Devourers Tales by Steven Bazydlo

This is such a weird and outstanding collection of short stories. Some of them are so far out there, I had a blast reading them. There are twenty stories altogether. They range from the supernatural, to serial killer, to post-apocalypse and everything else in between and more.

Bazydlo has a distinctive type of writing. It is so imaginative and different from many authors that sets him in a different category all to himself. If there are other authors like him, I have not found them yet. It is like a mix of horror, human psyche, science fiction, and otherworldliness. He takes such a simple subject and throws this huge spin on it and it leaves you thinking, how the hell did he come up with this??

I can’t break down these stories because some of them are just so unique. I could never put into words what they are about. Anything I say would give away too much. However, my most favorite story in this collection is definitely The Forge Mother. It’s a dystopian story of humanity’s future and what evolutionary changes we need to go through to survive. It is so bizarre and amazing, I will remember it for the rest of my life.

I highly recommend this collection if you are in need of something different to absorb and reflect on each story. This is one of those collections that I can guarantee, one of those stories (or more) will have an impact on you.

What do you think of this cover?? Freaking hell.. LOL

Dracula Beyond Stoker Issues 1.5

There are two quick stories in Dracula Beyond Stoker. Mia Dalia’s In Ink, In Blood and Jessica Gleason’s Reinfield in America: A Blog.

In Ink, In Blood. This is written like a personal diary of a young child that finds the true magic of reading books. They get to experience the words and illustrations in a unique, remarkable kind of way and form lifelong connections to the characters of some books. This is a unique story that ended way too fast! I would love to see this as a novella. There are so many adventures that could take place. I enjoy Dalia’s writing and her unique imagination with stories. This is the second story I have read and I do hope to read more.

Reinfield in America: A Blog: A quick story between Dracula and one of his servants having an online fight. Dracula is just wanting some time away and his servant is upset about it. A really entertaining short! I wasn’t sure what to expect with this one. I don’t really gravitate towards reality-type stories, but this one was so much fun! I got quite a few chuckles with it. Gleason has a wittiness kind of style to her writing in this story. I have not read anything else by Gleason, so I don’t know if this is a common writing style. I am going to have to find out!

If you have an hour to spend, pick this up over Amazon. I think it’s very entertaining and it will expose you to a couple of awesome new authors.

They're Coming For You, Barbara by J. D. Allen

It doesn’t matter if you don’t want to read about ghouls, you still need to read this. It’s quick, it’s fun, it’s a story tribute to the cult classic movie ‘Night of the Living Dead.’ There are some names and references in the story that include characters and those involved in the movie.

Johnny and Barbara were taken by surprise when they were set upon by a ghoul while they were visiting their father's grave. The story follows Johnny, who is searching for Barbara.

This little novella is so entertaining it belongs on a ghoul’s bookshelf.

It is easy to get lost in the story and grow close to the characters, even though it is a quick story to read. I love ghouls, so this one is definitely a favorite of all the stories of ghouls I have read.

If you dug 'Night of the Living Dead', this book is for you. 

I like that J. D. Allen’s writing has a bunch of nostalgia in his stories.

Revelation of a Final Girl by Keith Evans Gore

This is a fabulous second book in the Tales of a Final Girl series.

It starts with some back story of the characters, giving the main character, Sunny, a more personal history. It’s all calm, but there is some underlying anxiety going on. And then BAM! Blood and fear and gore and brutal death. It just keeps coming at a fast pace and then the ending was so epic and unexpected!

Sunny now works as a final girl with the Giallo Project. She meets a new character she has to work with on her next assignment. Dakota and Sunny have to go up against some nasty brothers who make killing a hobby. As usual, you have your characters that play an important role, no matter how minor it may be.

The back of the book calls this “a meta-narrative thrill-ride.” That is so spot on. It’s like reading a story that breaks that third wall. Gore’s writing style is vicious and keeps you engaged throughout the entire story. I cannot wait to read about Sunny going up against her next target.

Conjoined by J. D. Allen

I want to start this review off by saying, if you are a twin, please read this and let us know what you think!!!!

Danielle Duo is having a really bad day, so she takes a few days to chill and attempt to get over the heartache and setbacks. She goes to a job convention and meets an odd lady looking to hire a particular type of person. What has the potential to be an amazing experience, ends up life changing.

J. D. Allen put a neat little twist on a twins-type horror trope. A fun, fast, and very entertaining short story. I like Allen’s stories and his writing style. I am having fun going through his stories. You all need to give him a try, too. All of his stories are on Kindle Unlimited, or just a dollar.

Smile So Red, by Mia Dalia

 

Even though this story is short, it sure does pack a punch! This is Mia Dalia’s debut story, but you wouldn’t know it once you read it.

Anton is a middle aged married man and lives a simple life. One day, his world is turned upside down when he is laid off from work. Instead of telling his wife about it, he spends his days looking for a new job and going on walks. Eventually his walks take him to an area with an abandoned house that is covered in graffiti.

Mia Dalia has written an intense story of wishful thinking. I enjoyed the short story, with the inner thoughts of Anton and the conclusion was completely unexpected. While there are no intense gory parts of the story, there is enough ominous pretense to set the mood of a fervent story. This is a nice, quick story for a quiet evening.

My favorite quote from the story: “Hells people carried within them were private.” I’m looking forward to some more stories by Mia Dalia.

The Streets of Floria, by J. B. Arnold

First, that cover is so awesome! Second, you wouldn’t guess this is a debut novel for J. B. Arnold.


I enjoyed this story a lot. There is some mystery, horrific scenes of death and an evil entity preying on people. The writing is superb, Arnold is definitely a gifted storyteller. The world building is awesome as well. Arnold goes into great detail to set up the story, but it isn't overly done.



The main character, Odin, has fled his home to move to the city of Floria. Right away, he becomes involved in an evil mystery surrounding the streets of Floria. There is something that is hunting down people, and the people are never seen again. The city has been haunted by this entity for years. Odin seeks the help of some new friends to find out what the creature is and how to, hopefully, stop it.



There are so many twists and turns in this story to keep you guessing. The ending though, holy smokes, that was a fantastic conclusion to this story! The way the story ends, I feel like there might be another book!



A fantastic novel to get completely lost in. For those that like a long story with a lot of development and action, a conclusion that satisfies but opens up possibilities, and an epic tale of deceit. I think this story is meant for everyone.

Bitters by Kaaron Warren, Cemetery Dance Publications

 

 Releases April 1, 2023

This is an amazing story! I want everyone to read this. It won’t take long, you could read it over the weekend, some of you could read it in a day. It’s a gripping and sordid story set in the future. If the synopsis doesn’t pull you in right away, hopefully I can lure you. It is worth the time to read this; I mean it!

McNubbin carries the deceased up an extensive set of stairs and deposits them into the open mouth of a giant metal man. At the foot of the metal man, at his toes, people collect a liquid that pours out, called Bitters. They collect this liquid and drink it to keep them happy and healthy. McNubbin has a concern. There have been many girls that he has been taking to the metal man that are not natural deaths.

This is such a surreal and odd story. The writing is amazing and hooks you right away. There were times when I would shutter at the idea of drinking Bitters for the health of a person. Some of you might need a strong gag reflex for this. Kaaron Warren has written a lot of books that I’m going to read.

A Bleak Remedy by DS LaLonde, self published

 

DS LaLonde has written a truly magnificent and ominous horror story. They have taken a vampire tale and given it new life and meaning. The true evil of blood thirsty beings that hunt and prey on humans and animals. While there is no beauty in this story, only death and destruction, it is written so alluringly that it will feel like a fever dream.

There are quite a few moving parts in this story, but not once did I ever get confused or lost along the way. I had a foreboding feeling throughout the entire story. The best part of this writing style is the ability to fall into the lives of these characters. Eventually, you will set this book down after reading a bit and think about them. Even hours after I have completed this book, I am thinking about several people in this book.

Carter Albright, billionaire, is victim to a vampire attack while vacationing in the Chiricahua Mountains in Arizona. After recovering, he has decided to spend the rest of his life hunting and finding all vampires and other cryptids. He builds massive scientific research facilities, hires the best scientists and security, all in the hopes of science and research. The St. Lawrence facility is where this story takes place. In an almost diary-like fashion, we follow many characters' personal stories of how they found a vampire to the present day.

This is certainly a story that you must take your time in reading and reflect on the scenes. The true magic of this story is when you slow down and take a moment to think of what these characters are going through. You form a bond with the people and begin to understand and care for every person and vampire. The ability to relate to the needs of a vampire and the fear of being its victim will haunt you. Who is the real monster?

I highly recommend this book for anyone that enjoys the horror stories that you can easily get lost in. This is definitely one of the best books I have read in years. The writing is solid, the world building is perfect, and the character development is beyond your imagination. LaLonde took months to write this story, and it shows.

Escape From Manhattan: Out of NYC Book 1 by Kate Seger

 

I’m not going to lie, I have a soft spot for zombies. I know there are plenty of books and movies about zombies, and believe me, I have read so many of those books and watched many zombie movies. So, when a new zombie book comes along, you bet I’m going to read it. Now I know a lot of you are grumbling, another zombie book?, but hear me out! Escape From Manhattan has some different facets of a zombie story that isn’t as common as the usual plot and narration goes. For that, I am happy to see a bit of a change in the overall zombie genre. Let me explain what is so unique and different about this story.

Ashlynn and Leith just met and are surviving the zombie apocalypse. Ashlynn has a trust issue, and it causes some hesitation in relying on Leith and believing his good intentions. They need to escape Manhattan and try to find a place to survive in safety. Leith has a home that is secure, so they decide to head out to his home. They run across lots of “creepers” along the way.

First, I want to say, the main character of this zombie story is a woman. I would have to say about 95% of the zombie books I have read, it is usually a man that the story focuses around. That little change makes me very happy as a woman that imagines her own zombie apocalypse survival. Second, this story does not contain brains and gore and escaping one peril after another over and over again. Of course, there is a bit of that, but this story is focused more on emotional survival. Of having someone that you can trust to be there for you and to lean on when you break down. 

The story is a short and quick read that starts after the fall of Manhattan. I appreciate the quick flashbacks throughout the story; they are not overdone and are the right amount of background history. The flow of the story is smooth, and the writing is solid. I was able to read this in one day without losing interest. The ending is a small cliffhanger, but not a terrible one. It ends with us getting to see what happens next in Ashlynn and Leith’s story. I have every intention of finding out what is next! 

Book two, Out of NYC, is currently on Vella. It will release in ebook and paperback May 15, 2023. Preorder will be up by the end of March. 

Amazon link for Book 1: https://www.amazon.com/Escape-Manhattan-Out-NYC-Book-ebook/dp/B0BR7DC25H/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=AqvdY&content-id=amzn1.sym.22f5776b-4878-4918-9222-7bb79ff649f4&pf_rd_p=22f5776b-4878-4918-9222-7bb79ff649f4&pf_rd_r=135-3356753-7568916&pd_rd_wg=RvjJK&pd_rd_r=ea5c5f94-7aac-42f8-9fd2-b9337e25cc9c&ref_=aufs_ap_sc_dsk

Here’s the Vella link for Book 2: https://www.amazon.com/kindle-vella/story/B092SXZD7J?fbclid=IwAR0G-6AjfZ9aLZG0uxM3FY7GvgmCJB3G9_oZwzaJUdcecxNh7UySEmb6cbI

Nightfall and Other Dangers by Jacob Steven Mohr, Releases on April 7, 2023

A couple months ago, I read a short story by Jacob Steven Mohr titled The Dear Darling Things and I loved it. So, when he reached out to me asking if I would like to read some more stories, I did not hesitate. The dude can write an outstanding story!! What follows is his latest short story collection that I am breaking down for you. I have got to say, pick this collection up, written well and highly entertaining.

The introduction is by John Richtor. His view on Mohr’s writing is: “an extraordinarily talented writer, a master of slowly ratcheting terror, a shadowy puppeteer able to jerk human dreams and emotions like obedient marionettes.” I can’t think of a better way to express Mohr’s writing. Well said!

So, let’s break down the 15 short stories in this anthology.

Nostalgia. A young boy remembers his mother’s garden. A dark and dreary story that pulls on the heartstrings, but it also gives you creepy vibes.

You Are the Hero of Legend. A young boy is exploring the woods behind his house when he stumbles upon something that intrigues him, causing a life-changing event. A very cool story that is a twist on a popular 15 century story. I have to say, this little twist is perfect for the horror reader.

Song of the Summer. A group of friends decide to go camping on a deserted island that one of them visits often. When the night is coming, they get the fire going and one of them shares a story. The ending is very unexpected.

The Panic. A documentary/email style story about an awful event on a hot July day. I loved the style of this story.

Some Bad Luck Near Bitter Downs. A couple of brothers have robbed a family and are now on the run…and they fall into some bad luck. A western-kind of setting, but definitely horror.

Mister Mickenzie. A babysitter is way over her head watching two little girls! This is nothing like what you think it will be. I guarantee you can not predict this story.

1855. A transcription is shared for the telling of this story. A motherless boy loses his father and ends up in an orphanage. All sorts of evil and devilish delights in this story.

A Real Likeness. Something unexplainable overcomes a painter while talking to a young man about one of his paintings. What follows is a dark and depressing dive into a messed up mind he cannot control.

Copilot. If you’re an 80s kid, you’ll LOVE this story. It’s loosely based around a popular video game in the 1980s. The twists Mohr puts on this game is freaking outstanding!

Red Meat. Liberty Eppes is wanting to spend some time alone at home when she receives an unwelcome visitor. Such a nasty story!!

Last Supper. An apocalypse story. I’m a sucker for the end of the world stories; I want to read them all. This one takes the cake. A husband and wife are celebrating their anniversary on top of a building while wicked thoughts are going through their minds.

She’s New In Town. This is a neat little story. Paul works at a convenience store and has a strange visitor come in. A good eerie story.

When It Rains. A sad story of a young man that remembers his girlfriend. He relives a moment that could have happened. A solid story, very enjoyable to read.

Sometimes You Get Two. This is like experiencing this story in a dream state. A couple of friends go on a hunting trip and strange things happen to one of the girls.

The Machete at the End of the World. I think this is my favorite story of all. It’s like a love letter from a serial killer to his victims, but it is set in an apocalypse. I told you I like apocalypse stories, and I have never read something like this before. Elegant, beautiful, evil, and nasty.

This entire collection was a joy to read. I devoured it and I am itching for some more in the style of Mohr’s writing. If you are after a variety of stories that can lure you in quickly, creep you out, and give you some shivers down the back, I highly recommend this anthology. Mohr is an impressive story teller. He can take a simple, popular theme or object, and twist a story around it and form something completely original.

Dead of Winter by Darcy Coates

I think this is one of the better Darcy Coates books I have read to date. It is full of suspense and nonstop dread. The back and forth of figuring out who is the butcher in the group. You think you get it figured out and then you don’t.


Christa is on a trip to the Rocky Mountains in the middle of winter. She gets separated from the group and seeks to find shelter as soon as possible or she will die. Finally, she finds shelter and the rest of the tour group. She then spends a week with strangers in a tiny cabin while a killer is amongst them.

I know this story is listed as a horror, but I find it more of a psychological thriller and a bit of a mystery. I suppose the horror would be that there is a killer and their methods are horrific. True to Coate’s style of writing, the story moves fast; you get attached to the main character, and the world building is superb. A fantastic winter story that will give you the chills.

Sapphire Sky Scribe Magazine by Hear Our Voice, LLC

 Here is a magazine that shares pro-tips for authors, interviews with numerous authors, short stories and poems, book reviews, and more! Hear Our Voice, LLC is a wonderful publisher that is fabulous to work with. 

For our first issue e-magazine click here:

https://issuu.com/sapphireskyscribe/docs/sapphire_sky_scribe_mag_march_2023_online?fbclid=IwAR0Zod-4MCbsR84BpJ08dlvyftRLqj7tp1BIFEZVmDmZaBeoC2dOJie7-qE

If you would like to order a physical copy, click here:

https://www.blurb.com/b/11497466-sapphire-sky-scribe-magazine?fbclid=IwAR3bBCpCLk6X0vUHiVJaTPWbjhSIYi-usJjqpsRRlSc45-PdURf15KTEh9g