Useless Creatures by Jay Bower

 

When I read Jay Bower’s Dead Blood (Book 1), I knew I would end up reading some of his other books. I decided to read Useless Creatures as the next book. It is just as entertaining as Dead Blood and Hanging Corpses. 

Jacquie Arnold and Nikki Bilderback both receive text messages demanding they follow the instructions of the text or they will witness the suffering of a loved one. They are given a set time and place, and must follow the instructions specifically. 

The story picked up really quick and was fast throughout the entire story. While it held my attention the entire time, I did find that the girls accepted the situation a bit too easily. I realize that this is unrealistic given that it is a fictional story, but I wanted more fear and anger before the demands were hashed out to victims. I got a brief level of pain and anger and then all of a sudden, gore and destruction. 

With that, I would still recommend the story. It was a lot of fun and the ending has a nice plot twist that many people won’t see coming. This would be a good story to fill in a slot on your reading challenge for one of the deadly sins or a book under 300 pages (204 pages according to Goodreads). 

My Top 10 Novellas of 2022

 I thought I would add a few more books to my favorites list for 2022. I read so many fantastic books this year it is hard to narrow down a select few. The following books are my favorites because they are so unique and different from the usual novellas you might find. These are in no particular order.

1. Burden by Matt Duchossoy

2. Antique Bed: A Horror Novelette by Timothy G. Huguenin

3. Realm of the Exiled (Exiled Elementals, #0.5) by T. L. Price

4. Donn, TX 1969 (The Donn, TX Collection) by Eric Butler

5. Talia by Daniel Volpe

6. Where the Devil Waits by Wesley Southard and Mark Steensland 

7. The Handyman's Guide to End Times: Poems by Juan J. Morales

8. Phantom Pain by Ruth Anna Evans

9. Reconstructing a Relationship by Micah Castle 

10. The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor LaValle

Melinda West: Monster Gunslinger by KC Grifant, Brigids Gate Press

 

Melinda West: Monster Gunslinger by KC Grifant, Brigids Gate Press

Publishes February 2, 2023

What started out slow ended up picking up really quick and had nonstop action all the way up to the end. KC Grifant is a talented storyteller. I enjoyed this story more than I realized I would. 

Melinda West and her partner Lance travel from town to town helping to exterminate supernatural creatures that venture away from the Edge, a place of other-wordly beings and no one returns. Unfortunately, Melinda releases a demon and now they are tasked with tracking down this demon to retrieve what it stole from them. The story follows Melinda and Lance, as they meet new enemies and friends on their travels to hunt down this demon. A whole lot of people get in the way and a whole lot of bad luck follows them.

Overall, I would say this is a quick book to read in a couple days. It was different from other science-fiction/horror stories as the creatures are different from the usual ones represented in these types of stories. There is also a large variety of weapons and magic. It does keep to the Western genre with horses as transportation and Melinda being a gunslinger. I enjoyed the story, it was a nice, quick and easy read.  

Thank you KC Grifant for sending this book to me. I appreciate your kindness.

Season of the Witch by RJ Roles and Jason Myers, Crimson Pinnacle Press

 

Starting right off, the foreword by Natasha Sinclair and Ruthann Jagge will pull you in. It sets the tone for what is to come in the 19 short stories. All of the stories offer a wonderful witchy delight. 

The first story, Black Rabbit by Marend Nieuwstraten III, is a fantastic and mesmerizing story. This is one of my favorites. There is a picture at the end of the story.

 

Lunacy by Linley B. Marcum is a revenge kind of story but so different from other types of revenge stories. Definitely one of the better ones I have read. 

The third story, 1885 by Brian McNatt is right up there with Black Rabbit. The writing is amazing and the witch is very relatable. Hehe

Ecoven.org by Zaslow Crane is an okay story. Some witches need to save the town and use their powers to help.

Fifth, Crash Course in Brain Surgery by Rebecca Rowland is awesome. Gruesome and ghastly, so much fun!!

The Witch’s Kiss by Robert J. Stava is a well written story about magical items that can come to life. 

Bobbing For Apples by Matthew Gorman has a plot twist I didn’t see coming! Pretty hard to do with a short story, but it worked well in this one.

The eighth story, Moon Through The Pine Boughs by Deborah A. Coldiron is a lost child type of story. Definitely a magical telling of  this trope. 

Another favorite of mine, A Room of Emerald And Clear Skies by Colt Skinner. It is such a sad story, but I loved it.

Within A Withering Eye by M. Ennenbach. Holy smokes y’all, this was magical! The writing, the style, the story, is just  extraordinary and incredible. I need to read everything Ennenbach has written.

Lowly Creatures  by Sidney Shiv is a different take on a couple going camping. Definitely different from the other types of this kind of story. 

The Mud Witch of Dogtown by London Blue is a quick story. It felt a bit rushed at the end but it was still enjoyable to read.

The thirteenth story, Dark Beira  by M. J. McClymont is a story of abduction. McClymont is a great story teller.

The Devil in the Dealer by M. Betterelli is an entertaining story about a witch’s creation. Karma is a good word for that story.

The Killing Moon by Stephanie Scissom (not to be confused with the song sung by Echo and the Bunnymen)  has a supernatural feel more than the rest of the stories in this book. 

The collector of these stories shares a short story with us. At What Cost?  by RJ Roles. This is a story told over time. Generations have to deal with a witch.

All Hollow’s Rites  by Leon Saul is a Halloween tale of kids finding some mischief. 

The eighteenth story, Moonflower Coen by D. A. Latham is definitely the most gruesome of the stories. 

And lastly, The Baynes  by James D. Balestricri is a love story set during the Civil War.

So all of these stories are fantastic. RJ Roles and Jason Myers has put together a fantastic collection of witchy stories that everyone will enjoy. 

 

 A new collection of horror stories was released recently by KJK Publishing. This is the Sapphire edition. It features many familiar writers as well as some new authors I haven't read before. All of them are great little nuggets of horror. 

I honestly didn't expect to enjoy some of these stories. Initially, they were dull, but quickly picked up and became entertaining. Several of them teach a valuable lesson about life, but in a grim way. There is a cursed object, the supernatural, apocalypse, revenge, and so much more. There is something very unique and different about each of them.

The Void: 15 Creepy Tales by Chad Miller

 I have decided that Chad Miller is becoming one of those authors that I will always grab his latest book. I enjoy his writing quite a bit. While he can be straight to the point and direct, he is also great at spending time with the details of an important scene. He can set the tone and the scene with ease. I imagine, given time, his writing will only improve. He definitely has the skills as a great story teller.

His collection of 15 short stories, The Void, is a great introduction to his writing. Miller puts a lot of heart into his stories and it shows with these fifteen tales. There is a story of revenge, regret, the supernatural, sadness, love, and an odd and weird story (called Tall Tale). My favorite story of them all is The Beast Awakens. 

Exiled No More by T. L. Price

 

Exiled No More by T. L. Price is a story rich in scenery and emotions. Price can describe a scene in the right amount of detail. The character development is strong and you begin to form a strong bond with the main characters. There is a whole lot of story packed into this novel, entertaining from start to end. 

Nahri Evans is banished to the Land of the Exiles. They thought she could not survive its harsh conditions, but they were completely wrong. Nhair forms a special bond with other outcasts and finds her new family. One day, Nhari discovers that she has to compete in a vicious competition, hosted by those that banished her. Using everything she has learned over the years, she becomes determined to win. 

Exiled No More is a fast paced story, never letting up on the action and emotion surrounding all the characters. I am looking forward to reading book two, Enviro-Scapes.

Femina: A Collection of Dark Fiction by Caitlin Marceau

 

I had heard that Caitlin Marceau is an outstanding writer and I have decided that she is. I am blown away with Femina: A Collection of Dark Fiction. This is my first book by Marceau, and I feel I must read more of her stories. 

Women are the topic in Femina, a collection of stories and poems. Some give you pause to think and others will have you cringe. The stories contain many concerns and issues women deal with, but that doesn’t mean this book is only catered toward women. There is some subject matter that can relate to everyone. There is revenge, tragedy, guilt, anger, sadness, and closure. A must read for anyone interested in checking Caitlin Marceau’s powerful voice.

CHOSEN by D. T. Neal

 

Oh, the irony of Mercy River showing no mercy to all who enter her waters. If you enter and perish, you emerge as something otherworldly. 

Mal Lazarus leads a people to the Light in the Dark. He hopes to spread his gospel throughout Ludlow. Only a handful of people hope to overcome his followers' demands of sacrifice and prevent Lazarus from destroying Ludlow and all who live there. 

I really do enjoy D. T. Neal’s stories. It is easy to lose yourself in the world he creates with his writing. Of all the stories I've read by Neal, CHOSEN is by far the darkest and most wicked. I look forward to reading the rest of his collection. 

The Curse of the Ratman by Jay Wilburn

 

Jay Wilburn's The Curse of the Ratman was so much fun! There was a lot of fast action and gory good moments! This is my first book by Wilburn. It is sure to get your heart pumping and cause some involuntary shudders because of his writing style. 

 

Tommy Rinder is just trying to live his early teenage years having a blast with his buddies and hanging out in the town junkyard. One horrible boy scout trip ends up starting a vicious retaliation from the Ratman because promises are broken. 

This was a quick story to read. It is just a bit over 100 pages so a great book to pick up to finish up your end of the year reading goals! Even if you have met your reading goals, you should read this. It is worth it. 

My Top 10 Favorite Books of 2022

 As of writing this, I have read 175 books this year. From non-fiction to bizzaro fiction. I know I have more than 10 five star reviews this year, but I will keep it at an even 10. In no particular order...

1. The Fungus by Harry Adam Knight

2. Fang Fiction by LM Kaplin

3. Intergalactic Exterminators, Inc. by Ash Bishop

4. The Cursed Earth by D. T. Neal

5. Doyle & Braham in: The Prisoner of Fear by Chad Miller

6. Golem by PD Alleva

7. The Laughing Policeman (Brimston Chorus Book 1) by Elizabeth J. Brown

8. At Home With the Horrors: 14 Chilling Tales by Sammy Scott

9. The Butcher by Laura Kat Young

10.  Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica

Golem by PD Alleva

 

Golem by PD Alleva is one of those books that you can easily get absorbed in and forget about everything around you. This is one of my top books of 2022, easily in the top five. This three-part horror novel needs to be read. If you enjoy Anne Rice, Neil Gaiman, or Brian Keene, you will most likely love this. 

Detective John Ashton is on a case that is hard to believe. He needs to find the District Attorney's missing daughter. The only lead he has is Alena Francon, who says she has seen the missing daughter. The problem is, Alena is residing in an asylum and is having many outbursts that make the doctors feel she is unstable. Alena has a story to tell that is so unbelievable and filled with so much death, Detective Ashton thinks Alena is delusional and needs to remain in the asylum. She tells a story of sacrifices, cannibalism, and possessions. It is up to Detective Ashton to solve this case, and find the missing daughter. This could give a huge boost to his career. 

PD Alleva is definitely an elegant writer. His writing style is mesmerizing at times. The story is filled with every emotion that belongs in a horror book. 

"Her body quivered before she devoured the organ, her porcelain skin now stained with crimson chunks of organ with blood brushed on her cheeks like paint coated on a canvas." That is such a graceful and tasteful way of saying she is a cannibal. Yet the visuals it gives are beautiful and disgusting at the same time.

"Alena registered the glint in his eyes as if an ocean wave rushed from one side to the other." As you can imagine, the eerie feeling of what Alena felt and how fearful she was. Delicate and evil, all in one sentence. 

I could give many more examples of the writing style, but I feel you should read this novel and experience the love and devotion Alleva put into this book for you. I will recommend this book many times to many people. It is worth it. It is like a love story between good and evil, with only one outcome. 

A Hammer, A Worm, and a Fortune Cookie by Jeff Menapace

 

A Hammer, A Worm, and a Fortune Cookie: Three Tantalizing Tales of the Macabre by Jeff Menapace

Three creepy and quick short stories for your amusement! I enjoyed reading all three, even though they were quick to end abruptly. At the end of each story, Menapace gives a brief telling of how he came about the story. 

The first short story,  Second Chance, is about a young boy who seeks a second chance at earning his fathers love. He goes to an extreme measure to win his love. The story is fast paced and gruesome.

Story number 2, Worm, is a nasty story! A woman swallows a worm for health reasons. Major plot twist at the end!

The third story, Paying It Forward, is about a young couple wanting to do something kind for a stranger. All actions have consequences! 

All of the stories were entertaining and quick to read. You could read each story on your lunch break or in the evening before bed. I would recommend this book for everyone, especially if you are looking for a quick book to read.

A Categorical Defense of Our Future by Esteban Montero and Brandon Baylor

  

“The future we envision needs more than a new device or product. It requires new paradigms, methodologies, education, norms, competencies, languages, technologies, and more” -from the introduction of this book, page xiv. 

Starting in Chapter one, I have learned that our choices we make, from the past and today, have consequences both good and bad. I liked the analogy of picking fast food and its alternatives, how there is a complex system to get to an answer of where we choose to eat. 

I learned about using labels for similar objects. I liked how the authors referred to us putting ourselves into boxes, or categories, and we lose sight of other parts of ourselves. Sometimes these labels are too many and cause confusion.

Montero and Baylor go into great detail about what is holding us back by removing the labels that prevent us from growing and learning, such as “I am only human.” To overcome these limitations, we have to learn to accept change and take the necessary steps to adapt and grow. We also need to learn that sometimes, we need to let things go. 

Chapter 5 has an introduction that is a  fantastic explanation of how to let things “be.” The idea is for us to take a moment, accept the nuances around us  and breathe. Once we have come to this state of mind, changes can happen. A clarity can overcome us, and we can see the changes and what steps to take. This chapter goes into great depth about what holds us back. 

Coming up with a new concept “compcreation”. The authors explain this new “system design” would identify and include unforeseen consequences when more than one component interacts. They continue to explain measures we can take to help further our advancements in technology. 

This thought provoking book will have you question the moral dilemmas that we, as humans, will experience in our lives, from day to day. The idea that our complicated lives will only become more convoluted over time because our technology is becoming more complex, will give you pause to reconsider how you live your life. The choices that we make, from the past and today, have consequences, both good and bad. The concept of this book is to understand the relationship we have living with harmony while living with complex machines and applications. Once you identify these complications and then understand them, you can make changes that will affect you and your world around you.