Countdown | Flash Fiction Review | AstraDaemon

THE WATCHER by Amanda Lawrence Auverigne is a dark humor short. The story is entertaining, just not what I expected based on the description. Well-played.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Great Assortment | Horror Review | AstraDaemon

WHEN THE CREATURES CALL by Clark Roberts is Volume 2 of Led By Beasts, a collection of short stories and essays influenced by the history of horror fiction. While the first installment featured children as the terrifying force behind the beasts, this time the beasts appear to be drawn by sacrifices: willing and unwilling.

I enjoyed reading every single story, and the essays offered some fantastic insight into Roberts creative mind. The last short, The Dog Creek Coven, is my favorite. I highly recommend this collection!

As always,

AstraDaemon

Danger in All Forms | Horror Review | AstraDaemon

What is your deepest fear? Things that exist in plain sight?

Those that hide in the darkest corners of your soul?

Our deepest fears come in many forms. The seen and the hidden. The real and the imagined. The flesh and the incorporeal. Between the covers of this book, you'll find a bit of all this. Monsters, real and imagined. The familiar and the alien. So open the book. Be prepared to confront your worst fears.

THINGS THAT DON'T BELONG IN THE LIGHT by Matt Starr is a collection of ten short stories, offering quite a variety of dark tales. While the suspense is terrifying, most of these stories come across as bizarro fiction, rather than straight-forward horror.

More importantly, the same writing style is not the same as PREPARE TO MEET THY GOD...best to simply enjoy the sick and twisted creations from the mind of Starr, without any expectations.

I recommend this one to horror fans who think they've seen it all...

As always,

AstraDaemon

Dark Humor | Novella Review | AstraDaemon

LOCH NESS by Matt Shaw is more dark humor than horror. Entertaining and full of cheeky characters, but not what I was hoping for.

The author raised the bar pretty damn high with BELOW DECK, and I haven't been fully satisfied with Shaw since then.

I still enjoy his writing, and I recommend this one to his fans, who will appreciate the details the most.

As always,

AstraDaemon

November Book Video | Recommended Reading | AstraDaemon

“Normal is an illusion. What is normal for the spider is chaos for the fly.” ~Charles Addams



As always,

AstraDaemon

Wait...What? | Flash Fiction Review | AstraDaemon

BOOM GOES THE LONG GUN by Julio Miranda is non-stop action written in a way...I honestly thought this would turn out to be some virtual reality game for a teen. The ending surprised me. Unfortunately, this is not as good as some of the other shorts by Miranda.

Instead, I recommend THE GIRL-THING AT THE TRAIN STATION in the Horror You Crave series.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Ugh, Another Series | Horror Review | AstraDaemon

THE FIRST ORDER by Amy Cross takes place in 1956. A young nun names June is sent to a Swiss Castle to assist another nun and a priest while they conduct secret experiments. Eventually she discovers a prisoner who begs to be set free. June finds herself torn between what she has been taught and what she has seen with her own eyes, and she begins to doubt her faith.

The nun and the priest remind me of the sick, twisted characters found in The Pillars of the Earth. June's lack of conviction in anything is annoying. I wish more background had been revealed about the prisoner. However, despite my frustrations, I remained captivated with the story.

I thought this was a stand-alone, and the ending appeared to tie everything up, but there will be a sequel in this new series, The Chronicles of Sister June. I'm not intrigued by June enough to continue with the second installment.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Donnelly Returns | Horror Review | AstraDaemon

MOTHMAN: A RETURN TO POINT PLEASANT by Scott Donnelly is a thrilling horror novel. The author made a great choice choosing an "outsider" for his main character...nothing like experience to make someone a believer. The element of folklore woven together with historical facts is a fantastic touch. The ending has me hoping for a sequel with the men in black.

I couldn't help but think, throughout the entire book, this would make a great movie sequel to The Mothman Prophecies. If you haven't read anything by Donnelly, this will make you a fan.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Zombie Western | Horror Review | AstraDaemon

The year is 1868.

Sheriff Jeremiah Sharpe has successfully maintained the peace in the small silver mining town of Sterling Ridge and has even made the collar of his career with the capture of the notorious Bell Gang, accused of murdering a deputy in another nearby town. And he has welcomed a new school teacher, Evelyn Randall, from the East Coast to help establish the growing town’s first schoolhouse.

But Evelyn isn’t the only new thing to Sterling Ridge. After blasting begins in a previously untouched area of the mines, the workers return to the town afflicted by a never-before-seen horror, one that threatens to destroy Sterling Ridge as Jeremiah knows it.

The Deadening: Collapse is part one of a five-part serialized novel that follows the events of the Massacre of Sterling Ridge in 1868.

COLLAPSE by Jessica Meigs is far better than I expected from a zombie western. Most of the story is an overall setup for this mini-series, but absolutely necessary to feel the full impact of the horror which stumbles upon Sterling Ridge. The cast of characters is quite an interesting mix, with just enough background details to stir up concern for the residents of the mining town. The foreshadowing is also well-written: nothing too obvious, but dark enough to let readers know when to expect the nightmare to begin.

Towards the end, as the outbreak unfolds, the various one-on-one scenes highlight the contrasting reactions of the characters, and kept me hooked right up to the cliff-hanger.

I should point out, this was released in 2019, and we all know what happened in 2020. Meigs also re-released the Becoming series one at a time, not to mention publishing her new series The Unnaturals.  Needless to say, the author has valid reasons for the delay of LAMENTATION, the next installment of THE DEADENING series.

Here's hoping Meigs will finally be able to return to Sterling Ridge.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Unexpected Ending | Horror Review | AstraDaemon

DON'T KILL THE DOG by Ruth Anna Evans is pretty damn horrifying, and not necessarily for the reasons you would think.

The author does a great job of connecting readers to the main character, and delivers a brutal ending.

The theme is more like MISSING and less like WHAT DID NOT DIE. Looking forward to more shocking stories from Evans.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Lopez On My Radar | Zombie Horror Review | AstraDaemon

TIL DEATH DO US PART by A. Lopez Jr. is a terrifyingly tragic apocalypse story. After all hell breaks loose at their workplace, Alex and Ian are both desperate to make their way back to their families. The outbreak spreads so quickly, the news stations don't even have time to speculate about the sudden violence.

There is one detail which continues to drive me quite mad: when Alex speaks to his wife Kelly on the phone, what she describes and what he sees do not line up. I will always wonder if Kelly exaggerated events and overreacted to the situation.

In any case, I love this undead thriller, and I hope there's a sequel following Ian's POV.

As always,

AstraDaemon

October Book Video | Recommended Reading | AstraDaemon

"It is a mistake to fancy that horror is associated inextricably with darkness, silence, and solitude." ~H.P. Lovecraft



As always,

AstraDaemon

Garbage | Review | AstraDaemon

Lindsay and Amy are going to wish they’d chosen a different hotel.

Between Ashbury and Canterford lies the idyllic Cullis House, its proprietor, Dari, and her eternal guests. Payment for a night will be your flesh. Do come again. Or maybe … don’t ever leave.

When two friends check in, they find themselves pushed to the far reaches of their desires, longing, fear, pain. The Breed must consume, leaving them little chance of making it out with either their sanity or their skin.

THE BREED by Ash Ericmore is a major let-down. When a story is described as "extreme horror," I don't expect a parade of sex scenes. I expect a reason to be afraid, not fifty shades of cum. I also expect some kind of character development. The author doesn't give readers any reason to care what happens to the guests.

If you want quality extreme horror, skip this and pick up Below Deck by Matt Shaw.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Genre Surprise | Drama Review | AstraDaemon

RECONCILED by Ruby Ransom is a drama centered on a female Ranger returning to her life several years after an assignment goes wrong. For some reason, I found this during a horror search. While this novella isn't what I expected, I enjoyed this story.

The author's writing style works well for this genre, and I love how Ransom addresses the aftermath of being held captive by a cartel leader, rather than focusing on the violence endured by Nora. The POV switches from the main character to the two people closest to her: her partner and her boss, giving the story some real depth.

I'm planning to read more by Ransom.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Pass On This | Horror Review | AstraDaemon

HER NAME WAS AMBER by Matt Shaw begins with a note about domestic violence, which serves as an appropriate content warning. Seems ridiculous some readers need to be reminded this is a work of fiction and the characters are a creation of the author, not a reflection, but...at least they were warned.

While I'm not crazy about the back and forth on the timeline, Shaw does label the transitions, edging his readers on with his teasing writing style. Unfortunately, there's zero character development, which is something I look forward to with this author. Not sure what I expected him to do with the narrator, but the "nice guy" revenge persona is just a disgusting as Amber and her BS.

Shaw is usually much more creative than this...instead of this story, I recommend FROM THE FLAMES or BELOW DECK.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Flash Fiction Review 7 of 7 | Horror Review | AstraDaemon

ONLINE FRIENDS by Julio Miranda is nothing like what I expected. The story revolves more around the parents than the internet-addicted daughter. The ending is somewhat graphic.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Flash Fiction Review 6 of 7 | Horror Review | AstraDaemon

BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS by Julio Miranda is horrifying in the most freakish way.

Recommending this one.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Flash Fiction Review 5 of 7 | Horror Review | AstraDaemon

SHE COULDN'T SEEM TO SPEAK by Julio Miranda isn't much of a story. A woman gets fired, and freaks out afterwards because she's been living beyond her means.

Honestly, I disliked the character, and I was hoping maybe she'd finally tap into her creative side...no suck luck.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Flash Fiction Review 4 of 7 | Horror Review | AstraDaemon

THE THING IN A FOREVER DREAM by Julio Miranda is difficult to follow. The wife is dropped off at the airport, and then the story has her back in bed without an explanation. Not sure if there is a time jump, if she really left...not sure if the husband is having night terrors, losing his mind or if something supernatural has invaded his home.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Flash Fiction Review 3 of 7 | Horror Review | AstraDaemon

ANDRZEJ AND THE FRIENDLY SNOWMAN by Julio Miranda is extremely dark, and I'm glad I didn't read this during winter.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Flash Fiction Review 2 of 7 | Horror Review | AstraDaemon

THE SKELETON IN THE MIRROR by Julio Miranda is an absolutely horrific family drama with a touch of ancestral folklore. The ending is terrifying because the POV isn't reliable.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Flash Fiction Review 1 of 7 | Horror Review | AstraDaemon

ALFRED'S MUSINGS by Julio Miranda appears to be a psychological horror short, but the ending will have you second guessing everything.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Shoe Thief | Horror Review | AstraDaemon

CAELUM'S PEN by Karl Ziegler is a fantastic piece of cosmic horror. As soon as the narrator enters the library, the description is so detailed, I experienced vertigo. The revelations surrounding the books and the paintings kept me hooked from beginning to end, even as the narrator explored the seemingly empty library.

Based on the title, I expected something much different from what the author created...something about a cursed pen or a demonic library, but Ziegler crafts a monster which is unlike anything I've read before.

This story has made my BEST OF 2022 list, and I'm recommending it to everyone who loves to read.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Deception in the Deep | Warhammer Horror Review | AstraDaemon

Lost to the Black Rage, an Adeptus Astartes warrior of the Blood Drinkers Chapter runs rampant on a drifting spacecraft. An unlikely duo team up to try to subdue the soldier by attempting to help him tackle the visions that have driven him mad.

BLOOD DRINKER by James Brogden is a thrilling dark fantasy. The setting is amazing, and the interaction between characters is intriguing.

I had a little trouble following the changes in POV, even with the italics, but I'm glad I stuck with it...the ending is truly mind-blowing.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Red Thumb | Warhammer Horror Review | AstraDaemon

A traumatised Freeguild Soldier stationed in a lonely stronghold remembers how he suffered as a child under the tyranny of Anasta Malkorion, dreading the day she returns to claim the blood she was denied.

THE VINTAGE by David Annadale is far better than anything I imagined. I love the way the author cultivates the bond between the reader and the main character, but, most of all, I love the twist on the vampire encounter.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Stupid Girl | Warhammer Horror Review | AstraDaemon

A community of Tzeentch cultists binds a youth to a tree to be sacrificed to the 'Bird of Change', an annual practice that they believe has granted them the favour of their Dark God. As it turns out, the 'bird' isn’t what they think it is, and the youth is forced to confront the terror directly.

BIRD OF CHANGE by Richard Strachan centers on a young girl awaiting her coming of age. When she realizes another year has passed without her change, she decides to volunteer to be sacrificed to a deity she believes will help her.

More to the point, this is the story of a cult worshipping a cursed creature, with a stupid girl who chooses to continue believing the lies she's been fed all her life, even after she is faced with the truth.

Let me make this clear though: this is a captivating story, and the ending is perfect.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Revelation | Warhammer Horror Review | AstraDaemon

Set on a feudal planet in the Imperium, two men meet in secret at a ruined cathedral to discuss a plot to assassinate the world's Imperial Governor. The cathedral is rumoured to be the hunting grounds of a mythical beast – the so-called Isenbrach Horror. They soon discover the apocryphal stories just might bear a kernel of truth...

THE ISENBRACH HORROR by Darius Hinks nearly lost me with the slow setup, but the revelation towards the end is an absolute must-read. This is a great creature feature mixed with drama and dark fantasy, and a thrilling addition this series.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Poison Within | Warhammer Horror Review | AstraDaemon

A young woman finds herself the guest of a vampire from the Vyrkos Dynasty bloodline. Will her dark romance lead her to take the Blood Kiss? Or will she resist her host’s supernatural attraction?

ABERRATION by Jake Ozga comes across as a Warhammer version of Beauty and the Beast, only much more lurid and gruesome. A young girl is accused of being a witch after her family home burns down. With visions of a hanging in her mind, she makes her way to the only sanctuary she can hope for.

Needless to say, the situation is more complicated than she can imagine. While I did enjoy the battle of wills, I found the ending a little confusing. However, I'm still recommending this one to anyone who loves gothic horror, even if you've never read any Warhammer before.

As always,

AstraDaemon