How 'scary' is this actually?

It's firmly YA horror. Think 'creepy atmosphere and tense situations' rather than 'extreme gore.' If they can handle a PG-13 horror movie, they can handle this.

Is there a lot of romance or 'mature' content?

Since it's an anthology, it varies, but the focus is almost entirely on the thrill and the scare. Any romance is usually secondary to the plot and stays within standard YA boundaries.

Is this a good book for a struggling reader?

Yes. The short story format is much less intimidating than a thick novel, and the high-stakes plots provide a strong 'hook' to keep them engaged.

Does the book have a specific religious or occult focus?

It features 'supernatural thrillers' and 'ancient legends,' which often include ghosts, curses, or folkloric magic. It's presented as fiction/fantasy, not as a lifestyle guide or religious text.

A Taste of Darkness – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

A Taste of Darkness

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

book2023Juvenile Nonfiction

80%

WISE Score

A spooky sampler platter of thirteen stories that prove you don't need five hundred pages to deliver a decent jump scare.

A Taste of Darkness

book

2023, Juvenile Nonfiction

80%

WISE Score

A spooky sampler platter of thirteen stories that prove you don't need five hundred pages to deliver a decent jump scare.

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Where to Read

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Screenwise Verdict

If your kid is currently orbiting the 'spooky' side of Netflix, this book is the perfect offline equivalent. It’s a high-quality collection that respects the reader's intelligence while delivering the thrills they’re looking for.

The anthology format is the real winner here. It’s a 'tasting menu' of horror that lets a reader figure out if they prefer supernatural haunts or psychological tension without having to slog through a 400-page commitment. It’s smart, sharp, and just dark enough to feel like a 'grown-up' book without being genuinely traumatizing.

Age Fit

Targeted squarely at the 12-17 YA crowd. It's for the middle schooler or teen who has outgrown Goosebumps but isn't quite ready for the extreme gore of adult slasher novels.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

It is a horror anthology featuring murders and supernatural threats. While not 'toxic,' its primary goal is to unsettle rather than model kindness or cooperation.

Imaginative

Thirteen different authors bring thirteen distinct supernatural concepts, ranging from ancient legends to modern thrillers. The variety of voices creates a rich, creative landscape.

Safe

As a YA horror book, it contains dark themes and violence that are expected for the genre. There are no 'unseen' interactive risks, but the content is intentionally chilling.

Enriching

Anthologies are excellent for building literacy stamina and exposing readers to different narrative structures and vocabularies. It's a low-friction way to discover new favorite authors.

Parent Info

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Why It Might Be Great

Low commitment because each story is short, making it perfect for kids who struggle with long novels or have limited reading time.
Heavy-hitting authors like Melinda Salisbury and Cynthia Murphy ensure the writing quality stays high across the collection.
Genre variety keeps things fresh, jumping from ancient legends to contemporary 'murders gone wrong' so the vibe never gets stale.
Gateway to horror for fans of Wednesday or Stranger Things who want to see if they can handle the harder stuff in print.

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What to Watch For

The 'murders gone wrong' stories can be more grounded and visceral than the supernatural ones, which might hit harder for sensitive readers.
Since it's an anthology, the 'scare level' varies wildly from story to story; one might be a light ghost story while the next is a tense psychological thriller.

Conversation Starters

"Which of the thirteen stories actually gave you the creeps, and which one felt a bit too 'try-hard'?"
"If you had to pick one author from this book to write a full-length novel about their character, who would it be?"
"Why do you think we like being scared by books when we'd hate being in those situations in real life?"
"Did any of the ancient legends in the book remind you of stories or myths you've heard before?"

Deep Dive

The Anthology Advantage

One of the biggest hurdles for parents of 'reluctant readers' is the sheer physical weight of modern YA novels. A Taste of Darkness sidesteps that by offering 13 distinct entry points. If a kid doesn't like a particular story, they only have to wait twenty pages for a complete reset. This structure is a secret weapon for building literacy because it provides frequent 'finish line' hits of dopamine that keep them turning pages.

A Who's Who of YA Horror

The curators, Amy McCaw and Maria Kuzniar, didn't just grab random stories; they pulled from some of the most consistent names in the UK and international YA scene. Authors like Kathryn Foxfield and Melinda Salisbury are known for building atmosphere quickly, which is essential when you only have a few thousand words to work with.

Beyond the Jump Scare

While the marketing leans heavily into the Stranger Things and Wednesday comparisons, the actual content often goes a bit deeper. It touches on themes of betrayal, isolation, and the consequences of curiosity. It’s a solid pick for a kid who wants to explore the 'dark' side of fiction in a way that feels curated and intentional rather than just edgy for the sake of being edgy.

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