Zombie Movie "Experts"

DECAYING HUMANITY by James Barton has a very original plot, full of surprises, with a great unfolding of the outbreak.

A pair of friends consider themselves zombie experts...when it comes to movies, but, as videos of zombie attacks appear online, claiming to be real, Harvey and Jim are put to the test of survival. They soon realize zombies aren't their only problem.

I love the emphasis on the fear factor. The action is non-stop, and the characters are quite entertaining.

I hope Barton sticks with the zombie genre.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Nine Horrifying Stories

SOMEWHERE IN THE SHADOWS includes a mix of authors and genres filled with suspense and horror:

ADAM'S RIBS by Andrez Bergen: Vampire flash fiction. Humorous in a good way.

BLOOD LINE by Amber Keller: Werewolf flash fiction. Sad, but entertaining.

D.A.V.E. by Dean Giles: One of the best in this collection - a sci-fi tale that would impress both Ray Bradbury and Stephen King.

ON THE AIR by Jonathan D Allen: One of the scariest stories in the book - I'm afraid of going into my own shed now.

THUMBING IT by Marissa Farrar: Great horror story with classic elements.

HIGHWAY by Andrew Cyrus Hudson: Wish it was longer - LOVE IT!!

GOING VIRAL by Craig Jones: Fantastic zombie story!

CHARLATAN by C.M. Humphries: Great mix of suspense, mystery, action & horror.

WORDS by Dan H. Kind: Made me nervous to read it on my Kindle.

I recommend this collection to any horror/sci-fi fan.

As always,

AstraDaemon

The Next Biological Assault

BRUTAL PLANET by Sean P. Murphy is an oldie, but goodie. Told mostly from the POV of an anthropologist named John, this zombie novel is full of incredible action scenes, and some great dialogue between characters. Creating a main character who is able to make professional observations about the undead is a superb decision by the author, providing an intriguing angle to the story I think zombiephiles will enjoy.

Murphy mixes up the storyline with a major flashback about halfway through, instead of dumping all of John's survival experiences on the readers at the beginning. I felt I knew John as a person, and not just a character. However, for the life of me, I don't understand why the other characters insist on calling John an a-hole, while he continues to save their lives.

I hope Sean P. Murphy returns to write more stories with the same formula: lots of action and solid character development. In the meantime, I encourage my fellow zombie fans to overlook the editing issues, and add Brutal Planet to their reading lists.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Fantastic Alien Creation!

INTO THE LIGHT by Eric S. Brown is such a great sci-fi apocalypse story, I wish the author had used the concept for a full-length novel, or, at the very least, a novella.The Dwellers seem like an unstoppable force, but I can't help but wonder *hinting for sequel* if Brown's Sasquatch would be able to fight off the aliens.

Brown really should consider a double creature feature, followed by a third installment, with Hugh somehow being the savior of the human race.

As always,
AstraDaemon

New Day, New Enemy

AFTER Z DAY by Eric S. Brown is another one of his zombie shorts with an unusual twist. In this case, the author has a Lovecraftian surprise for his group of survivors. Some of the characters believe if they can fight the undead, they can fight their new enemy, but others in the group have nothing left to give.

Between the dialogue and the action, readers are sure to feel the exhaustion and desperation of Sparks and his companions.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Dead Last

MARTIN KIER AND THE DEAD by Eric S. Brown begins with a great intro from Jonathan Moon (Children of God, Heinous), offering a little insight into this short story. Martin Kier, a genetically enhanced clone, offers the safety of his home to a group of survivors, while placing himself in harm's way.

This isn't really my cup of tea, as far as zombie stories go, but there is still a lot of entertaining action to be had.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Corruption Above and Below

HOW FRAGILE THE SOUL by Eric S. Brown is a post-apocalyptic story which begins with the typical undead horror and then descends into bloody madness. The author packs a novel's worth of action into this short, and keeps things moving at a fast pace by introducing a variety of characters, from the beginning to the very end. The epilogue is a shocker.

Definitely recommending this dark thriller to zombiephiles!

As always,
AstraDaemon

The Evil Eye

THE DEVIL'S LIST by Terry M. West is a dark supernatural thriller about a young man with a demon inside of him. The author blends folklore with horror to draw readers into a sinister circle of death. The ending deserves a standing ovation. (I listened to Ghostemane's album, Plagues, while reading this, and the music fit perfectly with Chuck's evolution.)

I also recommend TRANSFER, another great story by West, which is sure to mess with your mind.

As always,
AstraDaemon

The Never-Ending Sacrifice

THE PLAYGROUND OF LOST CHILDREN by Erik Lynd is one of his best stories yet. The author mixes the supernatural with crime drama, creating a dark thriller about a detective facing her childhood fear. The flashback to the day her little brother disappeared is perfectly placed, and the playground appears to be a terrifying version of a fairy circle. The ending is bittersweet.

I usually prefer stand-alone stories, but I'd love some kind of sequel to reveal more of the history behind the secret place in the woods.

I also recommend IN THE PIT, which features another character experiencing flashbacks to a troubled childhood.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Cracked in the Head

THE STEPS IN THE WOODS by Lewis Puccini is narrated by a young man who hikes to the ruins of a castle. The setup is fairly long and the pace is quite slow. The story could just as easily began with the local legend.

While the ending is interesting, I am disappointed there wasn't more action. Too much time spent describing the woods, not enough time with the stranger.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Memory Lane Is Filled With Zombies

DOWN THE ROAD by Bowie Ibarra is one of the first zombie novels I read, as AstraDaemon, while writing for The Zombiephiles several years ago. Since then, I've read HUNDREDS of undead stories (still do), and the author has gone on to make quite a name for himself in the horror community. To this day, this series remains one of my favorites, so I felt the need to revisit George Zaragosa and his apocalyptic journey.

I strongly recommend reading the introduction by Travis Adkins (now Travis Maatta, and also another favorite author of mine), as he explains the difficulties Ibarra faced during the original release of this book, especially the harsh criticism dished out in some reviews.

As for the story, I think many readers are going to empathize with George's POV. He just wants to make it home alive. The government has ordered survivors to turn themselves into the FEMA camps. Anyone trying to shelter in their homes will be arrested. Anyone in possession of firearms or using firearms to defend themselves against the infected will be arrested. Rather than fighting the dead, the soldiers victimize the civilians in the camps. the zombies are not much of a threat compared to what the living are doing to each other.

Ibarra uses his unique style to twist this into a personal crime drama, taking this outbreak to another level. As George witnesses the best and worst of humanity, he finally discovers the true fate of his murdered fiancée. I highly recommend this series to all zombiephiles.

However, if zombies are not your flavor of horror, you should read Bowie Ibarra's BIG CAT.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Marching to Their Deaths

THE GOAT PARADE by Peter N. Dudar is a mix of crime drama and supernatural horror creating a mystery-thriller with the flames of Hell licking at the pages. Ol' Scratch is playing chess with several souls, and the board is Portland, Maine.

The characters consist of the people you would typically find in a big city, but their backstories are unusual and twisted. As they cross paths with one another, they soon realize they are up against the Devil himself.

While the storyline moves at a slow pace for much of the novel, the slow burn building up makes for a devastating scorched-earth ending.

If dark horror appeals to you, I also recommend another Grinning Skull Press novel, SINS OF THE FATHERS.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Revenge vs. Justice

DAGANA: THE LAST MERMAID by Kody Boye is a cryptid-thriller for YA or new adult fiction readers. During Christmas break, Jessica's parents are both found dead, their bodies savagely mutilated by some unidentifiable creature. Unfortunately, the beach is not closed and more people die.

The transition from teen to adult is difficult enough, but with the murders and the nightmares overwhelming Jessica, she begins having panic attacks. In addition to the multiple deaths, she is also dealing with a new relationship, as well as some violent mean girls tormenting her at school. After having her fear confirmed by two others who have witnessed the sea creature, Jessica feels she is the only one who can make the waters safe again.

While I did find Jessica's thoughts and feelings well-developed, I think Boye missed a great opportunity to create a more complicated and unpredictable storyline. The author could have revealed the source of Dagana's fury through her own POV, forcing readers to decide for themselves who is or isn't a victim. If anyone could pull off such opposing viewpoints from two characters, it is Boye.

If you're looking for a different coming-of-age story, this novel will definitely pull you into the darkness.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Werewolf or Wendigo?

THE MOON WAS SOAKED IN WINE by Fredrick Niles is a tale about consumption. Wasted on wine, a guy searches through the woods for his missing girlfriend, and discovers a secret about her. While somewhat predictable, still entertaining.

I also recommend NDA by Niles, a twisted warning about revealing insider info.

As always,
AstraDaemon

A Wild Ride

UNDYING LOVE by Michael J. Evans begins with an erotic scene between husband and wife. Once the author has his readers all hot and bothered, he reveals the true nature of both the husband and wife. I'll give you a hint: marital counseling isn't going to help them.

While somewhat entertaining this is not a great example of the author's work, so I recommend reading MUTATION to have a better idea of what Evans is capable of delivering.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Lovecraftian Puppet Masters

THEM by James Watts begins with a foreword by another author, Chris Miller, and I love it. I think horror fans who enjoy novels by Stephen King and Brian Keene are going to dig what he has to say. The author did well to choose Miller as a wing man for this novel.

As for the story itself, Watts combines family drama with supernatural horror to create a nightmare homecoming for Ray Sanders. The small town culture is the perfect setting for the interactions between the residents and the Odomulites. As Ray discovers his town's secret and his family's involvement, the POV begins to rotate between key characters.

The story is filled with all kinds of gruesome action, and the descriptions had me gagging and retching my way through the book. I think it might be a while before I go down into my basement...in the meantime, I highly recommend this one to all horror fans.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Product of Hatred

THE WORST KIND OF MONSTER by Shaun Hupp is told through the POV of a child living with a father who is all kinds of horrible. The author does a great job of building suspense and drama throughout this short. The direction of the story is not surprising, but the ending is absolutely heart-breaking.

Please make sure to read the author's notes placed before and after. Some monsters really are the worst.

As always,
AstraDaemon

No Rest For The Wicked

NO REST by Joslyn Chase is a collection of fourteen short stories, with author notes for each one. Unfortunately, the notes are placed before each short, so I skipped them altogether, not wanting to risk having the stories ruined for me. (I read the notes after I finished all of the shorts.)

I've never read anything by Chase before, so I had no idea what to expect, but I was not disappointed. The author is a great storyteller. Ranging from crime drama to mystery-suspense, these shorts feature the best and worst of human nature.

This anthology is making my TOP 2020 list.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Historical American Tragedy

On a quiet Philadelphia morning in 1906, a newspaper headline catapults Alma Mitchell back to her past. A federal agent is dead, and the murder suspect is Alma’s childhood friend, Harry Muskrat. Harry—or Asku, as Alma knew him—was the most promising student at the “savage-taming” boarding school run by her father, where Alma was the only white pupil. Created in the wake of the Indian Wars, the Stover School was intended to assimilate the children of neighboring reservations. Instead, it robbed them of everything they’d known—language, customs, even their names—and left a heartbreaking legacy in its wake.

The bright, courageous boy Alma knew could never have murdered anyone. But she barely recognizes the man Asku has become, cold and embittered at being an outcast in the white world and a ghost in his own. Her lawyer husband, Stewart, reluctantly agrees to help defend Asku for Alma’s sake. To do so, Alma must revisit the painful secrets she has kept hidden from everyone—especially Stewart.

BETWEEN EARTH AND SKY by Amanda Skenandore is based on the experiences of a member of the Ojibwe Tribe, who survived an Indian mission school in the 1950s. Told between past and present timelines, this is not just historical fiction, but a coming-of-age story blended with drama and suspense. The murder of a corrupt federal agent leads to the discovery of severe criminal wrongdoing, which in turn reveals the many lies fed to Alma as a child. As she struggles to balance her memories with the truth she uncovers, Alma must reconcile the life she wanted with the life she now has.

As enthralling as this story is, one of the students should have had their own POV in addition to Alma's. Minowe could have provided both past and present timelines in contrast to the first woman's perspective. While this novel brings attention to a period in American history rarely found in any classroom textbooks, the tragedy would have been best served by a Native American voice.

In any case, this is a novel I strongly recommend to all readers who enjoy historical fiction.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Down to the Bones

PIRANHA by Eric S. Brown takes place in North Carolina. A plane carrying a military experiment goes down in a river, and a nearby small town becomes the feeding ground for a new kind of predator. After a mutilated body washes ashore, during a rain storm, the townsfolk soon find themselves caught in a flash flood filled with deadly creatures.

This novella is very much like a SyFy movie, but with the savage brutality Brown regularly unleashes on his fans. The action is gruesome, and the suspense will eat away at you. This is not your dad's underwater nightmare...this is a new reason to fear the water.

Not only do I recommend this story, I also recommend THE CAVE by Eric S. Brown.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Out of Bounds

VIRTUAL INSANITY by Charlie Dalton follows four friends to a virtual reality facility for a bachelor party. While the setup takes some time, the descriptions help readers experience the game along with the players.

Unfortunately, not much happens after George uncovers a secret inside the facilities. The ending is rushed, and I would have preferred to see a confrontation involving Jenny.

For a better Dalton story, I recommend Typhoid Mary.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Night Thief

WILLOWS by Kyle J. Franklin will have readers thinking twice before driving and parking at night. I found this story more cruel than frightening, but Mick's situation still had me thoroughly creeped out.

The author blends suspense and folklore to create a night terror not soon forgotten. If you like this kind of story, I recommend Franklin's STAY WITH US.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Chain Reaction

BOOK OF FACES by John West is a short psychological thriller with an unpredictable ending. I love the use of social media to tie everything together. I highly recommend this one.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Don't Drive Tired

ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE by Jason R. Davis is a short story centered on truck driver who doesn't feel he has anything to live for, until he finds himself in danger. The setup is a bit long, but driving through the fog definitely cranks up the suspense. The ending is strange, and not what I expected. I'm not even sure if John's perception of events is reliable or not.

As always,
AstraDaemon

From The Pit

SINGULARITY by Joe Hart begins as a crime drama and mutates into a supernatural thriller. When a man is slaughtered in solitary confinement, BCA Special Agent Sullivan Shale and his partner must lead an investigation within an isolated penitentiary. Unfortunately, they become trapped with both inmates and guards as the area floods from an ongoing storm system.

The author whips together sci-fi and an ancient horror to terrify readers, as Sullivan attempts to survive the nightmare unfolding inside the prison. When he finds the answers to his questions, the psychological trauma might leave him permanently damaged.

Not only do I recommend this novel, but I also recommend THE EXORCISM OF SARA MAY by Joe Hart.

As always,
AstraDaemon

In the Shadow of Death

THE HAUNTING OF THE HATHAWAY HOUSE by Amy Cross is extremely frightening, especially if you're a parent. A malevolent spirit drives Michael's parents to their deaths: his dad dies by hanging, and his mother suffers a heart attack. His uncle, Stephen, finds him three days later, but how the infant survived is a mystery.

As an adult, Michael returns to his family home with his pregnant wife Jen, but the womanly apparition is still there, and she has a sinister agenda. As Michael becomes obsessed with the shed in the backyard, Jen is forced to confront the evil spirit without her husband. Mistakes are made, the history of the house is revealed, and newborn Lucas is soon in great danger with no one to protect him.

Told in the POVs of Michael and Jen, with occasional flashbacks, the building suspense is terrifying. As the specter feeds on the fears of the new parents, the loss of hope during the battle against such an overwhelming threat to the family is agonizing. Highly recommend!

As always,
AstraDaemon

Dark and Disturbing

Four short stories with a wicked twist...

FACE: Beautiful Edan is ready for her date, but plans are scuppered by her embarrassing family.

SHROOM: It’s Miranda’s birthday and she should be happy. However, a trip to the forest with her mother, Clara, leaves Miranda struggling to stay alive.

NOWHERE TO RUN: Confined to a hospital bed, a vindictive old crone and a sour young girl are about to make one patient’s life a living nightmare.

THE NEW GUY: Darius Brown was happy in his work, but everything changed when the new guy started. Made to feel like the biggest loser, Darius dreams of punishing the man. But do those dreams become a deadly reality?

TWISTED 2 by Karen A. Foster is filled with the author's trademark dark drama and disturbing characters.

FACE reminded me a little of a Twilight Zone episode, with an unexpected ending.

SHROOM is somewhat dystopian, with a young girl slipping between two different lives.

NO WHERE TO RUN is my favorite story in this collection, about a life-changing decision.

THE NEW GUY is my second favorite story, with a wicked backlash.

Shroom is my least favorite of the four, but the last two alone are worth picking up this collection.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Fortunes & Misfortunes

MOLL FLANDERS by Daniel Defoe follows a woman through her life as she goes to extremes to make her own way in the world. (More than one movie has been made based on this story, so I wanted to read it for myself.) Published in the 1700s, this book shocked more than a few readers, but is rather tame compared to today's standards.

The book itself begins with a brief personal history of the author, as well as summaries of some of his novels and a bibliography. As for Moll, determined not to be a servant, she manipulates multiple husbands, sheds unwanted children, and, when her looks fade, she resorts to a life of crime. Her story is the antithesis of Pride & Prejudice. Slow pace, but entertaining.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Darla Deserves Better

Walter is suspended from boarding school and sent home early. He feels little remorse for what he did and is just looking forward to the summer holidays starting so he can see his friends again. But it turns out they aren't allowed to see him because he's a "bad influence". He tries to occupy himself but that just leads to more trouble.

Worried that he is lonely, his parents bring home a dog, Darla, and tell him that it's his responsibility to look after her. He doesn't even like stupid dogs, but apparently it will benefit him somehow. As boredom leads to frustration he finds himself taking it out on all the wrong people and if he doesn't pull himself together he will find that some victims bite back.

No animals were harmed in the writing of the story, but if you find scenes of cruelty to dogs distress you this probably isn't the story you.

PAYBACK by James Loscombe really pisses me off. Walter is a POS who beats his dog to death, which upset me, but I accepted it as a necessary evil to propel the story. Unfortunately, the little bastard gets away with killing the dog and doesn't learn a damn thing, so now I'm wondering what was the bloody point. Not to mention, readers are never told why he is suspended from school.

Also, the whole thing with Mary seems completely out of place. The confession from his parents doesn't seem to add much substance to the story. Would have been something if Mary had been revealed as his biological mother, but readers are left with a crap ending instead.

I can't help but wonder wtf Loscombe was thinking when he wrote this mess.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Time Travel Through Hell

A fledgling blogger, Alexis goes with friends to a Victorian mansion in the mountains with the intention to "practice" her newly found craft. It isn't long before her brother Hadley is visited by a ghost from his past set on revenge. That revenge takes the shape of a demonic being with a large toothy eye that grinds its victims to mush and no one is safe.

EYE TEETH by Jerry Gerold is an unusual haunted house story. Alexis wants to explore an old house with her brother Hadley, boyfriend Gabriel, and a couple of friends. Crispin tries to explain the house is not haunted or abandoned, his aunt and uncle were just suffering from dementia. As soon as the group splits up, all hell breaks loose, literally and figuratively.

There are some terrifying scenes and the time warp is an interesting twist, but the story gets a little confusing towards the end. The author should have taken a little more time introducing the multiple timelines, and, with such emphasis placed on Hadley's teen romance, explain why the unborn baby became a demonic goat boy.

I think this is Gerold's best story since The Reclamation Project, but I really wish he'd hire an editor to polish his writing style.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Hormonal Apocalypse

The night skies turned blood red as the largest asteroid, ever to pass the Earth, slipped between us and the Moon. Thousands of people flocked to the streets to see what was pushed by the press as a "once in a lifetime" occurrence. Some people hailed it as a sign for the End Of Days. Others simply partied the night away; celebrating the fact that mankind had barely survived being destroyed in the same way as the dinosaurs. The women though... Something else happened to the women...

It didn't matter where the women were in their cycle; that night they all inexplicably had their monthly at the exact same moment. But this wasn't just any period. As the bloods began to flow and their stomachs violently twisted and cramped, so did their tempers continue to rise and rise until their blood was boiling and they were unable to hold back their violent urges.

SHARK WEEK by Matt Shaw is vulgar and graphic, so, if you're easily offended, bugger off and read a self-help book or something along those lines. While absolutely shocking in some scenes, I found this story to be quite entertaining, and I think this novella needs to be made into a film. (The ultimate clap-back to hentai movies.)

The ending is a complete surprise. I thought aliens would take over after the women wiped the men off the face off the Earth, for some kind of breeding invasion, but Shaw takes his crimson tide of death into an unexpected direction.

The drabbles at the end are a humorous bonus.

As always,
AstraDaemon