Release Date: February 7th, 2023 General Genre: Adult Horror, Paranormal Subgenre/Themes: Gothic, Historical Fiction, HTHE SPITE HOUSE by Johnny Compton
Release Date: February 7th, 2023 General Genre: Adult Horror, Paranormal Subgenre/Themes: Gothic, Historical Fiction, Haunted House, Human Monsters, Mind-Bender, Mystery, Strong Women Writing Style: Brisk & Slow pacing, Multiple POVs
What You Need to Know: Early expectations, the comps from the publisher are: The Babadook meets A Head Full of Ghosts and I think those both miss the mark. This is more in step with Shirley Jackson's, The Haunting of Hill House. This story has a lot going on in 272 pages. Multiple POVs with character names as chapter titles and the reader is asked to keep tabs on several storylines almost like the show LOST in the way that there is a *huge* cast of characters, they all have backstories and a connection to the main, present-day narrative and there are a lot of meandering threads that introduce new topics of interest but don't really get answered until much, much later. That's all I think readers need to know going into this one: a slow-burn setup typical of the Gothic style that eases into a classic trope: MC accepts the invitation to stay in a haunted house and report back to the owner.
My Reading Experience: I tell people all the time that I am the kind of reader that does not see the plot twists or big reveals coming. It's not that I'm not clever or intuitive, I am, it's just that my brain is busy trusting the author's storytelling as it is being told to me and I don't concern myself with what might be happening between the lines. This one *really* stumped me. I had no idea what was going on for the duration of this novel. There is a very large cast of characters and they are not just stand-in people you don't need to concern yourself with, they have their own POV chapters! I struggled to keep track of everyone and remember who they were in relation to the present-day situation and their connection to the MCs. The MCs are Eric (father) and his two daughters (Stacy & Dess). I wish the story was contained to those three POVs. I felt like widening the circle to include POVs from literally everyone was too much, splintering the tone and atmosphere. Here's what I did like: Johnny Compton has a strong storytelling voice that instantly feels unique to him. It's authoritative in sections of exposition and infused with emotions during scenes of dialogue. I liked that the chapters were short, these helped me stay invested and kept the pace moving along *after* the 30% mark. Prior to that, the pace was slow, and difficult for me to stay interested. I liked the two young daughters, Dess and Stacy. Later, I enjoyed chapters with Eunice and Lafonda. So, I found Compton's understanding of how to write women of all ages pretty satisfying. I just didn't like the MC, Eric that much. As a dad with very clear and often communicated goals of protecting his daughters at all costs, he made some pretty counterintuitive decisions, but maybe I was missing something that factors in later. Overall, the things I enjoyed evenly balanced out with the things I didn't enjoy landing The Spite House smack dab in the middle of the road for me.
Final Recommendation: I recommend this to competent readers who are quick to absorb details and find it easy to navigate through a complex, multi-layered story with a lot of POVs. Fans of alternative, unexpected twists on classic tropes, haunted house tales, father/daughter relationships, and historical elements will eat this right up.
Comps: The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson, film: The Conjuring, and the structure/format of the TV show, LOST. ...more
"We did a combination of invites and open submissions. Our desire was to curate an anthology of seasoned horror voices, rising stars in the genre, and"We did a combination of invites and open submissions. Our desire was to curate an anthology of seasoned horror voices, rising stars in the genre, and brand-new voices. Initially, we were intimidated by the sheer volume of submissions and wondered how we would ever be able to give everyone’s story the attention they each deserved but Rob Carroll and his team at Dark Matter do this sort of thing every month for the Dark Matter Magazine so they have a system that made it so much more manageable. Once we got the hang of it, we had an absolute blast. There were so many exciting text messages and group discussions going on during the reading process. It was truly one of the most satisfying experiences we’ve ever had. The name on the story did not matter, it was 100% about the way those stories made us feel in relation to the Human Monster call we put out to the community of horror writers. We easily could have put together several anthologies out of just this pool of stories, it was extremely difficult to narrow it down to what has made it into the final TOC but at the end of the day, we’re really proud of the way it came together. Truly blown away by the professionalism and overwhelming talent of the community. Also, after we sent out acceptances, we were thrilled to learn how many of these authors expressed this was their first acceptance or the first time they were paid for a story. We’ve seen some of these authors go on to announce being acquired by agents, more story acceptances, book deals, and on and on. It’s so exciting." --Interview for Oct. BookList...more
HOW TO SELL A HAUNTED HOUSE by Grady Hendrix (My Best Friend's Exorcism, The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires, Horrorstör)
Release Date: HOW TO SELL A HAUNTED HOUSE by Grady Hendrix (My Best Friend's Exorcism, The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires, Horrorstör)
Release Date: January 17th, 2023 General Genre: Adult Horror, Grief, Psychological, Humor, Suspense/Thriller Subgenre/Themes: Haunted House, Mind-Bender, Mystery, Reads Like A Thriller, Religious Stuff, Possession, Ghosts, Demonic activity, Haunted, Creepy Dolls, Family, Domestic Drama, Stages of Grief Writing Style: Character-Driven, Brisk Pacing, Cinematic, Intricately Plotted
What You Need to Know: Going in, all you need to know is that a brother and sister that have a complicated relationship are tasked with dealing with each other and their parents' estate after they die in a car crash. This situation is a catalyst for an overwhelming amount of personal discovery. The two must painfully work through family secrets in order to sell their haunted house.
My Reading Experience: How to Sell A Haunted House is officially my favorite Grady Hendrix novel now. I love this book. I enjoyed every, single minute I spent here. The way everything unravels both slowly (methodically) at first and then fast & fiercely toward the end is genius. Hendrix introduces readers to the main protagonist, Louise, giving us careful insight into her relationship with her brother, Mark. We see everything through the lens of her experience and worldview.
And this is where the genius comes in because we develop this relationship with Louise, right? We get everything we need from her perspective. And this is a lot like real life too, the people we are close to, friends and family, co-workers, etc. their experiences and their narrative about what's happening in their life is filtered to us the way they tell it. They can decide to spin a story the way they choose to influence our perception of how we see it. They can leave out some details, they can add to it a little, or they can outright lie to make us believe they are the hero of the story and someone else is the villain. But if we wanted to, we could ask the other person, the "villain" how it all went down and the narrative would be a little different, wouldn't it? Depending on what's at stake. Hendrix reminds us that there are two sides to every story. Maybe even more. Every complicated situation or event could be told from multiple POVs. The truth is in there somewhere, but getting to that source of information is complicated and in this case, dangerous. I love the way we get a lot from Louise and Mark but we don't get the fuller picture until the circle widens to include other family members, and holy hell, I love this family. Aunt Gail, Mercy, Aunt Honey... it's a powerful thing that only Grady Hendrix can do and that's his ability to give fictional characters all that quirk and weirdness. SO GOOD! So laugh-out-loud funny. Sometimes I feel like authors don't really *see* or *hear* their characters and so I have a hard time seeing them or hearing them too--they all kind of look or sound the same right? Not in a Grady Hendrix book. These people ARE REAL. The dialogue is REAL. Cinematic. That's some bookish magic.
This is possession horror. Yes, there are puppets, dolls, and a haunted house. And two jump scares. BUT There is also the possession of truth. How it is decided who knows and who doesn't get to know. That gravitational pull some families have where everything is centered around one person, or one event, or a secret, a lie. And everything is centered around that whole thing like a rotten core of an apple spoiling the family from the inside out. Generational dysfunction passed on from one cult of personality to the next. Goddamn. I'll be thinking about this one for a long time. Because honestly, the only way some families can heal from a bad thing is a catalyst of destruction. A disruptor. In the case of this book, How to Sell a Haunted House, the journey of discovery is EVERYTHING. Broken relationships. Haunted people. A haunted house with a haunted past. MY FAVORITE GRADY HENDRIX BOOK!! I laughed, I cried, and I was terrified.
Final Recommendation: If you are looking for an intricately plotted haunted house story infused with a tale of possession and mixed with a domestic drama complete with suspense and mystery, you will love this book as much as I did.
Comps: The Book of Accidents by Chuck Wendig (kind of), I don't know! I can't think of anything quite like this with the family dynamic and the humor, the fun, and the scares. ...more
One of the most immersive, atmospheric books when it comes to actually feeling freezing cold while you read it. Gives new meaning to "thrills & chillsOne of the most immersive, atmospheric books when it comes to actually feeling freezing cold while you read it. Gives new meaning to "thrills & chills*. One of my favorite tropes ala "Last Days" by Adam Nevill, a couple of guys making a documentary wind up getting more involved in the research than they initially plan on. Tieg and his best friend are in Siberia to cover a legend called Road of Bones. They have a near-death experience in the freezing elements and find themselves in an uninhabited village where they learn that the townspeople have all fled to the forest. This is when both the protagonists and the reader realize things will only get worse for the duration of the novel and it is sublime! Golden is a fantastic storyteller. I absolutely loved his novel RED HANDS from 2020. Will read all his books. ...more
This weekend, I read the final manuscript for All These Subtle Deceits by C. S. Humble for Dark Hart Books. This is the first book published through mThis weekend, I read the final manuscript for All These Subtle Deceits by C. S. Humble for Dark Hart Books. This is the first book published through my imprint so it will always carry a special significance for me. It sets the tone for Dark Hart’s “Horror with Heart” brand. The blueprint for what’s to come.
Professionally, as an industry standard, I’m not sure if the EIC of publishing companies openly discuss why they choose to publish certain manuscripts. Still, I’m not the owner of a publishing company. Dark Hart is an imprint of Dark Matter Magazine. Rob Carroll offered me an opportunity to curate horror under his banner because we share the same vision for untapped talent. We want to carve out a spot on horror bookshelves for new voices. But championing new voices is not a new thing for me. As a professional reviewer for several platforms, the horror community is familiar with hearing me bang on about my favorite books and authors. Especially fresh talent rising up in the indie scene. I have an Instagram account dedicated to celebrating my passion for reading centered on horror specifically. To suddenly go silent about the books I have chosen to represent Dark Hart would be incredibly out of character for me so I’ll set a precedent now with All These Subtle Deceits.
This. Fucking. Book.
All These Subtle Deceits is book one in a series of five books set in the city of Black Wells, somewhere in Colorado. The cold open pulls the reader through the pages with delicious descriptions of the setting; a sense of place.
“Black Wells captures you. Its allurements conjure a strong chain that wraps around the heart like ivy swallows a trellis.”
Yep. That’ll do it. I was sold on that damn cold open.
The most exceptional quality of this book is how it feels both fresh and timeless at the same time. The world-building is layered and textured in such a way that it is clear this place exists in an established narrative. The reader has a clear sense that the characters have off-page history…lives lived before this introduction and lives that will be lived after this first book as well. In the beginning, a woman named Lauren has relocated to Black Wells to escape a bad relationship. In just one chapter, she is immediately known by the reader and we are invested in her life--this horrific encounter she has just experienced which will ultimately lead her to William Daniels.
William Daniels. Intercessor and Consultant. An exorcist. “...a single pinprick of light amid an irrepressible darkness.”
Trust me when I say, Blatty’s The Exorcist laid the groundwork and provided C. S. Humble with the framework in order to take demon possession horror to new heights for modern horror fans. William Daniels is a remarkable, memorable character that readers are going to pocket in their hearts where they will long for more of his story.
On my first reading, I was so dazzled by the way Humble turns a phrase and highlighting sentences in my kindle, all the notetaking, and just that whole vibe of reading a new author that has chops…I didn’t fall in love with William Daniels.
But now. Oh shit. William Daniels…this tall drink of water, this oxford-wearing, coffee-drinking, pipe-smoking, enemy of darkness…I love him. A whole lot.
All These Subtle Deceits is just the beginning. It sets the stage; whets the appetite. Readers get their introduction to some beloved characters but more importantly, they get a sense of the darkness within Black Wells. An insidious evil blooming within the city threatening its citizens and possibly reaching beyond its outer limits as well. Having read book two and snippets of book three, I can assure readers that while the first three books can be enjoyed as standalone novels, the narrative and the characters’ arcs are intertwined, meant to be a connected universe.
Even though this is character-driven horror with heart, there is no pulling back on the scares. Seth delivers on terror and it’s effective because of the high emotional investment.
Upon finishing this book the first time I was literally beside myself.
No lie, I asked Seth, “Who are you really?”
I honestly thought he was fucking with me. Like he was a famous writer I already enjoy and he was testing me to see if I would still like his work under a pseudonym. He finally convinced me he was an unpublished, unagented author who couldn’t break into ‘the scene’. Well, that just wouldn’t do. A demon possession horror with an exorcist as unique as William Daniels cannot just slip through the cracks. Long story shortened up a bit this book with a new bonus story will see its release on the first Tuesday of October just in time for the spooky season. The second book, All The Prospect Around Us, arrives in December, the perfect timing with its themes of friendship, joy, and love but also eminent, terrifying evil.
Both books are ready for pre-order and it’s with all my hope and all my love for horror that I invite you on this journey to Black Wells with me. I promise that it will not disappoint and it’s my prediction that this will be the horror series of our time.
Exclusive, signed, limited editions for Night Worms November 2021 package, Season of Fear in partnership with Thunderstorm books!
Ania Ahlborn is one oExclusive, signed, limited editions for Night Worms November 2021 package, Season of Fear in partnership with Thunderstorm books!
Ania Ahlborn is one of our favorite authors and it was a *dream* to be able to showcase her work in this custom package paired with another favorite, Kristopher Triana. ...more
Disclaimers: *I am the publicist for Death's Head Press *I organized a Book Party on the Night Worms blog for this book, meaning I had a digital copy aDisclaimers: *I am the publicist for Death's Head Press *I organized a Book Party on the Night Worms blog for this book, meaning I had a digital copy and I passed them out to all my extreme horror junkie friends on bookstagram. *I also consider the author a friend *TWs for this book (extreme violence/rape)
So you can assume I'm biased as fuck. You can also take what I'm about to say with as many grains of salt as you like: The Splatter Western series is 11 books strong now. There are hits and misses. This one is one of the hits. It is an unapologetic, satirical Western that lands all its intended punches. There are these insanely genius interludes where Chandler goes all meta on the reader and I would dare anyone to pick this book up and TRY not to look forward to the interludes the entire time. As entertaining, gruesome, and fucked up as the Western is...those interludes are where it's at for me. I loved this book. It's a damn good time. Chandler obviously had fun writing HUMAN-SHAPED FIENDS and poking fun at his own brand while at the same time, proving he has the chops to do whatever he wants with his storytelling voice in whatever genre and I hope he does. I hope he writes what he wants to write. I'll show up for all of it....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
Berkley Simmons, the main character, is a reader (he has great taste!) and he works in a bookstore which is so fun. Right away, I started getting stroBerkley Simmons, the main character, is a reader (he has great taste!) and he works in a bookstore which is so fun. Right away, I started getting strong, The Invisible Man, vibes. Berkley and his ex had a toxic relationship and when he ended things, his ex did not take it well. A violent encounter leaves both men dead (not a spoiler), except Berkley's neighbor saves his life. When Berkley finally comes back to his apartment, the traumatic experience lingers--but also, strange things begin happening. I love how the author developed the MC's friend group: Ernie, Sasha, and Zane. The different ways they support Berkley added so much depth to the way Gunnells was able to flesh out Berkley's feelings about what had happened through his interactions and conversations with his friends. My favorite scene was game night with the whole friend group--the dynamic was so entertaining. It was also fucking scary. I'm serious. I don't like Ouija boards. Great execution on delivering chills. As the story progresses and grows in intensity, my investment in certain characters developed--especially Ernie and Sasha. I'm recommending this book to fans who like hauntings, authentic relationships, character-driven scenarios to move the story along, dynamic friendships, the paranormal, Ouija boards, and unique plot developments. I loved this. (In fact, I'm changing my rating to 5 stars because I just realized how much I'm going to miss my fictional friends. Can there be a part 2?!)
A unique take on the good ol' fashioned haunted house trope, but that's not all! It's also infused perfectly with a ghost story. I love how Gunnells made this his own world by his rules.
If you identify as a Constant Reader, you approach a new King book with a personal reading journey decades in the making. Your first one. Your favoritIf you identify as a Constant Reader, you approach a new King book with a personal reading journey decades in the making. Your first one. Your favorite one. The one that made you fall in love. The one that broke your heart. The book you tell everyone is the worst. The last one you read. The one you’ve read the most. The Top Ten. The Bottom Five.
Sometimes I feel like Constant Readers are the saltiest Stephen King fans there are.
We certainly can be the hardest to please. *Raising my hand*
When we hold a new King book in our hands, what are we looking for? For me, it’s the characters. Stephen King’s characters are EVERYTHING TO ME. They have lived in my reader’s heart since the moment they came to life on the page and they will never leave.
Oy the Billybumbler.
The Loser’s Club
Father Callahan
Dick Hallorann
Mother Abagail
Tom Cullen
Jack Sawyer & Wolf
Jake & Sadie
Roland
Danny
Andy Dufresne & Red
Gordy, Chris, Vern & Teddy
And on and on and on.
For me, King is in his wheelhouse when he’s writing from a kid’s POV and they have to stare down some unimaginable horror. That’s where the magic is for me. And so his new Hard Case Crime, LATER brought the magic home for me after a long spell of not feeling it.
LATER is the story of a young boy named Jamie who lives a pretty comfortable life with his mother. They have a sweet relationship. Fairly early on, it’s revealed to readers that he has supernatural gifting (because it’s a Stephen King book and we show up for this).
Jamie is open to his mother about his gift but for the most part, he internalizes the depth of the struggle he goes through bearing the weight of it. As Jamie grows older and new relationships come in and out of his life, he realizes that some people can be trusted with knowing about what he is able to do and some cannot.
Jamie’s narrative sucked me right in. It was like coming home. I walked up to the first page and King reached out his hand and I just fucking left the world behind. There is this familiarity with the style and the storytelling where I was just like, “Yep. This is the shit right here.”
As Jamie gets a little older and begins to understand the power of his gift, he encounters something with even greater power and this scared the shit out of me.
It has been a minute since King tapped that for me. It felt awesome!
My husband was in the living room while I was reading and a few times I held out my paperback like Simba the lion cub in the circle of life moment shouting, “YES!! THIS!!”
There are so many things to love about this book-it's like a love letter to fans who have been with him for a long time because he tucks in some little tie-ins to the King universe that made me cry.
Literally. Fucking. Cried.
And you know, this book is not perfect. But if anyone else BUT the King wrote it, people would be like, OH MY GOD THIS IS THE BEST THING EVER!! But we hold Stephen King to this whole other standard. And I’m not shaming anyone because I do it too.
SLEEPING BEAUTIES? Meh. (I didn't even finish it)
ELEVATION? Meh. THE INSTITUTION? Meh.
As I said, it has been a minute.
This book is a five-star for me. There was exactly one thing I didn't like about it. One. And I’m going to forgive it because for the most part, I was in blissed-out, Constant Reader euphoria and it felt damn good. He still has it for me. He’s still the man.
Just last month I read RED STATION, Book 7 in the Splatter Western Series written by Kenzie Jennings and published by Death's Head Press. I was so bloJust last month I read RED STATION, Book 7 in the Splatter Western Series written by Kenzie Jennings and published by Death's Head Press. I was so blown away by her storytelling, I decided to host a read along on #bookstagram of her debut novel, RECEPTION. The group read was scheduled to start on Valentine's Day, February 14th, 2021 but before I was even able to open a group chat for discussion, I had participants saying they had already binge-read the book and were finished! An indication of good horror! Unputdownable. Sometimes, when a book gets too much early hype, I get anxious that it will fail my expectations. With so many rave reviews, did RECEPTION manage to live up to all the praise? Yes. And then some! After about 50 pages I realized that RECEPTION doesn't take itself too seriously. The narrator/protagonist, Ansley is fresh out of rehab and really trying to pull it all together so that she can be there for her sister Shay on her wedding day. The first half of the novel is spent setting up the family dynamic and reads like a domestic drama. But this is not dry or boring. Kenzie Jennings is HILARIOUS. The relationship between Shay and Ansley is authentic and endearing. Ansley has this habit of creating nicknames for people she encounters and doesn't bother learning their names which is great because she's at this wedding reception where she doesn't really know anyone except her side of the family and a few of her sister's friends.
The last half of the book starts like this: "And that--right then, right there--was when everything turned to blood and shit." From this moment on, the volume on the Splatterpunk horror is turned all the way up. It's the loudest noise but complimenting all the gore and mayhem is the comedy and it's the perfect ride all the way to the ending. And what a fucking ending!! I mean, in my head, I leapt off the couch and jumped onto the coffee table with an impromptu standing ovation right here in my living room for Kenzie Jennings. She really pulled this off. This is the most fun I've had with a book in a long time and even more special, I got to make some new horror-loving friends with my big ol' #RedReception group read. Fun times. However. I am giving this book 4 stars because I did feel like the set up was long. Like literally half of the book, about 100 pages upfront and then 100 pages of Splatterpunk. Jennings *did* give lots of asides and hints and breadcrumbs along the way, and those were fun to pick up and enjoy while anticipating the craziness to start but it did feel like maaaaaybe 30 pages too long of the foreplay and not enough of the actual 'good stuff'. But it's a minor complaint.
Recommended to fans who love movies like READY OR NOT, PALM SPRINGS and PARENTS. Books like, Grady Hendrix's mash-up of satire and horror, David Wong or Carlton Mellick III stuff....more
This story is available to read for FREE at Tor.com https://www.tor.com/2021/01/27/shards... Or you can buy it for .99 to read on your Kindle which is wThis story is available to read for FREE at Tor.com https://www.tor.com/2021/01/27/shards... Or you can buy it for .99 to read on your Kindle which is what I did because I hate reading on my laptop.
.. Ian Rogers is the author of one of the best short story collections for the genre. It's titled, EVERY HOUSE IS HAUNTED and if you don't have it, get it! And if you have it, read it! And if you've read it, read SHARDS, because the man has seriously leveled up (if that's even possible).
The foreboding first line, the hook, is your first clue that this will not end well but don't let that trick you into thinking you have any idea where Rogers want to take you. Just sit back and enjoy the ride.
A group of friends rent a cabin for a little getaway. Things go horribly wrong.
There's nothing more to say about the plot because everything, literally everything compelling or delightfully delicious that I could tell you, would spoil reader's discovery and any potential blindsides. So in order to protect that, I will avoid anymore plot details and just expand more on my unique experience.
I enjoyed the fact that in less than 50 pages, Rogers unraveled a familiar plot trope at the seams and gave his audience something altogether fresh and unique. He sets the stage, arranges the characters in such a way that readers understand the dynamic in the friend group quickly through intentional reveals hidden in the subtext of dialog. Quite suddenly, the antagonist arrives on scene; the causation of horror-a found, inanimate object. From here, Rogers shows off his wheelhouse. In very little words, Rogers just drops bombs. I don't know how else to explain it...he just sets up this mine field so that as the story progresses, readers trigger these mines-the horror is triggered and it just. keeps. coming.
Pow.
Pow.
Pow.
By the last paragraph, eyes wide in terror, you're ready to read the whole thing over again to see how you even got there.
First of all, I love the premise of Saltblood. It could totally be a Black Mirror episode. In fact, do you remember the episode where society has deveFirst of all, I love the premise of Saltblood. It could totally be a Black Mirror episode. In fact, do you remember the episode where society has developed a rating system for every person? You would go to a party and have an interaction with an old friend and as the two of you part ways, you score the interaction. People with high scores are afforded certain luxuries and low-scoring individuals are treated poorly; like second-class citizens. Saltblood is similar in that there is a rating system but it is only used in a punitive sense. If you say or do something socially unacceptable--especially to the point of making headlines, you're shipped off to an isolated island somewhere off the coast of Scottland. The main character/narrator, Robin is being sent to Salt Rock so, through her eyes, we get to experience what life is like once the general population has judged you to be unfit for society. It's a very clever plot and Parker does an amazing job setting it up. The pages really do fly as Robin becomes adjusted to her new life. Of course, as soon as she starts to get settled, Robin encounters some strange activities going on and this opens her up to secrets and mysteries that the islanders are either trying to keep buried or also trying to work on uncovering the truth. There was one element to the story that didn't quite work for me--I liked all the 'human monster' story developments better and thought that the more mythological aspects made me unable to suspend disbelief--pulling me out of the story a little. This author has writing chops and I will be reading more of her work for sure. (I already dove into SALVATION SPRING and enjoyed that)...more
THE BOY IN THE WOODS delivers on all expectations for an action-packed, page-turning, gore-soaked, good time. Eddie is a favorable character that readTHE BOY IN THE WOODS delivers on all expectations for an action-packed, page-turning, gore-soaked, good time. Eddie is a favorable character that readers will invest in emotionally, making his journey through this worst night of his life, suspenseful and worrisome. There were a few aspects of this story that I felt needed more exposition and I think the character development, apart from the main protagonist, was too thin; hurried. There's also something I wish I could say about the ending but it's too spoilery and future readers will discover it for themselves anyway, but I loved the ending. It chilled me the more I thought about what the implications mean. THE BOY IN THE WOODS creeps up its readers with a stealthy, intensifying dread. My heart never felt safe. Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️"...more
3.5 stars! A debut collection of indigenous, own voices, horror stories with strong, relatable themes of identity and familial relationships. There is 3.5 stars! A debut collection of indigenous, own voices, horror stories with strong, relatable themes of identity and familial relationships. There is an in-depth introduction explaining the origin story behind the title and some insight on the author's intentions behind this particular collection of tales. Anoka, Minnesota is apparently known as the birthplace of Halloween and as soon as more details were disclosed, it all started sounding very familiar--as in an episode of Drunk History! Sure enough, after a quick Google search, they are one and the same. The stories are loosely connected by way of location-"Halloween Town"-in a very Stephen King, Castle Rock, or Eerie Indiana sort of way. This is a one-sitting read. In fact, I would recommend that these 6 short stories must be enjoyed back to back in order to have a fuller experience. As singular reads, they could feel a little thin but together-they lean into each other in a satisfying way. I was able to read this book on Orcas Island, WA in a lonely cabin overlooking the Puget Sound. The perfect setting. My favorite stories were: IMITATE (an unsettling, supernatural father/son tale), TRANSFIGURED (a unique creature-feature), and DEAD AMERICA (a man is plagued with reoccurring dreams. Not cool for arachnophobic folks-squirm!)
I am a huge fan of story notes. In the case of ANOKA, they were extremely helpful to me in times where a story felt a little unfinished or confusing--SOILBORNE, the first story, gets a big assist with the accompanying story notes. It's my recommendation readers take advantage of those after finishing each piece. I'm looking forward to watching Shane Hawk perfect his craft and establish his name in the horror industry. I know he has some exciting projects on the horizon and I'll be standing in line for anything he puts his name to--a rising voice, no doubt about it....more
I beta-read this book in March of 2020 and will refresh my thoughts after reading over the final copy from Death's Head Press.I beta-read this book in March of 2020 and will refresh my thoughts after reading over the final copy from Death's Head Press....more
This is the first Death's Head Press Review that I am writing *after* I was hired as their social media manager/publicist. So you can take this reviewThis is the first Death's Head Press Review that I am writing *after* I was hired as their social media manager/publicist. So you can take this review with a grain of salt, but just know that nothing influences my reading experience and I am always totally transparent about my feelings. Death's Head Press knows this. The authors who publish books through them know this. I have a job description but 'paid reviews' is not one of them.
Casual horror readers be warned: This is brutal. Full stop. And just in case the word "brutal" has lost its edge, here's a definition, "Savagely violent; vicious; ferocious; barbaric; punishingly hard; bloodthirsty; cruel."
Yes to all of those things and more. Trigger warnings? Sure. All of them.
Now, let's get to the meat on these bones and the marrow inside 'em, shall we? This is an epic Splatter Western with a complex, intricately plotted storyline. There's a large cast of characters and Triana spends time developing them. There are several supporting themes like, vengeance and redemption but the central one is a classic, Good vs. Evil/Light vs. Darkness.
No time is wasted revealing the nature of the Koyotes, a band of outlaws traveling from town to town on a killing spree. Victims are brutalized in a variety of explicit, detailed ways. Readers should expect nothing to be held back. The Koyotes are more beast than human. But there is some method to the madness. Lead by Glenn the Dreadful, the Koyotes are on the hunt for a talisman of sorts that will amplify their power and ultimately bring about the destruction of mankind unleashing the power of Hell. Meanwhile, in a small town called Hope's Hill, a convent of nuns have been protecting this talisman the wolfen are looking for with an unconventional but seemingly necessary method. The power of the darkness attached to the Menhir is growing in intensity and calling out to the Koyotes.
As the story develops, more townspeople join together to form a small counterattack against the impending doom the Koyotes will surely bring upon them. Their reputation of violence and carnage precedes them. The chapters with the Koyotes were very dark. I’m not going to sugarcoat this. Glenn the Dreadful’s backstory is particularly disturbing and difficult to read. One of the other Koyotes, Hiram, is a pedophile/child murderer. Some scenes are just too terrible to speak of, honestly. So why didn’t quit? I have tapped out of books that are far less offensive. Talent. Storytelling ability. Trust. This is my third or fourth book I’ve enjoyed by Kristopher Triana and I’ve come to appreciate his particular, signature brand of horror. He knows what he’s doing. His books are shocking and disturbing but there is always a reason for everything--an intention behind all the graphic images. Also, if I can say this without sounding like a total pervert, Triana knows how to write explicit sexual scenes without it being awkward or lame. Pornographic, yes. Horny. Dirty. Violent. All of those things but never out of his element. I’ve read sex scenes from authors who just seem unsure--fumbling around awkwardly with word choices that are just offputting or weird. But that isn’t the case with Triana. This isn’t to say the sex is always sexy, because it’s not and there will be plenty of readers who will be offended by everything in this book. But I found there to be enough redeeming value to continue on. I was captivated. I was addicted. I needed to know what would happen to my heroes. I was *this close* to tweeting Kristopher Triana that 'I hated him' IF anything happened to one of my precious favorites. But I guess he throws us a bone once in awhile. I feel like he does care about us somehow--Most of the time I feel like he’s intentionally trying to hurt his audience but believe it or not, it took this savage Splatter Western to feel like Triana built into the author/reader relationship and he gave us a gift! I won’t say what, because it would be a spoiler--but he didn’t have to do it--I was expecting nothing. I was expecting the story to say “fuck your feelings, Sadie” but it didn’t. Thanks Triana. We earned it! You took us on a pretty fucked up journey at the end of the day, damn it if I didn’t enjoy it. A lot. ...more
THE BLACKENING is my third Seán O'Connor read. The last book, WEEPING SEASON was a fast paced, page-turner. I enjoyed it. This book seemed to mash-up THE BLACKENING is my third Seán O'Connor read. The last book, WEEPING SEASON was a fast paced, page-turner. I enjoyed it. This book seemed to mash-up a favorite genre, Crime/Murder Mystery (set in Iceland! Bonus) with a not-so-favorite genre, Cosmic Horror. The book starts off with a bit of Amity/Jaws vibe when a woman disappears under very mysterious circumstances and the lead investigator wants to cancel a big tourist attraction for the safety of the townsfolk but the Police Commissioner vetos this with a concern for tourist dollars over safety. A subplot with some scientists develops. They are researching a black substance found at the location where the missing woman was last seen. This sub-plot, in my opinion, should have lead the story. For me, this is just a case of one part of the story being more interesting for the reader than the other and a growing frustration anytime the focus shifts to the less unique storyline. I loved touring around Iceland with O'Connor because it felt so authentic--to the point where I'm sure the author has either traveled there a few times or just researched the hell out of it. The cosmic horror element was a great compliment to the missing woman story and then when THE BLACKENING transitions into a creature-feature is when I felt a little bit of a lift. However, with all the set-up, thin character development, and some clunky dialog weighing these aspects down--the wind dropped out of the sails for me. A solid 3 stars that could have easily been 4 or 5 with some re-working. As per usual, I will always read anything O'Connor puts out because he does have a unique storytelling voice that I enjoy. ...more
A poetry collection inspired by the bubonic plague released during the actual Coronavirus pandemic of 2020? How prophetically macabre. If just reading A poetry collection inspired by the bubonic plague released during the actual Coronavirus pandemic of 2020? How prophetically macabre. If just reading this review or the subject matter of these poems have you thinking, "It's too soon!" You need to step away from this book. Tantlinger does not hold back.
"In the name of Pestilence, I ride, / your scared lord of contagion / bow down beneath divine damnation"
Some poems are told as the voice of the plague itself. Others from the perspective of the dying host. Still others as the collectors of the dead or the doctors or children... ...all of them carry the weight and severity of man vs. virus (or worm). If you are a reader easily triggered by body horror or vivid word pictures of agonizing death, putrid decay, corpses, burrowing worms, bodily fluids, symptoms of disease--you might want to skip this one. But as for me and my kind, this is how we cope with the horrors we face in real life. I loved taking this journey with Sara. It was actually quite comforting knowing that disease is mankind's oldest and most formidable foe. ...more
Loading...
