Halloween Reading: Consumption Week | BIG CAT REPOST | AstraDaemon

Each week will have a different theme. The first week is all about consumption...being eaten...devoured. The prize will be a copy of BIG CAT, signed by Bowie Ibarra.

In order to enter, all you have to do is leave a comment on one of the (Blogger) posts dated Oct 1st to Oct 4th. The comments can be about the stories, the themes or Halloween. A winner will be selected and announced on Sunday, October 4th. Unfortunately, due to postal issues, only U.S. residents will be allowed to enter.

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BIG CAT by Bowie Ibarra, author of the Down The Road series, is an entertaining suspense-thriller featuring a predator terrorizing a rural area near San Uvalde. Nothing supernatural or over the top, just a lot of unfortunate people who have forgotten their true place in the food chain.

True to his writing style, Ibarra has included some sexual content, giving the story an 80s slasher motif. However, the serial killer hunts on four legs and doesn't wear a mask. Due to the naughty bits, I don't recommend this story to anyone under the age of 14.

The rotating POV creates some intense, scream-at-the-book moments, especially with the personal drama between the main characters. Even though some of the personalities are somewhat cliché, especially the two idiot cops and the airhead named Chip, the variety keeps readers guessing about everyone's chance of surviving to the end.

The moral of the story: don't get caught with your pants down.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Halloween Reading: Consumption Week | GIVEAWAY | AstraDaemon

To get into the Halloween mood, every week in October, the Lair will be giving away autographed copies of horror paperbacks. These are stories which have been featured as top picks in the last couple of years.

Each week will have a different theme. The first week is all about consumption...being eaten...devoured. The prize will be a copy of BIG CAT, signed by Bowie Ibarra.

In order to enter, all you have to do is leave a comment on one of the (Blogger) posts dated Oct 1st to Oct 4th. The comments can be about the stories, the themes or Halloween. A winner will be selected and announced on Sunday, October 4th. Unfortunately, due to postal issues, only U.S. residents will be allowed to enter.

There will be a total of five October giveaways, with each corresponding to the weekly Halloween theme. There will also be daily reviews of horror novels, short stories and series, and a couple of author interviews, so check back often.

If you have any questions, just ask.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Undead Texas Slaughter

THE FALL OF AUSTIN by Bowie Ibarra is set in the zombie apocalypse of DOWN THE ROAD, but this novel is a stand-alone story. However, I do recommend reading the other two books which provide different perspectives to the horror unfolding across Texas. All three novels have a variety of characters, plenty of conflict among the survivors, and some of the most brutal action scenes I've ever read.

Of the three DTR books, this one is the most emotional. The contrast of heroes and villains is gut-wrenching, as Ibarra's undead onslaught brings out the best and worst in his characters. After following the bloody battles between the various survivor groups, the ending left me in tears.

I know years have passed since Ibarra wrote these books, but I would LOVE to have a novel centered on the two leaders of the southern exodus. PLEEEASE!!

As always,
AstraDaemon

Return to A Zombie Favorite

DOWN THE ROAD: ON THE LAST DAY by Bowie Ibarra takes place in the same zombie apocalypse as the first book, but it's not exactly a sequel. While I recommend reading the original story before this one, it's not necessary. Readers of both will discover what happened to two of the characters who drive off from the original storyline.

My favorite part of the story is the moment the town's survivors hang their banner on the building to expose the media lies. I love how the townsfolk pull together to secure their town. Of course, the military nutjob has to go and wreck things. The UN forces learn the hard way what happens when you mess with Texans.

The characters are very believable, and Ibarra describes the area quite well. I'm being vague because I hate giving away too much when it comes to zombie novels.

The ending is mind-blowing. Still the best revenge scene since The Count of Monte Cristo (even after all these years).

As always,
AstraDaemon

Memory Lane Is Filled With Zombies

DOWN THE ROAD by Bowie Ibarra is one of the first zombie novels I read, as AstraDaemon, while writing for The Zombiephiles several years ago. Since then, I've read HUNDREDS of undead stories (still do), and the author has gone on to make quite a name for himself in the horror community. To this day, this series remains one of my favorites, so I felt the need to revisit George Zaragosa and his apocalyptic journey.

I strongly recommend reading the introduction by Travis Adkins (now Travis Maatta, and also another favorite author of mine), as he explains the difficulties Ibarra faced during the original release of this book, especially the harsh criticism dished out in some reviews.

As for the story, I think many readers are going to empathize with George's POV. He just wants to make it home alive. The government has ordered survivors to turn themselves into the FEMA camps. Anyone trying to shelter in their homes will be arrested. Anyone in possession of firearms or using firearms to defend themselves against the infected will be arrested. Rather than fighting the dead, the soldiers victimize the civilians in the camps. the zombies are not much of a threat compared to what the living are doing to each other.

Ibarra uses his unique style to twist this into a personal crime drama, taking this outbreak to another level. As George witnesses the best and worst of humanity, he finally discovers the true fate of his murdered fiancée. I highly recommend this series to all zombiephiles.

However, if zombies are not your flavor of horror, you should read Bowie Ibarra's BIG CAT.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Bigfoot Love

A cryptozoologist searches for love.Dr. Eric Brownstone is a cryptozoologist who has discovered the location of the mythical bigfoot near Kerrville, Texas. But his quest to capture the fabled monster has more to do with his pursuit of ultimate love than scientific inquiry in this Bigfoot erotica title from San Antonio Best Author 2018 runner up.

GONZO BIGFOOT: A LOVE STORY by Bowie V. Ibarra cleverly mixes beastiality and cryptozoology to create a flash fiction erotic encounter between a scientist and a legend. Bigfoot is packing a 50-cal, and Dr. Brownstone is on the receiving end. Forget billionaire playboys and dinosaur trysts, this is the blizzard which will leave you feeling like a glazed donut. After this, Sasquatch will be renamed Bigdick.

The Tree of Death

BIG CAT by Bowie Ibarra, author of the Down The Road series, is an entertaining suspense-thriller featuring a predator terrorizing a rural area near San Uvalde. Nothing supernatural or over the top, just a lot of unfortunate people who have forgotten their true place in the food chain.

True to his writing style, Ibarra has included some sexual content, giving the story an 80s slasher motif. However, the serial killer hunts on four legs and doesn't wear a mask. Due to the naughty bits, I don't recommend this story to anyone under the age of 14.

The rotating POV creates some intense, scream-at-the-book moments, especially with the personal drama between the main characters. Even though some of the personalities are somewhat cliché, especially the two idiot cops and the airhead named Chip, the variety keeps readers guessing about everyone's chance of surviving to the end.

The moral of the story: don't get caught with your pants down.

As always,
AstraDaemon