Best First Impression | Horror Review | AstraDaemon

CROOKED ANTLERS by J.G. Martin is one of the best collections I've ever read. When I find authors who can write like this, I don't understand why more readers aren't willing to try something new.

Not only are the stories terrifying and thrilling, but there are interlude stories featuring agents from The Facility who investigate Events...I freaking love this format, and I would love Martin to write a novel or novella centered on this concept.

Everything is so well-written, if I had the resources, I would produce an entire television series for Crooked Antlers.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Saxon Returns | Horror Book Review | AstraDaemon

THE ANUBIS EXPERIMENT: CAPTIVATING TALES by Richard Saxon includes a mix of cosmic and psychological horror, which is so dark, I had to up my anxiety meds to get through this without a panic attack. I'm not exaggerating when I say these stories will burrow into your mind in ways you'd never expect.

This is the second collection I've read by Saxon, and the author uses science fiction more heavily to deliver some hardcore pain and suffering amongst the characters and settings.

Recommending this one to all horror fans.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Insomnia Week | Ugliness | Horror Review | AstraDaemon

UNCLEAN SPIRITS: HORRIFYING STORIES by Bikram Mann is an excellent mix of stories which focus on the ugliness of people. From riots to revenge, sadists and saviors, the author's writing style is absolutely enthralling. I especially enjoyed the cultural settings which offer a terrifying mix of folklore and suspense.

This is Mann's first book and I am eagerly hoping for more! Recommending this collection to everyone...even if you don't usually read horror, I think fiction readers will appreciate the various themes highlighting the light and dark sides of humanity.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Insomnia Week | Blurring the Lines | Horror Review | AstraDaemon

Have you ever wondered what dreams are? Are they only nonsensical narratives strung together by our brains as we sleep, or are they something else entirely? What if they are just as real as the waking world? The truth may surprise you.

When we fall asleep, we wake up in another, slightly different world. Dreams are memories of this other place--we just can't fully make sense of them. But what if we could?

With the help of an experimental medicine, one man can. But his newfound ability quickly becomes a burden. What exactly is real, and which one of his lives is worth dying for?

PARALLEL DUALITY by Christopher Maxim is a mix of sci-fi, horror and psychological suspense. I had no idea what to expect, or how the narrator would resolve his crisis of conscience. The ending is absolutely mind-blowing.

I can't wait to read more from this author.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Down the Hole | Short Story Review | AstraDaemon

THERE'S SOMETHING TERRIBLY WRONG WITH MY SON by Christopher Maxim (Never Sleep Again, Velox Books) is more science fiction than horror. There's so many twists, I felt like I had fallen down a rabbit hole. There seems to be a major plot hole, but I can't mention it without revealing spoilers.

I wish I hadn't read the product description...I feel like I went into this story with the wrong expectations.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Perception | Anthology Review | AstraDaemon

 

FROM THE DEPTHS: TERRIFYING TALES by Richard Saxon is a mix of fan favorites and never-before-published exclusives...

THE OCEAN IS MUCH DEEPER THAN WE THOUGHT: terrifying creature feature with fantastic suspense involving the Tonga Trench

I WOKE UP DURING SURGERY. THEY WEREN'T TRYING TO SAVE ME: a sci-fi flash fiction piece

WE HAVE BEEN GUARDING AND EMPTY ROOM FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS. TODAY WE FOUND SOMETHING INSIDE: somewhat predictable with a rather dark ending

I'M A PSYCHIATRIST THAT DEALS WITH THE SUPERNATURAL: a unique twist on possession

MY JOB IS TO WATCH PEOPLE DIE: something much different than a grim reaper tale

THE RUSSIANS DUG THE WORLD'S DEEPEST HOLE. NOW I KNOW WHY: one of my favorites, a sinister combo of science fiction and horror

IF THE SKY GOES DARK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY, HIDE: another favorite, a mind-blowing mix of science fiction and horror, kind of like Ray Bradbury and HP Lovecraft tripping out together in the woods

THEY LOCKED DOWN THE HOSPITAL I'M STAYING AT: one of the most horrifying stories in the collection, with extremely grotesque abominations

STAY AWAY FROM THE OCEAN. IT ISN'T SAFE ANYMORE: a creature feature with a tragic ending

EVERY YEAR ON MY BIRTHDAY, I HAVE TO DIE: like an episode of Twilight Zone, not necessarily scary, but extremely disturbing

A MAN KNOCKED ON MY DOOR AT MIDNIGHT, HE GAVE ME A HORRIBLE CHOICE: this one made me really angry, not happy with the abrupt ending at all

MY FAVORITE TWITCH STREAMER JUST DIED. HE'S STILL ONLINE: one of the most frightening explanations of the afterlife

MY OLD HOME VIDEOS SHOWED ME A LIFE I NEVER LIVED: by the time I reached this story and finished reading it, I began to wonder how the author lives with such morbid creations in his head

I HAVEN'T SLEPT IN 3 MONTHS: a supernatural flash fiction piece, another favorite

RAINFALL: much longer than the others, depressing as hell and a terrible reminder of current events

I FREED AN UNKNOWN ENTITY FROM AN ABANDONED MINE. I'M SO SORRY: has a connection to one of the earlier stories and I freaking LOVE it

ANGELS AREN'T BEAUTIFUL: a coming of age story colored with pain and suffering

ARBOR VITAE: absolutely tragic flash fiction

LISTEN TO THE SOUNDS OF YOUR OWN EXTINCTION: another one connected ever so slightly to a previous story

Not strictly a horror collection, but every story is entertaining in its own way.

As always,

AstraDaemon

No Sleeping With Brown | AstraDaemon

HOUSE WITH ONE HUNDRED DOORS: AND OTHER DARK TALES by Travis Brown grabbed my attention because of the author's reputation on Reddit's NoSleep (one of my guilty pleasures). I've read a few of the stories already on social media, but the author has such a chilling way of storytelling, knowing what would happen didn't make his creations any less terrifying. (For example: I had nightmares about The Whistler.)

This collection is one of the best I've ever read, and definitely making my Best Fiction of 2021 list. I look forward to reading more by Travis Brown, and I highly recommend this book to all horror fans.

As always,

AstraDaemon