3.5 stars-rounded up for Goodreads As per usual, this was another enjoyable Short Sharp Shocks book from Demain Publishing. Three short tales in one co3.5 stars-rounded up for Goodreads As per usual, this was another enjoyable Short Sharp Shocks book from Demain Publishing. Three short tales in one complete volume and a great introduction to Dave Jeffery's work. The first story, The Camp Creeper reads like a campfire tale straight out of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. It has a timeless, young reader vibe to it but is still enjoyable for adults too. Guess What We're Having for Supper is the strongest of the three about a group of people in the woods that encounter a disorienting mist and something hunting them. Cross Your Heart is a short, dark story featuring regret, remorse, and revenge. The storytelling gets the job done but lacks a little in style; finesse. ...more
Sometimes at night, I open my Kindle and don't feel like reading anything in my library. When this happens, I click on "Kindle Unlimited" and browse tSometimes at night, I open my Kindle and don't feel like reading anything in my library. When this happens, I click on "Kindle Unlimited" and browse titles to see if there's anything short I can start and finish in one sitting.
The other night I saw Ross Jeffery's brand new, MILK KISSES & OTHER STORIES and loaded it right up. I love absolutely everything from the Short Sharp Shocks series by Demain Publishing. I've read several and they're always so entertaining and super quick reads.
This book is 3 short works of horror fiction:
PAREIDOLIA- I'm recommending this to readers who enjoy creepy, small town horror with a "poor unfortunate traveler realizes there's something mysterious going on because the townspeople are being suspicious as fuck" trope. I don't want to spoil reader discovery so that's all I can say.
MILK KISSES- This is one of those stories where the author holds their cards close to the chest in order to keep the reader in the dark until the very last second. Ross Jeffery really displays his mastery of the craft with this one.
HEMANGIOMA- Some truly unusual, unsettling, disturbing body horror. I had so many thoughts racing through my head the entire time. A child has a growth on their body that is very concerning. Again, there's not much more to say here. The stories are so short, it's too easy to give too much away. But this story freaked me out!
If you haven't tried ANY books from the SSS series by Demain Publishing you are seriously missing out. I'm going to do a video for BookTok urging everyone to try these out. They're always fun. They showcase the immeasurable talents of indie authors, and I have never read one I didn't love. Many of them are available on Kindle Unlimited or .99 Read my BLOG for more recs in this series from Demain Publishing https://nightworms.com/blogs/news/boo... ...more
Parthenophobia is a social anxiety, an abnormal and persistent fear of young girls (virgins). Not toddler girls or middle-school girls. Not women. TeenParthenophobia is a social anxiety, an abnormal and persistent fear of young girls (virgins). Not toddler girls or middle-school girls. Not women. Teen girls. More specifically, 'nubile' teen girls. The protagonist in this Short, Sharp, Shocks--Martin--is a man of an unspecified age who lives in the house he was raised in. He used to share the home with his mother until she passed away. Now he's alone in it. Martin has a real problem. He suffers from the unrealistic fear of young, pubescent girls. His whole life seemingly revolves around avoiding them at all costs. He makes sure he only goes out on errands when school is in session and he has the best possible chance of not having any encounters with girls. One day, a girl sits on the wall outside his house and chats on her cell phone. Martin is beside himself with worry and anxiety. This begins a series of events that ultimately lead to a very weird conclusion. Honestly, I have no idea what really happened at the end. I was enjoying Martin's quirky phobia and everything that was happening (or not happening) to him until the last few pages and then this story slid off the rails into something else altogether so if anyone reads this story and wants to explain it to me--*raising my hand* here I am! ...more
BITS is the story of a middle school teacher who is feeling invisible. To make things worse, parts of her body are casually coming loose and then...faBITS is the story of a middle school teacher who is feeling invisible. To make things worse, parts of her body are casually coming loose and then...falling off. Nadie Denneby is falling apart. Earlier this year, I read a story called HOLES by R. A. Busby in an anthology called, GRAVEYARD SMASH. Here is what I had to say about it at the time,
"HOLES by R. A. Busby- Perfect "first story" because it's fast-paced and deals with a fairly well-known fear, trypophobia (of which I am a sufferer). This is the tale of a woman who suffers a fear of holes. She embarks on a series of therapeutic attempts to lessen or eliminate her fear but to no avail. This has a great ending."
I'm mentioning it for this review of BITS because the fear-factor is strikingly familiar. There's an insidious, psychological subtly about both stories. HOLES tapped a phobia of mine and now BITS just manufactured a new phobia! Not cool! I was halfway through BITS when my eyes got droopy and I went to sleep--I dreamed about my teeth loosening and ultimately falling out! It was terrifying. Busby got in my head. This is a great short story. Busby's brand of horror is specifically suited to me....more
I have officially become a Short Sharp Shocks Junkie. I can't devour these quality horror stories fast enough. This is the first time I've ever read aI have officially become a Short Sharp Shocks Junkie. I can't devour these quality horror stories fast enough. This is the first time I've ever read anything by Alyson Faye but I will be seeking out her special brand of storytelling from now on. This book contains two stories, LOST GIRL and SPINDLESHANKS. Berkley Osgood is a parapsychologist investigating an unusual feature in an inherited, family home. What lies behind a door that appears to have been nailed shut? Osgood bravely searches for answers. Her drive to know the truth uncovers a secret the neighborhood residents have been hiding for a long, long time. Faye had her fingers on the dial for the duration of this short story. She knew exactly when to turn up the volume and the creep factor and when to scale it back in order for the mystery to take center stage. I can't believe how much drama the author managed in such a short amount of time! Thoroughly impressed. A new favorite ghost story!
SPINDLESHANKS is a folklore, boogeyman tale with some serious chops! The little childhood rhyme gets stuck in your mind and is quite spooky! I love the way this one ended. I wanted to jump out of my reading chair and give Alyson Faye a standing ovation. I love this book! ...more
First things first, this title. THE FOREST IS HUNGRY. Right away, readers want to know, how? How is the forest hungry? Page one sets the tone straight First things first, this title. THE FOREST IS HUNGRY. Right away, readers want to know, how? How is the forest hungry? Page one sets the tone straight away as a couple is wandering through the woods looking for their missing daughter. From here, the story intensifies; gets darker. Obviously, it would ruin all the best discoveries if I were to tell you how the forest is hungry and what it does to 'feed the need'. But I can tell you how I felt reading this story. I got lost in the details of the strange phenomena. I drew some immediate comparisons to Paul Tremblay's short story, GROWING THINGS. M Night Shyamalan's THE HAPPENING, and an X-Files episode all rolled into one-the whole "Can't sleep, plants will eat us" vibe but with Christopher Stanley's unique storyline and surprising conclusion. Another home run for the Short Sharp Shocks series from Demain Publishing. I can't recommend these enough.
Look through my recent reads to see my other recommendations, I've been binging the series....more
Is AN INVITATION TO DARKNESS everything I want in horror and more? Yes, by god! Yes. First of all, if I were to give an elevator pitch of this book, IIs AN INVITATION TO DARKNESS everything I want in horror and more? Yes, by god! Yes. First of all, if I were to give an elevator pitch of this book, I'd sell it by saying the protagonist is a confident, female pirate who finds herself falling in love with an heiress isolated in a seaside estate. The longer Jamie Thames remains at Leavenworth Manor, the more mystery surrounds her lover. It had this REBECCA vibe that I enjoyed-a newly formed relationship threatened by a haunted past.
Hailey Piper is a chameleon-she can adapt her narrative to suit any genre and make it sound like her own, personal wheelhouse. If AN INVITATION TO DARKNESS was your first Piper read, you would think that she was a mainstay in Gothic horror lit. I can assure you that the other two books I have read have drastically different styles! I've read several short stories of Piper's in various anthologies and her presence is always known; a standout among others. Next on my nightstand is THE WORM AND HIS KINGS and I can't wait to see what unexpected versatility Piper will impress me with next. If you haven't gotten on the Hailey Piper train, this would make an excellent introduction....more
My second Short Sharp Shocks by Demain Publishing read. Kev Harrison previously blew my mind with his novella THE BALANCE a few months ago. I knew I wMy second Short Sharp Shocks by Demain Publishing read. Kev Harrison previously blew my mind with his novella THE BALANCE a few months ago. I knew I would be making an attempt to find more short fiction from Harrison and CURFEW was a solid follow up.
This is the story of a couple on holiday. They arrive at their quaint bed & breakfast for their weekend getaway. Things seem a little "strange" upon their arrival but as most people do, they brush it off for the sake of convenience.
I love the pace and tone of this tale. Everything unfolds naturally and realistically. Harrison masterfully builds suspense and mystery. The couple's interactions with each other and their situation is so authentic, I kept forgetting this was a fictional account! I am an official fan of Kev Harrison's storytelling-immediately compelling from page one and somehow manages to maintain that initial level of engagement all the way through. Highly recommend!...more
My first foray into The Short Sharp Shocks series by Demain Publishing but not my first Calvin Demmer. I've previously read and praised, THE SEA WAS AMy first foray into The Short Sharp Shocks series by Demain Publishing but not my first Calvin Demmer. I've previously read and praised, THE SEA WAS A FAIR MASTER (a collection of flash fiction) and DARK CELEBRATIONS (a collection of short stories with a nod to our favorite holidays and celebrations). THE TOWN THAT FEARED DUSK is a short read that can be enjoyed in one sitting. The stars have aligned in a strange and mysterious way because this is the third story I've read this year to draw inspiration from the classic urban legend, Crybaby Bridge. The legend can be told in a variety of ways but Calvin Demmer's take is a journalist, Sylvia, who is investigating a high number of suicides in a rural town at the same location: A bridge. During Sylvia's time in the small town, Demmer builds an intensifying, engrossing tale leading closer and closer to what is sure to be a big reveal. This tantalizes the reader to keep turning the pages until everything is sorted out. My favorite kind of horror hook! I thoroughly enjoyed my time in THE TOWN THAT FEARED DUSK further convincing me that Demmer has mastered the short fiction format and is just teasing us with his first novel, I'm sure of it!...more
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