BEST FICTION OF 2021 | End of Year Review | AstraDaemon

I decided to do something a little different with my end-of-year list, and categorize my favorite stories by theme. Four really stood out this past year, with most authors using houses, deaths, kids, or creatures. From there, I chose five titles for each theme, ranging from flash fiction to full-length novels. These are the ones which stayed with me, even though I read nearly 400 this year...

I present the BEST FICTION OF 2021 from the Lair, inlcuding horror, science fiction and supernatural suspense:

HOUSE THEME

THE HOUSE WHERE SHE DIED by Amy Cross is a very unique haunted house story with the narrator being the house itself. (novel)

HOUSE WITH ONE HUNDRED DOORS: AND OTHER DARK TALES by Travis Brown includes several house-themed horrors, but the one which gave me nightmares is THE WHISTLER. (anthology)

THE DOLLHOUSE by Bradley Poage tells the twisted tale of a house within a house. (short story)

THESE GHOSTS BLEED by Christy Aldridge is far more horrific than the revenge haunting of a dead wife.

BELOW DECK: HELL OR HIGH WATER by Matt Shaw technically takes place on a yacht, but is now home to a very depraved crew with a rather sick business venture. (novella)

DEATH THEME

A HOSTILE TAKEOVER by Christopher Motz first appears to be following the same formula as the movie, The Belko Experiment, but don't be fooled...this is far more brutal and sinister. (novel)

JUDGE DEE AND THE THREE DEATHS OF COUNT WERDENFELS by Lavie Tidhar centers on the vampire who serves as judge, jury, and executioner to make sure others of his kind are following their laws. (short story)

NAKED IN MY BEAUTIFUL CLOTHES and FOLLOW THE CROWS by Joshua Scribner are both told through the POVs of predators, with a supernatural element. (flash fiction)

THE REFLECTION by Dan DeLuise is my favorite of the Five-Minute Fright series. (flash fiction)

TOMB OF THE GODS by Brian Moreland is a terrifying mix of mythology, religion, horror and science fiction. (novel)

KIDS THEME

AUTUMN BLEEDS INTO WINTER by Jeff Strand is a coming of age story, under the most gruesome circumstances, and then some. (novel)

SCARY MOVIES by Stories From The Attic will definitely appeal to 80s horror movie fans. (short story)

HIDE AND SEEKER by Daka Hermon is a YA horror fiction novel centered on a group of friends who are marked by a demonic entity called the Seeker, after they break the rules of the game, Hide and Seek. (novel)

LORD OF PLAYGROUNDS by Brett O'Reilly is essentially cult versus cult, scam artists versus true believers. (novella)

OF MEN AND MONSTERS by Tom Deady follows a boy escaping an abusive father with his older brother and mother..he discovers his new sea pet is a vicious creature and finds out he's not the only one with a monster in his house. (novella)

CREATURE THEME

WITH TEETH by Brian Keene also includes two short stories, The Last Supper and Down Under. All three are great vampire stories. (novella)

TRAPPED by Armand Rosamilia centers on characters from his previous five Severed Press stories (OGROMNY, THE BEAST, FROZEN IN ICE, THE SEA WAS ANGRY and ABANDONED) snowed in at the same airport during a massive blizzard. (novella)

THE THING THAT CALLS by J.J. Mott is a collection of a dozen short stories by the author. My favorite is LITTLE ONES, and the specific reason this anthology made my list. (anthology)

THINGS UNDONE by Travis Liebert is a collection of 18 frightening tales, full of Lovecraftian nightmares. (anthology)

SEVERED by Joshua Marsella is an action-packed battle with an ancient demon in the jungle of Vietnam. (novella)

HONORABLE MENTION

THE NIGHT AIR by Kiran Revi is quite excellent...I'd love to see this one become a horror film. Revi has essentially mixed themes from the Twilight Zone's episode "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet" and the movie Escape Room, but added a terrifying element of demonic hell.

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Perhaps these themes could be called the four horseman of 2021?

Annnywaaay...if you've never read any of these authors, you now have a list of great starting points.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Things Week | Wicked Woods | Horror Book Review | AstraDaemon

THE THING THAT CALLS by J.J. Mott is a collection of a dozen short stories by the author. There is a lot of variety in the themes, and the suspense is excellent. I enjoyed most of the tales, but there are few which rambled on more than necessary.

My favorite is LITTLE ONES. I don't know why, but this story gave me nightmares. When I think of all the gore, violence and grotesque abominations in the horror I've read over the years, I'm surprised Mott's forest creatures freaked me out so much. I'm going to chalk it up to his spectacular storytelling.

I highly recommend this collection to all horror fans. I'm also adding this one to my Best Fiction list for 2021.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Monster Week | Squid Vicious | Horror Review | AstraDaemon

OF MEN AND MONSTERS by Tom Deady is one of the very best stories I've read in 2021. A boy escaping an abusive father with his older brother and mother discovers his new sea pet is a vicious creature. As if this wasn't enough to deal with, he soon finds out he's not the only one with a monster in his house. Ryan eventually learns one problem can be a solution to the other, but the price will haunt him for the rest of his life.

Deady sinks his hooks into his readers and drags them below the surface of his characters, revealing the darkness each is hiding within. I highly recommend this novella to everyone, even if horror is not your preferred diversion. I would also like to add, the choice of cover illustration is perfect.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Harm None | Flash Fiction Review | AstraDaemon

THE STRANGER by Dan DeLuise is the 9th short I've read in this series, and is far superior to the others. This could be an episode of Tales From The Darkside. I had no idea what to expect, and the ending is shocking.

Highly recommending this one to all readers, even if you aren't a horror fan. Great folklore touch.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Allen's Reality Check Bounced | AstraDaemon

THESE GHOSTS BLEED by Christy Aldridge begins with the suicide of an abused wife. Once I entered her house occupied by her late husband Allen, I couldn't leave anymore than Anna's spirit could. I expected this to be some kind of revenge haunting. However, the author has created something far more horrific than a vengeful ghost. Just as she did with SETH, Aldridge peels off the mask Allen wears to expose just how monstrous he really is.

I read this in one sitting, racing from page to page, hoping someone would finally catch on to Allen's facade. The ending is absolutely brutal, and left me wondering how much could be blamed on Anna, and what color is the sky in Allen's world.

Not only do I recommend this novel, but I also look forward to reading more by Aldridge.

As always,

AstraDaemon

No Frequent Flyers | AstraDaemon

THE NIGHT AIR by Kiran Revi is quite excellent, but I think the author is being an absolute turd by not continuing the narrator's experience on the flight. Not only would this story make a captivating full-length novel, but I'd love to see this one become a horror film.

Revi has essentially mixed themes from the Twilight Zone's episode "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet" and the movie Escape Room, but added a terrifying element of demonic hell.

I am recommending this one to all readers. Even if you're not a horror fan, you will be after this flash fiction piece.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Revamping the Vampire | AstraDaemon

WITH TEETH by Brian Keene also includes two short stories, The Last Supper and Down Under. All three are great vampire stories. The author continues to display his talent for twisting a common horror theme into brutal and bloody ordeals for his characters.

WITH TEETH is making my Best Fiction 2021 list, and I'm recommending this one to all horror fans.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Loophole | AstraDaemon

THE SUICIDE CLUB: YOU ARE NOT ALONE by Matt Shaw is a novella I had to approach with caution because of my own suicide attempt (over 20 years ago), but I can assure you the author did not act irresponsibly with his handling of this subject.

I love THE SUICIDE CLUB, particularly the scene with the chainsaw, but I think SKELETONS, the built-in sequel, is one of the best stories Shaw has ever written. Chris Hall is now one of my favorite anti-heroes.

Matt Shaw has done a brilliant job of mixing horror with the subjects of depression and suicide, and provided both an entertaining and thought-provoking punch-in-the-face to his readers, a lying twat whose name rhymes with Lamber Turd, quarantine hotels, and, of course, Death. Well done.

I'm recommending this one to all readers and adding this title to my BEST FICTION 2021 list.

As always,

AstraDaemon

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For anyone wondering: twenty-three years and one month ago (April 1998), I swallowed an obscene amount of sleeping pills. I changed my mind soon after, and went to the emergency room. Since I was still awake, they told me to swallow a tube of liquid charcoal and keep it down or I would have to get my stomach pumped. The staff in the ER were all people I had worked with on various fundraisers, so the situation was extremely upsetting and shocking for everyone involved.

I had everything going for me at that point in time, such as graduating from college (paying my own tuition, mind you). However, I had gone through my own personal crucible (abuse, divorce, etc.) to reach that point in my life. For context, growing up, I had many people (including "family") tell me I wouldn't amount to anything. Nothing motivates me more than proving someone wrong...but the process was physically, mentally and emotionally exhausting. I was 23, and I didn't think I had anything left to give the rest of my life, so I took the pills.

What changed my mind? First of all, I didn't really want to die, I just wanted to sleep and not have to do anything ever again. I felt as if I had to fight one way or another to get from one day to the next, and I didn't want to anymore. Everything was always the hard way, and I wanted the easy way just once.

My only other reason: someone very close to me stopped by just to say "I love you." In that moment, when I realized someone did indeed have my back, I decided I wasn't ready to give up after all. So, please, let the people in your life know they matter to you because you never know what could be going through their minds.

Did my life turn out the way I planned? Hell, no. Did I have to deal with an absurd amount of crap over the years to follow? Hell, yes. While I wouldn't want to have to relive certain years of my life, I'm happy with who I am and the blessings I have now (ex: I'm the mother of a wonderful person who has already brought a lot of joy and kindness to many others).

For those who can't be bothered with the math, I'm 46 now. I'm more than ready for the next twenty-three years...

Don't give up,

Ursula K Raphael

Special Guests | AstraDaemon

ROOM 206 by Stories From The Attic is a well-written horror story, worthy of an episode on Tales from the Crypt. The choice of narrator is perfect... the character's background, as a college student struggling financially, makes his decision to stay on at the creepy hotel quite believable.

The big reveal at the end is surprising, as I expected a more classical explanation for the scratching noises. This is my new favorite from SFTA, but I also recommend SCARY MOVIES and BLODD AND INK.

As always,

AstraDaemon

The Puzzle Piece | AstraDaemon

HIDE AND SEEKER by Daka Hermon is a YA horror fiction novel centered on a group of friends who are marked by a demonic entity called the Seeker, after they break the rules of the game, Hide and Seek. In an effort to save themselves from being trapped in the Nowhere realm with their worst fears, they track down someone who was once a prisoner of the Seeker for seven years. When they realize how they were found by the evil monster, the strength of their friendships is put to the test.

The author has taken the fear factor of horror to a new level without graphic violence or exploitation of characters. The captured children are tormented by the physical manifestation of their worst fears, but they quickly learn how to fight back. Justin and Duke form an alliance, giving hope to everyone trapped with them.

This is so much more than a coming-of-age story. Hermon has taken basic elements of childhood mixed with the supernatural to explore the concepts of family, loyalty and acceptance. Not only do I recommend this to all readers, but I'm adding this novel to my Best Fiction 2021 list.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Picture Perfect Horror | AstraDaemon

SCARY MOVIES by Stories From The Attic is making my Best Fiction 2021 list. This one will definitely appeal to 80s horror movie fans, who found their love of the genre through VHS tapes at their local rental store.

This needs to be made into a film!

As always,

AstraDaemon

Supernatural Predators | AstraDaemon

NAKED IN MY BEAUTIFUL CLOTHES and FOLLOW THE CROWS by Joshua Scribner are two flash fiction stories which will be making my Best Fiction 2021 list. They are both told through the POVs of predators, with a supernatural element. The first one has a dark folklore theme, while the second is a mix of crime drama and classical horror. I highly recommend this double-feature to all readers.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Iron and Fire | AstraDaemon

Amanda Warrick is on the run. Fleeing from the clutches of Spencer Daniels and his cult of personality, Amanda is living in a stolen identity in the tiny mountain town of Darkwater. What Amanda doesn't realise however is that Darkwater has its own secrets, and not all cults are created equal...

LORD OF PLAYGROUNDS by Brett O'Reilly is essentially cult versus cult, scam artists versus true believers. The POV jumps back and forth, as Amanda recalls her time within Spencer's twisted circle, while she navigates her new life as a school teacher...with a stolen identity. Unfortunately for Amanda, she soon finds herself caught up in a terrifying hell made of iron, with the flames of her past licking at her back.

I am recommending this one to all readers. This is a great combination of crime drama, cult horror and the supernatural. I sincerely hope O'Reilly writes more stories like this one. In the meantime, LORD OF THE PLAYGROUNDS will be making my Best Fiction of 2021 list.

As always,

AstraDaemon

No Sleeping With Brown | AstraDaemon

HOUSE WITH ONE HUNDRED DOORS: AND OTHER DARK TALES by Travis Brown grabbed my attention because of the author's reputation on Reddit's NoSleep (one of my guilty pleasures). I've read a few of the stories already on social media, but the author has such a chilling way of storytelling, knowing what would happen didn't make his creations any less terrifying. (For example: I had nightmares about The Whistler.)

This collection is one of the best I've ever read, and definitely making my Best Fiction of 2021 list. I look forward to reading more by Travis Brown, and I highly recommend this book to all horror fans.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Fighting Over Inheritance | AstraDaemon

JUDGE DEE AND THE THREE DEATHS OF COUNT WERDENFELS by Lavie Tidhar is another short story centered on the vampire who serves as judge, jury, and executioner to make sure others of his kind are following their laws.

This time, the issue is more than one person claiming to have killed the Count in order to inherit his castle and land. Upon investigation, it appears the count did indeed die three different ways. Not finding a corpse is an issue, but the Judge is told he turned to dust. Meanwhile, Jonathan remains cold, hungry and clueless.

I highly recommend Judge Dee and the Limits of the Law, which explains Jonathan's relationship with the Judge in more detail.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Nothing Left to Lose | AstraDaemon

AUTUMN BLEEDS INTO WINTER by Jeff Strand is my new favorite novel by this author. This is a coming of age story, under the most gruesome circumstances, and then some. When Curtis confronts his friend's kidnapper, he soon finds himself in a horrific situation with no way out. I appreciate the agony and anxiety which plagues Curtis because the story seems more believable with a kid screwing up left and right, as well as being terrorized by a sadistic psychopath.

I need this to be made into a film, if for no other reason than the alliances Curtis makes during his tortured silence. I'm good with the teens deciding they've had enough of kids getting murdered. I don't think it requires a stretch of the imagination to accept a group of young people rallying around one another during such a tragic time in their lives.

This is a thrilling crime drama with a shocking ending, and fans are going to love it. I also recommend Strand's FAINT OF HEART, a terrifying thriller about a woman searching for her husband.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Outsourcing Nightmare | AstraDaemon

A HOSTILE TAKEOVER by Christopher Motz first appears to be following the same formula as the movie, The Belko Experiment, but don't be fooled...this is far more brutal and sinister. The differences are subtle at first, but the storyline soon reveals details hinting at an otherworldly source running the employee challenges.

Every time I thought I had the storyline figured out, Motz tossed another shocking twist into the mix. The assortment of characters also kept me hooked with their personalities and interactions between the different levels, as much as the horrifying tests they face on several different floors. There are even a few instances of dark humor which had me laughing out loud...and then I felt really bad about it.

This is definitely one of the author's best stories, and, if you enjoy this one, I recommend TENANTS by Motz as well.

As always,

AstraDaemon

If These Walls Could Talk | AstraDaemon

THE HOUSE WHERE SHE DIED by Amy Cross is a very unique haunted house story with the narrator being the house itself. Passing through the years, waking and sleeping, the house is excited to finally have a family within. However, the house also senses a mysterious entity, which begins tormenting the family. Unfortunately, the house struggles to recall its own history, and doesn't know how to protect its new family from the thing underneath the foundation.

I absolutely love this story. The suspense is built around the frustrations of the house, much like a reader who knows more than the characters do about the ongoing situation. The partial amnesia of the house adds to the mystery of the haunting, and the ending left me screaming.

Even though this novel was released in November 2020, I'll be adding it to my TOP 2021 Fiction list, and I highly recommend this one to fans of ghost stories.

As always,

AstraDaemon