True Power

A MEMORY OF HAPPINESS by Erik Lynd is essentially a story of hate and loss. A warlock remembers being attacked by a village, but the same people now need his help. Even though he is powerful, he is not sure if he has the power to forgive, until another shows him something else even more powerful than magic and forgiveness.

A family drama set in a fantasy short...solid writing, but not as entertaining as some of the author's previous stories.

As always,
AstraDaemon

The Never-Ending Sacrifice

THE PLAYGROUND OF LOST CHILDREN by Erik Lynd is one of his best stories yet. The author mixes the supernatural with crime drama, creating a dark thriller about a detective facing her childhood fear. The flashback to the day her little brother disappeared is perfectly placed, and the playground appears to be a terrifying version of a fairy circle. The ending is bittersweet.

I usually prefer stand-alone stories, but I'd love some kind of sequel to reveal more of the history behind the secret place in the woods.

I also recommend IN THE PIT, which features another character experiencing flashbacks to a troubled childhood.

As always,
AstraDaemon

A Deadly Decision

Escaping from the killer was the easy part, surviving the frozen mountain landscape is another story. When a hunter gives her a second chance at life, Emily must decide what she is going to do with it: safety and comfort or vengeance.

THE PRINCESS, THE HUNTSMAN, AND THE MONSTER by Erik Lynd features a subject found in news headlines and twisted into something resembling a fairy tale. I kept expecting a supernatural element, so the ending really caught me off guard. Basically, this is a coming of age story, with Emily discovering who she really is. Very different from Lynd's previous work.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Damned & Discarded

HIS DEVIL by Erik Lynd is a flash fiction piece about a father who bails on his family for two years, then makes a violent entrance one night, with trouble on his heels. I'm vexed because the author never reveals what is really going on with the dad, and the ending is abrupt. Lynd missed an opportunity to write a longer, more horrific story.

BEING IT is a bonus short story about a businessman being sucked into a twisted game of tag. His sudden downward spiral is something readers will recognize as something most of us fear in real life: to be dismissed without so much as an afterthought.

While the two stories are definitely worth reading, most of the e-file is a sample promotion of another title by the author, which I could've done without. I do recommend DREAMS, IN THE PIT and PSYCHOPOMP by Erik Lynd.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Post-War Alien Contact

THEY EAT THEIR OWN by Erik Lynd is a sci-fi short set in the future, after an extensive war with aliens. With no victory in sight for either side, a treaty was created, but some will never feel peace.

Jake just wants to be left alone with his dog Max, but one of the aliens crashes onto his land. This triggers a flashback of basic training, where the human soldiers are warned, "They eat their own." As a result, the surviving aliens become stronger, unless they are completely destroyed.

The ending is somewhat predictable, but the post-war setting is very intriguing. I wouldn't mind reading a full-length novel about the war itself.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Wet and Lonely

DARK ON THE WATER by Erik Lynd centers on a grieving husband who lost his wife to a drowning accident near their lake house. There's more focus on his feelings than the past events with his wife. There is a moment with the neighbor, who has also lost his wife to suicide, when the lake appears to have a sinister secret. Unfortunately, the author lets the moment pass without any follow-through.

This is not a horror story. At best, one might be able to call it paranormal-suspense, but the lack of action is disappointing. Lynd has written much better stories than this.

As always,
AstraDaemon

A Quick Drop & A Sudden Stop

THE HANGING TREE by Erik Lynd is a very short story. (Most of the e-file is a preview of Lynd's horror novel, Asylum.) The author had me hooked as soon as Old Man Rudy began his ramblings about the Hanging Tree's dark history. The dynamics of the friend group, and the conflicts between their families fueled the suspense.

The turn of events isn't really surprising, but the ending is somewhat abrupt. I would have read an entire novel about the boys and the tree. Lynd does an amazing job of fleshing out the main characters in just a few pages, but he left me wondering about the nature of the tree and its companions. The author could do so much more with this premise.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Jeremey Deserves Better

SIEGE OF THE BONE CHILDREN by Erik Lynd begins with a grieving father and a memory of a cryptic revelation from his son: "Not me dad, you." Malcom didn't understand why his son felt the need to build a cardboard fort for him, nor did he realize it would be the last thing they did together, before his son is killed in an accident.

"The creaking of the stairs woke him from a sweaty sleep."

From that point on, I was absolutely terrified for Malcom. I also wondered, more than once, if Jeremy had some special gift of sight. I experienced this nightmare as both a parent and a child. Malcolm's son included so many surprises within the fort, increasing the the suspense and drama with every detail. The ending, unfortunately, really aggravated the hell out of me.

I hate to be THAT reviewer, but I can think of several other ways Lynd could've chosen to end the battle. I think Lynd basically gave the finger to Malcolm, and the author needs to do right by Jeremy. PLEASE WRITE A SEQUEL.

As always,
AstraDaemon

TOP 2018 STORIES

I read hundreds of stories in 2018: horror, science fiction, romance, crime drama and many other genres. I read short stories, stand-alone novels, series, novellas and anthologies. I read stories by authors I have been reading for years, and I discovered many new authors as well. Looking back, I have to admit, the short stories were usually the ones which often left me feeling gut-punched, kicked in the face and dragged into a shallow grave...filled with spikes.

With pleasure, I present to you fine folks (in no particular order),

AstraDaemon's Top 10 Stories for 2018

Psychopomp by Erik Lynd is a great addition to the zombie genre. Lynd manages to blend horror and mythology in a chilling tale about a mortician who is confronted by a talking corpse.

Bones by Howard Odentz is nothing like what I expected. I thought it would be the story of a troubled young man haunted by a ghost. Instead, Odentz has created a family drama with a supernatural twist. While I suspected there was a hidden layer, the depth of Cooper's pain is a horrifying surprise.

The Fire of Night by Brad Lenaway is an excellent short story and, if the author reads this, please consider making this a novel or even a series. The setting is in the future, after a war between the U.S. and North Korea. Although briefly mentioned, the political backstory is fascinating. I'm not sure I've ever read something so devastating and believable. This is a story I recommend to all readers, regardless of your genre preference.

Ruined by Kiersten Knighting is the telling of a popular Greek myth through the eyes of a rape victim. Considering how victim-blaming has been rampant throughout history, I think it's great to see someone give a voice to this iconic person. Knighting does an excellent job giving the character a voice, as well as drawing attention to the bias of the original myth.

No Thanks by Antonio Simon Jr. is a very original flash fiction story about a man who is clearly fed up with everything about his life. His explanation of events leading up to his office shooting spree is an excellent example of a narrator who can't be trusted and, yet, Simon's disgruntled worker is very convincing.

The Quay Avenue Bridge by Phillip Garcia is an excellent ghost story, worthy of being made into a horror movie. Garcia does a fantastic job of laying out the history of the bridge and the freak accident which begins everything. As the author transforms the tragedy into an urban legend over the generations, Garcia masterfully reveals another devastating accident to continue the curse of the bridge.

Queen Joanna by Kate Danley is a short horror story full of suspense and drama, with a touch of the supernatural. Both Joanna and King Stephen are tormented by the darkness looming over their arranged marriage. I am impressed with how well-developed the characters are. Danley's writing style is best described as a blend of Phillipa Gregory and Bram Stoker.

Three Seconds by Kane Banway is the best piece of science fiction I've read in 2018. In fact, I don't think I've been this horrified and fascinated since I read A Sound of Thunder by Ray Bradbury. Banway took a common scifi theme of teleportation and turned it into a pre-apocalypse of the human race.

Blood by Ruth Miranda is so much more than a horror story with supernatural creatures. This novella is a family drama centered around a young man named Caius, who has recently survived an extremely traumatic experience and he now requires therapy. During his sessions, Cai reveals he is suffering from brutal visions...memories of life he's never lived. He soon realizes his family has been keeping several secrets from him, the kind of secrets that tear apart loved ones and destroy lives.

The Beautiful Ones by Kody Boye is the first book in a new series centered on a dystopian society. Essentially, those deemed Beautiful and Handsome are expected to marry and bear children to keep up genetic standards for the Glittering City. The story follows the POV of a sixteen year old girl, Kelendra, chosen from one of the outlying settlements to be one of the Beauties.

Honorable Mention (published in 2017, but read in 2018):

Blood Relations by Lori Titus is the author's best work yet. While fallen angels, religious fanatics and supernatural creatures have been quite common in the horror genre for decades, Titus has found an original way to incorporate these themes into story filled with murder, drama, mythology and the metaphysical.

Additional authors to look for in 2019: Phil Rossi, S.O. Bailey, Rebecca Besser, Alan Sessler, Thom Brannan and Suzanne Robb.

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I'd like to make it crystal clear, most of the stories I read throughout 2018 were very impressive. The Top 10 are the stories which stayed fresh in my mind, even after reading all the hundreds of others. The past year has been an awesome year for fiction readers.

I would also like to add, many of these authors have many other great titles to choose from, so, please, click on the links and see for yourself.

Happy New Year! I look forward to bringing you more amazing stories in 2019!

As always,
AstraDaemon

It Was An Accident

Samuel is a prisoner, innocent to some, guilty to others. But his prison is different than any other. Here the dead have a habit of coming back to life, madness is just around the corner, and the only real escape is into hell itself.

In the Pit by Erik Lynd is full of terrifying twists. Samuel wakes in his cell into what appears to be a night terror. His reluctance to explain his fear lands him in solitary confinement, where he experiences flashbacks to his troubled childhood. He thinks he might be going crazy, but the secret within the prison walls is more insane than any of Samuel's thoughts.

Lynd's vivid descriptions of the abominations surrounding Samuel left me feeling as trapped and frightened as the prisoner. I focused so much on his tortured soul, the ending came as one hell of a surprise.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Dreams vs. Memories

Desire will drive a man to do many things and make many mistakes. When magic and witch's brew are involved, however, those mistakes can have unimaginable consequences.

Dreams by Erik Lynd opens with a rather intriguing flashback, setting the main character, Gary, apart from the typical patron of psychics. He belongs to a coven and believes remembering his dreams will help him advance in his lessons. Unfortunately, Gary is obsessed with the coven's leader, Sheila. The means to the end become the end...of Gary.

I feel sorry for Gary in a way. I know what it's like to dream so vividly, for so long, and waking up with extra memories. I think anyone who is into lucid dreaming will really enjoy this short story. Gary's misfortune would make a great full-length novel.

As always,
AstraDaemon

At The Water's Edge

The moment Joseph sees the girl he knows she doesn't belong in the hospital. But what can a simple orderly do? When he discovers a chance to heal, can he find the courage to cure the girl's true sickness?

The Dying Girl by Erik Lynd is a flash fiction drama about an orderly attempting to grant the dying request of a young woman. I thought I knew where Lynd was going with the story, since the author likes to blend mythology into his stories, but he managed to surprise me.

The ending is blunt and brutal...I wish Lynd could've revealed more about the patient and the events that led to her being locked up. This could easily be extended into a novella and I would happily read such a book.

As always,
AstraDaemon

A MUST-READ FOR ZOMBIEPHILES!!

Psychopomp by Erik Lynd is a great addition to the zombie genre. Lynd manages to blend horror and mythology in a chilling tale about a mortician who is confronted by a talking corpse. Del is one hell of a character and I think Lynd could write a mini-series centered on the guy and his occupation.

This short story is one of the best I've read so far in 2018.

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It's been a long time since I read a zombie story with such an original twist, although, some may argue that the mythological element is not a new concept, I still think Lynd should get major props for bringing the two genres together in this story.

Even if zombies aren't your usual cup of tea, horror fans really need to check out Lynd's creation!

As always,
AstraDaemon