Flagg's First Appearance

Pretty sure everyone in the horror community is already familiar with Stephen King, either through his books or movies...and there are so many great stories from indie authors and small presses...I usually avoid reviewing authors who are world famous. However, I felt I should review at least one story from King, so I chose my favorite novel by the author.

THE EYES OF THE DRAGON by Stephen King is so incredibly different from the majority of his stories set in New England. This novel is largely fantasy-based, complete with an evil wizard by the name of Flagg (yes, THAT Flagg) in a medieval setting. In fact, many King fans are still unaware of this novel, even though a lot of material for the Dark Tower series originates from this storyline, as you will soon realize.

A mysterious narrator shares the tale of Delain, a kingdom thrown into dark years when King Roland is poisoned, and his eldest son Peter is accused of the murder. Of course, throughout Delain's downfall, the magician Flagg is behind the many deaths and increasing turmoil. Eventually the narrator reveals Flagg has been destroying kingdoms for centuries. (Any of this sounding familiar yet?)

While most of the book is devoted to Peter and his punishment resulting from Flagg's treachery, as well as the suffering of anyone who remains loyal to Peter, Roland's second son, Thomas, plays a pivotal role in more ways than one. When Flagg attempts to play one brother against the other, readers will soon realize there are some things a demon may never understand.

One of the best aspects of this novel is the way the personal relationships between characters are woven together. Even though they are tested and frayed, those relationships hold strong, and prove to be more powerful than any dark magic. There are many things to love about this novel, and, to this day, The Mist is the only King story I love nearly as much. Last I heard, Hulu is going to make a series based on this book.

This is the one Stephen King novel I can recommend to all readers ages 12 and up.

As always,
AstraDaemon

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EMMALINE LAVENDER FIELDS has been chosen as the winner of the Lair's last giveaway. Hope everyone enjoyed the reviews and interviews about monsters this month! November will be returning to a mix of genres...

Halloween With Blood and More [Interview]

We’ve discussed monsters throughout this month, but the reason for the season is Halloween. Some folks get old-school and celebrate Samhain, while others celebrate All Saints Day. Of course, there are those who not only celebrate all three, but also get into the dark holiday spirit as soon as Autumn begins.

I thought I’d bring back Ruth Miranda, author of the Blood trilogy, to discuss the holiday most horror fans live for…

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When do you begin celebrating, and how do you celebrate?

I actually don’t quite celebrate Halloween - shocker! - in the common sense. I do put up some witchy decor because I love marking the seasons this way and I love to surround myself with evocative reminders of the seasonal changes, we occasionally bake pumpkin pie for dessert on the 31st and we do tend to have a bit of a celebratory dinner between the 3 of us. But most of my celebrations happen inside me, does this even make sense?

October is a month that means family to me, from start to end. My father’s birthday was in October, so is mine and my husband’s. My niece and nephew too, some of my best friends along the years have October birthdays, so to me this is all about honouring the hearth, the family ties that don’t always have to be blood ones, and the ancestry running in my veins. My grandfather passed away on my 13th birthday, so I feel a deep connection to his spirit, his heritage, as deep as I felt the connection with him while he was living. I find myself thinking about my ancestors a lot during this month and finding traces of them in my children, my sister’s children, so I celebrate this link, this tie to the past, to those who came before me and made me who I am. I cherish and honour their lives and their memory, but it’s something that happens inside me.

You are currently residing in Portugal. How is the European view of Samhain/Halloween different from the American view?

Wouldn’t know about what happens in the rest of Europe, to be honest, only here. Portugal is a MASSIVELY catholic country, but it’s also a place so prone to fall under what’s commercially sold. Halloween was NEVER a thing round here when I was growing up, though I knew it from watching American films and Peanuts - best Halloween ever! - but here people celebrate All Saints’ and the 1st of November tends to be sombre and sad, folks going to the cemetery to place flowers on their departed ones’ graves.

Imagine my surprise when my kid started school and I was suddenly drowned by Halloween parties and the need for a costume for all those parties… Of course I would never deny him the experience, so he did celebrate a few Halloweens like that, but he has never celebrated All Saints because we’re not catholic. I think the religious weight has been lifted off the date a lot with the younger generations, but the older ones are still frowning upon such a pagan party as Halloween...

Do you know of any unusual Halloween traditions, such as matchmaking or soul cakes?

All I know are certain Samhain rituals...

Do you think the horror community keeps Halloween relevant or do you think Halloween gives a boost to the horror industry?

Neither, actually, for me Halloween goes beyond horror and I don’t view it as an horror prone date, but I do confess to watching a horror film or ten on Halloween!

What do you think of people trying to change the date of Halloween?

Why would they? It’s silly. Then again, the 1st of November is a bank holiday in Portugal, maybe that’s why I find it stupid that people would change the date. We get to party hard - and I sure did, back in my 20s, 30s! - and rest the day after.

How do you think the preternaturals in your stories would celebrate? Or do you think they’d find human customs ridiculous?

There’s a Samhain celebration occurring in Avalon Hall complete with a little ritual as well, and seeing that the story is set in the same preternatural universe as my previous books, I feel that a lot of the characters would celebrate in a similar manner. Except for Rune Sanderson and his gang, that is, he’d been out and about hunting witches for their blood back in his younger days!

Do you think you would ever write a story which takes place around this holiday?

Like I said, Avalon Hall reaches its climax during Halloween!

Will you come back later this year to discuss your new fantasy series?

Would love to return and talk about the Heir of Avalon Trilogy!
https://indiepublishauthors.wixsite.com/ruthmiranda

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Tomorrow I announce the winner of the Kody Boye giveaway, and I have a special review planned for Halloween, so keep checking back this week.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Witherow Frightens Me

THE WORST KIND OF MONSTERS by Elias Witherow is a collection of some very sick and twisted horror stories. Even though I've read some of them previously on the Thought Catalog website, this anthology remains extremely disturbing. Many of the stories are a mix of scifi and horror. All of them are absolutely brutal:

THE TALL DOG -- family drama with demonic entity
THE HOUSE IN THE FIELD -- the most terrifying, imho, and told from a child's POV
EMPIRE SNUFF -- think Hostel mixed with Dark Web
THE GOAT ROOM -- a cult story
THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH DAD -- makes Lovecraft look tame
FEED THE PIG -- short story from THE BLACK FARM world
TEN DAYS, TEN PILLS -- something very believable and has probably happened in real life
RED WEST -- more weird than scary
BLACKOUT -- reminded me of the HED PE song, The Meadow
WHERE IS MY SON? -- life in Hell
TEXTS FROM MY BROTHER -- stay away from ropes in the woods
SHIMMER -- connected to the previous story
CHROME SUNSET -- otherworldly invaders
MY FATHER, MY MONSTER -- heartbreaking family drama centered on alcoholism
BEHIND HELL -- better than the movie Stay Alive
HORSE/8MIN -- flash fiction DVD warning
DEEP, DEEP DOWN -- when you look into the abyss...
WHEN HELL COMES KNOCKING -- you are not obligated to open your door at 3AM
THE WORST KIND OF MONSTERS -- the most graphically violent story of all

If you do not read horror on a regular basis...if you are not used to graphic horror, do NOT read this anthology. I'm not trying to use reverse psychology to get people to read these stories, I am legitimately warning readers: if you are a tourist in the horror genre, stay the hell away from this one.

Witherow's imagination gives my imagination nightmares.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Aliens, Undead and Terrorists [Interview]

Kody Boye is the author of many series such as When They Came, The Daylight Cycle and The Beautiful Ones. His monsters range from aliens to zombies to terrorists. The author has always had a special talent for taking relevant social issues and stirring up discussions about those real-life problems using a combination of horrifying creatures, complex characters and dystopian storylines.

Being no stranger to the Lair, I thought Boye would be a perfect guest to chat about the relevance of monsters in the horror genre, as well the significant role horror plays in the celebration of Halloween.

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Why do you think people enjoy reading stories with monsters?

I think people enjoy reading stories with monsters because it gives them a chance to escape the realities of the real world. With aliens and zombies, there’s a certain disconnect that allows us to enjoy the fear “safely.” The fantasy of it is fascinating because most super apocalyptic events, such as zombie uprisings and alien invasions, aren’t likely to happen. 

Many readers think people are the most frightening monsters because of the evil humans are capable of inflicting upon one another. Do you agree, or do you think “bad guys” are just easier to accept than aliens or supernatural creatures?

I think people can easily be the most frightening monsters. When we look at history, we see that it is people who have committed some of the greatest acts of cruelty. That isn’t to say periods of famine or disease aren’t terrifying (consider the height of the Bubonic Plague for instance,) but it’s far easier to trust people than we lead ourselves to believe, which leaves our ability to be hurt by them even more unsettling.

What do you consider the most frightening aspect in your series, The Beautiful Ones?

I think the most unsettling aspect of The Beautiful Ones is the eugenics program the girls are selected for. We’ve always had stories of “Perfect” or “Master” people, and we’ve even had versions of them throughout history (Hitler’s “Perfect Race” is one I can reference quite easily.)  So, to think that in a dystopian future, people—especially young people—would be selected based off any number of physical traits is terrifying. It lends to the elitist idea that some people are better (or more important) than others, which is a sad and startling strand of thought.

Tell us about your latest series, The Plague Bloom. How is it different from any other undead series?

The Plague Bloom begins with A Deadly Bloom, and tells the story of a young woman named Bryce Song, whose people are journeying to a Promised Land to escape a deadly bloom whose spores raise the dead. It is my return to the high/dark fantasy genre, and is unique in that the undead return to life by way of pollen inhalation rather than viral infection.

The horror genre seems to be more prominent in the last year or two, as far as books, TV and film. Could this be because horror is also a commonly used element in other genres?

I feel that horror is experiencing a resurgence because it is a common element in other genres. People love to be scared (so long as it’s in a safe environment.) They love the rush of adrenaline in their veins, the what ifs? in their minds. Fact is: most of the subgenres of horror are safe to enjoy because they’re not likely to happen.

Is science fiction becoming the new horror?

I think science-fiction has always been a gateway to horror. Movies like The Thing are prime examples of how science-fiction concepts can be terrifying without being explicitly “horror” films. Ideas rooted in reality, or at least touching on reality, are always scary, which is why it’s not uncommon to see the two genres mashed together.

Do you think the horror genre has become commercialized like Halloween, or do you think the darker aspects are making a comeback?

I think anything that can be commercialized can and will be. I do, however, think that darker aspects have been making a comeback as of recent years, especially as it becomes more acceptable to like horror movies.

Why do you think people enjoy Halloween? What do you enjoy about the holiday?

I think people enjoy Halloween because it allows them a sense of escapism, the same as horror movies in general. For me, I personally enjoy the mainstream acceptance of ‘the dark’ things in life. Plus, there’s candy, AWESOME decorations at all most of the major chain stores, and dressing up!

Any more new releases coming in 2019? How can readers keep track of your new projects?

The last project(s) that will likely see release in 2019 will be the final Beautiful Ones novel, called The Battle Within, as well as a re-release of my second Kingsman Online novel Alt Control Save. Readers can always follow me on social media (Facebook is my primary social media haunt.) Or, if you prefer to just get release news, you can subscribe to my mailing list on my website, KodyBoye.com.

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The Lair is giving away autographed paperbacks of the first two books in The Beautiful Ones series. To enter, just leave a comment below. A winner will be chosen on Halloween.

More Skaven Stories!

THANQUOL'S DOOM by C.L. Werner is a brilliant way to tie together the storylines from the previous two novels.You have Jeremias Scrivner, the human sorcerer from the first novel, and Lord Tlaco, the mage-priest Slann from the second novel, planning a combined effort to "fix the Great Math" by getting rid of a "miscalculation" by the name of Grey Seer Thanquol.

Thanquol, always involved in some Skaven controversy, is forced into yet another political conspiracy between clans, the inventive Skyre clan and the muscle clan Mors, by Seerlord Kritislisk, which includes a war with the Dwarves of Karak Angkul. Everything goes wrong for the Grey Seer. Everything. I had no way of predicting what was going to happen from one chapter to the next.

The POV switches between the skavens and the dwarves, but this time the alternating narration worked much better than in Temple of the Serpent because both views were describing the same point in the timeline. When you leave the Skavens' perspective to read the Dwarves' perspective, you are returned almost to the exact moment you leave the Skavens' POV, so you are never left to wonder what happened to either group while you were reading about the other.

Despite his obvious negative traits, Werner has done an excellent job developing Thanquol as the ultimate antagonistic character. I haven't enjoyed a bad guy this much, since Darth Vader. Thanquol's Doom provides a lot of insight into the Grey Seer's twisted way of thinking, as well as showing how powerful he has become since the first two novels. Unfortunately, Thanquol has been so preoccupied with the intrigue of Skavendom, he completely overlooks how many other races perceive him as a very dangerous threat.

This was definitely my favorite of the three Thanquol & Boneripper adventures. Even the rat-ogre bodyguard has changed over the course of the series!


While I've reread the first three novels more than once, this is the first time I've read the short story, MIND-STEALER. Classic Thanquol over-thinking, thanks to his inflated opinion of himself, but I still love this character! This time, the Grey Seer attacks a human caravan, triggering a battle between villagers and outsiders, only to find himself fighting a powerful witch.

The ending is a bit of a surprise, and little abrupt. I'm wondering if this story might be referenced in The Black Plague trilogy...

As always,
AstraDaemon

SKAVENS IN THE LAIR!!

Not sure if I'll get any pushback for including Warhammer in my month of horror, but I am a huge fan of the Skaven, and I felt the man-sized rat-like creatures deserved to be included among my monster roster.

GREY SEER by C.L. Werner is something I first read about ten years ago, after I had already been introduced to the Gotrek & Felix series. Thanquol is a recurring enemy of theirs, along with his rat-ogre bodyguard, Boneripper. He is also a Grey Seer, a natural-born wizard, aided by Warpstone, which is dark magic in solid form (humans call it Wyrdstone). Unrefined is far more dangerous than refined, and Thanquol is absolutely addicted to the stuff.

Grey Seer Thanquol is forced to retrieve the Wormstone (a toxic version of Warpstone) by the Council of Thirteen. He's made many enemies among the Skaven clans, mostly due to dirty politics (and a certain dwarf screwing up his past plans), so the Council considers Thanquol to be disposable.

The narration switches views between the skavens and humans, and it's easy to follow. I personally prefer the scenes with the skavens. The smugglers who find the Wormstone seem so boring compared to Thanquol and his adept, Kratch. While the mysterious Dark Master, playing the skavens and humans against each other, is interesting, very little is revealed about him. Thanquol and Boneripper are completely awesome characters, even if they are technically the "bad guys."

TEMPLE OF THE SERPENT is the second book in the Thanquol & Boneripper series. The Grey Seer is called before the Council to explain to the Lords of Decay what happened in the first book. TOTS actually begins with a prologue from the POV of an ancient creature named Lord Talco, who studies the Great Math of the Old Ones, and views the xa'cota (the rat fractals) as corrupted algorithms. A bit difficult to follow, but necessary to illustrate how different the lizard race is from the Skaven or humans.

Readers will learn more about the different Skavens clans, as well as their ongoing political scheming. As a result of the chaos around him, Thanquol has to deal with a mountain of problems just to stay alive. Of course, there is always a human factor within these stories, and, when the three races converge in the City of Quetza, the battles are superb.

Werner does such a great job describing the surroundings and the jungle's other inhabitants, I felt the suffering of the characters as if I were there with them. You don't even have to be a Warhammer fan to enjoy this Skaven series!

As always,
AstraDaemon

The Dark of Knight [Interview]

I often discover new authors through Instagram. This past year, I stumbled upon K.B. Knight, author of the Greenwood series (featured in May 2019)...and I've since learned he goes hardcore at Halloween. His home decorations are better than some haunted houses I've visited.

Naturally, I needed to bring him into the Lair to discuss his work and his love of this holiday...

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Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

Yes. In seventh grade my teacher, who loved reading, allowed us to write short stories for extra credit to help out grades. She loved my stories so much she signed me up in a writing competition called Young Authors Future Success. I placed third place and second place the following year. I knew someday I'd be a great writer. Fast forward some years, I read my first book, MISERY, and wanted to be S. King ever since.

Who or what has influenced your writing, particularly your choice in genre?

Stephen King, after reading Misery.

Do you prefer to write stand-alone novels or series?

That's a hard question to answer. I don't believe there is a definite one-or-the-other answer. I love stand-alone novels, but sometimes an idea is so good you simply cannot leave it at one book. Sometimes a story is so great it would tear your heart in two if you ended it on one book.

However, sometimes a story is so great it would be a crime to continue it on. You struck gold with it, leave it be; don't tarnish it with a second or third that could bomb in the worst way.

I dragged this longer than it needed to be. I guess BOTH would be my answer.

Have you ever used personal experiences or news headlines in your work?

Yes, the Greenwood Abductions… Three stories total within that book. Two of them were experiences a few members of my family and I were part of. One was from my childhood friend.

Do you plan to stick with horror, or do you see yourself writing in other genres in the future?

I don't write exclusively horror. Being a one-trick pony limits yourself and your abilities to gain fans/readers from all walks of life.

I wrote a drama book, and an apocalyptic book. I've started a fantasy fiction book a few years ago. I wrote 27 chapters in it before I placed it on the back burner...for now.

Based on your Instagram account, Halloween is your favorite holiday. Why is that? What does Halloween mean to you?

The same feeling/thrill one looks for and embrace when climbing aboard a menacing roller coaster is the one I feel with all things spooky. I was like that since the beginning of my memories.

What can readers expect from you in the next year or so?

Possibly the completion of my Greenwood Series, part two of Kelsey's Playground, and my first book of short stories.

How can fans find out more about you and your stories?

My website: www.kbknightauthor.com

My Instagram: www.instagram.com/kb_knight_author

(Currently making a second Instagram page that will have nothing but my flash fiction stories)

 My YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJxmCA3g2CwEOX7fvX-aabw (or type KB Knight Author in YouTube search. There you will find my audio flash fiction stories)

Thank you for stopping by!

As always,
AstraDaemon

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In addition to the Nurse Blood giveaway this week, I am also giving away autographed copies of both Greenwood paperbacks. To enter, just leave a comment below. The winner will be chosen on October 27th.

The Briarwych Trilogy: Book 3

THE GHOST OF BRIARWYCH CHURCH by Amy Cross is a prequel to the events of the first two books, finally explaining how the trouble with Judith Prendergast first began. Unfortunately, this book is not as interesting as I'd hoped it would be. The entire trilogy is just as much Judith's story as it is Briarwych's history, but there is not much detail about the life of the woman before becoming a ghost.

I wish more time had been spent on her relationship with Elizabeth's father -- even a small flashback would've been better than mere mention. I also think more pages could've been devoted to the years Judith raised Elizabeth as a single mother. Without a substantial backstory, the mother-daughter relationship seems superficial.

For someone who has been connected to the village for so many generations, I expected more personal interactions with the other characters. Cross would've been better off just writing a short story to explain Judith's connection to the church and village.

As always,
AstraDaemon

The Briarwych Trilogy: Book 2

THE HORROR OF BRIARWYCH CHURCH by Amy Cross takes place several decades after the events in the first book. I had no idea the author planned to write a trilogy, but I love the sequel to The Haunting of Briarwych Church. The characters are much more interesting, particularly because of the interaction between the newcomers and the villagers.

Again, Cross has written something more than just another haunted building story. The personal drama Mark goes through is gut-wrenching...I'm thoroughly disgusted with his trial foster parents. The references to the RAF airfield are fantastic moments, and add an extra layer to the story I didn't expect. Needless to say, this book stirred up all kinds of emotions.

Again and again, the question remains: what exactly happened to Judith Prendergast in the first place?! The third book should tie up all the loose ends. If you haven't read Amy Cross before, this trilogy is a great place to start, especially if you enjoy paranormal/supernatural horror stories.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Run For Your Life [INTERVIEW]

LAB ZERO by Brandon Lee Hayes is a short story about a lab intern who wants to know what is in the basement of his building. As soon as he realizes what has been going on behind closed doors, the doors are torn apart, and the intern is facing a life and death situation.

Hayes does a great job of combining terror and suspense by including the internal dialogue the intern is having. Rather than stay in self-preservation mode, he remains determined to figure out what escaped from the laboratory.

Hide and seek...and try not to die.

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Even though I've only read a couple of stories by this author, Brandon Lee Hayes, his horror creations have already made quite an impression on me. I decided to invite him into the Lair to discuss bears, hunting and Halloween:

Let’s get right to it…where did you get the idea for I’M ALL ALONE AND IT’S GETTING DARK?

The title popped into my head one day and I felt like I had to figure out what this story was about. Usually it’s the complete opposite for me. I have ideas that I write out, struggling to find a good title.

I opened up my journal with all of my story ideas and thought to myself “when is it scary to be alone?”.

The first thing that came to me was that it’s terrifying to be alone as a child. I also feel that an event from my childhood leaked into this story without me even realizing until this question was asked.

When I was very young, armed robbers broke into my house, pistol whipped my father and tied him up. They threw the phone down the basement stairs and rummaged through my house.

The whole intruder in the house and phone in the basement thing sounds a bit like I’m All Alone and It’s Getting Dark.

I have a blog section called “Why I Wrote” on my website that explains in greater detail where the ideas behind my stories come from if you’re interested in an even more in depth answer.

Is there any chance of seeing Roosevelt in another story?

It’s definitely possible. As of right now I think it would be as more of an easter egg rather than a main character in the story. I will say that my stories take place in the same universe, so anything is possible.

I have another story that isn’t completely written yet but the idea came before “I’m All Alone and It’s Getting Dark”. These stories originally were completely separate from one another but I decided to make them connect.

While this story isn’t written yet and doesn’t even have a title, I have a lot planned for it. Right now it’s just labeled “Rain”.

If you look at the photo of the newspaper article at the end of “I’m All Alone and It’s Getting Dark” you will notice there’s another article being covered by the main article. This may be a hint for how these two stories are going to connect. It’s a bit like an easter egg for something that hasn’t even been written yet!

So far, your stories include being isolated and hunted. Is it just a coincidence, or do you find this theme more terrifying than other horror scenarios?

I definitely find this theme incredibly scary. I absolutely love stories where monsters are on the prowl. I do want to make my stories a bit more diverse and I certainly have ideas for different themes.

That said, there are definitely more stories with the theme of being hunted coming soon.

How did you get into horror in the first place?

I watched a lot of horror movies as a kid. Alien, The Thing, The Shining etc. I don’t really like watching movies anymore but I have a soft spot for a good monster movie.

When it comes to reading or writing horror that was much more recent. A few years ago someone I worked with introduced me to The Dark Tower by Stephen King. I fell in love with the story and started reading all of his other novels, which introduced me to the world of horror fiction.

I loved it all so much I decided I wanted to write it too.

Halloween is around the corner…are you planning anything for the holiday? Maybe another story?

I do have some more horror stories on the way. I’ll have 2 more out by Halloween, hopefully 3.

I haven’t really thought of any Halloween themed stories though. I would like to make one of my stories Halloween themed and have it released on or around the holiday. Unfortunately, it wouldn’t make sense for any of my stories that I’m writing and editing right now and would feel forced if I just threw in the fact that it’s Halloween.

I do have one story that I thought of more recently that can take place on Halloween but I’m not sure if I’m going to get around to writing it in time. I have a lot of other stories that I’m really itching to write at the moment, as well as stories that are already written and I’m working on editing and publishing.

Do you think you might write a novella or full-length novel in the next year or so?

It is one of my goals, definitely. Over the next year I’d like to publish the 12 or 13 short story ideas I have, make a short story collection and write at least one of three novel ideas I have. Ideally I’d get two novels out but that’s probably a stretch.

I also have a story that is currently written and being edited called “Journal of a Missing Man”. It was originally a short story idea that turned into more of a novella now that it’s roughly 13,000 words. I’m still editing it and I’m not sure exactly when this one will be out.

Where can readers find out more about your new releases?

My website, www.brandonleehayes.com, has all of my stories and blog posts about my writing. I also have Instagram, twitter and litsy which can all be found through my website.

Thanks for visiting us in the Lair!

As always,

AstraDaemon

Harvesting the Dead

NURSE BLOOD by Rebecca Besser is the author's best work, and I don't say that lightly. She's written all kinds of stories ranging from zombie horror to science fiction. This time, Besser has combined suspense, horror and drama to create one hell of a crime thriller!

The story is told through multiple POVs, but mainly alternates between the FBI investigating dozens of missing person cases and a group of organ harvesters. Sonya has been with the group since day one, baiting and kidnapping victims, while Agent David is finally making headway in his twin brother's case. (Having the brothers be identical twins is a great detail!) Sonya's group are going after an entire family this time, and David is successfully connecting the puzzle pieces.

The dynamics of the harvesting group is better than any soap opera, with deadlier consequences when in-fighting begins. David's personal connection to the investigation reminds readers of how lives are destroyed, not saved, as Sonya often rationalizes. The ending is like a sudden drop after several wicked curves, and will likely have readers screaming long-after the ride is over.

I can't wait for the sequel!!

I am very excited to announce this week's prize is an autographed copy of NURSE BLOOD. To enter, just leave a comment below about this book/author/review. A winner will be chosen on Sunday, October 27th.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Sunday With Scribner: Mind Blown

NESCATA by Joshua Scribner proved to be a difficult read for me. For at least half of the novel, I felt quite ignorant, as if I didn't have the IQ to grasp the plot. I'm still not sure I understand what in the hell takes place.

At first, I thought this might be an unusual take on time-travel, in which the consciousness is not bound in a linear fashion, but, by the end, I feel like maybe this is more about time-tampering by an ascended species...or I don't have clue about anything in this book.

Whatever Scribner is trying to get at, he could have gotten there with half the pages. The story is very disjointed, as if a schizophrenic wrote Jacob's POV. In fact, I don't even know if I can trust anything about Jacob's perception of events. For all I know, he could have been dying on the roof of his car, with his brain splattered across the back windshield, while his mind created everything as a justification for his suicide.

If anyone else attempts reading this novel, please share your thoughts with me.

As always,
AstraDaemon

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Kody Boye is the winner of an autographed copy of The Bell House. I'll announce the next contest as soon as I get the Monday review up, which will be delayed until some time on Tuesday, due to a personal emergency.

Monsters Above and Below

There is something in the local cemetery that comes out at night. Something that is unearthing corpses and killing people. It’s the summer of 1984 and Timmy and his friends are looking forward to no school, comic books, and adventure. But instead they will be fighting for their lives. The ghoul has smelled their blood and it is after them.

GHOUL by Brian Keene centers on three boys at the beginning of their summer break: Timmy, Doug and Barry. People are going missing, the cemetery is falling apart, and summer is becoming one long nightmare. Timmy makes several horrific discoveries, and he thinks something evil living underneath the graveyard. Unfortunately, the adults won't listen to a twelve year old kid, and the other two boys have their own monsters to deal with.

The author delivers more than one monster in this novel, and the creature devouring corpses is not the most sinister threat. For a kid, being violated by the people you are supposed to be able to trust is worse than a demon from folklore. Keene uses suspense and family drama to bury readers in hopeless terror.

This is a great story to get in the mood for Halloween, and the perfect gift for a horror fan.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Betrayal and Revenge

SINS OF THE FATHERS by S. Gepp is another great offering from Grinning Skull Press. A group of friends, who call themselves the Round Table, discover a book filled with dark rituals. In their private school they are able to manipulate other students, giving them a taste of power rarely felt among the "nerds." However, they are reduced to insignificant plebs when they begin their university years. One young man in the group, Francis, discovers love, but instead of enjoying his happiness, he is forced to choose his friends over Chelsea.

The author reveals the details of the past and present by switching between events in 1991 and 2012. This gives readers the feeling they are reading two different stories linked only by the same characters. In 1991 setting,readers are introduced to a group of young men who dabble in the dark arts to achieve their personal desires. In 2012, the young men are fathers who would do anything to protect their loved ones, once they realize their children are being hunted by a victim of their past.

Gepp does an excellent job mixing family drama and paranormal horror to create a heartbreaking crime thriller. Fans of Stephen King's IT and SOMETIMES THEY COME BACK are sure to enjoy reading this story of betrayal and revenge.

As always,
AstraDaemon

New Species Emerges

It has been a long and trying journey for Jack, Maria and Zaun. They’ve fought numerous battles, seen friends die and the dead reanimate.Jack has been mortally wounded and an old enemy is back in play. It will take the combined efforts of all three to defeat him, and those that survive will have to push onward and venture forth into uncharted depths as a new enemy is born and the undead evolve.

MACHINES OF THE DEAD 3 by David Bernstein begins at the exact moment book two ended. Cable is hunting Jack, Zaun and Maria, and the three friends just want to find Jack's sister. The bots are adapting and evolving, and the undead are no longer the single-minded flesh eaters they used to be.

The action is great, especially the hand-to-hand combat scenes. I am satisfied with the ending...to a point: I think Maria needs her own book. I really want to know what she finds in North Carolina. After everything she went through to help Jack, it doesn't seem fair to leave her storyline unresolved. I would also enjoy seeing some battle scenes between the survivors and The Wild Ones.

If Bernstein doesn't have time for a novella, I would settle for a short story.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Nanobots and Inmates

New York City has fallen. The bot epidemic has spread across the country. Undead roam the lands. Armed with an assortment of weapons, Jack and his crew head north into the snow-covered countryside in search of his sister, but soon find themselves in the middle of a war between the people of Cliff House and a gang of escaped inmates led by the infamous serial killer known as Cannibal.

MACHINES OF THE DEAD 2 by David Bernstein is a great follow-up, and continues to maintain the mixed theme of sci-fi and horror. Although Jack manages to escape the underground bunker, and reverse the effects of the nanobots that reanimate the dead, he faces a new challenge in the second book, in the form of a psychopath called Cannibal.

The first book ended with Jack deciding to look for his sister. In the sequel, he heads north, and finds himself in the middle of war between two compounds: the people of Cliff House, and the escaped inmates that follow Cannibal. I don't want to give away any spoilers, but one of the inmates proved to be a far more interesting adversary than Cannibal, and his fight scene with Zaun was pretty damn good.

While I loved the detail that Bernstein has put into the development of his main characters, I have to admit that I wasn't impressed with Cannibal at all. I get it: people - alive or undead, who eat human flesh, are scary, but I think Bernstein could have come up with something more original and frightening than the whole "crazy guy leading inmates & attacking the peaceful group" scenario.

Check back for my review of the final book in the trilogy.

As always,
AstraDemon

Sci-Fi Undead

The dead are rising. The island of Manhattan is quarantined. Helicopters guard the airways while gunships patrol the waters. Bridges and tunnels are closed off. Anyone trying to leave is shot on sight.

For Jack Warren, survival is out of his hands when a group of armed military men kidnap him and his infected wife from their apartment and bring them to a bunker five stories below the city.

There, Jack learns a terrible truth and the reason why the dead have risen.
With the help of a few others, he must find a way to escape the bunker and make it out of the city alive.

In MACHINES OF THE DEAD by David Bernstein, nanobots are to blame for the zombie apocalypse; Dr. Eugene Reynolds was originally attempting to create a way to heal wounded soldiers while at the same time speeding up their recovery. The military wanted to use the new technology as a weapon, prompting Dr. Reynolds to alter his experiments, but one of his test subjects, a homeless man named Derek Mayfield, escaped from the underground lab into the city above them.

After the initial outbreak, Jack and Zaun are two of the last survivors in the city, and they are given refuge in the underground bunker where the laboratory is located. Jack discovers many of Dr. Reynolds dirty little secrets, including his sadistic plans for the few remaining survivors. With the help of some soldiers who want no part in the ongoing experiments, they escape the bunker, only to find that the government was not able to contain the outbreak.

Sounds like a straight-forward plot, but Bernstein throws in a lot of surprises that I wasn't expecting, and the various levels of action made me feel like I was on a rollercoaster in an undead hell - just when things appeared to be slowing down, I was thrown through another loop of terror. The book ends when the group of survivors decide to split up to search for any family members that might have found a way to stay alive despite the chaos.

Check back for my review of the sequel...

As always,
AstraDaemon

Return to Chrysalis [Interview]

CHRYSALIS LIGHTS by Lori Titus is a novella which has references to characters in previous stories by the author. However, this story works fine as a stand-alone. Beginning with a sinister attack on a dirt road, Titus introduces the dark past of Chrysalis, a town with a long history of witchcraft.

The rest of the story shifts focus between Amy, a young woman who has just inherited a haunted house, and Lexi, a high school girl who has been experimenting with her heritage in the forms of spells and rituals. When the two become acquainted, the danger in Chrysalis increases for both.

I enjoyed the suspense and I'd love to see more from this town.

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Since I'm giving away a signed copy of The Bell House (see below), I thought I would invite Lori Titus back to the Lair to discuss the success she has had in the past year or so...

This is your third time in the Lair, and a lot has been happening for you since our last interview. Could you give readers an update?

Thank you for having me again!

It’s been an eventful time. I’ve been busy with a lot of different projects. One way that I’ve been working on getting my name out there is to participate in a few boxed sets. One of the sets I was in, Souls and Shadows, hit the USA Today Bestseller’s list this past July.

I’m also working with fellow author and friend Jonathan Lambert.  I’m his co-editor for a brand-new press called Jolly Horror. The vision of the publishing company is to mix dark humor with horror. We feature short stories from both new and established authors.

I’m also working on several projects: a follow up to Soul Bonded titled Personal Demons is the one I hope to finish soon. There’s also another story (and possibly a series depending on how it works out) about a paranormal investigator and a witch who helps him solve cases. There are also a couple of yet unnamed projects brewing as well. I’d love to do another ghost story soon and perhaps a romance that involves horror in a different way than I’ve done it before.

Chrysalis Lights obviously has the same setting as The Bell House and Blood Relations. Refresh my memory please: how do the characters of your novella tie in with your previous two novels?

Iris, the sheriff’s mother in Blood Relations appears as a character in this book too. It’s fun to use Chrysalis because the mood and setting is already locked in before I begin. If you’ve read my books before you’ll catch the subtle tie-ins, but you won’t feel left out of anything if you haven’t.

Blood Relations involved a mix of monsters, some of the worst were human. Do you have a favorite?

Josiah is probably my favorite from Blood. He’s one of those monsters who is mostly human, though part something else. His way of thinking is what’s probably the most frightening. He finds inspiration in the most heinous dictators and tyrants. On top of that, he uses spirituality to force others to submit to his will. For him, the greatest joy is exercising power over others.

Why do you think so many people are drawn to the horror genre?

I think it provides a safe place to explore all the things we tell ourselves we don’t really fear. It’s also a vicarious thrill. Is the killer hiding behind that door? Can my angry lover haunt me from the grave? Is that person across the street following me? We all have things that we try to run from in life, and horror presents it to us in an entertaining way.

What do you think of Halloween? Does the holiday hold any special meaning for you?

I love Halloween! The costumes and candy are fun. When you think about it, what other holiday allows you to be an entirely different person for a day? I especially love to see the little ones out enjoying themselves.

And of course, for us author types, it’s a great reason to promote our wares.

This has been quite a year for you. What do you think you’ll be doing in 2020? Any chance of a convention appearance?

I’ve already got some releases planned for next year, including one that should be out in January or February. I’m not sure about doing the convention circuit next year, but it’s a possibility. It depends on what I’ve got on my plate around the end of this year. There’s a lot of planning that goes into it.

Where can new readers find out more about your current books and future projects?

Readers can find me on Twitter or Instagram under the handle Loribeth215. I’m on Facebook as well.

My author blog is called The Darkest of Lore, and is here:  https://loribeth215.wordpress.com/

Special thanks to Miss Titus for her time!

If you would like a chance to win an autographed copy of The Bell House by Lori Titus, you can enter by leaving a comment below. A winner will be selected on October 20th.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Deadlands: Book Two

THE DEAD WON'T DIE by Joe McKinney is the second book in the Deadlands series. The survivors from Arabella have arrived in Temple, only to be treated as criminals and mocked for their Code. While the first installment is a zombie horror novel, this book is a sci-fi crime drama, and the undead are just about the only thing the two stories have in common, aside from the three main characters. The writing style has changed so much, I wouldn't believe this to be a McKinney novel, if his name wasn't on the front cover.

I appreciate reminders of what happened in the previous book, but the author references the events in PLAGUE OF THE UNDEAD so often throughout this sequel, the pace of the story drags like the broken leg of a zombie. I'm also disappointed by how little takes place. There is a lot of action, but not much progress is made by the characters, and the ending is abrupt. I'm also shocked at how bad the editing is...more than once, a section of dialogue seems to be missing from a conversation.

I'm kind of sick of the characters at this point, as well. Jake keeps flashing back to having teenage sex with Kelly, Kelly barely shows any personality, and Chelsea is always screaming and crying. How in the hell they've managed to stay alive with all the noise they make is a mystery to me. Even for fiction, it's just ridiculous.

I hope McKinney returns to the style of writing he uses in the first book, otherwise, I don't see myself recommending this series. If you're expecting this to be anything like his Dead World series, you're going to be disappointed.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Deadlands: Book One

PLAGUE OF THE UNDEAD by Joe McKinney describes a post-apocalyptic world 30 years after a man-made plague with zombies. The town of Arbella can barely contain the population of ten-thousand people, offspring of the First Generation to survive the initial outbreak. A group has set out to see if it is possible to safely expand their borders; however, their decades of isolation has left them unprepared for First Contact.

The people of Arbella live by a strict Code, which has helped them survive and thrive, but a betrayal of trust will jeopardize the expedition. There is also the mystery of the exotic airships, which appear to be able to herd the undead hordes.

McKinney basically brought together science fiction and horror to create what I believe is one of his best stories. He ties in the cause of the plague to the reason there are still zombies three decades later, and provides one hell of an explanation for the movement of the hordes.

Last, but not least, McKinney includes four short stories that are extremely entertaining. They include a type of survivor called a Faker, which is devastatingly haunting.

You don't have to be a zombie fan to appreciate the sci-fi horror between these pages.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Savage Suspense

THE SAVAGE DEAD by Joe McKinney is more of a crime thriller than a zombie horror novel. The infected are just a small detail in a story about an assassination plot to take out a Senator who has been fighting against Mexican cartels. One cartel in particular attempts to use a biological weapon on a cruise ship to take out their target.

I really enjoyed all of the characters, as well as the mix of action and moments of introspection. Details about their personal issues adds extra suspense to every scene, wondering how their pasts will affect their decision-making and not knowing what each is willing to do to survive.

I'm satisfied with the ending, if this is a stand-alone, but I wouldn't mind a sequel with Ramon being hunted down.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Lame Ending to Great Series

MUTATED by Joe McKinney is the fourth book in his Dead World series, and the weakest one, in my opinion. I can't even believe McKinney wrote this. The writing style is nowhere near the same level of storytelling found in the first three books, and the characters leave a LOT to be desired.

In particular, Niki is a joke. Not only is she unrealistic, she is more suited to a campy comic book than a dramatic survival novel. Even the bad guy, the Red Man, is not as bad as the cheerleader turned terminator. There were so many quality characters (not to mention the variety) in the previous installments, I can't begin to imagine what McKinney was thinking when he decided to make Niki's mission the main storyline.

Not only is Niki a poor excuse for a character, just having someone like her in the story took away from the potential of the rest of the characters. The Red Man could have been more sinister, Ben could have been a bigger source of strength for the group, Nate and Avery could have had more of a relationship, and Sylvia should have been THE main character. Even Fisher and Stoler could have been more involved.

After having to put up with Niki and her over-the-top action scenes throughout the story, the ending is a disappointment as well...too simplified and rushed. If you love the series, do yourself a favor, and skip this one. Whatever you think happened to the group who escaped from Jasper will be better than what McKinney did to his survivors.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Dead World: Flesh Eaters

Battered by three devastating hurricanes in a row, the Texas coast is flattened. But for the people of Houston--and soon all of America--the most terrifying events are just beginning...

FLESH EATERS appears to be a prequel to Dead City and Apocalypse of the Dead, revealing how the outbreak began in Houston, and how it was spread into the other major Texas cities. The characters slowly realize that the multiple hurricane damage that has altered the coastline permanently is the least of their worries. The zombie virus is explained in great detail, and this form of the undead really sets McKinney apart from other authors in the zombie genre.

McKinney has gone to great lengths to make the entire series as realistic as possible, and if you haven’t read all three books yet, I strongly recommend that you put it on your Halloween must-read list. I can't wait to read the fourth book in the series!

As always,
AstraDaemon

Dead World: Apocalypse of the Dead

Two hellish years. That's how long it's been since the hurricanes flooded the Gulf Coast, and the dead rose up from the ruins. The cities were quarantined; the infected, contained. Any unlucky survivors were left to fend for themselves.

APOCALYPSE OF THE DEAD, McKinney’s second book in his Dead World series, takes place two years after the outbreak in Dead City, and includes more details about the source of the zombie virus and its nature. The military has sealed off the Gulf Coast, trapping thousands of uninfected survivors with the remaining zombies. The newly formed Quarantine Authority cannot hold back the zombies or the people desperate to escape the Q-zone.

AOTD changes things up with multiple POVs from characters that slowly converge upon the same time and place in North Dakota, as the rest of the US falls to utter destruction. Worse yet, there is a new strain of the virus making it difficult to identify the infected. The characters are the most striking mix I’ve ever read: convicts, the elderly, porn stars, religious fanatics, and even a blind woman.

When the world goes to hell, McKinney throws everyone into the fire.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Dead World: Dead City

Battered by five cataclysmic hurricanes in three weeks, the Texas Gulf Coast and half of the Lone Star State is reeling from the worst devastation in history. Thousands are dead or dying--but the worst is only beginning. Amid the wreckage, something unimaginable is happening: a deadly virus has broken out, returning the dead to life--with an insatiable hunger for human flesh...

DEAD CITY by Joe McKinney was first released in November 2006. Back then, my son was only a year old, so the scene with Eddie Hudson struggling to release his son from the car seat – while zombies closed in around them – really scared the crap out of me. I had no idea that it was going to be part of a series continued years later. I decided to revisit the series to refresh my memory.

Dead City is told from the POV of police officer Eddie Hudson in San Antonio, TX. At first, he tries to keep the peace when a viral outbreak (linked loosely to flooding and corpses resulting from several recent hurricanes) turns people violent and cannibalistic, but when Eddie realizes he is dealing with zombies, his new mission becomes reuniting with his wife and infant son, April and Andrew. It’s hard to believe that the majority of the story takes place in the span of one night…it’s a nonstop thriller with lots of gore from start to finish.

This is one of my favorite zombie series, and I've continued to reread the series over the years. Even though my son is now a teenager, this particular story still hits me hard as a parent.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Some Win, Some Lose

Ruth Miranda, author of the Blood Trilogy, has spoken, and she has chosen S.O. Bailey for our winner this week. (You can read the monster post and comments here.) I'll be giving away autographed books throughout the month. Check back every Monday to find out what the next contest and prize will be. There will also be horror reviews every day to help get you in the mood for Halloween. You'll find every kind of monster, here in the Lair.

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Here's a trick or treat for readers:  UNDEAD IN VEGAS by Stephen A North is the author's latest release. North throws readers across a highway and straight into zombie hell. I had a difficult time feeling any sympathy for Wallace. His desire to please people trumped any common sense he could muster.

The level of denial among the characters is mind-blowing. Even if they couldn't accept a zombie outbreak happening, they could at least acknowledge something very bad is going down. I will give North bonus points for creating such realistic idiots.

The action is the best part of this story. Everything goes wrong for Wallace, which isn't much of a surprise, since his decision-making leaves something to be desired. The ending made me roll my eyes.

I love the Dead Tide series by North, and he's written some great short stories, such as Like A Man and Purchase Order #2113-21A, but I'm not impressed with this novella. I'd really like to see the author return to his original writing style, or try his hand with more sci-fi themes. To be blunt, I'm tired of the broken-down ex-husband characters.

As always,
AstraDaemon