From the New York Times bestselling author of The House in the Pines comes a haunting short story about grief, growth, and regret that asks the question, “What do you get when you steal from a witch?”
Nora has always gotten a thrill from stealing things—from shoplifting nail polish as a young teenager to now, in her twenties, reaching higher than a receptionist’s salary allows. Her handyman fiancé, Ben, doesn’t ask questions when she shows up with a new necklace or cracks open a bottle of high-end cognac that they clearly can’t afford.
When Ben comes home from a repair job for a notoriously reclusive neighbor, he passes along rumors of an extraordinary object hidden away in her gloomy old house. A scarf, woven from the silk of black widow spiders. It’s priceless, not only because it’s completely unique, but also because, as legend has it, it took twelve weavers seven years to create. Only eleven survived.
As obsession takes hold, Nora finds herself breaking into her neighbor’s home. But what happens next defies explanation. One glimpse into the world of a witch could change Nora’s life forever—if she makes it out.
Nora has always gotten a thrill from stealing things—from shoplifting nail polish as a young teenager to now, in her twenties, reaching higher than a receptionist’s salary allows. Her handyman fiancé, Ben, doesn’t ask questions when she shows up with a new necklace or cracks open a bottle of high-end cognac that they clearly can’t afford.
When Ben comes home from a repair job for a notoriously reclusive neighbor, he passes along rumors of an extraordinary object hidden away in her gloomy old house. A scarf, woven from the silk of black widow spiders. It’s priceless, not only because it’s completely unique, but also because, as legend has it, it took twelve weavers seven years to create. Only eleven survived.
As obsession takes hold, Nora finds herself breaking into her neighbor’s home. But what happens next defies explanation. One glimpse into the world of a witch could change Nora’s life forever—if she makes it out.
Title: The Spider Silk Scarf
Author: Ana Reyes
Publisher: Amazon Original Stories
Expected Publication Date: September 1, 2026
Review:
Thank you to Amazon for providing me with a copy of this title through Amazon First Reads to read and review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
This is my first work by this author so I wasn't sure what to expect. I also had no idea what the plot was for this story so I went in blind.
If you're looking for a suspenseful short story with a bit of magic infused into it, this one might suit your fancy. There's some magical realism woven in, though in the end I think you are supposed to assume it was due to something else.
I enjoyed Reyes's writing style. It flowed easily and kept me engaged. The plot was interesting and I needed to know what the mystery was all about. The pace was fast.
I do with there was a bit more at the end. It felt as if it just kind of ended and there wasn't much of a wrap up to the story. I'm not sure if the author wanted to keep the reader guessing and if she did, then she succeeded at least for me.
Overall, I would definitely read more from this author. Perhaps I will pick up her other title.
Author:
Ana Reyes has an MFA from Louisiana State University. Her work has appeared in Bodega, Pear Noir!, The New Delta Review, and elsewhere. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and teaches creative writing to older adults at Santa Monica College. The House in the Pines in her first novel.
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