Kids Are Scary

EVE by Matt Shaw is somehow darker than anything else I've read by the author. Considering I've read Octopus, I am surprised at my reaction to the ending. I'd rather take my chances with the pack from Full Moon than this little girl. Seriously. She scares the crap out of me. I'm never going to look at snowmen the same way again. Damn.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Blown Away!

THE PACK by Matt Shaw is as awesome as the first book, and I just about lost my mind with the special appearance of two characters from another Shaw series. While FULL MOON is a horror-suspense story, this last installment is more of a mystery-thriller, with an abundance of flashbacks and double-crosses to keep readers guessing about the pack's future until the very last page.

I'm really glad I finished the series, and I feel sorry for anyone who gave up after reading THE DEN. I love how Shaw is writing multiple series set in the same horror universe. Kind of like Stephen King's cross-overs, but, instead of just referencing his other stories, Shaw is using his creations to drive his unyielding terror deep into his fans.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Team Michael

THE DEN by Matt Shaw isn't much of a story as just a peek into the daily lives and in-fighting of the werewolves from FULL MOON. After all the action in the first book, this installment is like a fart in the wind. There is one extreme moment, which had me screaming and cursing, but the rest is just Michael brooding over Jason being the alpha. Shaw could've have easily used this as an epilogue for book one, but for less than a dollar...fair enough.

I do wish the werewolf characters were more developed though. Shaw has provided minor backstories, but their personalities are so flat, with the exception of Michael, I'm not impressed with them in human form. Michael is extremely sick and twisted, and yet I find myself rooting for him to take over the pack because Jason is coming off as a fop, and the sisters are just so bloody decadent...Michael is more likely to provide entertainment for the readers.

I've already purchased THE PACK, so I'm in this to the end.

As always,
AstraDaemon

High Maintenance Werewolves

FULL MOON by Matt Shaw is one of the very best werewolf stories I've ever read. My main reason for loving this novel is the variety of characters. Usually this genre has the same stereotypical wolves and humans, but the author has created several interesting personalities among both groups. Shaw also brutalizes and exploits those same characters in his usual savage and shocking way.

Shaw's portrayal of the werewolves as self-entitled snobs is a rather refreshing change from the usual portrayal of uncontrollable beasts. The determination of the humans, although largely ineffective, is also far more entertaining than the self-pitying types. While the run/hunt is not an original horror concept, Shaw does a great job keeping readers tied down to the very last page.

I knew going into this, Full Moon is just the first book in a trilogy, and I can't wait to continue...I'm hoping maybe the priest will make an appearance...

As always,
AstraDaemon

Bloody Brilliant

A SUBURBAN HAUNTING by horror author Matt Shaw is absolutely one of the best ghost stories I've ever read. Everything from the setup to the changes in POV and the writing style in general is very well-done. This is definitely my favorite Shaw story, of the ones I've read. I never saw the ending coming. I couldn't have guessed, if my life depended on it...and the finale is extremely shocking.

Shaw takes a lot of grief over some of his more graphic stories, but if anyone doubts his story-telling ability, they need to read this novel. This storyline is so perfectly written, I'd love to see this book made into a film.

I'm planning to read his werewolf series before the end of year. I strongly encourage visitors to the Lair to click on the tags below, and check out the other titles by Matt Shaw.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Getting Freaky With Cthulhu

WARNING: Matt Shaw stories are only for serious horror fans. Maybe you think you're a serious horror fan because you've read all of Stephen King's novels, but you're not. Matt Shaw makes Stephen King look like C.S. Lewis. Proceed with caution.

OCTOPUS 2 by Matt Shaw begins eight months after the first novella ends. The author uses flashbacks to emphasize the madness which has increased ten-fold, since Helena's pregnancy began. Shaw then takes this story into a surprising direction.

While I prefered the first installment to this one, I'm hoping the author might write one more to follow-up with the loose end. Hopefully, Shaw will have less feelings and more action. (Max really bored the crap out of me in this one.)

As always,
AstraDaemon

Sloppy Seconds

LOVED TO PIECES by Matt Shaw centers on a troubled marriage: the husband is away for work, weeks at a time, while the wife fools around on him. The pile of presents is classic Shaw, but the sappy memories attached to each gift are the most painful parts to read.

The ending is pretty good in a gruesome, don't-eat-before-reading-Shaw sort of way. Unfortunately, this is not the level of horror I've come to expect from Shaw. I recommend Octopus instead.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Shaw On Vacation

DEAD END by Matt Shaw is surprisingly tame compared to many of his other stories. I'm so used to an onslaught of horrific action from Shaw, this novella came across as fairly boring. There is a lot of narration about thoughts and feelings, and I wondered if the author wrote this on a bender because this is simply not what I've come to expect from Matt Shaw.

Aside from the one disturbing scene, Dead End is more of a crime drama than any kind of horror story. If you want to know what Shaw is really capable of, I recommend Octopus.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Tuesday Terror: Home Is Where The Heart Is

CAPTIVE HEARTS by Matt Shaw centers on the grief and anger of a man only known as The Doctor. He has lost his daughter in an accident, and Tony has something he wants. Stephanie is tasked with caring for Tony. The story switches between the three POVs. The horror lies within the hopelessness of their situation: none of them are going to get what they want from this situation.

Stephanie's broken spirit suggests she has been there a while, but there is some confusion about her living arrangement with The Doctor. There is a claustrophobic feel to the setting, and Shaw does such a great job describing the conditions Stephanie and Tony must live with, you can smell the human waste and taste the slimy, cold fish.

They do not live in a house. They live in Hell, with each room tailored to their suffering.

As always,
AstraDaemon