Surprised it’s not a Hannah post? Call it a belated trick and treat!
So, if you weren’t aware, Hannah and Other Stories wasn’t the only collection I released this year. Symphony for Walpurgis is a collection of nine novelettes I released on May 1st, 2025, also known as Walpurgis Night, when witches are said to be their most powerful (you can read more about that here). I put a collection full of novelettes together because there aren’t a lot of venues for novelettes, which are stories between 7,500 and 17,500 words. Unfortunately, not many venues publish novelettes, and those that do prefer shorter novelettes, between 7,500 and 10,000 words.
Thus, Symphony for Walpurgis, which includes four previously published stories and five original stories. And the stories range from tales featuring cryptids, to stories of revenge and giant bats, and even to a story of a Jewish exorcism! Yeah, bet you didn’t know my people had exorcisms.
Anyway, six months have elapsed since the book came out, and what a six months they’ve been! Symphony for Walpurgis has quickly become one of my most popular books at events, and often sells out or gets close to selling out. I guess that cover and my description of the unusual stories inside appeal to horror fans.
In fact, I know it does, because I’ve read the reviews! Here are what people are saying:
Dipping my toes once again into the world of indie horror. And this, a rare read of single author short story collections.
All these stories are so very different, but they’re linked (in my mind anyway) by one common theme… that is, all these stories start out a certain way, but a turn of events during the narrative delivers a quite different story.
None of these stories are especially weak, but I have some stand out favourites: The House of Lafayette Square, Mother of Spiders, The Little Goddess of Horror, and Natural Predators. Even those I weren’t so keen on were solid, just a matter of personal taste.
Not my first outing reading this author, and it certainly won’t be my last.
MG Mason, Goodreads
Bravo! This might just be Rami Ungar’s best work yet. Offering tales of unearthly retribution, dark mysteries, vampires re-imagined and blood curdling entities, Symphony is a gloriously ghoulish anthology with something for almost every kind of horror fan.
I absolutely adored the introduction; it creates a spooky atmosphere straight away and is so much fun, putting you in exactly the right mood for the horrors ahead. Each story is creative and the characters are so vivid and well crafted– Rami has done an incredible job of filling every page with witty prose, clever descriptions and emotions which pulled me right into the characters’ minds. Mother of Spiders was my favourite tale, and definitely one of the most nightmarish.
Only two stories had plots which I wasn’t so keen on, but even then the writing was still engaging enough to make them enjoyable reads. 100% recommend!
Louise Conway, Goodreads
The best thing about this collection of stories is that I couldn’t predict what would happen next. For that, I give the book 5 stars. I enjoyed all of the stories, but it’s the “I didn’t think this was going to happen” fact that pushed them over the top.
Ruth Ann Nordin, Amazon
From the fiendish imagination of Rami Ungar, Symphony for Walpurgis presents nine stories, each with its own wildly imaginative tale to tell. The author’s acknowledged favorite, The Parasite Man, will make your skin crawl. In contrast, the warmth and psychological insight of The House on Lafayette Square made it this reviewer’s favorite above all. An underlying theme, returned to across several stories but never repetitively, is the revenge of the mistreated, wreaking havoc on a world they never made.
Ann O’Mara, Goodreads
I would include more reviews, but that would involve spoilers of some of the stories. But yeah, it shows how much people are enjoying the collection.
And if you’re interested in reading the book, or you’re looking for something to give your horror-loving family member or friend this holiday season, or you just want to support me, I’ll include links below. You can also read all the reviews that way.
Speaking of which, if you like what you read, please leave a review online so I know. Positive or negative, I love reader feedback, and it helps me and your fellow readers out in the long run.
That’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. I’m off to the Columbus Witches Ball. Until next time, good night and pleasant nightmares!
Rami Ungar The Writer 