Watch Out for the Carnies | AstraDaemon

HALLOWEEN LAND: A COMING OF AGE NOVELLA by Kevin J. Kennedy is so entertaining, he should've written a full-length novel. I love the concept of an evil carnival which travels through time and space, moving from one reality to another, claiming victims with every stop. Zak and Wendy are believable characters, and their interactions flow well throughout the story. Their third wheel is intriguing, and I wish the author had offered up more backstory for their unusual companion.

While this story could pass as YA horror fiction, I think readers of all ages would appreciate the terror within these pages.

As always,

AstraDaemon

The Shadows of the Night Are Unleashed Again

If you could have anything you wanted, once a year, in return for completing a simple task, would you do it? What if that task, was to let all of the demons out of hell, for a night of fun and carnage? Meet the GateKeeper.

THE GATEKEEPER by Kevin J. Kennedy is a flash fiction piece told from the POV of a drunk. A demon offers him a once-a-year job, in exchange for one wish every year. The concept is very interesting, but more is revealed about the character's drinking problem than anything to do with the Gate.

I wish the author had offered the POV of one of the creatures coming out of the trap door, followed one for the night or something along those lines. Instead, Kennedy wastes space on a sex scene, which has very little to do with the plot. As a matter of fact, aside from the brief erotica, the story is basically just a prolonged job description with no real action or dialogue.

This story has tremendous potential, and I hope the author considers revising the concept into something longer with more details about the various creatures, besides physical descriptions.

As always,
AstraDaemon