thank you to netgalley, the icon, cassandra peterson “elvira” and grand central publishing for this arc. my review and words are my own.

i am a very big elvira fan and was excited to see this come across my dashboard and approved to look at it in advance. as expected the queen delivers in beautiful photos and the most unique and cool parts are her talking about her personal style, i would want more of that.

this reminded me of most celebrity type cookbooks and that’s not a problem but it didn’t stand out as something outwardly special. though as a fellow avocado in smoothie enjoyer, i will be using that recipe post haste.

Welcome to the cookbook where all your nightmares come alive in the most delicious way! This spooky cookbook from Mistress of The Dark is packed full of some beautifully haunting recipes and spooky crafts too. This was only a partial book so I can’t give a full book opinion but from what I did read it definitely is a fun time for horror loving party planners. The photos that accompany some of the treats are wickedly gory and just right for any dark gothic lovers. The descriptions were cleverly written and sound yummy. Sink your teeth in and enjoy a “deadly” party loving event cookbook for the spooky season or anything time really.

This cookbook was made for me. I love Elvira and all things spooky scary.

I will say that I did not receive the entire cookbook for review, just the first section (brunch), so sorry I cannot speak for the entirety of the recipes.

In the sample I got, Elvira's unique brand of humor shines through: "they don't call me the Martha Stewart of the Macabre for nothin'!" "Stuff and meat, or anyone you meet..." 😱😂

I'm sure the rest is 10/10!

2.5 stars rounded up

It’s not like there’s anything wrong with this cookbook but there’s not necessarily anything right with it either. I think it’s a fun idea and very on brand for Elvira but something also feels a little soulless about it and the recipes are honestly pretty basic. Imagine anything you’ve ever seen on Pinterest for food to make for a Halloween party and that’s what this book is in a nutshell. I say this not as a hater but someone who wants to see more imaginative creations, I just expect more.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

So this was an excerpt and I didn't realize it and that's totally on me (apparently I may have reading issues lol), so I can't remove a star for that. I can only say to you that my rating is based on the recipes, crafts and text that I did have access to.

End result:
I will totally buy this.

This was fun, chatty, and a blast. The few recipes I had (I want more) were easy to follow and ghoulishly delicious.

Elvira's personality comes through in the text and the pictures were gloriously decadent and, yes, perfect for a Halloween date or party.

Wish I had the whole book...but eventually, I will!

I have been a fan of Cassandra Peterson for years and was thrilled to see this cookbook. I read it quickly and was fully entertained by the text and enticed by the recipes. They seem easy and accessible to all levels of cooks. The ingredients are very accessible too. I can't wait to try these.

Such a hilarious and macabre cookbook! These recipes are not only good for Halloween festivities but are great for just everyday life. Each recipe looks delicious (the pictures are amazing) and the instructions are clear and concise--and the introductions for each of them have Elvira's signature wit. Will definitely be using for any future Halloween parties!

Such a fun and witty cookbook! Elvira is a hilarious icon and shares some spooky fun recipes in this cookbook! Love it! Thanks NetGallery!