Totally Amazing Spider Tales

by Fiona Woodhead, Ian C. Douglas, John Ferris

EIGHT authors join together to create 'Totally Amazing Spider Tales.' The question is... Do you have what it takes to read it?


Authors: Fiona Woodhead, Lee Richards, Ian C. Douglas, Lynette Teachout, John Ferris, Misha Herwin, Simon W. Best, Tracey Deming. Illustrated by Fiona Woodhead of Fi & Becs Design and Marketing. Edited & Published by Rogena Mitchell-Jones.


Settle down, boys and girls, and prepare for twisted tales of fun delights!
We have here a selection of scary stories to keep you up all night!
EIGHT fantastic, spine-tingling short stories from the hairiest and scariest writers who have given you something to sink your teeth into!
Dare you read it?
Make sure the lights are on and that you are ready for a hairy-legged ride!
(No spiders were harmed in this work of fiction.)

ebook

First published July 30, 2014

Reviews

[Elisia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have reviewed this book on amazon too simply as one of the authors asked me to and I gave it three stars, the reason being I know a couple of the authors whose stories are listed in this collection and it is being sold to raise money for a charity. However, my honest review is that the stories are blissfully short, two are very very good, a couple are good and the rest are in serious need of editing. The collection is aimed at 7-11 year olds with only one story hitting that target audience age range, the rest are really suitable for young teens probably 10-13 year olds.

There's lots of different types of spiders featured from little ones who talk and eat young boys while they are in their beds (why the kid didn't jump out of bed and squash the spider I don't know but I was asked that question after asking one of my students to read a couple of the stories, and this second one in the collection was one he read). Some of the more creepy spiders are humans to start with, the ware-spider and Visiting Aunty were especially great on this theme, wonderful imagery and dialogue that children could relate to.

Unfortunately for me the other stories did let the collection down, some with plot and some with serious grammatical mistakes. The book felt rushed and unedited, a couple of the stories seemed almost like first draft.

As with all of my reviews this is my personal opinion, this book was not for me.

[Lee Murray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Totally Amazing Spider Tales: Eight creepy spider stories for children 8-13 years, this little collection delivers on the creepy, with spooky spider infestations, ghoulish nest sites, and mesmerising behaviour, along with some rather sinister illustrations to add to the reading experience. A couple of the stories, such as Woodhead's Once Upon a Toxic Slime with its alternative story endings, are more suitable for younger readers, whereas Ian Charles Douglas' The Curse of the Were-Spider with its darker theme and teenage protagonists is possibly better suited to older readers, or at least those not so prone to nightmares! I particularly liked The Great Creepy Nasty by Simon Best, a potent reminder to parents of the dangers of listening in with only one ear, and not taking their children seriously.

[Rose Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Theses 8 stories are sure amazing, and every one is certainly different. Having read them, although they were written for a younger generation, haha l did enjoy them, The Storyteller by Tracy Deming, The great creepy Nasty by Simon W Best. It came from afar by Lee Richards, The curse of the were -Spider by Ian C Douglas, The Sparkle by Lynette Teachout, Once upon a Tonic Slime by Flonda Woodhead, Visiting Aunty by Misha Herwin, Lunera the moonwitch & her Army of Spiders by John Peter Ferris, well done to you all for book of nasty tales put together R M Steiger

[Angela Meas · Rating 4 out of 5]

With the feel of sitting around the campfire and telling tales, Totally Amazing Spider Tales delivers all the spooks and shadows expected in a good horror anthology. While the stories are in need of a few grammatical adjustments, the overall, age appropriate terrifying tales are delivered with creativity and ease. This book is sure to spook your kids into a howling good time; just be sure to leave the lights on before bed.

[L.L. Hunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Totally amazing spider tales was a thrilling and enjoyable read full of spider stories for all ages. My favourites were It came from Afar as it has a hint of sci fi in there, and the last one Lunera the moon witch and her coven of spiders. Each story is unique and some are rather gross and scary! I recommend this for your children, but do not read them before bed!

[L.A. Richards · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful collection of 8 short children's stories from 8 fantastic authors, including me.

My short spider story is called 'It Came From Afar'. A story of a spider that came from a distant planet!