself, I will be gifting copies to my horror-loving friends as well.

Wow, this book is amazing! I love short story collections, especially horror stories; and The Poorly Made just jumped into my list of favorites in this category.

The Poorly Made takes us deep into the region & lore of historic Renfield county, exploring the darkness at its roots and in its people through unconnected stories. But... are they unconnected? How deep does the rot go in Renfield? Come find out, if you dare.

This book is creepy, creepy, creepy. It's a mix of folk horror & the new weird that I really enjoyed as a fan of both. There are some truly nightmarish moments, but the overall impression is a spiralling sense of dread & deep unease that sinks its claws in and won't let the reader go.

I was blown away by the talent displayed through this book. I've heard that short stories are some of the most difficult things to write; and most anthologies have at least one story that isn't as enjoyable as the others. For me, every single short story in The Poorly Made was 5 stars. Not only were all the stories individually strong, but I loved the way the author connected them as you continue reading; I won't say anything further to avoid spoilers, but this book is incredibly well done. I haven't yet read Edenville by this author, but I put it on hold at the library immediately after starting The Poorly Made; and I can't wait to see what else he writes moving forward!

I would recommend The Poorly Made to fans of Andrew Michael Hurley and Adam Nevill, as well as readers who enjoy short story collections & folk horror.

Thank you to NetGalley & William Morrow Books for an arc in exchange for a honest review!

Sam Rebelein's The Poorly Made and Other Things is a masterclass in atmospheric horror-an assemblage of stories that moves deep into the cursed lore of Renfield County. Seamlessly blending creeping dread with visceral terror, this book builds upon the foundation established in Edenville while standing strongly on its own as a chilling, self-contained work. Invention in structure: through the stories alternating and the interstitial emails, Rebelein weaves a story that feels both intimate and mythic.

The collection opens with a frantic email exchange that peels back, layer by layer, the haunted history of Renfield, a fictional upstate New York town that feels uncomfortably real. These set a creepy backdrop to the standalone stories that weave through the lives of those who find themselves drawn in-or trapped by-this cursed land. The combination of epistolary modern horror and dark, folkloric storytelling gives way to a cadence that draws in before delivering gut-wrenching twists.

Each story pulsates with its independent, horrific rhythm, which can subtly be unnerving or right out terrifying. It ranges from "Detour," a quietly devious tale which gets into chaos, to "Every Thursday We Feed the Cats," an extremely macabre study of routine and denial. Stories like "Red X" and "Allison's Face" press against the limits of visceral horror, sending readers recoiling in their graphic description. Meanwhile, “My Name is Ellie” is a psychological nightmare that lingers long after the final page.

Thematically, The Poorly Made and Other Things is about generational trauma, isolation, and the way cursed objects and places hold power over the living. Most unnerving is the recurring motif of the "Renfield Taint"; not only does it imply a contaminating dread confined to this land, but also that every bathtub on a porch or every abandoned heirloom has the potential to be a vector for its malignancy.

Rebelein's prose is both poetic and unsettling, its rhythm like a lullaby tucking you in just to hurl you headfirst into terror. If you're a fan of Josh Malerman's Goblin or anything from Sarah Read, you know to expect a masterful pace and multi-layered world-building within these pages. Lovecraftian horror pulls big time in this collection, too, with a complex, unsettling mythology attributed to the fiction town within its pages.

A true masterpiece of horror, both deeply personal and hauntingly universal. Be one a fan of Edenville or entirely new to Rebelein's work, this is a collection not to be missed. Just don't expect to sleep well after.

This was a strong horror collection of stories, it had that atmosphere that I was looking for and enjoyed how everything worked in the horror genre. The characters in each story worked well overall and was invested in their world. Sam Rebelein has a strong writing style and was glad I got to read this.

This is some of the best new horror I’ve read in a long time. Stand-alone short stories all connected by common threads in the form of a one-way email chain.
These stories were so incredibly well written and bone chilling. Lots of body horror done extremely well.
I haven’t read Edenville so I’m not sure how much it relates to these stories, but it’s high on my tbr after reading the Poorly Made.
I cannot recommend this collection enough!!

This was a hard read. It was complicated and messy writing. It was also hard to visualize what the author was trying to tell the reader or story.

this one was terrifying in a way I rarely get from horror stories. my favorites were Hector Grim and The Wag, but a lot of them were very existential dread. 4.5 stars, rounded up. would recommend. tysm for the arc.

I loved Rebelein's debut novel Edenville, so I couldn't wait to dive into this short story collection. These stories are creepy, unsettling, and weird and all focus on the Renfield universe. It was a treat to go back and visit, but I'm glad I don't live there. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

A new to me author and I was not disappointed. I've also started Edenville. I don't think it you need to read is 1st. These stories were great and perfect for spooky season. I tried to pace myself so that I would finish on Halloween, but that didn't work. Snuggled in a warm blanket with my favorite beverage, I couldn't put it down. Just one more email, one more story, - I was finished with the book.

Sam Rebelein does it again. The madness behind Edenville takes us on a deep dive into the lore of this cursed land. The mythology here is so meticulously fleshed out, every bloody piece of this nightmare tapestry weaved together perfectly. I can't wait to reread Edenville with a full understanding of the cosmic and human horror soaked into every fiber of this story. This collection is my favorite horror experience this year!!!!

This book focuses on a collection of short horror stories that end up connecting in the end. Short story horror collections are always a good time considering the length is perfect to mystify and keep an audience guessing. This book no exception! Overall a good read and the element of linking all the stories together added a fun twist to an already amazing collection.

This is a short story collection of horror stories and they were so good! I have read a few other things from this author so I figured I would like this as well. I ended up loving it. Allison’s face was my favorite story.

Sam Rebelein has created an amazing collection of true modern horror.

The Poorly Made and Other Things expands upon the world created in Rebelein's debut novel, Edenville, a book which I recommend often.

Edenville and Poorly Made are set in Renfield County, in upstate New York. Renfield County is a cursed and evil place, haunted by acts of violence, disturbance, and bad intentions. Rebelein builds this world so thoroughly, with history and mythology, patterns and influences, secrets and obsessions. Every story in this collection has ties to the evil within Renfield, and the Interstitials between each story slowly weave tension, history and a loosening sanity.

The collection opens with a truly terrifying tale of Hector Brim, a man who "helps' the newly grieved. Hector shows up again in another story and it is chilling. My Name is Ellie and Wag are other favorites, And the terror in Ellie's story shows up again in the spectacular, So My Cousin Knew This Guy. And Glitch is just a shocking, unraveling tale of depression and body horror.

Every story is so approachable, so illogically logical, and the reader has such a strong sense of place and time in Renfield, that it is even MORE terrifying, because you feel like, Yeah, I heard of that guy too! or Yeah, that urban myth sounds familiar...

Such smart, interwoven, deeply clever horror stories.

Overall, I enjoyed this quite a bit. I loved the way it was set up. This isn’t just any short story collection. All these stories are connected and the way they are laid out is fantastic!

Some stories are better than others but some of them literally made me squirm in my seat.

I did feel like some parts were a little drawn out, especially the epilogue but overall this was extremely interesting and entertaining!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC<3
4.5⭐️
Wow, this was excellent! Out of the handful of horror anthologies I’ve read, this one definitely stands out.
All of these stories take place in or around Renfield County, a place soaked in death and tragedy (and literal blood)- The scene of a horrific crime committed by Lawrence Renfield centuries ago. In between stories, we have a recurring storyline of Rachel emailing her brother Tom, informing him of how the actions of Lawrence spoiled the whole of the land and the people, and how their mother’s death may be linked to the terrible history of Renfield.
I loved how cohesive this collection was- seemingly unrelated stories tie into each other if you look close enough. None of the stories got under a 3 star from me, but here are my favorites:
Hector Brim-4⭐️
My Name Is Ellie-4.5⭐️
Detour-4.5⭐️
Red X-4⭐️
And Every Thursday We Feed the Cats-4⭐️
Throughout the collection, we explore many different kinds of horror (cannibalism, body horror, cosmic horror) I thought it was very creative and exceptionally done!
P.S. lots of violence against children so be prepared for that!

Conceptually and in writing this book is really innovative and well thought out. It is terrifying and stomach churning. It was, however, slow and disjointed because of its unique writing style. For that reason, while I did finish the book, it is not on the top of my list for books I would recommend.

Calling Sam Rebelein ‘a major talent’ is an understatement. “The Poorly Made and Other Things” delivers some of the best writing, masterful storytelling, compelling literary devices, told in an addictively strong voice which ultimately all lead, in my opinion, to one unarguable conclusion: the most frightening collection of masterclass horror tales I’ve ever read. (And I have been reading horror for too many years to admit.) The prose is liquid gold and highly intelligent. There’s a certain cadence this writer manages to achieve. I imagine, similar to the music of compulsive madness which seduces, torments, and taints the darkest depths of your brain. This cadence is anything but predictable or tedious; rather, anxiety and fear slither deep into the subconscious and live on in nightmares.

“Red X” and “Allison’s Face” are the two scariest, most disturbing stories—literally found myself recoiling at the visceral descriptions, making horrible noises out loud—that I’ve ever experienced. “My Name is Ellie” dwells inside my head rent-free (or is it rent-free, really?) I’m a bit afraid and can’t help but think about the walls now; I think about them a bit too often.

After reading the entire collection, I also can’t help but wonder how far has the Renifeld Taint actually spread through repurposed collectibles and heirlooms, which makes its way into unsuspecting homes? Or, will I ever look at an empty country bathtub on a porch or in a yard as I drive to the mountains, the same way again? And not have Wag slip across my thoughts? I doubt it.

When I first started this collection at bedtime, I had no expectations. This is the first work I’ve read by this author. I made it through the Prologue, “Hector Brim” and the first “Interstitial” letter (a clever glue and backstory with present dread craftily layered throughout the collection). Then had to plug in a nightlight. Even then, I didn’t sleep well.

Note: please, don’t skip Acknowledgement’s with this one. The author speaks to how some of the tales were born and it’s a worthwhile, fascinating, concise read.

A 10/10 rating for me!!!

Thank you NetGalley, Author Sam Rebelein, and William Morrow/Harper Collin’s Publishers for providing this ARC for an honest review.

I can confidently say, "The Poorly Made and Other Things" by Sam Rebelein is one of the best horror anthologies I have ever read. Each story is unique and bone-chilling in a way that I aspire to be. The interconnecting narrative keeps you just informed enough to make each new story painful and thrilling in the best possible way. The book comes out on 02/11/2025 and I literally cannot recommend it enough.