What exactly is a Halloween story or trope? I generally associate spooky or paranormal things with the holiday, but I have trouble thinking of stories or tropes specific to Halloween.

The most relevant Halloween story I can think of would be The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving. However, that was recently reinvented as The Spellbook of Katrina Van Tassel by Alyssa Palombo (excellent; I do recommend). I don’t have any ideas for a fresher angle.

Perhaps a work by Edgar Allen Poe? T. Kinfisher recently respun The Fall of the House of Usher into What Moves the Dead (on my TBR).

If pressed, I might want to do a retelling of The Cask of Amontillado. But how would I make it fresh? hmmm. Modern setting. Woman-led. Thinly veiled F-you to the patriarchy. Add a pinch of punchy, snarky, dark-humored banter. That could be a good time.

Would you read it?

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