Re-education | Book Review | AstraDaemon

THE SAMARITAN by Dave Jeffery is the third installment in a series about a meningitis mutation which causes deafness. Those born deaf (Harbingers) are blamed for the virus, and those who retain their hearing (Harks) are forced into slavery for those survivors who have become deaf after contracting the disease. Cathedral is one of the settlements which victimizes both Harbingers and Harks, while forbidding the use of sign language. Last but not least, the Samaritans patrol beyond the walls for supplies and survivors. The first two stories can be read in any order, but I recommend reading both of them before this third novella.

This one hit me harder than the others in the series. You know you're going to be a mess by the end when you're covering your own mouth to stop the screams. The experiences of the main character are a study of coercive persuasion in multiple forms. Jeffery couldn't have shocked me more if he took a crowbar to my knees. The ending absolutely floored me.

I highly recommend this series to all readers, not just horror fans...and keep in mind, the author wrote the first book BEFORE the pandemic.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Perception | Anthology Review | AstraDaemon

 

FROM THE DEPTHS: TERRIFYING TALES by Richard Saxon is a mix of fan favorites and never-before-published exclusives...

THE OCEAN IS MUCH DEEPER THAN WE THOUGHT: terrifying creature feature with fantastic suspense involving the Tonga Trench

I WOKE UP DURING SURGERY. THEY WEREN'T TRYING TO SAVE ME: a sci-fi flash fiction piece

WE HAVE BEEN GUARDING AND EMPTY ROOM FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS. TODAY WE FOUND SOMETHING INSIDE: somewhat predictable with a rather dark ending

I'M A PSYCHIATRIST THAT DEALS WITH THE SUPERNATURAL: a unique twist on possession

MY JOB IS TO WATCH PEOPLE DIE: something much different than a grim reaper tale

THE RUSSIANS DUG THE WORLD'S DEEPEST HOLE. NOW I KNOW WHY: one of my favorites, a sinister combo of science fiction and horror

IF THE SKY GOES DARK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY, HIDE: another favorite, a mind-blowing mix of science fiction and horror, kind of like Ray Bradbury and HP Lovecraft tripping out together in the woods

THEY LOCKED DOWN THE HOSPITAL I'M STAYING AT: one of the most horrifying stories in the collection, with extremely grotesque abominations

STAY AWAY FROM THE OCEAN. IT ISN'T SAFE ANYMORE: a creature feature with a tragic ending

EVERY YEAR ON MY BIRTHDAY, I HAVE TO DIE: like an episode of Twilight Zone, not necessarily scary, but extremely disturbing

A MAN KNOCKED ON MY DOOR AT MIDNIGHT, HE GAVE ME A HORRIBLE CHOICE: this one made me really angry, not happy with the abrupt ending at all

MY FAVORITE TWITCH STREAMER JUST DIED. HE'S STILL ONLINE: one of the most frightening explanations of the afterlife

MY OLD HOME VIDEOS SHOWED ME A LIFE I NEVER LIVED: by the time I reached this story and finished reading it, I began to wonder how the author lives with such morbid creations in his head

I HAVEN'T SLEPT IN 3 MONTHS: a supernatural flash fiction piece, another favorite

RAINFALL: much longer than the others, depressing as hell and a terrible reminder of current events

I FREED AN UNKNOWN ENTITY FROM AN ABANDONED MINE. I'M SO SORRY: has a connection to one of the earlier stories and I freaking LOVE it

ANGELS AREN'T BEAUTIFUL: a coming of age story colored with pain and suffering

ARBOR VITAE: absolutely tragic flash fiction

LISTEN TO THE SOUNDS OF YOUR OWN EXTINCTION: another one connected ever so slightly to a previous story

Not strictly a horror collection, but every story is entertaining in its own way.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Real Talk | Book Review | AstraDaemon

THE ONLY GOOD INDIANS by Stephen Graham Jones is a slow read. This is the first story by this author I didn't enjoy much. While I love the idea of an elk spirit looking for vengeance, and I appreciate the struggles of Native Americans (Blackfeet) both on and off the reservation, the writing style is very different from other books by Jones. The alternating POV seems disjointed more often than not, but I think the bigger issue is cultural.

I lived in a small town in South Dakota with a reservation on either side of us, and at least half the students, if not more, were Sioux. (Many of the other small towns had even more Native students than we did.) My family includes Yankton Sioux (by marriage), and my Sioux friends often shared their experiences growing up Native in the Dakotas with racism, alcoholism, and many other issues. Despite my own interactions with their culture/heritage, I think I'm too white to really appreciate this book.

I've always enjoyed novels with cultural themes, especially the ones which highlight personal struggles within a particular society...and, while I know people who can relate to these characters, I can't. I'm no stranger to the slang, which some readers complain about, but I'm never going to know what it is to feel too Native to fit in with whites, and yet feel a disconnect to the traditional ways of my own tribe. I can remember a friend studying his own Native language in college because he was denied the opportunity in his younger years...but, remembering someone else's pain and living it are not even close to being the same.

Even though I don't think this a horror novel as much as a family drama, with some coming-of-age moments, I am still recommending this. I think we need to make an effort to listen to the voices of authors from different cultures, even if we don't understand.

I also recommend WAIT FOR THE NIGHT and THE NIGHT CYCLIST for more terrifying horror pieces by SGJ.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Growing Within | Book Review | AstraDaemon

Evil is invisible, and it is everywhere.

That is the only way to explain the series of misfortunes that have plagued the wagon train known as the Donner Party. They cannot seem to escape tragedy...or the feelings that someone--or something--is stalking them...the ninety men, women, and children of the Donner Party are heading into one of one of the deadliest and most disastrous Western adventures in American history.

As members of the group begin to disappear, the survivors start to wonder if there really is something disturbing, and hungry, waiting for them in the mountains...and whether the evil that has unfolded around them may have in fact been growing within them all along.

THE HUNGER by Alma Katsu was suggested by a good friend (and fellow horror fan), and I am so very glad I read this novel. The author blends historical fiction with folklore, horror and family drama, resulting in a very believable retelling of the Donner Party demise. I love the inclusion of issues such as racism, misogyny, and bigotry towards homosexuality, making the characters more relatable, despite the time period.

Most of all, I am impressed by the science behind the evil, rather than resorting to another twist on the Wendigo trope. My friend pointed out the similarity to the movie Ravenous, and I agree, although the suspense in this story is far more spectacular than any film with this theme.

I highly recommend this novel.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Schmuck | Short Story Review | AstraDaemon

THE DEMON'S ACCOMPLICE by Joshua Scribner features a common trope about a husband wanting to punish his friend and wife for having an affair. However, he soon finds out the situation is not what it seems.

Too simplistic for Scribner's talent. He had the bad guy monologuing, for crying out loud.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Long-Winded | Short Story Review | AstraDaemon

UNSEEN by Mitchell Crowe reminds me of the movie Fallen, but from a clinical POV. The narrator takes forever to get to the heart of the story. Seems like the author attempted to write in the style of Lovecraft, but lacked the depth.

This is the worst Crowe story I've read yet. The only one I can recommend is EYE OF THE BEHOLDER.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Hunger Pang | Short Story Review | AstraDaemon

THE CHILDREN IN THE WALLS by JT Lawrence is a dark short story. I had an idea what the author had planned, but the ending still gut-punched me.

It's been a few years since I've read anything by this author, but Lawrence still has a talent for blending suspense and personal drama.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Might As Well Get Wrecked | Short Story Review | AstraDaemon

THE LAST DAY by Art Kell has a great premise, but this short story deserves a longer format, and the characters deserve more backstory. The ending is so shocking, I wish the author had given readers much more.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Buyer Beware | Review | AstraDaemon

HUGO HICKORY by Mikel J. Wilson is not something I would call flash fiction. This is more of an explanation than a story. Apparently, this fable is a fragment from a novel.

I'm not sure why this showed up in a horror search on Amazon.

As always,

AstraDaemon

LOL Nooo LOL | Short Story Review | AstraDaemon

THE HAUNTING by Stories From The Attic is laughable. I don't want to reveal spoilers, but I'm thinking the author doesn't know much about the price of cars. I also think the local police must be a joke. Don't even get me started on the main characters. I know fiction usually requires a suspension of disbelief, but this story is terrible compared to others by SFTA.

Do yourselves a favor and skip this one...go read ROOM 206 instead.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Stupid Criminals | Flash Fiction Review | AstraDaemon

THE DOLL by Bradley Poage is a typical bad-guys-make-bad-decision flash fiction piece. The two thieves didn't do their research properly.

Not sure who is worse: the girl or the doll.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Ancestry Secret | Short Story Review | AstraDaemon

DEFENSE MECHANISM by Joshua Scribner is similar to an installment of Doctor Wolfstone, but, unfortunately for Colin, his doctor is not as smart as Wolfstone.

I always enjoy Scribner's storytelling when the author mixes elements of past lives and supernatural entities.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Know Your Worth | Short Story Review | AstraDaemon

BARTER by Mitchell Crowe is better than THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DOOR, but not as good as EYE OF THE BEHOLDER. The chase at the beginning is a great hook, but the conversation in the limo drags on and on. Both main characters are extremely frustrating, one being vague, the other over-thinking.

The ending isn't a big surprise, but still an entertaining piece of horror. I wish the author would have given more backstory to the one making the offer.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Reincarnation of Lovecraft | Horror Novella Review | AstraDaemon

THE SEA WAS ANGRY by Armand Rosamilia is freaking awesome in the most horrific way. I haven't been this terrified since reading Dead Sea by Brian Keene. As soon as the shrimp boats were pulling up empty nets, I felt a sinking feeling in my stomach. With each chapter, I attempted to convince myself, "It can't get any worse...," but, with every page, the author reminded me what a wicked mind he has.

I love the alternating POV between survivor groups, as well as the details of the onslaught. I admit, I went outside to admire the hill I live on, and counted the miles between my property and the local river, more than once...didn't comfort me as much as I had hoped. Rosamilia has a fantastic talent for convincing readers his monsters cannot be held in his books for much longer.

This is definitely one of Rosamilia's best horror stories!

As always,

AstraDaemon

Oh, Boo Hoo | Flash Fiction Review | AstraDaemon

GRAVEYARD RISING by Stories From The Attic is an interesting twist on the revenge trope, but left me disliking Sarah as much as Byron. If she carried that much despair over a guy she only dated a month, I feel sorry for anyone else who dates her. (Yes, I know it's fiction, but the author mixes real life issues with horror in this short, so I'm salty over this one.)

This story didn't have as much suspense as previous SFTA shorts, but I still enjoyed hating on the characters.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Cast Off | Flash Fiction Review | AstraDaemon

BLOOD IN THE THREAD by Cheri Kamei is the author's version of the Japanese tale, The Crane Wife, with the original fable woven among pieces of love and abuse, shared through the eyes of the secret itself. The ending is both tragic and powerful.

Nothing like the genres I usually read, but well-written and moving.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Don't Be A Sore Loser | Science Fiction Review | AstraDaemon

FIRSTBORN by Brandon Sanderson is a science fiction piece centered on a young man who is expected to be a great military leader like his older brother. Unfortunately, while the elder has many planetary conquests, the younger one continues to lose every space battle.

For a large portion of this story, it would seem the author is using technology to explore aspects of human nature such as sibling rivalry and family expectations, but the ending reveals a surprisingly simple concept: accepting failure.

In a way, this is a coming-of-age for the main character.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Pass the Bucket | Extreme Horror Review | AstraDaemon

WITH CHILD: EXTREME HORROR by Sea Caumissar is absolutely brutal and filled with very graphic violence of a specific nature. I venture into extreme horror every now and then, but I don't usually have the stomach for it. This novella pushed me far beyond my comfort zone. I haven't been this traumatized since I watched A Serbian Film.

However, if you are a regular fan of the sub-genre, you will likely enjoy this story. Caumissar keeps readers guessing, refusing to name the sadistic killer until the very end, and giving plenty of reasons to suspect more than one character. I wasn't expecting a happy ending, but I'm vexed just the same. Might sound strange, but I was hoping for a killer vs. killer outcome.

Some might attempt to argue this is exploitive or unnecessarily graphic, but I think the author did a decent job balancing the gore with the element of crime drama.

Read at your own risk.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Tripped Circuits | Short Story Review | AstraDaemon

AWOKEN by Joshua Scribner is one of the best stories he's written in 2021. I had no idea what to expect, which is refreshing. Even though the reveal is made before the ending, the story continued to shock me.

I recommend this one to all readers, even if you aren't a horror fan.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Karma or Killer? | Short Story Review | AstraDaemon

EYE OF THE BEHOLDER by Mitchell Crowe is well-written and intense. While I had a clear idea about the direction of this storyline, the sudden ending surprised me. The narrator deserves more pages...more backstory.

I enjoyed this short much more than THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DOOR. I will definitely continue reading this author's work.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Out and About | Short Story Review | AstraDaemon

COLD WIND by Nicola Griffith is a strange blend of folklore and suspense, set in a city tavern on the eve of a holiday. I strongly suggest paying attention to the details because the story has a subtle style to the writing.

I appreciate the setting and characters representing a group often overlooked or exploited in mainstream fiction.

The ending is superb.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Burned Again | Flash Fiction Review | AstraDaemon

CRISIS CENTER by Vanessa Perry is the third story I've read by this author, and, as with the other two, most of the e-file is a preview of something else.

The suspense is pretty good, and the reveal towards the end is shocking, but I wish Perry had stayed with the storyline longer. I really wanted to know why Allie had been chosen.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Ticked Off | Short Story Review | AstraDaemon

BLACK LEG by Glen Hirshberg is a very unusual mix of modern ghost hunting and traditional folklore. The setup is a bit too long for my liking, but from the moment the narrator entered the mall, the author had me hooked.

I wish more research had been shared in detail, instead of in passing, but Hirshberg succeeded in delivering a chilling end.

As always,

AstraDaemon

A Pencil Won't Help | Short Story Review | AstraDaemon

THE WITCH TAPE by Stories From The Attic is a frightening account of three teens stupid enough to enter the local woods on Halloween night, even though they know the place is cursed.

I knew they were going to see something horrific, but what they find is much worse than I imagined. I felt as though I were running alongside them, not knowing if anyone would survive.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Knocked Up | Flash Fiction Review | AstraDaemon

BRINGING THEM by Joshua Scribner is too much like one of his previous stories, WAKING UP TO IT, about a guy who has a guardian angel crushing his nuts. This time the character is constantly being interrupted by females who won't leave him alone.

I prefer when Scribner mixes reincarnation with the supernatural. This story is just too weird for me.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Trippin' Ballz | Short Story Review | AstraDaemon

THIS WORLD IS FULL OF MONSTERS by Jeff VanderMeer is a difficult story to describe...imagine Rip Van Winkle mixed with Ash from Evil Dead, and throw in some shrooms, and I think you might have some idea what to expect.

The imagery is mind-blowing, and, unfortunately, overwhelming. The storyline proved difficult to follow for me. Told in first person, from a character who didn't understand what was happening to him...I couldn't make sense of it either.

Too confusing to be enjoyed.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Wham, Bam, Thank You Mam | Flash Fiction Review | AstraDaemon

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DOOR by Mitchell Crowe is more suspense than horror...the suspense being the ridiculously long setup. By the time the "horror" is revealed the story is over.

I think this would work better as a prologue for a full-length novel. The main character is an enigma, his mind deserving to be explored further.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Two Enter, One Leaves | Flash Fiction Review | AstraDaemon

LOST IN THE FOREST by Joshua Scribner follows a couple camping out in the woods. The area has a history of suicide. The boyfriend argues the people who took their lives are responsible for creating the dark history, but the girlfriend believes there is something supernatural at work. Turns out, they're both wrong, and their assumptions will cost them dearly.

Not really the quality I've come to expect from Scribner, but better than a lot of other flash fiction.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Homecoming | Short Story Review | AstraDaemon

THERE ARE MONSTERS HERE by Cameron Chaney has a premise which hooked me immediately: a family with personal monsters. Everyone has their own demonic entity to follow them around, taunting and tormenting them, but each person can only see their own. (Marrying into the family guarantees you a monster, as well.)

At first, I thought the narrator was just being metaphorical, but, no, his family has apparently been cursed or something similar. The pace is a bit on the slow side, but I think it's necessary to get readers on the same level of desperation as the main character.

I wish more had been revealed about the woods behind the family home, but the ending is still satisfying. If you haven't read this one, I recommend checking it out.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Demonic Delicacy | Horror Review | AstraDaemon

It costs more than some people's houses to charter one of these super yachts. The guests expect nothing but the best: The best service, the best food, the best excursions and the best time. They expect the trip of a life-time and Captain Lee and his team will do anything they can to ensure they get it too.

When the guests leave, they do so with a big smile on their faces and a promise that - one day - they will return and charter the yacht again. Better yet, they leave a big tip for the captain and his team... At no stage do they realise that, for most of the meals they've been eating, they have been feasting upon the crew's favourite snack, human meat...

BELOW DECK: HELL OR HIGH WATER by Matt Shaw is my new favorite by this author. Instead of the cannibals being the typical inbred mutants with non-existent IQs, the crew are rather cunning about their new business venture. Switching back and forth on the timeline, past events are served up much like the meat: a piece at a time. This creates a fantastic build-up of suspense, leading to an extremely sinister dilemma amongst the crew.

I didn't know where Shaw would take this yacht of blood, and the ending is shocking, to say the least. I'm fine with this story as a stand-alone, but I would definitely enjoy a sequel...the characters are right up there with Shaw's werewolves, as far as his bad guys go.

Recommending this one to all horror fans!

As always,

AstraDaemon

Off the Mark | Flash Fiction Review | AstraDaemon

For the little girl, the terrors hidden in this gothic house are diverse, but also familiar. Until today. Every step, every heartbeat, and every breath, brings her closer and closer to having to face them. The clock in the living room strikes a new midnight—one where everything can change.

OUR NIGHT GAME by Lucas Pogrzebny makes no sense to me. Nothing happens. Also, the narrative voice of the "little girl" seems more like the thoughts of someone very old...not childlike in any way. Completely missing any horror, other than a child sleeping in a pantry.

As always,

AstraDaemon