Microscopic Invasion

THE WILL OF ARANAXXIS by Kyle J. Franklin begins with a slow setup, much of which is unnecessary. While disturbing, with a Lovecraft creepiness, not much takes place in the story. Readers never learn much about the mystery behind the meteorite, and there isn't much dialogue or action between the characters.

Instead of this short, I recommend STAY WITH US by Franklin, similar to 80s horror.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Throwback Thursday: Sasquatch and Zombies

LAST STAND IN A DEAD LAND by Eric S. Brown is a unique blend of folklore, science fiction and horror spun into an undead thriller. Whether you read Brown’s work for the gory action, the mix of monsters, or his sick humor, readers will be quite pleased to sink their teeth into this tale.

There’s so much controversy around the nature of the undead and possible outbreak scenarios, it’s easy to forget the other monsters lurking throughout our history, but Brown has created a brutal reminder: crap can always get worse during a zombie outbreak, especially if humans aren’t the top of the food chain in the first place.

I think this is the very first story I read by Eric S. Brown, making me an instant fan. Years later, stories such as HUNTERS has kept the author on my favorites list.

As always,
AstraDaemon

A New Metal Monster

MILE 81 by Stephen King is a novella I haven't read before, and I must admit, I have been reluctant to read anything King has written after THE GIRL WHO LOVED TOM GORDON. I am so glad I gave this story a chance because this is one of my new King favorites.

King appears to have channeled several of his older stories for this one: Christine, Trucks and The Raft. Even with all the horror elements, this is more or less Pete Simmons' coming-of-age story. All he wants is a cool adventure to share with his older brother and his bicycle gang, but he soon finds himself in a supernatural battle for survival.

The author torments readers further by including a horse as well as three children...kids and a defenseless animal? Nothing scares the crap out of me more than placing innocent lives within the grasp of a monster. I really wish King would stick with this style of storytelling.

As much as I enjoy the rest area nightmare, my favorite King story is still THE EYES OF THE DRAGON, and I highly recommend both to all readers.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Evil Trinity

HOUSE OF THE GOAT by A.P. Sessler is a collection of three stories. The first, House of the Goat, would make a great horror film, especially if Rob Zombie directed. The second, Death in Black Light, is even more terrifying, with a Tales From The Darkside feel. The third story, Aquarius Working, confused me to the point where I needed to re-read several passages. I still don't understand it.

Death in Black Light is definitely my favorite, and reason enough to buy a copy of this book.

I also recommend BRAIN ATTACK by Sessler, with the feel of an 80s chiller-thriller and the drama of a modern scifi-horror flick.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Terrifying Truth

In the 1950s, a man takes on a new administrative job in the city. Or at least, that's what he told his wife...

THE BREADWINNER by Lemi K is a flash fiction feature with a rather sinister ending. The story description doesn't even hint at the terrifying truth within these few pages, but, I assure you, horror fans will not want to skip this one.

I also recommend Polarized by this same author.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Desperate Teens

SLEEPING DOG LIES by Angelo Lytle is a terrifying story about a group of teens who decide to risk their lives to scavenge for supplies. Just enough bits and pieces are revealed to give the readers an idea of what happened to the city, but the focus remains on their desperation to stay alive.

This concept is far too good to be left in a flash fiction story. The author should consider writing a novella...or, at the very least, another short story from the POV of Emi or Peyton.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Deadly Discovery

THE DRAIN by Victor Vilestone is a dark tale about a gardener who finds something horrific while trying to unblock a drain. This is a little too predictable for me. The author could've added a twist or two to make the ending more of a shock.

I prefer the writing style of FRIENDS REUNITED by Vilestone.

As always,
AstraDaemon

The Perfect Bluff

RUSSIAN ROULETTE by Adam Vine is a dark flash fiction piece, with two intriguing characters having an unusual conversation about how to win the game. I wouldn't mind a follow-up story set in Chicago with these two people.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Fantasy & Suspense

SON OF THE SEA by James Loscombe begins with a young man shipwrecked and confused. As soon as Tiboth attempts to "reach out" with his mind, the author had me hooked.

With a mix of fantasy and suspense, Loscombe has created a fable of sorts about developing empathy for others. While I enjoyed this tale, I'm vexed by the ending. I want to know more about the calling.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Sequel to Hissers

When a plane crashed in the quaint town of Castor, it unleashed a virus that turned everyone into hissing, blood-thirsty, undead monsters. Monsters that could transmit their plague in seconds, that could run as fast as dogs, and that could fuse themselves together to create massive mutated beasts. Four teens—Connor, Seth, Amanita, and Nicole—fought for their lives to secure vital data from the plane wreckage, some of them making the ultimate sacrifice.

Now they need to get to San Diego with their secret, but the plague is spreading too fast. They have no friends or family, nowhere to hide, and death lurks behind every corner. Worse, the hissers are evolving, and it may be impossible to stop them at all.

DEATH MARCH by Ryan C. Thomas is the sequel to HISSERS. Connor and Am have grown as characters, while maintaining the personable traits only 14 yr olds are capable of, such as Connor's gaming references and Am's penchant for f-bombs.

The addition of adults Doug and Olive is a wise move by the author, adding depth to their unusual relationships by comparison and contrast of the generational gaps between characters. The difference in musical tastes is a clever touch as well, particularly when Doug and Am sing together during one of the most intense scenes in the novel.

Thomas manages to include quite the menagerie of monsters: mutant zombies, undead leviathans and a few others I won't give away. Some action scenes explode on the pages, while others slowly creep up when you're not expecting anything major to happen. The survivors' desperation to find some place to rest, during their insane quest to keep a promise to a friend, will leave readers breathless with terror.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Teen Survival In Apocalypse

HISSERS by Ryan C. Thomas is not a zombie story. Yes, the infected are reanimated victims who have died from their injuries. Yes, the infection is spread through bites/wounds, and, yes, it takes a head shot to kill them, but that is where the similarities end. These are undead mutants caused by a man-made virus that was designed with a benevolent purpose in mind: to help soldiers heal faster in battle - not anything sinister like the usual government plots you find in most apocalyptic novels. I would love to tell you how the virus was made, what specific qualities it has, and how brilliantly horrific these mutated monsters are, but that would ruin the story.

The set-up is exquisitely crafted. Readers are first introduced to the experiment and the initial success that prompts the decision to fly samples to a high profile meeting with government officials. Then the story switches POVs, centering on a group of teens making plans for their last big party before the new school year. Just enough of the characters' lives were revealed to give us their state of mind: their concerns, their plans for the future, and the friendships between them. Readers are even given glimpses into their distant childhoods which functions as dramatic foreshadowing into the reasoning behind the hard choices they make later in the book.

The description comparing this story to "The Breakfast Club meets Resident Evil" is a serious disservice to this novel. Neither one of those movies comes anywhere close to the suspense and tragedy that is presented in this novel. These aren't 14 yr olds forced to grow up fast, or any other cheesy cliché...they are children who are desperate for the help of an adult - any adult...children who feel abandoned by the people who were suppose to protect them...children who can't drive a car, and pee themselves from fright. They are not adult survivors trying to make a stand or rebuild society. They are more than aware of their limitations, and they don't waste time with deep-thinking; they just want to stay ahead of the monsters. The author does a great job of showing how the teens are clutching at the little sanity they have left, as they experience the ultimate waking nightmare.

This is one of the few horror stories that will appeal to the YA fiction crowd, while still frightening the old school horror fans.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Dark Drama

LOVE LIFE by Matt Shaw (in film production) begins with one of the most entertaining author introductions I've ever read. Unfortunately, my expectations were raised fairly high, only to be disappointed.

This is a well-written drama, but not the type of story I'm used to from the author, and not really my kind of drama in general. Reading this after so many graphic novels by Shaw, is like drinking water when you have braced yourself for Everclear.

Instead, I recommend SHARK WEEK by Shaw, a crimson tide of death with much more brutal interactions between couples.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Depressing Flash Fiction

TWENTY-FOUR AND A BOTTLE OF RYE by Adam Vine is one of the author's earlier stories, and I'm happy to say his writing has much improved.

The depressing tone doesn't bother me as much as the open ending. I feel sorry for Max's wife.

If you want to see how the author's writing style has changed, check out THIS DOOR IS LOCKED.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Not Your Daddy's Yeti Story

FROSTBITE by Dave Jeffery is a mix of sci-fi and horror, with some crime drama sprinkled in for a little extra spice. To date, I've only read two other stories by the author, TOOTH & CLAW and A QUIET APOCALYPSE, and this is nothing like either of those stories. However, Jeffery is still a master storyteller, keeping his readers guessing from one chapter to the next.

I don't want to give anything anyway, but this isn't anything like any other Bigfoot/Yeti story I've ever read. I love the bizarre direction Jefferey ran with this iconic legend. Knowles and Sully are my new favorite fictional team, and, at the risk of sounding like an absolute freak, I hope they become more than allies.

I didn't realize until the end, this is to be continued in a sequel. I sincerely hope the author follows through.

I also recommend A QUIET APOCALYPSE by Jeffery: after an illness renders most people deaf, the hearing are hunted down to become servants for the newly hearing impaired.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Fighting In Isolation

I'M NOT A ZOMBIE by Amy Cross is a horrifying survival story centered on a young researcher named Maggie Quinn. The setup is long and very slow-paced, and I began to regret choosing this novella. However, once the action begins, I had no idea what to expect from one page to the next.

Maggie is a very frustrating character. For someone working on a scientific theory, she seems to lack imagination on the most basic level. Also, readers never learn what she hopes to achieve with her study. I have reason to believe she was researching atmospheric refraction phenomena (google it), which is ironic, since she had convinced herself she was hallucinating.

I did enjoy the mix of crime drama and mystery-suspense. Each character comes with his own set of surprises, and the ending is truly unpredictable. While this isn't a true apocalypse story, fighting for one's life in isolation is a panic-inducing nightmare worth reading at least once.

If you like mystery-thrillers such as this one, as opposed to supernatural tales, I recommend LIGHTS OUT by Amy Cross.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Van of Death

BEST DAY OF SUMMER: THE KEEPER by Clark Roberts is an extremely terrifying short story, especially if you're a parent. I couldn't stop screaming in my head, as Ollie struggled with his over-whelming fear. The author took stranger-danger to an insane level, and the ending has left me numb.

I'm definitely adding this one to my TOP 2020 list. I also recommend AN INCIDENT AT SALEM MIDDLE SCHOOL by Roberts.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Morbid Tales #6

The vast ruins of Summer Hall, as it was once known, remains oddly intact, save for its collapsed staircase and peeling wallpaper. Even its indoor swimming pool has survived, now a sculptural bog of mud and roof tiles, vines growing thick along the walls. It is a manor that stands like a silent grave, a riddle of rotten wood and forgotten memories, destined to remain this way forever. But it wasn’t always this way.

In late Autumn of 1959, Eliza Gibson, a sixteen-year-old student with mousey hair and a face full of freckles faces a burgeoning love, and a terrible fate.

THE RUINS by Zachery Miller is nothing like the previous Morbid Tales. I was really excited when the author released a new installment, since it has been three years since the last one. Unfortunately, it seems Miller's writing style has changed drastically. This story seems rather dull, and the school's history remains vague.

Instead, I recommend THE PICKING TREE, a thrilling mix of horror, fantasy and folklore by Miller.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Demonic Slumlord

TENANTS by Christopher Motz is like a stroll straight into Satan's butthole, only Lucifer would be a step up from Al Sterling, landlord of the Blackridge Apartments. Unfortunately, Linda realizes too late, her apartment is, in fact, too good to be true...literally and figuratively.

The descriptions are terrifying. Imagine Lovecraft and King getting high on meth together, only to have Keene toss them into a cellar and tell them to put on lotion -- that would be a cake walk compared to what Motz does with his readers and tenants in the basement of the Blackridge. I had no idea the author could be so sick and twisted, and I think this novel should come with some kind of warning. Horror fans are going to love it.

Even if the demons and orgies were removed from the story, Linda's downward spiral is still extremely awful. In her attempt to leave an abusive boyfriend, she alienates her best friend, loses her family ties, and spends most of her time in a rum-induced drunken haze. Motz digs deep into personal despair with TENANTS.

I also recommend MELT by Motz, which made my TOP 2020 list in April.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Undead Texas Slaughter

THE FALL OF AUSTIN by Bowie Ibarra is set in the zombie apocalypse of DOWN THE ROAD, but this novel is a stand-alone story. However, I do recommend reading the other two books which provide different perspectives to the horror unfolding across Texas. All three novels have a variety of characters, plenty of conflict among the survivors, and some of the most brutal action scenes I've ever read.

Of the three DTR books, this one is the most emotional. The contrast of heroes and villains is gut-wrenching, as Ibarra's undead onslaught brings out the best and worst in his characters. After following the bloody battles between the various survivor groups, the ending left me in tears.

I know years have passed since Ibarra wrote these books, but I would LOVE to have a novel centered on the two leaders of the southern exodus. PLEEEASE!!

As always,
AstraDaemon

Deadly Encounter

NIGHT STAND by S.O. Bailey is somewhat predictable, but still rather horrific, mostly because of how likely something like this could happen in real life.

Bailey usually writes stories with a folklore element to them, but his last couple of stories have me concerned about his time in quarantine this year.

If you enjoy this one, I recommend I TOOK THE DEVIL FOR A RIDE.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Changing Lanes

FRIENDS REUNITED by Victor Vilestone is a short story about a man who is given a new perspective from an old friend. During his conversation with Mark, Alan begins to realize what a wanker he was in his younger days, but soon he must admit to himself, he's still a jerk to most people.

I didn't know what to expect from this story, but the lesson Alan receives will likely be an eye-opener for many readers.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Denial Is A Killer

BIGFOOT: ALASKA by Eric S. Brown begins with a hunting party getting slaughtered by some mysterious beasts. A search party goes missing soon after, so a third group decides to enter the danger zone to figure out what happened to the others. With the help of a local Native guide and a lifetime resident, they soon find themselves fighting creatures they thought were just folklore.

I'm amazed Brown hasn't run out of death scenes, but the author continues to keep readers guessing as he proceeds to massacre his characters, page after page. We can only hope 2020 will not include these monsters.

I also recommend PIRANHA by Brown, which offers a new twist on a familiar threat.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Neglected Daughter

PATERNAL LOVE by Rebecca Sheen is a flash fiction story about a young girl with psychic abilities waking up to find herself injured and trapped. After searching her immediate surroundings, Lucy discovers a dark secret, which involves her grandmother.

Not much character development, and too rushed. Good idea for a story, but should've been longer to create more suspense.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Never Ending Pain

PIECES OF JULIA by Tom Balko is a flash fiction piece about a man who has been receiving pieces of his murdered wife for over a year, since she first went missing. The police investigation seems ineffective and worthless, and I don't blame Sean for his drinking problem.

The ending is a shocker, as well as horrific. Some people just don't know when to let go.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Watch Your Step

THE BASEMENT by Chad P. Brown begins with a girl being dared to enter a haunted house, but Heather appears to be haunted herself. With a few brief references to the history of the house, the suspense is pretty good, but there's an unexplainable stretch from the house to Heather's personal tormentor.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Go Through Hell For Charity

AT HELL'S GATES: BOUND BY BLOOD donates proceeds to the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund. This third volume focuses on the dark side of family:

LITTLE LOST LAMB by Patrick D'Orazio is a suspense story about a religious foster couple accepting a challenge.

THE MEEK SHALL INHERIT by C.T. Phipps is a post-apocalyptic tale about a diabetic father rescuing his wheelchair bound daughter from a cult.

MONSTERS by Sharon Stevenson recalls a father-son moment in an apocalypse.

THE RIDE by Sean T. Smith is a drama about breaking a vicious cycle of violence.

THE OLD MAN AND THE SEESAW by Stephen Kozeniewski is one of the freakiest zombie stories that I've ever read.

SPENCER FAMILY TRADITION by Stevie Kopas is the most disturbing family tradition EVER.

ROAD TRIP by Curran Geist is a fantastic sci-fi story filled with horror and is one of my favorites.

A MOTHER'S HEART by S.G. Lee is a twisted adoption story with a dramatic ending.

BEAUTIFUL SAVAGE by Devan Sagliani is an interesting perspective of a zombie outbreak.

PLANETOIDS, PRIVATEERS, AND OLDER THINGS by S.P. Durnin is a sci-fi story that would impress Lovecraft...with a touch of humor.

DAMAGED by Tim Marquitz is a story about domestic abuse with a supernatural twist.

THE MOTHER TONGUE by Terry Maggert is a vampire story with a religious theme.

THROUGH MOURNING by Brian W. Taylor is about a father missing his daughter.

NIGHTMARES DO COME TRUE by Suzanne Robb is a fantastic and horrific twist on werewolf lore.

LOVE THAT BINDS by Mikhail Lerma is a father-daughter moment in the apocalypse.

THE COFFIN IN THE REEDS by RJ Kennett warns that some things should be left unopen.

IN MINT CONDITION by David Sakmyster is a classic suspense story that is another favorite of mine.

ARM-RINGS AND HACK-SILVER by Christine Morgan is a tale about dysfunctional Norse family.

BLOOD TYPE by Paul Mannering takes the vampire genre to a new, scary place.

NEIGHBORS GOOD AND FAIR by Douglas Draa is a novella about a folklore nightmare.

FROM DARKNESS WE COME by Kerry Alan Denney is a frightening kidnapping.

DOMINIC by Shana Festa is a terrifying zombie short.

SACRIFICE by TM Caldwell is a great fantasy story about demonic possession.

A MATTER OF PERCEPTION by Lesa Kinney Anders is one of the best in the collection, with incredible narration from a young boy.

WE TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN by Sarah Lyons Fleming is a hellish homecoming.

THE MOTHER IN THE LAKE by Chris Philbrook has a Lovecraft element and is one of the most chilling stories in this anthology.

SUGAR AND SPICE AND SOMETHING NOT SO NICE by M. Lauryl Lewis shows how awful a dog bite can get.

NO MAN LEFT BEHIND by Timothy W. Long features a battle of epic proportions...great story to end on.

At Hell's Gates: Bound By Blood is an excellent assortment of both new and established horror authors who twist and distort several sub-genres to create numerous versions of Hell. This includes quality storytelling without the stereotypical genre gimmicks, and horror fans will enjoy this creative effort for a worthy cause.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Hell's Gates Look Inviting

AT HELL'S GATES: ORIGINS OF EVIL is the second volume of an effort to raise money for the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund. I have already read volume one, and whatever method they are using to choose the stories, it's working well. There is something for every horror fan, including science fiction and fantasy subgenres mixed with classical horror elements, and, if you're not normally a fan of the horror genre, you will be after reading this anthology.

This particular volume had numerous stories bordering on the bizarro genre, so, once again, the volume is unique:

PULSE BY MARK TUFO is a fantastic thriller about a bug zapper, kind of like Borne Identity meets the SyFy channel.

COOKIES FOR THE GENTLEMAN BY C.T. PHIPPS is a dark and hopeless tale about an unwanted visitor.

BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY BY EVIN AGER introduces an Army MP with a Lovecraft-type of deployment.

HISTORY'S END BY FRANK TAYELL is proof that even the smartest person can make a really stupid mistake.

A MOTHER'S NIGHTMARE BY J. RUDOLPH is a sad zombie story that will tear your heart out.

PATIENT 63 BY STEVE KOPAS is one of my favorites; this is an excellent outbreak story.

TYRANNICAL ASCENSION BY SHANA FESTA is a twisted apocalypse story that I enjoyed a lot.

INK BY JAMES CRAWFORD is another favorite of mine about the dark meaning of a tattoo.

THE MAN WITH FOUR SCARS BY STEPHEN KOZENIEWSKI is Clan of the Cave Bear meets Night of the Comet, and is one of the very best stories in this volume.

DADDY'S GIRL BY IAN McCLELLAN caught me off-guard with the twist; well-written.

OPERATION DEVIL WALK BY DAVID MIKOLAS is a personal holocaust.

THE INFECTED BY SG LEE shows how a zombie virus is born.

FORGET ME NEVER BY SHARON STEVENSON tells the tale of a starlet's dark secret to success.

MIRAGE BY SEAN T. SMITH is a story that Ray Bradbury would be proud of.

THE MILLSTONE BY LESA KINNEY ANDERS is another favorite in this collection; it's one of the best vampire stories that I've ever read.

GENESIS BY KIT POWER is an intense thriller-prequel to the novel "Godbomb!"

LOCKDOWN BY TIM CALDWELL features a zombie outbreak at a school.

COLLECTION NIGHT BY CURREN GEIST is a gut-wrenching sci-fi story...a damn good one.

THE COLD BY DEVAN SAGLIANI is one of the most unusual stories in the entire anthology.

A DIFFERENT COCKTAIL BY CLAIRE C. RILEY is about a cult meeting that goes horribly wrong for one young man.

A SONG TO SING IN BABYON BY BOBBY METEVIER & MATTHEW BAUGH is very weird...told from a demonic POV.

THE GOUGER BY PAUL MANNERING is a brutal ending to a brutal anthology.

The variety and originality of the stories makes this a perfect gift for horror fans, while contributing to a good cause.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Another Step, But In What Direction?

WHERE ARE YOU? by Stephen A North is a flash fiction piece is more prose about a moment than a story, although the description does say "Book 1."

I don't even recognize North's writing anymore. I feel I've been witnessing an author making a self-discovery journey through short stories for the past year or two.

I have no idea who his target audience is supposed to be.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Loving A Dead Girl

MIDNIGHT LULLABY is a novella centered on a young man named Benedict Lyon, who has been hiding his relationship with Emmaline from his family. After returning to his family home for his mother's funeral, he soon discovers he's not the only one keeping a dark secret.

Tragic story of a young man from a family of ghost hunters, involved with the spirit of a murdered girl...the ending will haunt you. Cheryl Low redefines horror with this lullaby of the dead.

I also recommend INFERNAL, a frightening mystery-thriller, mixing folklore and supernatural elements with science.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Take The Stairs

ELEVATOR by Lisa Stump is strangely captivating. The descriptions create a very intense and terrifying experience. The ending left me wanting to know more about the narrator.

I think the author should consider turning this one into a novella because the characters are freaking mind-blowing. I feel like I just had a bad acid trip.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Return to A Zombie Favorite

DOWN THE ROAD: ON THE LAST DAY by Bowie Ibarra takes place in the same zombie apocalypse as the first book, but it's not exactly a sequel. While I recommend reading the original story before this one, it's not necessary. Readers of both will discover what happened to two of the characters who drive off from the original storyline.

My favorite part of the story is the moment the town's survivors hang their banner on the building to expose the media lies. I love how the townsfolk pull together to secure their town. Of course, the military nutjob has to go and wreck things. The UN forces learn the hard way what happens when you mess with Texans.

The characters are very believable, and Ibarra describes the area quite well. I'm being vague because I hate giving away too much when it comes to zombie novels.

The ending is mind-blowing. Still the best revenge scene since The Count of Monte Cristo (even after all these years).

As always,
AstraDaemon