The Poorly Made and Other Things

A Story Collection

by Sam Rebelein

On Sale: 02/11/2025

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The Poorly Made and Other Things

A Story Collection

by Sam Rebelein

On Sale: 02/11/2025

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Amazon Indigo

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Book Overview
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About the Book

An unsettling and creepy story collection of literary horror set in the Renfield universe from “major new talent” (R.L. Stine) Sam Rebelein, author of Edenville.

“I hope I get to go back to Renfield County again, before too long.” —LitHub on Edenville

There’s something wrong in Renfield County.

It’s in the water, the soil, the wood. But worst of all, it’s in the minds of the residents, slowly driving them mad. When Lawrence Renfield massacred his family and drew The Giant in his farmhouse with their blood, no one imagined the repercussions. At the very least, the bloodstained wood should have been set aflame, not chopped down and repurposed as furniture, décor, and heirlooms across the county. But that’s exactly what happened. Now regular people—like you and me—are sitting on… eating with… admiring… the cursed wood and reaping the consequences.

These are their stories.

In “My Name Is Ellie” a young girl uncovers disturbing secrets hiding in the walls of her beloved grandmother’s home. An unassuming box, built with reclaimed wood, connects a grieving widower with his late wife’s lingering spirit in “Hector Brim.” In “Detour” a father, desperate to return home, finds himself trapped in a dizzying maze, haunted by stories of lurking monsters that live off the remains of weary travelers.

Playing with the uncanny to explore themes of loneliness and grief, Sam Rebelein returns upstate to unravel the mysteries of Renfield. But regardless of what started the trouble, there’s one thing of which we can be certain: for those living here, the nightmare is far from over.

Critical Praise

“A grisly and inventive collection. Kudos to Sam Rebelein.” — Priya Sharma, World Fantasy/British Fantasy/Shirley Jackson Award Winner

"In the Rebelverse, hauntings get under your skin. Like a sliver, burrowing. A sliver of bloodstained wood--one of many, spreading like a contagion. You didn't really want to leave Renfield County, did you? Good. Because it has so much more to give. This is the laugh at the funeral we all need right now." — Sarah Read, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of The Bone Weaver's Orchard and the Atropine Tree

“There are many campus horror novels, but I think Edenville gets an A for AAAAAAIIIIIII! Sam Rebelein should be awarded a Master’s Degree in SCARY. A major new talent!” — R.L. Stine, author of Goosebumps and Fear Street

“Edenville marks a riveting debut that positions Rebelein as a noteworthy talent in the horror genre...an essential read for horror enthusiasts, especially fans of Grady Hendrix and Paul Tremblay.” — Booklist

“[A]n entertainingly bonkers tale infused with so much unease and danger that it is literally dripping from Cam’s eyes. It is a story that explores the cosmic and folk horror tropes to their furthest reaches while also providing a scathing critique of academia, especially MFA programs, all wrapped up in one wild ride of a read.” — Library Journal on Edenville

“The mundane horrors of rural and academic living collide with pure cosmic weirdness in Sam Rebelein’s Edenville. Not since Jason Pargin’s John Dies at the End have I been so horrified and grossed out by a book, nor have I gleefully whispered ‘what the fuck’ so much while turning the pages. I could say more, but honestly, the less you know about this book, the better. A fantastic debut. Go Crows!” — Todd Keisling, Bram Stoker Award–nominated author of Devil’s Creek and Cold, Black & Infinite

“Rebelein sprinkles his wild and unpredictable narrative with pop culture references and a gleeful smattering of profanity, setting his voice apart.” — Publishers Weekly on Edenville