Steal Me by Helen Grant

 Rowan Byrne hasn’t stolen anything for ages—not since she started to straighten her life out after a personal tragedy. But the volume she’s just picked up in the new bookshop in town seems to want her to steal it. The text is very persuasive. There’s a book for everyone in Legends—a book that will encourage their worst impulses. Steal. Fear. Burn. Kill. It’s not long before Rowan’s small town, isolated from the outside world, is descending into mayhem. Assailed by her own demons, Rowan could try to cut and run. Or she could make a stand, and try to save the community she loves . . .

In a small town where everyone knows everybody else's business, it's odd that a brand new shop could appear seemingly overnight with nobody knowing it was coming. Yet here it is, and Rowan can't wait to get a look inside this new book store. But there's something else that seems off. These are no ordinary books, and one in particular knows her darkest secrets. This is a very special store that captivates everyone who enters with a book meant just for them. It preys on your weaknesses. But why? What secrets do these elderly shop owners hide behind their cheerful facade?

I loved Rowan, and her would-be love interest Jack (if only either of them could muster up the courage to ask the other out!) Beyond the chemistry they had together was their bravery in attempting to save the town from evil. Delving into German folklore, the two unlikely heroes are the town's only hope. 

Steal Me is a fast paced thrill ride through folklore and fairy tale that had me in its thrall from the first page. I don't normally like to compare, but the dark vibes of this mysterious shop and unnerving proprietors reminded me just a bit of King's Needful Things. 

5 out of 5 stars

My thanks to PS Publishing for the finished copy.

A Coven of Witches by Alexis Powell Illustrated by Marina Vidal

 A spellbinding collection of 20 original spooky tales that reimagine witches from folklore, myth, and history.

A girl receives a Christmas gift far worse than coal. An sideshow lures in new recruits. A birthday party turns into a grisly scavenger hunt. A werewolf stalks a ghostly graveyard. A train ride proves quite deadly. These stories are as enchanting as they are eerie, shining a light on the magical world of these legendary witches.

Features stories inspired by Baba Yaga, Marie Laveau, Circe, the Salem Witch Trials, La Lechuza, and more. All brought to life through gorgeous full-color illustrations.

This gorgeous book with glow in the dark cover and beautiful illustrations contains 20 scary stories for kids.

They each have a spookiness rating of 1-3, so you know in advance if it may be too scary for younger children.

Every story begins with its own full color illustration and ends with some fascinating information about the origin of the witch in the story.

The stories are separated into sections of Folklore, Mythology, and History with a brief explanation of each. Of course, my favorites all had the level 3 spookiness rating, but all of the stories are entertaining and sure to grab the attention of young readers without being so scary as to induce nightmares. This is exactly the kind of book I would have considered a treasured find when I was a child. If you are looking to keep your kids engaged in reading over the summer, I highly recommend A Coven of Witches.

My thanks to Gibbs Smith Books for the gifted hardcover.

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The House That Eats the Dead by Max Doty

 A family moves into their dream home—only to discover that it hides an insatiable hunger—in this dread-laced and darkly outrageous domestic horror novel.

The new house is a fresh start for Claire and her family. It's a move away from the cityscape of a declining San Francisco and towards the quiet suburban life she has craved since her turbulent childhood; a step up the corporate ladder for her husband, Tom; and a safe haven for their two children.

Yet as they unpack their boxes, she senses something is wrong. Fresh flowers dry up, store-bought eggs are inexplicably hollow, and her daughter's favorite toy disappears. Claire soon confronts a series of impossible The house is hungry. It's devouring anything that was once alive. And only Claire and Tom, the owners of the house, will remember that this "food" ever existed.

When Claire exploits the house's power in a moment of weakness, she and the house forge a fragile bond. But as its hunger intensifies and Claire loses control, she fears who else might be drawn to her home—and what sinister appetites they’ll bring.

Claire and her husband Tom get a great deal on a multimillion-dollar home. It wasn't that long ago that their teenage son was a victim of assault. This will be a fresh start and a move away from the crime and violence of the city. 

When they settle in, Claire is the first to notice the strange noises and the way items go missing. What's more, she is the only one who remembers that the missing items ever existed. Her husband doesn't believe her at first until he sees it for himself. 

It may sound like something you've read before, but it was quite unique.

This was a fast paced original take that breathed new life into the old haunted house trope. The house isn't haunted; it's alive and needs to be fed. The house is neither good nor evil, merely hungry, but it could be a dangerous tool in the hands of the wrong sort of person.

Although there is a supernatural aspect to the plot, with the house exerting its influence over occupants and even the would-be occupants, that was not the true horror of the story. People change drastically in this house, but it is more an unmasking of their true personality traits than a possession. 

If you are in the mood for a dark domestic horror, full of mystery, suspense, and murder, I highly recommend The House That Eats The Dead.

My thanks to Bantam Books for the e-ARC

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Fugue Devil: Resurgence by Stephen Mark Rainey

If you know about the Fugue Devil, it knows about you. If you see the Fugue Devil, it will come for you.

Many decades ago, summoned by the power of music, the Fugue Devil — a dreadful, malevolent entity from another place — entered our world. Every seventeen years, it reappears to satiate its hunger for unsuspecting souls.

Author Stephen Mark Rainey’s terrifying novelette, “Fugue Devil,” originally appeared in his first fiction collection, Fugue Devil & Other Weird Horrors, in 1992. Now, Fugue Devil: Resurgence features the original novelette; its sequel, “The Devil’s Eye”; and ten more tales of horror and mind-bending terror.

This collection contains 12 short stories, including Fugue Devil and its sequel The Devil's Eye, which were two of my favorites.

In Fugue Devil, the new kid in town is told the local legend about a musician who summoned a demon that now reappears every 17 years. If you know about it, it knows about you! This is the year it is supposed to return. Is it real or just a myth? Two curious teens aim to find out.

In its chilling sequel, The Devil's Eye, a filmmaker has nefarious reasons for wanting to produce a movie about the Fugue Devil with the brother of one of the possible victims.

Other favorites were Threnody, in which a dangerous recording is found in grandpa's cabin after he has passed away, Night Crier, in which mom's dementia becomes too much to bear, and When Jarly Calls about an out of the way wine tasting where the hosts are oddly generous when refilling the glasses. Short Wave had an old school twilight zone vibe; if you remember when the monsters were due on Maple Street, or a bus ride that had an extra passenger, you will know what I mean.

This is one of the best collections I have read this year. If you love dark fiction in short story form as much as I do you need to add this to your shelf.

My thanks to the author for the paperback.

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Contents:

“The Fugue Devil”: A thrilling midnight adventure turns into a dawning horror for two boys.

“Threnody”: A dirge for the dead; if you hear it, it’s too late.

“Night Crier”: A terror in the night that echoes through the years.

“Hell’s Hollow:” Hell is just a stone’s throw away.

“Masque of the Queen”: To read the play brings on madness; to perform the play…

“Somewhere, My Love”: Her music cast a spell because, of course, she was a witch.

“When Jarly Calls”: In this wine lies the darkest truth.

“Messages From a Dark Deity”: When the stars are right, the sky will fall.

“Short Wave”: Voices from the static hint at horrors to come.

“Escalation”: “I am John, your host. I have much to look forward to,” he said with a grotesque smile.

“Pons Devana”: Something inhuman from the future lurks in the shadows of the past…

“The Devil’s Eye”: Will capturing the image of a devilish horror render it powerless? Or simply draw its inescapable gaze to you?