No Rest for the Wicked | AstraDaemon

THE GREENWOOD SERIAL KILLER by K.B. Knight is the third book in this series. Jasmine has survived all kinds of unbelievable insanity in her little town, only to have more people die around her yet again. Many believe she purposefully brings the evil down onto herself and others. As if the transition from teen to adult isn't difficult enough, Jasmine must find her way with a trail of blood and corpses.

The author doesn't even try to be subtle with this one. Knight throws his readers into the arms of the killer early on, while slaughtering his characters as quickly as he creates them. If Jasmine had any sense, she'd find a way to wipe the town of the face of the earth instead of risking her life yet again.

Greenwood is very much like a gas-station restroom at this point: one hell of a mess. Can't wait to see what Knight does in the fourth book.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Ultraviolence | AstraDaemon

KELSEY'S PLAYGROUND: THE STORY OF A SADISTIC KILLER by K.B. Knight is an excellent crime thriller, with such brutal violence, this novel should come with multiple trigger warnings. This story is so radially different from the author's GREENWOOD series, I wasn't mentally prepared for the savage perversion of Kelsey Masters' murder spree.

Knight drags his readers into the dark alley of Kelsey's life, guts them with the jagged edges of her teen years, and performs unspeakable horrors with his characters from one page to the next, as he reveals the sickness within Ms. Masters. Kelsey maneuvers through her life like a psycho playing chess with body parts for board pieces.

The worst part is finding myself on Team Kelsey. She's kind of a female Dexter, living as a corrections officer while victimizing the prisoners, her co-workers, and anyone unfortunate enough to cross her path. Unlike Dexter, her motives are selfish. Don't even get me started on her blackouts. The ending left me screaming for more.

I sincerely hope Knight writes another PLAYGROUND novel soon.

As always,

AstraDaemon

The Dark of Knight [Interview]

I often discover new authors through Instagram. This past year, I stumbled upon K.B. Knight, author of the Greenwood series (featured in May 2019)...and I've since learned he goes hardcore at Halloween. His home decorations are better than some haunted houses I've visited.

Naturally, I needed to bring him into the Lair to discuss his work and his love of this holiday...

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Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

Yes. In seventh grade my teacher, who loved reading, allowed us to write short stories for extra credit to help out grades. She loved my stories so much she signed me up in a writing competition called Young Authors Future Success. I placed third place and second place the following year. I knew someday I'd be a great writer. Fast forward some years, I read my first book, MISERY, and wanted to be S. King ever since.

Who or what has influenced your writing, particularly your choice in genre?

Stephen King, after reading Misery.

Do you prefer to write stand-alone novels or series?

That's a hard question to answer. I don't believe there is a definite one-or-the-other answer. I love stand-alone novels, but sometimes an idea is so good you simply cannot leave it at one book. Sometimes a story is so great it would tear your heart in two if you ended it on one book.

However, sometimes a story is so great it would be a crime to continue it on. You struck gold with it, leave it be; don't tarnish it with a second or third that could bomb in the worst way.

I dragged this longer than it needed to be. I guess BOTH would be my answer.

Have you ever used personal experiences or news headlines in your work?

Yes, the Greenwood Abductions… Three stories total within that book. Two of them were experiences a few members of my family and I were part of. One was from my childhood friend.

Do you plan to stick with horror, or do you see yourself writing in other genres in the future?

I don't write exclusively horror. Being a one-trick pony limits yourself and your abilities to gain fans/readers from all walks of life.

I wrote a drama book, and an apocalyptic book. I've started a fantasy fiction book a few years ago. I wrote 27 chapters in it before I placed it on the back burner...for now.

Based on your Instagram account, Halloween is your favorite holiday. Why is that? What does Halloween mean to you?

The same feeling/thrill one looks for and embrace when climbing aboard a menacing roller coaster is the one I feel with all things spooky. I was like that since the beginning of my memories.

What can readers expect from you in the next year or so?

Possibly the completion of my Greenwood Series, part two of Kelsey's Playground, and my first book of short stories.

How can fans find out more about you and your stories?

My website: www.kbknightauthor.com

My Instagram: www.instagram.com/kb_knight_author

(Currently making a second Instagram page that will have nothing but my flash fiction stories)

 My YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJxmCA3g2CwEOX7fvX-aabw (or type KB Knight Author in YouTube search. There you will find my audio flash fiction stories)

Thank you for stopping by!

As always,
AstraDaemon

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In addition to the Nurse Blood giveaway this week, I am also giving away autographed copies of both Greenwood paperbacks. To enter, just leave a comment below. The winner will be chosen on October 27th.

Favorite Monster??

October is easily my most favorite month. The weather is cooling down, the insects are dying, and the Autumn colors come out. Of course, October also has my favorite holiday: Halloween. What better way to celebrate than to dive into the horror genre? This week we will begin with the monsters.

I remember a time when the most popular creatures were vampires, mummies and zombies. Over time, all three have evolved in so many different ways, there are no set rules, making many horror stories unpredictable in the most savage and entertaining ways. "Preternatural" has become its own subgenre, with cross-breeding between the various species, including fae (ex: BLOOD series by Ruth Miranda).

We have also witnessed the urban legends, such as Bigfoot, become one of the top killers of both humans and other predators. For example, HUNTERS by Eric S. Brown, which features a battle between two famous forest fiends. Another great twist on a legend is NIKOLIS COLE by Richard Black, centered on a headless horsemen who hunts down street thugs.

Many others have broken into horror from science fiction and crime drama, and twisted entire communities into a monster mash. K.B. Knight has put the town of Greenwood through hell in his series with aliens, hauntings and, coming soon, a serial killer. Lori Titus has created multiple nightmares within the town of Chrysalis. Other authors, such as Stephen A. North and Suzanne Robb, have abandoned the land and unleashed their monsters into the water.

Last but not least, are the stories which brought us new horror icons. Elias Witherow brought horror fans Tommy Taffy, who makes Freddy and Jason look like kittens. Kody Boye introduced readers to the Grays and their pets, and they aren't the kind you'll find in Area 51.

So, which monster is your favorite? Are you a fan of a classic creature or a new abomination?

As always,
AstraDaemon

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In order to win an autographed copy of Zombies Inside by Rebecca Besser and Courtney Rene (unfortunately, only signed by Besser), leave a comment on this post before October 5th. Tell us why you like a particular fiend. Someone will be randomly selected by horror author Ruth Miranda and the winner* will be announced on Sunday, October 6^th.

*giveaway is only open to those living in the U.S., Canada and the UK, due to shipping & handling costs

Sci-Fi Saturday: Teens vs. Aliens

THE GREENWOOD ABDUCTIONS by K.B. Knight is the second book in a series centered on a town constantly dealing with paranormal and otherworldly visitors. The novel begins with the author sharing his own UFO experience, setting the tone for a frightening chain of events. Jasmine, Rose, Nathan, Jewel and Rico are deeply involved...imagine The Breakfast Club thrown into Fire In The Sky.

While the local police try to investigate several missing person reports, as well as some other disturbing crimes, a couple of FBI agents are trying to shut down the conspiracy theories. The Greenwood teens aren't having any of it, determined to stop the most recent wave of sci-fi horror to invade Greenwood.

I enjoyed this story much more than the first one. Knight includes a lot of past experiences with UFOs the characters share with one another, creating an atmosphere of helplessness and desperation. The personal accounts are very much like the tales of real life alien abduction claims, which are likely to give readers second thoughts about going out alone at night. (I had flashbacks to my own memories of strange sky lights.)

The ending is something else. Knight does wrap up the abduction story without any loose ends, but introduces the next tragedy to befall Greenwood in the last sentence. What a hooker.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Friday Feature: Gypsy Grudge

THE GREENWOOD CURSE by K.B. Knight is the first book in a series about a town with massive problems. Greenwood offers a different nightmare on every street, like a Universal Studios located in Hell, with an assortment of demonic entities to terrorize the characters. While most of the book is filled with drama and horror, Knight throws in some dark humor here and there, which only emphasizes the chaotic nature of the curse.

Knight takes the haunted house theme and twists it into something bigger and more frightening with sinister scenes reminiscent of an 80s cult horror movie experience, but in book form. As if that wasn't enough, the author whips up an ending which will leave readers feeling like they fell out of an upstairs window and straight into a new level of Hell.

As always,
AstraDaemon