Bad Service | Short Story Review

SELFIES by Lavie Tidhar is very disappointing after reading the Judge Dee series. Trying to navigate the storyline felt like sorting through puzzle pieces. I didn't feel anything while reading this...no suspense, no terror. The concept is already a bit overdone in the sub-genre.

I recommend Tidhar's DRAGONKIN instead.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Familiar Fable | Short Story Review

THE MAIDEN THIEF by Melissa Marr gave me déjà vu. I felt as if I had read this story before, but I knew I hadn't. I didn't realize this was a re-telling of the French folk story Bluebeard, until I read some of the other reviews.

While the original tale is quite gruesome, this version is more psychological. Verena also makes for a better protagonist. Even though I recognized elements of Perrault's creation in Marr's work, I think the author did a good job reconstructing this legend into a short centered on female empowerment.

I enjoyed this much more than OF ROSES AND KINGS. I wish the author would return to this writing style.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Conformity Bites | Short Story Review

Vlad has grown distant from his wife. His son has trouble at school. And he has to keep his sharp teeth hidden.

A KISS WITH TEETH by Max Gladstone is a pretty realistic take on how a vampire is likely to be living in this time period...no glamour, no glitter and no gore.

I love how he met his wife, and I adore how he parents his son. The ending is absolutely perfect.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Down to the Bone | Horror Review

THESE DEATHLESS BONES by Cassandra Khaw is a dark blend of horror and suspense. I had no idea what to expect from this story, and I'm happy to say I've never read anything like it. Both characters evoked strong emotions...I wanted to drop kick the Prince across the room and cheer for the stepmother.

I'd love another story from the narrator. Highly recommend!

As always,

AstraDaemon

Mr. Underhill | Dark Fantasy Review

FINNEGAN'S FIELD by Angela Slatter is a mix of horror and dark fantasy centered on the return of a young girl who had been missing for three years. Her mother is convinced the child is not hers. A couple months later, Anne discovers what her not-daughter has been doing during the girl's sleep-walking episodes, and decides to investigate further.

At first, I thought this would be a changeling story, but there is so much more to this. I absolutely love the way the story is presented, with all the suspects lined up, and the strange behavior of Mrs. Flynn. The connection between the old generations in Ireland and the new generations in Australia is heart-breaking, as folklore tends to be.

I highly recommend this one to all readers, even if you are not usually a fan of this sub-genre.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Villain Origin Story | Extreme Horror Review

After a terrible family tragedy, what seems like a peaceful Thanksgiving meal turns into a meal of horror.

Angie has hit the breaking point with her family. That doesn't deter her from wanting to spend a holiday with her family.

The guests soon find out that Angie didn't invite them out of kindness.

This is a bloody horror story. There are scenes of extreme violence. Not for children.

This story is based on fiction. If this is anything like your family holidays, I apologize.

AN EXTREME TURKEY DINNER by Sea Caumissar is brutal and full of graphic violence. As horrific as Angie's behavior is, when her reason for her plan is finally fully revealed, all I could think is, "Larry got off waaay too lightly."

This story is not for weak stomachs or people who are sentimental about the holidays. This could possibly be a villain origin story...but not necessarily for Angie.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Spiteful Ex | Short Story Review

Dino is a documentary filmmaker, haunted by the ghost of his ex-girlfriend who was killed in a car crash while with another man. As Dino shoots his latest documentary on the vandalism occurring in the woods of his hometown, he tries to move on from her unexpected death. But when his life starts to look up, the ghost encroaches on his property. The focus of the film begins to blur as the lens of the camera shifts onto Dino, the director succumbing to his ghostly obsession.

REVERSE DOCUMENTARY by Marisela Navarro is one of the most vexing stories I've ever read. I think I've been on Reddit too much because I wanted Dino to confront the ghost about the guy in the car. I don't think I've ever disliked a ghost so much before now. The ending is like salt in the wound.

In other words, I love the writing. Anytime I get this worked up about characters, it's a sure sign the story-telling is awesome. This is one of the reasons I love reading: to feel all kinds of emotions.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Something in the Air | Horror Review

OF A MAD BRAIN by Scott Donnelly mixes both psychological and visceral horror to create a family drama within a somewhat gothic setting. I didn't really like any of the characters...they weren't interesting to me in any way and I didn't care what happened to any of them. The ending had a Human Centipede vibe, so there's that.

While well-written, this novella lacks the shock and awe of Donnelly's previous work, although this simply may not be my cup of poisoned tea. If you like movies such as American Psycho, this might appeal to you.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Lost My Appetite | Book Review

HUNGRY HILL by K.J. Sargeant didn't impress me. The POV jumps around so much, I had a difficult time getting into the story (I still can't make sense out of the beginning). Also, I know a lot of UK authors, as well as family from the Edinburgh region, and I don't know anyone who talks like that, except Americans pretending to be from the UK. Could use the help of an editor.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Gates of Hell | Horror Review

In 1935, British archaeologists vanished inside an Egyptian cave. A year later, one man returned covered in mysterious scars.

Egyptologist Imogen Riley desperately wants to know what happened to the ill-fated expedition led by her grandfather. On a quest for answers, she joins a team of archeologists and soldiers in Egypt. Inside a mountain tomb, they’ve found a technologically advanced relic and a maze of tunnels. Dr. Nathan Trummel believes this tomb leads to the most guarded secrets of the pharaohs. When the explorers venture deep into the caves, they discover a hidden world of wonder and terror.

TOMB OF THE GODS by Brian Moreland is my new favorite by this author. The story is a terrifying mix of mythology, religion, horror and science fiction. All of the characters have dark backstories which come into play as the group attempts to retrace Harlan's steps, using his journal as a guide. The variety of creatures is impressive. I love every aspect of this story, particularly the imagery towards the end.

I highly recommend this story to all readers who enjoy action-thrillers such as Stargate and Anaconda.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Not Much Horror | Book Review

AMAZON HORROR CRUISE by Eric S. Brown is a horror novella sprinkled with mythology, but surprisingly few monsters. The way Captain Eli carries on, I expected far more problems for the crew along the river journey. The actions scenes are thrilling, but not as many I expected from the author.

Compared to Brown's previous work, this one seemed a little on the bland side. I recommend PRIMAL FORCE for a better jungle nightmare.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Annnd They're Gone! | Horror Review

BETWEEN DEAD TREES by Matt Shaw functions as a stand-alone, but readers will appreciate the characters and events more if they read INTO THE WOODS first.

I love the way the author divided up the story...increased the suspense tenfold. Once again, Shaw takes the time to give readers a reason to care about the characters before he yeets them off into hell.

I hope there's a third one because I'd really like to know the name of the entity.

As always,

AstraDaemon

No One Gets Delivered | Horror Review

INTO THE WOODS by Matt Shaw is a great example of how the author connects readers to his characters, so they experience the terror rather than simply reading about the pain and suffering. Many extreme horror authors just slap gore and violence on the pages and call it a story, but Shaw puts real effort into humanizing the inhuman acts.

As always,

AstraDaemon

If Disney Remade Phantasm | Suspense Review

BABY TEETH by Daniel Polansky is kind of like Phantasm, if Disney made their own version. A boy helps a stranger hunt down a vampire killing his peers. You never see the monster, never see what it does to the victims. Hercules remains a mystery, and Graham returns to his unremarkable life. Not really horror, not even a coming-of-age story.

However, the story is well-written, and held my interest from beginning to end, so I'm recommending this to readers who enjoy suspense without gore and violence.

As always,

AstraDaemon 

All Things Serve The Tower | Horror Review

UR by Stephen King seemed rather dry at first, with Wesley coming off as a literary snob with lousy social skills. He discovers the unusual features of his pink Kindle, and yet fails to fully appreciate what he possesses. Luckily, he shares his new device with two others, if only to figure out if he's lost his mind or not.

Once the three begin investigating the UR within the Kindle together, the story becomes quite alarming. The descriptions of the characters' shocked reactions are anxiety-inducing. While I suspected where Wesley would go with his experimenting, the details are the gut-wrenching torments which Stephen King uses to lure readers into the horror genre, enslaving us to our masochistic cravings for more.

If you're already a Stephen King fan, you're going to lose your mind over the ending.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Jewish Golem | Horror Review

ANNA'S SISTER by Amy Cross surprised me with a bit of Jewish folklore in the form of a golem. The author also mixes in various occult practices not normally found together in the same storyline. While I appreciate not knowing how this novella would end, the setup took far too long for my liking, and the character interactions weren't very lively (no pun intended).

This story isn't nearly as entertaining as the author's previous work, but I love the change up from all the ghost stories. If you're looking for something different from Cross, give this a try.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Liebert's Darkest Work | Horror Review

THINGS UNKNOWN by Travis Liebert is another collection of stories belonging to The Shattered God Mythos. These stories are far darker than the ones found in THINGS UNDONE. The first story just about wrecked me, especially as a parent. Casual readers of the horror genre might not have the stomach for many of these stories...consider that a content warning.

Many of these stories have connections to previous shorts released by the author. I strongly recommend reading ALL of Liebert's previous shorts in order to appreciate the characters and their motives in these stories.

With all that said, I highly recommend this to all horror fans.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Ghost Depot | Supernatural Review

SCARE AT THE SQUARE by Scott Donnelly gave me the sense of watching a docudrama on the History Channel late at night. Not so much a story about a person or a group of people, but more of a timeline for horrible and supernatural events because of an abandoned train station.

While Donnelly's short held my interest from beginning to end, this isn't nearly as ghastly and thrilling as his pervious work. THE WHOOL is still my favorite by this author.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Water of the Womb | Horror Review

FLOWERS FOR THE SEA by Zin E. Rocklyn is a dark fantasy novella full of powerful imagery, with elements of Lovecraftian horror and mythology.

The author has a quite a talent for creating a strong female character with a rich ancestral history full of mysticism.

If you'd like a taste of Rocklyn's writing style before you decide on this one, I highly recommend THE NIGHT SUN.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Unearthed | Horror Review

OGROMNY by Armand Rosamilia is a horror novella which shares the same fictional world as THE BEAST, FROZEN IN ICE, THE SEA WAS ANGRY, ABANDONED and TRAPPED (and I recommend all of them, just read TRAPPED last).

"Ogromny Means Huge.

Twelve years ago something massive burst from the mountains near Okha, Russia, shedding wicked creatures when attacked, before walking into the Pacific Ocean.

Walking directly toward the United States coastline.

Four thousand miles later it is headed straight toward San Francisco and the destruction of a city and its inhabitants, unless doctors Volkoff and Sokolov can figure out how to stop it."

This is my new favorite story by Rosamilia. To be brutally honest, I didn't read it when it first came out because I'm not really a fan of the Kaiju genre. I only read this because this story is linked to another. I'm so glad I gave this novella a chance. The description of the huge creatures is absolutely enthralling.

The ending is horrifying, and I'm hoping the author might write sequel. Usually I'm upset if I'm left with questions, but, in this case, the missing information heightens the terror. I highly recommend this one to all readers.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Forced Migration | Horror Book Review | AstraDaemon

THE BREEDING SEASON by Kody Boye is the third book in the Dagana series. In the first installment, THE LAST MERMAID, Jessica's parents are both found dead, their bodies savagely mutilated by some unidentifiable creature. Jessica and her friends realize they are dealing with a blood-thirsty mermaid. The three teens decide to battle the deadly creature. In the sequel, THE SECOND SPAWN, Jessica and her friends learn a wealthy man with misguided "good" intentions has undone everything the the three friends accomplished, making their shorelines a hunting ground once again.

This book centers on betrayal. Despite all the evidence, there are still attempts to cover up the deadly threat the creatures pose to the residents of Mermaid Cove. Someone close to Jessica takes credit for the discovery of the mermaids, and lies about the events leading up to big reveal. As if the situation couldn't be more out of control, an enemy from the past threatens to kill Jessica and anyone who tries to protect her.

This installment is definitely a rollercoaster compared to the previous two books. The ending left me wondering if there might be another book. Highly recommend this series.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Baby Step | Horror Review | AstraDaemon

THE LAST CALL HOME by Matt Shaw should not be read by anyone home alone at night. While this is not nearly as shocking and gore-filled as most of his other stories, the likelihood of this happening in real life is too damn high for comfort. I'm just glad my dog is more reactive than Dexter.

The ending is nothing close to anything I imagined. I thought maybe Ben went off the rails, or Jim had some kind of personality disorder. I also couldn't help but wonder why they never changed the bloody locks.

This may not be a favorite with Shaw's extreme fans, but this is a great starter for tourists to the horror genre...if you like the author's writing style, you should read Octopus afterwards.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Over-Hyped | Horror Review | AstraDaemon

NOTHING BUT BLACKENED TEETH by Cassandra Khaw is one of the most over-hyped stories I've ever read. While well-written, and steeped in suspense, there's not much in the way of action, dialogue, or the supernatural. I expected to be frightened, but She-With-The-Blackened-Teeth doesn't even come close to the Japanese horror I hoped for.

The characters are the weakest part of the story. You have the pretty boy who has apparently slept with both the females in the group. The narrator who is suffering from mental illness, and has had a dysfunctional relationship with all three guys. The chick who can't stand the narrator because of jealousy issues. The guy hopelessly in love the jealous chick, and the married guy who only showed up to see his ex-girlfriend. Zero character development, and pitiful interactions.

I wanted them all to die, but, alas, no happy ending for the reader, just a really self-centered summary, courtesy of the narrator, who manages to make everything be about her.

I very rarely bring up the cost of a book (because I really do try to respect the time and effort authors put into their creations), but I don't think this story is worth the full price I paid...not for a lackluster novella.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Falling | Horror Review | AstraDaemon

IMMORTAL SHADOWS by Matt Shaw almost made me cry. At first, I thought this would simply be a story about a patient who sees some terrifying apparitions in a hospital, perhaps fight a demonic force during recovery. No such luck.

I arrogantly thought I had guessed correctly what had happened to the main character, until the horrific reveal towards the end. Shaw leads readers to the metaphorical elevator, letting them think they know where it will take them, and, once the doors open as expected, promptly shoves them down the dark shaft.

Much like THE SUICIDE CLUB, Matt Shaw has blended real-life fears with thought-provoking terror to create a ghost story readers won't soon forget.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Digging Up The Truth | Short Story Review | AstraDaemon

THE CAIRN IN SLATER WOODS by Gina Rosati has a lot going on for a short story format. All of the characters are well- defined, and I'd love to read a longer version with more info about Vanessa and Aunt Z. Perhaps a flashback with the two of them interacting.

I also enjoyed the preview provided afterwards...Rosati has a captivating writing style, and I'm definitely looking forward to reading more of her work.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Reading Impaired | Short Story Review | AstraDaemon

COMET by JT Lawrence is more about the husband Grant than the dog Comet. I never know what to expect from this author. I prefer her darker stories such as STAY THE NIGHT or HONEY TRAP.

As always,

AstraDaemon

No Solace | Short Story Review | AstraDaemon

HOUR OF POWER by P.J. Douglas is a story I found doing a specific search for horror...this is more of a family drama. Two men play a drinking game and reminisce about their wild adventures as young teens, but one of them has decided this will be his last round.

The other one thinks he managed to keep a secret to himself (the only way two people can keep a secret is if one is dead), but he thought wrong. The last sentence seemed completely out of place.

Well-written, but presented all wrong.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Spawn or Pawn? | Short Story Review | AstraDaemon

SACRIFICES by Joshua Scribner is a great story. The ending is a little predictable, but I enjoyed this just the same. Love the supernatural and theological aspects.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Be More Specific | Horror Review | AstraDaemon

THE ERL KING'S PROMISE by Stories From The Attic is such a fantastic mix of folklore and horror, I think this story deserves a longer format. Not only that, but this would make a great film.

I highly recommend this one.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Horny God | Short Story Review | AstraDaemon

JEFF by Rick Johnson is told from the POV of the creepy doll. I swear Jeff must be the god of incels because this doll has some serious issues.

This story is somewhat entertaining, but I feel the cat should've played a bigger part. The neighbors, especially Nancy and Skanky Panky could have played bigger roles as well.

As always,

AstraDaemon