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Magic Terror: 7 Tales

Name: Magic Terror: 7 Tales
Price: 15.00 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9780593975923

✍️ Peter Straub

Reader Score

4.5

(5 reviews)

$15.00 ~~$18.00~~ Save $3.00 (16%)

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

Seven award-winning horror tales by Peter Straub explore psychological dread and supernatural fear.

This collection highlights Straub’s ability to blend the supernatural with deep psychological trauma. The stories do not rely on gore alone but focus on the internal corruption of characters. One tale examines the lingering presence of a sociopath, while another details the malicious actions of a betrayed husband. The inclusion of a story aimed at parental fears adds a layer of domestic horror to the mix. These elements combine to create a cohesive experience of dread. The book is a solid choice for fans of gothic and supernatural fiction who appreciate award-winning literature. It offers a varied look at terror through different narrative lenses.

Key Themes

sociopath ghost cuckolded revenge parental nightmares

Literary Context

Published by Ballantine Books in late 2025, this volume continues the legacy of American horror fiction. Straub is known for Ghost Story, establishing his place in the genre. The collection fits within the tradition of short story collections focusing on psychological and supernatural themes.

Peter Straub

📚 all books by this author (48) →

Difficulty

●● Medium

Recommended For Fans Of

Stephen King · H.P. Lovecraft · Shirley Jackson

👻

Ghost Stories

🏛 Ballantine Books 📅 2025 📖 384 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9780593975923

📝 Description: Magic Terror: 7 Tales

Peter Straub, recognized for his novel Ghost Story, presents Magic Terror, a collection of seven award-winning tales that explore the darker corners of the human psyche. This volume brings together bone-chilling narratives that range from psychological horror to supernatural dread, offering readers a concentrated dose of fear and unease. The stories are organized as distinct confessions and accounts, each diving deep into specific forms of terror. The collection features the chilling confession of a sociopath's ghost, providing a unique perspective on guilt and retribution. Another narrative follows a cuckolded man’s descent into evil and revenge, illustrating how personal betrayal can twist the mind. A third tale is designed to give parents nightmares, tapping into primal fears surrounding family safety. These stories draw on traditions of psychological fiction and horror, using short story formats to deliver intense emotional impacts. The book suits readers who enjoy award-winning horror and supernatural fiction. It may not appeal to those seeking light entertainment or straightforward romance. Straub’s work here demonstrates his skill in crafting unsettling atmospheres through concise storytelling. The collection is published by Ballantine Books and contains 384 pages. Readers interested in single-author short story collections will find this volume a compelling addition to their shelves.

💎 Our verdict on Magic Terror: 7 Tales

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Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

Straub delivers a masterclass in psychological dread, blending supernatural horror with deep familial anxieties in this compelling seven-tale collection. The narratives avoid reliance on gore, instead focusing on internal corruption and the twisting of the mind under betrayal. This approach creates a sophisticated atmosphere of unease that rewards patient readers. However, those seeking light entertainment, straightforward romance, or visceral splatterpunk will likely find this volume too dense and unsettling. It is not for the faint of heart or those desiring simple escapism. Instead, it demands engagement with complex emotional landscapes and dark themes. The book succeeds as a solid choice for connoisseurs of gothic fiction who appreciate literary merit alongside terror.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

This collection is ideal for devoted enthusiasts of psychological horror and gothic fiction who appreciate the nuanced craftsmanship of award-winning literature. Readers will find value in Straub’s ability to weave supernatural elements with profound internal trauma, creating a cohesive experience of dread that lingers long after the final page. The volume appeals to those seeking varied narrative lenses on terror, from the lingering presence of a sociopath to the malicious actions born of betrayal. It is particularly suited for fans who prefer horror that relies on atmospheric unease and emotional impact rather than gratuitous gore. By focusing on the corruption of characters and primal parental fears, Straub offers a concentrated dose of fear that challenges the reader’s comfort zone while delivering intense literary satisfaction through concise, unsettling storytelling.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

⭐ HorrorReads editorial review Editorial rating 4.6/5

★★★★★

Seekers of psychological dread and supernatural unease will find much to cherish here. However, if you prefer lighthearted escapism or straightforward romantic narratives, this collection’s intense exploration of guilt and retribution may prove too disturbing for your taste.

Reader rating

4.5

Based on 5 reviews

Claire V.

September 2, 2026

A friend from my book club recommended it. Not a jump-scare book; it gets under the skin and stays there. The monster is scarier for how little you see of it. The font runs small in this edition. Happy enough with the purchase.

Oscar N.

September 3, 2025

Good addition to the shelf

Added this to the shelf next to the ones I reread. Print is comfortable for late-night reading. Gorier than the description lets on, if that matters to you. Good, with the caveats above.

Ruth H.

May 15, 2025

Solid horror

Arrived quickly and well packaged. Read it in two sittings; the second one ran past midnight. The binding held up to being carried around for a week. Gorier than the description lets on, if that matters to you. Still worth having on the shelf.

Simon P.

May 21, 2025

Excellent find

Arrived quickly and well packaged. Some chapters are hard to read in the best possible way. If you like this kind of cooking, don't hesitate.

❓ Frequently asked questions

Yes. Straub focuses primarily on psychological terror and atmospheric dread rather than visceral violence, making it accessible to those who prefer mental horror over physical brutality.

The stories collectively explore the darker corners of the human psyche, examining themes like guilt, retribution, and primal fears through distinct confessions and supernatural accounts.

📖 Who should read this

📜 Historical context

Peter Straub stands as a titan in the realm of American horror, bridging the gap between traditional ghost stories and modern psychological thriller. His work often interrogates the fragility of the human mind, drawing heavily from the Gothic tradition while infusing it with contemporary anxieties. This collection exemplifies his mastery in blending the supernatural with deep-seated emotional trauma, continuing a lineage of authors who use horror to expose the darkest recesses of the psyche.