Spring in the City: A Collection of Dark Speculative Fiction

by R. B. Wood, Ross Baxter, E.J. Delaney

Even in the shadows of skyscrapers, spring sees an awakening in the concrete jungle that we call "the city."

Spring in the A Collection of Dark Speculative Fiction is the next anthology in Ruadán Books’ “…In the City” series that takes place in different metropolises around the world during the changeable, unpredictable return of life from its cold slumber.

But what awakens is not always beautiful.

In Stockholm, the vengeful goddess of spring awakens, ready to begin her hunt once again…Faced with an impossible choice, Detroit teens must confront a malevolent entity to protect their urban neighborhood from the creature’s insatiable hunger…A journalist escapes to Cape Town to research folklore and only encounters terrifying creatures from local legends, blurring the lines between reality and nightmare… When mysterious fireballs devastate Tel Aviv, a young girl is gifted with extraordinary powers which she must embrace to confront a prophesied cosmic entity… Featuring new stories V.L. Barycz Ross Baxter J.R. Blanes Die Booth E J Delaney Jeff Enos Maria Haskins Amanda Cecelia Lang Rich Larson Avram Lavinsky Tim Lees D.F. McCourt Jonathan Papernick Xan van Rooyen John Joseph Ryan Troy Seate Su J Sokol

With a Foreword by Bram Stoker Award®-winning author Mercedes M. Yardley.

410 pages, Paperback

Published December 2, 2025

Reviews

[MichiruEll · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an E-ARC in exchange for a review.

2.5 stars from me, rounded up.

This short story collection features speculative stories set in 16 cities around the world. The stories are very diverse in their genres, tones and casts, with many featuring people of color and queer people. Some stories are rather horror focused, others more fantasy or romance focused.

As often, in such collections, there were stories I loved and stories I hated. Unfortunately, in this one, there were more I disliked than liked. In particular the stories set in Tel Aviv and London did not work for me. The London story is an alternate story of Jack the Ripper which felt very gross and disrespectful to the actual historical victims. The Tel Aviv story, involves the city being the (completely innocent) target of bombs launched by a space monster summoned by a "keyboard warrior" wearing a checkered scarf. I hope people can understand why I find such a portrayal profoundly disturbing. I may have, maybe, forgiven it, if we had also gotten a story set in Gaza or Beirut, but we didn't. I wish the editors had chosen to leave this story out.
Less important, but there were also a number of stories that I found boring, or that seemed to just list a bunch of locations in the city just to prove how well the author knows the place.

Now this collection also involved stories I loved. In particular, I enjoyed those set in Stockholm, Montreal and Detroit. I'll try to pick up more stories by these authors.

[The Lit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spring in the City is the kind of anthology that brilliantly weaponizes familiar aesthetics. Don't let the beautiful, sun-drenched cover—complete with cherry blossoms and a leisurely park path—fool you. The Lit Whisperer's (that's me!) analysis confirms that this collection is dark, unnerving, and deeply unsettling in the best way possible. Edited by R. B. Wood and Anna Koon, the collection consistently delivers on its promise of Dark Speculative Fiction, twisting urban fantasy and soft sci-fi into something truly chilling. Each story expertly contrasts the vibrant energy of a metropolitan spring with a creeping sense of dread, whether through subtle dystopian elements, whispered magic, or deeply human horrors lurking behind glass skyscrapers. This isn't just about jump scares; it's a cerebral exploration of how easily beauty can conceal decay. If you appreciate fiction that is both aesthetically gorgeous and deeply disquieting, this collection is an absolute must-read that will leave you viewing your own city streets with new, suspicious eyes.
Thanks Netgalley for this eArc! check out my reviews @TheLitWhisperer

[Fantasyhoard · Rating 3 out of 5]

This anthology collects sixteen tales set across various cities. I genuinely enjoyed thirteen of them; the remaining three weren’t bad, but they didn’t feel as connected to the collection’s central themes. Most of the stories unfold in spring and explore ideas of revival, rebirth, the cycles of life and death, love, and loss. Many of the pieces offered fresh perspectives on questions and themes I don’t often encounter in a traditional novel.

The imagery throughout is vivid, and the prose shifts effortlessly from witty to lyrical to dark. I enjoyed the book overall, but I found it surprisingly difficult to sit down and fully commit to reading it. It’s good—often very good—but I’m not sure it’s something I would regularly recommend. It feels more like a niche find, one that will resonate strongly with a particular type of reader.

Although this isn’t the kind of book I typically reach for, I’m glad I had the chance to read it. If you enjoy darker tales or twists that cast brighter themes in a more shadowed light, this anthology may be worth exploring.

[Shauna Jared · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this anthology. Each story takes the idea of “spring in the city” and twists it into something eerie, magical, or downright chilling. The range is great with vengeful goddesses, urban monsters, and folklore come to life... and every city feels vivid and unique. It’s one of those collections where you keep saying “just one more,” because each story pulls you right in. A fantastic read for anyone who loves dark speculative fiction with lots of variety.