Monday, October 31, 2022

Petite Mort by Nikki Noir and S. C. Mendes

 

A horror filled, erotic escape for you, from the minds of Nikki Noir and S. C. Mendes. Eight short stories that will certainly have you cringing and gasping. Each story is filled with bizarre and gore scenes. Beware the heavy erotic theme in this one! You can thank these two authors for the awkward tingling in your nether regions! Hehe



Saturday, October 29, 2022

Hustle & Heart Foretold



 I found this graphic novel to be entertaining. I enjoyed the artwork and the story line. It does leave off with a cliffhanger, hopefully it won't be too long to wait for the next book. 

Derek has been showing up in random places where a tragic event will happen. During one of those visits, he is with his wife, who dies during an event. Fast forward a few months and blacking out and traveling to other places of tragedy start to wear on him and he wants answers. He asks for help from a friend, Alice. She ends up traveling with him to another tragic event and witnesses what he is capable of. 

I think this is going to an excellent story once the errors are fixed. Releases February 21, 2023

Thank you #NetGalley and #OniPress for sending me the ebook to review. #HustleHeartForetold

Thursday, October 27, 2022

Slaughter Lake by Jay Bower and David Viergutz

 

I enjoyed this story by Jay Bower and David Viergutz. The first half of the book is leading up to the trip to a cabin on Slaughter Lake. The second half of the book is full of brutal satisfaction. 

Years ago, Rebecca and her friends used to go to a cabin out at Slaughter Lake when they were in college. As the years pass, they lose touch with Jude, one of their friends. Jude is an odd guy, kinda creepy and all that. By chance, Rebecca and her fiance run into Jude and they invite him over for a cookout with the old gang. During the cookout, they bring up Slaughter Lake and decide they should go for a weekend, hang out again like they used to. The weekend at Slaughter Lake will be one to remember.

While the ending was predictable, the story getting up to the end was not predictable. Lots of gore and cringe worthy parts in this story. This would be a fantastic book to take with you on a camping trip!

Wednesday, October 26, 2022

The Day of the Nightfish by D. T. Neal

 

This is a fun little novella of less than 100 pages and is a delight to read. It took about a couple of hours to read through it and I was entertained the whole time.

This story is about a chef-in-training experiencing nightfish for the first time and needing to find out what nightfish actually is. Before I got too far into this book, I personally  looked up nightfish just to see if it is a real fish. Come to find out, it is! By the end of the story, what I saw online is not what the chef-in-training found. 

I think the story flows well. It has a decent pace and is highly entertaining. 

D. T. Neal is a wonderful storyteller. This is my second book by him, and I have decided I enjoy his writing style. I am looking forward to reading more.

Sunday, October 23, 2022

Winter's Myth by Gage Greenwood

 


It is nice to find a new author that can sweep you off your feet and make you fall in love with reading all over again. In Gage Greenwood’s Winter’s Myth,  he takes you on a journey of epic proportions. With tales of survival, love, horror, redemption, and revenge; Greenwood has formed a story that will live in your heart for eternity. 


For father Winter, his only reason to exist is to protect his two daughters, Violin and Candlestick. He uses stories of mythical gods and creatures to build their resolve and strength. This story is the journey of Winter, Violin, and Candlestick as they venture out on Earth after their underground home is ravaged by disease. Everything is new and old, safe and violent. 


For those of you craving a deep and enchanting story, this is for you. There are so many memorable quotes. The world building is ethereal, the characters have such depth and beauty you can’t help but love them all. You will absorb this story unlike any other and in the end, while heartbreaking and endearing, you will feel complete and needing more at the same time. 


I look forward to reading Season 2, which comes out in November 2022. Thank you Gage, for sending me this book. I am truly a fan. 


“The world grew teeth and its deadly bite chomped closer to them with each passing day.”


Tuesday, October 18, 2022

Bad Vibrations by Lucy Leitner

 


Lucy Leitner has written a hilarious horror filled story about a war between mega health nuts and those that don’t believe in their methods. I laughed out loud so many times reading this!


In a hidden forest resides a group of people that help others overcome health issues, by drinking blood and changing to holistic choices. The town this forest is in, is not happy with this group of people, referring to them as vampires in a cult. There are so many twists and turns in this story to keep you second guessing on who survives the war and who wins. That ending was not what I was expecting!


I have not read anything by Leitner before, but her sense of humor is definitely on par with mine. I need to read more of her stories!


Chasing Ghosts by Justin Boote


 

You ever walk into a room and think I’m not alone? You look around and you don’t see anyone but you can’t shake the feeling. You get this overpowering oppressive feeling and know something bad happened here and the evilness is lingering, watching you. 


Justin Boote’s newest horror story, Chasing Ghosts, is full of atmospheric evil. The book takes off with no letting up. I started it at night, and I recommend you do the same. The quiet and darkness around me intensified the evil.


Welcome to Bradwell. Here is where you will find a home that has a troubling past. Many of its victims are in the sanitarium, Northgate. While others live the rest of their lives in prison. I picture in my mind a village so desolate and quiet with a deep history in violence. A home that claims its victims with no remorse. People on the verge of mental breakdowns and violent acts. And for what purpose? Why is this happening, again? 


Boote’s writing is smooth and direct. It is easy to get hooked on his books because the words flow effortlessly. Undoubtedly, Boote can turn the macabre into something beautiful. I know he has lots to choose from, and if his writing is this consistent across all of them, it doesn’t matter what book you start with. 


If you have been enjoying some cozy horror stories and looking to up your game, give Chasing Ghosts a try. I would consider this a great book to read for those of you that want horror, but not over-the-top gore. There is some violence and gore, but in my opinion, it is done to give a sense of dread and fear, not to make your stomach roll. 


Monday, October 10, 2022

Prisoner of Fear by Chad Miller

 


It is nice to find a new author for me that writes well and can put together a story that pulls me in and keeps me on my toes until the end. I enjoyed this book from start to end. Chad Miller is definitely on my radar and should be on yours as well.


This book is set in the late 1880s, when men and women were viewed to have different values. During the time of inequality, one of the two main characters sees this injustice and values a woman’s opinion as an equal. That appeals to me greatly. While this is a topic in the book, it does not cause a distraction for the story. I just happen to like this because I am a woman. 


Two best friends, John and Thomas, like to help people and solve cases of the supernatural kind. Using diary entries and personal letters, we follow the case of a missing doctor; who also happens to be a friend of John. The missing doctor was on his way to help a close friend in need when he vanished. John and Thomas travel to the town the doctor was last seen in and learn of another mystery needing to be solved. This is when it really picks up and becomes a faster story. So much is happening and so many questions come up, I can’t help but think about it long after I finished reading the book. The book does end with questions unanswered, but I still feel like it is a complete book that ended perfectly. We don’t have to wait long for the next book, it comes out in February/March of 2023! Yay!


I enjoy the Sherlock Holmes-esque feel to this book. The banter is both witty and serious. There are quite a few notable quotes I have highlighted as well. Overall, I found this book engrossing, riveting, and passionate. I would definitely recommend this book to all adult readers, no matter what your favorite genre is. 


Chad Miller also has a short stories collection that I am going to put on my to-read list. I definitely enjoy his writing style.


Thank you Chad for sending me a copy of your book for an honest review. I am looking forward to your next book in this series!


Friday, October 7, 2022

Holy Ghost Road by John Mantooth

 



Holy Road Ghost by John Mantooth Releases December 20, 2022


I found this story to be dark and engrossing. I loved every moment I spent in this story. The writing flowed smoothly and kept me immersed in the magic. 


Fifteen year old Forest is on the run from her soon-to-be stepfather, Nesmith,  when she finds him doing something he should not be doing. Forest has a plan to make it to her grandmother's house miles away. While eluding Nesmith and his sister, she finds a gentleman wandering the forest lost and confused. Elijah becomes a close friend and someone she can rely on to help her make it to her grandmother's house. When she finally makes it to her grandmother’s home, Nesmith arrives and the final battle begins. 


So much happens in this simple story. It is written in such a bleak and dark way, but it pulls you in to teach you how a young girl can delve deep into her heart and mind and find a strength she never knew she had. 


I would consider this to be a very mild horror story. I think it falls under psychological haunting. I don’t mean haunting as in ghosts necessarily. I mean it cuts deep inside your soul and grips your heart. For a deep and dark story, I recommend reading this one. 


Thursday, October 6, 2022

They Mostly Come Out At Night by Wesley Southard




 They Mostly Come At Night by Wesley Southard Releases November 8, 2022


Wesley Southard’s newest book is 11 short stories of frightful fun! I have read a couple of Southard’s novellas and I absolutely liked those stories! Southard has a smooth writing style. The stories start out strong, they stay strong, and they end with a bang. You really can’t go wrong with any of Southard’s books. Here is a breakdown of the stories. 


The first short story, My Body, is about a culinary news reporter who decides to review the newest Italian food restaurant in town. That ending…ick! 


Next is, The Length I’d Go. At what length would you go to not give into peer pressure? Turns out, someone out there goes to a lot of trouble to get what he wants.  


The third story, Stuck, a very short and sweet story about being….stuck. Loved this one!


Separated Self is a very neat story. It’s about second chances when you are an evil person or an all around jerk. The ending is perfect.. 


For You Anything is an apocalyptic short story about a woman trying to survive. I saw a little bit of her in me.


The sixth story is called Catalog. Now this is an odd story. A husband receives a catalog that he doesn’t want to share with anyone. I loved this ending. 


The next one, Celebrity Mean Tweets, is a twitter horror short story! Move over Jimmy Kimmel, Southard is better at this game.


In Echo,  you get a Twilight Zone type of story. This would actually make a really good episode of the Twilight Zone. I can picture that ending perfectly. 


The ninth short story,  We Bare All, is nothing like what it seems. A group of friends need to stop for a rest and some gas. Probably should not have stopped in this little town.


In Underneath, is a horror story of what is under your bed. I got goosebumps with this story.


The last story, The Negative One, is the darkest story of them all. An evil lady that walks along the streets of Philadelphia. So dang good!


All of these stories are my favorite. I can’t pick just one. This book comes out just in time for Christmas! Pick up a copy for yourself and tuck this under the tree! And don’t forget to grab one for your besties!!


Sunday, October 2, 2022

Ghostwritten by Ronald Malfi


 Malfi has such a pleasant way of writing stories. He goes into great detail about the characters and setting the scene. To me, that is a special gift. To be able to pull a reader in and send them into a dream land while they read the story. Everything I have read by Malfi, has done this for me. But, alas, this book of short stories fell flat for me. What I think happened is that for Malfi, he is a novelist. He can write long stories that are beautiful because he pays attention to the details. With novellas, you can’t really do that too much. And so I feel that is his downfall, his kryptonite, so to speak. Don’t get me wrong, these are awesome stories! They are just not enough to pull me in and keep me in the moment. I found myself bored, more often than not. I think each of these stories could have been a book within itself.  


All four of these stories happen in the same universe. There are crossover characters in each story linking all of these characters into the same universe with different experiences. 


The first story The Skin of Her Teeth is about a son who needs to finish a book for his mother. She really wants to know how the story ends. So every day for a year he would write during the day and read to her every night. A special bond is formed between the son, mother, and the book. I was bored with this one, unfortunately. 


The second story The Dark Brother’s Last Ride is about two brothers, who are couriers for a mafia boss, find that what  they need to deliver is more than they bargained for. This one has a strong sci-fi feel to it and has an excellent ending.


The third story This Story Belongs to Olo is a fantastic short story. A soon to be 9 year old has invited some neighborhood kids to his house for his tenth birthday. He really loves the game of hide and seek and can’t wait to play this game with his guests. This one is my favorite out of all four. 


The fourth story, aptly called The Story, is a choose your own journey story that has literal consequences. This one is my second favorite of the four.


I’m not giving up on Ronald Malfi’s books. He is an excellent storyteller and this book of short stories shows his skills. 


Thank you #NetGalley and Titan Books for sending me this ebook for an honest review. #Ghostwritten


Saturday, October 1, 2022

The Last Book You'll Ever Read by Cullen Bunn



A dark and disturbing graphic novel about a book causing people to become vicious attackers. Author Olivia Kade wrote a book about the basic instincts of humanity. Such as routines, sex, anger, and violence. There is quite a bit of nudity and sex, which I was not expecting, but it isn’t over the top. I felt the story was lacking in sustenance, but the artwork makes up for that.


I would continue this story and read the next in the series and possibly read the rest of them. This isn’t a bad graphic novel, I just wanted a bit more story to the art. 


Thank you #NetGalley and Independent Publishers Group for the ebook. #TheLastBookYoullEverRead


The Deading by Nicholas Belardes

 This is genuinely a wonderful story. The Deading is one of the best pieces of literary horror I have read. It guides you through so many em...