I’m rather sad I’ve finished this book. It was such a welcome return to Renfield County and Edenville that I could neither put down yet didn’t want to ever stop.

I loved Edenville, the first book that introduced us to the county and town soaked in blood, myth, horror and legend. The stories began in murder, the daubing of the 'Renfield Giant' in blood on a barn wall; and then the looting of parts and detritus of the scene.

Evil gets scattered throughout the area and with those outside of the area for nearly a century thereafter, leaving a visceral trail ensconced in otherworldliness.

This time round, we have a book containing a sprawling collection of separate stories with the common theme of each being touched by the blood of the Renfield wood; yet woven together by the ongoing yet unreciprocated email trail of a sister contacting her estranged brother – also linked by the area, the wood and shared trauma.

All beautifully written, the stories range from a few minutes to the best part of an hour, so will please the anthology lovers; yet have the familiarity of an interconnecting history that makes it feel like the one story. I’d also suggest you don’t have to have had read Edenville to read this - but I’m confident you’ll feel compelled to read it once you’ve finished The Poorly Made & Other Things.

Intelligent and gory, captivating yet horrifying, weird yet believable; Sam Rebelein pulls no punches and hides no cuts, slashes, viscera or face theft. Like a character? Say goodbye to them because no one is safe. An absolute joy and honour to read.

Thank you, Titan Books and Sam Rebelein for the ARC read.

Much like the cursed Renfield wood with its unsuspecting owners, I devoured this book with a mix of glee and horror. Rebelein masterfully crafts the haunting tapestry of Renfield County, where terror seeps from the ground into the everyday lives of its unfortunate residents.

The collection starts innocently enough, the first story lulling you in with its eerie charm before diving right into the gory details, letting you know it’s going to be *that* kind of horror book. So My Cousin Knew This Guy and Allison’s Face, had me visibly squirming, whilst feeling desperately sorry for both Bill and Brin. The chilling narrative style, accompanied by the email correspondence, makes you feel like you’re uncovering the madness one dreadful message at a time.

A word of warning: once you enter Renfield County, you’ll leave with shivers, and a newfound paranoia towards secondhand furniture.

I LOVE short story collections (especially horror!) and this is a unique collection of horror tales that leans heavily into the grotesque and absurd. While the stories often succeed in creating an unsettling atmosphere, the tone sometimes feels uneven, with certain pieces overshadowing others in terms of impact. The writing is inventive, but the thematic connections between stories can feel loose, leaving the collection feeling more disjointed than cohesive. That said, fans of visceral, experimental horror may find a lot to appreciate, even if it doesn’t quite stick the landing for everyone. A mixed bag, but worth a read for the daring.

3.5 stars
I enjoyed this! Some stories were better than others and sometimes the writing felt a little confusing, but overall it was a great spooky set of horror stories. I particularly enjoyed the first and second chapters and I also enjoyed the inclusion of emails to make it all feel more real.