Worked to Death

Humanity has settled space and left Earth to its destruction. Connor and Ines have traveled back to Earth on a preservation project to find the human “jacks” that sacrificed their bodies to prop up the United States’s failing infrastructure. But the jacks hold a secret, one Connor would rather keep hidden than risk the truth being made public.

FOR EVERY JACK by R. K. Duncan is such a frightening concept, I wish this had been a full-length novel, with a detailed flashback to the Last Gasp. As is, the setting is very detailed, in an active way. The author doesn't waste a single page. Connor's POV, including his family history, adds several layers to this story. I'm really impressed with this flash fiction piece, and I recommend it to all readers, especially Ray Bradbury fans.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Taking Out The Trash

OUTLAST YOUR GODS by Elias Witherow is dark like THE THIRD PARENT, but without the supernatural entity. This time, the trouble comes in the form of a new neighbor, Sawyer, who attempts to influence the impressionable mind of Rowan. The poor kid is determined to be a good person, but, with everyone and their dog antagonizing him, Sawyer's way of thinking seems to make sense.

Unfortunately, the thirteen year old is dragged into a waking nightmare by the raging drunk, and he's lost all hope of escaping. Everyone has an event which changed them forever...this summer will either be Rowan's rebirth or his last stand. Once again, Witherow horrifies readers with the monsters among us.

I also recommend THE LAST TOWER by Witherow, a family drama set in a sci-fi post-apocalypse.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Choot 'Em!!

A HUMAN STAIN by Kelly Robson is a confusing short story. Apparently, the parents are some kind of alligator hybrids who give birth to tasty grub children. Not sure if the first-born is the one who received all the human DNA, but he's a little creep in any case.

The governess-to-be is into young girls, even if the girl in question has her mouth wired for dietary reasons. The cook and the steward are pretty chill, considering all the crazy crap happening around them.

I don't know how in the hell this won an award, especially since the Nebula Award is given to works of science fiction and fantasy, not Lovecraft-tripping-balls-with-the-munchies.

As always,
AstraDaemon

When Nightmares Come True

For the first time, I had an author ask me to remove a positive review. The author is restructuring his writing career, and was super polite with his request.

That said, I will NOT be doing this again.

As always,
AstraDaemon

9/19/2023

Modernized Monster

THE NIGHT CYCLIST by Stephen Graham Jones is a spectacular twist on a classic theme. I love how unpredictable the storyline is, and the characters are absolutely captivating. The controversy surrounding the bike trails is also a great touch, and I'm sure many cyclists will be able to relate.

I wouldn't say no to a sequel, and I'm recommending this short to all readers who enjoy quality storytelling.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Folklore, Drama and Horror

THE NIGHT SUN by Zin E. Rocklyn is a thrilling blend of family drama and Native folklore, with a beautiful, yet violent, ending. The Amazon description does nothing to convey the mysticism and suspense carefully woven throughout this short story.

I highly recommend this one to all readers, not just horror fans. I've never heard of Rocklyn, but her version of a legendary creature is making my Top 2020 list.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Watch Your Step

A FOREST, OR A TREE by Tegan Moore is a short story about four girls facing several problems after hiking into an unknown area of a forest. The campfire tale told on the first night triggers something watching them. After one of them becomes deathly ill, a difficult decision must be made.

The ending is a little too abrupt for me. I wish the author had included all four POVs. I'd like to know what happened to all of them.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Sacrifices

THE FORT by Alan Lastufka is an entertaining flash fiction piece, although fairly predictable. The "remodeling" is a great hook, but the author ended the story too soon. I think more needed to be done concerning Tim's decision, and Aaron should've have researched the cabin's history or something. Lastufka could've done so much more with the ending.

As always,
AstraDaemon

King's Kids

CHILDREN OF THE CORN by Stephen King is one I have no memory of reading before now. I didn't think much of the movie, so I never bothered with the story. I couldn't understand what people found so frightening about this short, and I still don't.

While a boy with a slit throat in the road is terribly disturbing, and a deserted town is creepy, there's just not much more to this story than the husband and wife fighting with each other. I don't even care what happens to them.

Instead, I recommend MILE 81, written by King within this decade and borrowing some themes from his older stories.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Taking A Trip

STOP THE CAR by Mark McNease is a flash fiction piece about a drug runner claiming to have been abducted by aliens. Readers will have to decide if the abduction really happened, or if the narrator hallucinated.

The flashback disrupts the flow of the story, and the incident with the car is anti-climactic at best. Not very interesting.

As always,
AstraDaemon

So Much Action in So Few Words

APRIL 29 by Adam Vine is a sci-fi short about a young woman in a dystopian world. The format is in journal form, written by the main character, while she learns to read and write. The jarring style of the entries blends suspense and emotion to create a stunning coming-of-age memoir about a revolution.

I also recommend GENE CATCHER and THIS DOOR IS LOCKED by Adam Vine.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Throwback Thursday: Stand-Up Horror

3...2...1: SCARING THE SHIT OUT OF YOU IN 3 SENTENCES OR LESS is original, weird and surprisingly entertaining, but not scary. This collection is more like stand-up comedy, only with the topic of horror. I can imagine a guy delivering these lines on a microphone, giving the audience shivers in place of laughs.

The three-sentence deliveries don't have titles, however, my favorites were "kiss goodnight," "walkie talkie," "call you by name," "Ouija board," and "time to go to bed."

As always,
AstraDaemon

Careful What You Post

THE PERFECT STRANGER by Wendy Corsi Staub centers on bloggers being stalked and killed over their public posts. Specifically, a support group of breast cancer survivors providing too much personal information online. One of their group is murdered, and a few decide to meet in person for the funeral. After being questioned by police, they suspect the killer is one of them.

I couldn't predict who the killer would be, and the motive eluded me until the very end. The mystery kept me hooked, but there are far too many slow moments to call this a thriller. Luckily, the main characters are well-developed and easy to match with their online personas. The multiple POVs are a great way to keep the storyline going, but the switches are a little haphazard at times.

I've been told this is not Staub's best work, but I think this story stands out from many other mystery novels, with the real-life drama in this fictional setting. If you're looking for something different, it's not a bad way to pass a few hours.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Next Door Nightmare

THE NEIGHBOR by Dean Koontz is a creepy prequel to the novel THE CITY, which I haven't read. However, this short story works just fine as a stand-alone. Narrated by a man reflecting on a horrifying childhood memory, readers will understand how this becomes a life-changing experience for both brother and sister.

I expected them to find a vampire, but what they discover is much worse.

As always,
AstraDaemon

The Power of Details

The staff at Amber Lake care home are sadly familiar with death. However, the death of one particular woman is shrouded in mystery, darkness and harrowing memories.

As she sorts through the belongings left behind, what will staff member Catherine learn about the mysterious old woman?

RAINBOWS by Kyle J. Franklin is not the horror story I expected, but this short is full of suspense and dread. The details with the diaries and the storm are great touches, and I felt as though I were in the apartment with Catherine, looking over her shoulder. The ending is quite a surprise, but the message from the author is well-received.

As always,
AstraDaemon

The Death Tour

THE GHOST OF ANNIE CLOSE by Amy Cross is a thrilling blend of real-life issues and urban legend horror. Whether or not you're a horror fan, this needs to be a must-read for everyone who uses social media, especially the ones who think comments are harmless.

The author takes this story far beyond supernatural revenge against internet trolls, and reveals the tragic price of fame. There should probably be a trigger warning for the ending. Suspense gives way to grief, knowing some people will always repeat cruel and sadistic behavior.

As always,
AstraDaemon

The Speed Demon

FIRE TIRES by Clark Roberts is one of my favorite stories by this author. The storyline is somewhat predictable, but the horror is still gut-wrenching. Kind of a mix of two Twilight Zone episodes: IT'S A GOOD LIFE and STOPOVER IN A QUIET TOWN.

However, this short also includes the sinister darkness I've come to expect from Roberts whenever he includes children among his characters. I hope the author continues with stories like this one. I also recommend BEST DAY OF SUMMER.

As always,
AstraDaemon

The Final Phase

END OF THE ROAD by C. Dulaney is supposed to be the final book in the Roads Less Traveled series, and I'm sincerely hoping I can convince the author to write one more full-length novel. (There is also the possibility fans may be able to read some short stories set in the RLT world.) There is a form of conclusion in this novel, which amounts to the main characters learning to accept the new world order. However, readers are never offered a POV from Isabel or Sam, both supporting characters with extremely significant roles in the series, who could possibly offer a true completion to this apocalyptic saga.

Compared to the previous four books, many more lives are lost in some of the most devastating battle scenes ever written, while the few survivors left have formed a new family of sorts. The characters have learned to put quality of life over quantity of life span, but Kasey's group are making a living doing some truly dark deeds in exchange for supplies, becoming anti-heroes in the process. Essentially, they get their hands very dirty, so everyone else can pretend they're still "good" people.

Brad's group can barely keep their heads above the blood pooling around them. Wherever they go, people are slaughtered, and they feel responsible for the body count. After suffering an agonizing humiliation at the hands of deviant bandits, the tiny group of PSIs decide to seek out Kasey's group to join forces, but it's too little, far too late.

The story arc is amazing and unlike any other end-of-the-world scenario I've ever read, but the evolution of the characters is what really stands out. So often, I read apocalypse series where the survivors remain basically the same, no matter what they go through, which is BS, even in the horror genre. Dulaney digs into her creations, tears them into pieces and scatters their remains across each novel, much like her "terminators," resulting in an absolute genocide of epic proportions.

I encourage fans of the series to show their support for Roads Less Traveled by leaving reviews. As for those who haven't yet begun this series, I highly recommend you join the rest of us in Dulaney's apocalypse.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Changing Lanes In Roads Less Traveled

In PHOENIX, the Roads Less Traveled universe is expanded in unexpected ways, the events of which take place parallel to the events of Books One, Two, and Three. We will follow a new cast of characters, led by Brad Lincoln... though you may receive a visit from some old, familiar faces. Those of you who have followed the series will recognize our protagonist, Brad, from the ending of SHADES OF GRAY. It is his story we will see, and how his team fought to the very end to save us all.

PHOENIX by C. Dulaney is the fourth book in the series, but is more or less a new storyline set in the Roads Less Traveled apocalypse. When I first began reading this one, I thought, "Oh for crying out loud! Psychics?! Really?! Way to ruin a great zombie series..." I am not normally a fan of the supernatural being mixed with the undead. I felt certain I would be put off Dulaney's writing forever. WRONG!

First of all, and this is very important, do NOT read Phoenix until AFTER you read the other three books in the series. It will make a huge difference in what you get out of this novel. As a fan, I became really excited when I recognized characters from Kasey's story making cameos.

There is not as much character development as the first three novels, but Book 4 adds an incredible depth to the series as a whole. It is quite heart-wrenching, and I am eagerly awaiting the final book in the series, with this new insight into Dulaney's zombie apocalypse.

I will warn readers the setup is a bit slow, and the zombie action doesn't really get under way until much later in the book. However, I feel this is a must-read for fans of the series.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Kasey Continues Down Roads Less Traveled

SHADES OF GRAY (Roads Less Traveled Book 3) by C. Dulaney combines zombies and science, creating a mind-blowing addition to the ongoing story. The author introduces scientists who have created antibodies to fight the undead, in a shocking way...certain to entertain zombiephiles. I don't dare say anything more, to avoid spoilers.

The characters and their relationships are much more complicated, as they should be by this point in their apocalyptic journey. I find myself reacting to the people as much as the action in this installment. For example, I'm disgusted with Mia's attitude towards Kasey...as a matter of fact, I'm real fed up with the way the survivors are taking Kasey for granted (ex: treating her like she is part of the problem), while Kasey remains the main reason most of these folks are still alive. This book also features the greatest test of Kasey's will to survive. As far as Jake goes, I wonder if he will still be the jester of the group, considering everything which happens to them at Winchester.

Fans of this series absolutely need to continue on to PHOENIX, but only AFTER reading the first three books. The insight the fourth book provides to the series is quite compelling, to say the least.

When I first began this series, I never read anything by Dulaney before, but she has made quite a name for herself in the zombie genre, and I can't wait for the final book in the series!

As always,
AstraDaemon

Action-Packed Sequel to The Plan

MURPHY'S LAW (Roads Less Traveled Book 2) by C. Dulaney is a great follow-up to Roads Less Traveled: The Plan. Just as the first book is divided into parts, so is the sequel. The best part is far more zombie action, including a brutal carnage scene, which had me wondering if there will be any characters left to write another book in this series.

Kasey, the young woman with the "Z-plan," has grown up quite a bit since the first story. She faced tremendous losses, mainly due to the problems caused by Kyra (who I am sure is hated by fans of Book 1), and Kasey has finally exceeded her crap tolerance level.

The POV is mainly Kasey's throughout the second installment, with brief perspectives from members of her group, as well as Kyra - now a prisoner of some escaped convicts. The group decides to pursue the convicts, although the survivors have different reasons for hunting the cons down. While en route, Kasey and her friends make some startling discoveries about the undead, which kept me screaming, "Game over, man!"

A few more characters are introduced into the series (from a third group), but it isn't difficult keeping track of who is who, and a few well-placed flashbacks help to recall what happened in THE PLAN. Even though Dulaney continues to place emphasis on the relationships of the survivors (which is often heart-breaking), there is no lack of gore in this sequel.

Thankfully, there is no cliff-hanger, but the ending hints at what is sure to be a thrilling third installment.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Gear Up For Dulaney's Zombie Series

ROADS LESS TRAVELED: THE PLAN by C. Dulaney is the first installment of a five book series (all available). Part One, Down The Road, begins on October 1st. A young woman named Kasey actually has a "Z-plan" in place before the zombie outbreak in the story. She and her friends are apparently huge zombiephiles.

"Sure it might sound crazy, but who's alive right now and who's not?"~Kasey

Ben and Jake are Kasey's two friends who agree to the Z-plan, but the three of them are joined by Jake's grandmother, Nancy, and some fellow college students who are caught up with the main trio, during their escape to the Appalachian Mountains. The POV switches between Ben and Kasey throughout Part One, until their storylines merge on October 6th.

Part Two, The Road Home, begins on October 7th, and the POV switches to a friend of Kasey's named Mia, who is briefly included in a phone call with Kasey in Part One. Mia runs out of supplies in her home, and tries to escape to Kasey's safe haven. Along the way, she meets a little boy named Ashton at a rest area, which further complicates Mia's dire situation. The POV switches temporarily to Kyra, who is abrasive towards Kasey, and causes one problem after another for her group. Instead of eliciting sympathy, Kyra's thoughts and actions only justify the hatred readers are sure to feel towards her character. When the storylines of Mia and Kyra finally merge, the cast of characters find themselves in a downward spiral, despite their carefully laid out survival plan.

Part Three, Road To Nowhere, which begins on October 20th, was emotionally devastating. The horrors that Kasey and her group face had me in tears. In Part Two, another survivor group is momentarily mentioned in passing, and they predictably clash towards the end of Part Three, but, even so, the fates of the main characters are surprising. (I like the fact there are only a handful of characters to keep track of, eliciting more empathy.)

The Plan is a great start to a series, but the beginning of the book requires a little patience. The zombie action doesn't happen right away, and there is more focus on the relationships between characters than killing the undead. However, the depth of the characters makes up for the lack of gore. I think it's safe to assume we will see more conflicts with the undead in the sequel, and I can't wait to read what else Dulaney has in store for Kasey's group.

As always,
AstraDaemon

A Cold Day In Hell

FROZEN IN ICE by Armand Rosamilia is a mix of sci-fi and horror. During an experimental flight, a pilot crashes into an alien aircraft. A hand-picked team is sent to the secret base to find out what happened to the pilot and the military project.

Although background info is provided for each character, readers never really find out the specific reason those people are chosen for the search and rescue mission, instead of a special ops team. Some of the interactions between the characters leaves something to be desired, but the fight for survival is quite intense.

The ending caught me completely off-guard. Rosamilia's creation is almost like John Carpenter's Thing, retold from the alien's POV. Captivating to the very last sentence.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Terrifying Television

LIMINAL SPACE by Lemi K has a setup, which forms the bulk of the story. While the disappearance of Len is significant, the history of the town seems unnecessary. However, as soon as Adam shows up at Violet's house, the story becomes extremely creepy. The ending is shocking, and the Sheriff's fear is a great touch.

POLARIZED is still my favorite by this author, but this short is a close second.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Watch Your Step

VISITORS by James Loscombe is noting like what I expected...definitely a roller coaster ride: twist after twist. I couldn't have predicted this ending, if my life depended on it. I highly recommend this mix of crime drama and horror.

One of my favorite Loscombe stories!

As always,
AstraDaemon

No Going Back

DECISIONS by Jason Myers is not what I expected. I thought the story would be focused on one moment, but instead readers are taken on a journey of all the life-changing decisions the main character makes in his adult life. Unfortunately, the last decisions is taken out of his hands.

As always,
AstraDaemon

An Ancestral Revenge

MOUSE AND OWL by Bracken McLeod is dark short story about revenge, written in the style of folklore. While the main character carries out her plan, details of the dystopian society are revealed. The erasure of a culture, while placed in a fantasy setting, is reminiscent of real life history.

The ending has the perfect touch of horror, without taking away from the message of standing up to genocide. I recommend this one to all readers.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Lots of Bad Guys

THE DRAIN by Victor Vilestone has been revised and re-released. In my review of the original version, I stated the author should've included a twist or two because the story was predictable. This ending is far superior, and I LOVE the changes. In fact, I think Vilestone should consider writing a follow-up short because the characters are so much more intriguing this time around.

MESSED WITH THE WRONG GUY is filled with raw emotion, leading up to one hell of a shock. Dave only wanted revenge, but he found a horrifying truth instead.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Lovecraft Being Racist

THE TERRIBLE OLD MAN by H.P. Lovecraft, set in the fishing village of Kingsport, isn't much of a story as it is a set-up...shadow without the substance. The author has a talent for creating, but not story-telling. His pieces are intriguing, but how he moves them lacks skill.

I'm amazed at how much of an influence Lovecraft has over present-day authors, many of which write far better stories. I also noticed his racism showing in this one.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Supernatural or Imagined?

THE VISITOR by Clark Roberts is disappointing, nothing like what I've come to expect from the author. However, this one is older than the previous two I've read/reviewed, so it seems Roberts has improved his storytelling over time.

The ending isn't clear enough for me. Not sure if the story is supernatural or something imagined by the main character.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Survivors or Terrorists?

THE HIM DEEP DOWN by Chad Lutzke and Terry M. West begins with one of the most horrifying sentences I've ever read, only to have the story grow darker with every page. I don't know what I expected, but it sure as hell wasn't the wicked twist, crack and crunch.

This is less about the undead and more about the horrible things people do in the name of survival. Well-written and filled with gore.

As always,
AstraDaemon