My rating is an average of the 20 narratives included within its pages. It took me a rigorous four months to work my way through this book—a testament to my determination to reach the end, despite the challenges I faced. Many of the stories felt rather uninspired, making them a struggle to engage with, especially when even the shorter tales seemed to drag. A couple of times, I found myself setting the book aside in favor of other activities, as I was desperately in need of a break from the lackluster content.

Fortunately, the final four stories were engaging enough to carry me through the finish line, with a few memorable entries sprinkled in the middle that reignited my interest and encouraged me to persist. However, I must confess that I found these tales to be far from terrifying. Perhaps some readers might encounter a jump or two; however, they failed to evoke any genuine fear in me.

I cannot wholeheartedly recommend this anthology, as the experience of reading it felt like an arduous journey rather than an enjoyable escape. Interestingly, I had previously read works from only one of the featured authors, whose contribution I appreciated—even if it was quite mild in its thrill.

In summary, this collection may be worth a read if you’re curious about what these authors consider frightening, but be prepared for an underwhelming experience, as it appears they possess a notably low threshold for true horror. I’m ready to move on!

My rating: ✯✯¼