Possibly the most unique horror tale I’ve read in recent times, TOADHEAD by Andrew Lyall is really something special. When Teddy wakes up with a toad on his head, the absurd soon becomes the norm, at least for Teddy, before events escalate, and continue to escalate, to jaw-dropping levels. At times this story is toe-curlingly gross and dark, and at other times it’s poetic and strangely inevitable. I say with utmost respect that this story felt like bold early Stephen King. Lyall’s mastery of subtle foreshadowing and callbacks, and beautifully balanced sentences, are really something to behold. Impressive stuff.
March 30, 2026