Vengeance Week | Boy's Best Friend | Short Story Review | AstraDaemon

ACTS OF REVENGE by James Loscombe is one of the most disturbing stories I've ever read. The trope of a kid bullied at school is pretty common, and I wasn't surprised when his beloved pet began whispering diabolical ideas into his ear. The ending, however, absolutely wrecked me.

If you enjoy this dark tale, I also recommend THE VAMPIRE NEXT DOOR by Loscombe.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Vengeance Week | Karma | Horror Review | AstraDaemon

"Vengeance is a monster of appetite, forever bloodthirsty and never filled." ~Richelle E. Goodlich

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NANG TANI by Lee Franklin is far better than any expectations I had. The author mixes brutal horror with folklore to create a shocking tale of a goddess who will not tolerate the evil inflicted upon women and children.

If you enjoy this story, I also recommend SANDGROPER by Franklin. The author has a serious talent for terrifying readers within a small amount of pages.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Vengeance Week | Bloody Déjà Vu | Horror Review | AstraDaemon

"Vengeance is in my heart, death in my hand,
Blood and revenge are hammering in my head."
~William Shakespeare

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CHEATER CHEATER by Scott Donnelly has been revised, and will soon be a film, so I have decided to revisit this one. Un-ironically, I had previously stated, "This novella reads more like a movie script than a story."

I originally took issue with the character development, lack of backstories, and the POV changes. This time, the POV changes are easy to follow, and, while I didn't notice any significant changes concerning the characters, I still enjoyed reading this crime-thriller.

I stand by my original assessment: "If you enjoy 1980s slasher movies, you'll likely get a thrill from the mystery surrounding multiple murders."

I'm super excited about the upcoming film!

As always,

AstraDaemon

Vengeance Week | Thumbs Down | Short Story Review | AstraDaemon

"Vengeance never forgets to inflict." ~James Meikle

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HELLO, BOBBY by Matthew Whitney is written in an odd format, as if this is a proposal for a script, rather than something reader-friendly. Essentially a teacher is murdered during school hours, and the investigation reveals paranormal events.

Looking past the awful writing style, there is zero chracter development, and the author just randomly throws in shocking details about Bobby in an attempt to create suspense (spoiler: it doesn't work).

This is the kind of story which makes people reluctant to give indie authors a chance. What a shame.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Vengeance Week | Haunted by the Past | Flash Fiction Review | AstraDaemon

"Vengeance cannot abide the agony of grace." ~Anne Elisabeth Stenghl

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THE NOOSE by Jess Shira centers on a dying woman, visited by her darkest secret. At first I thought she was suffering from something connected to a past life, but it's far more sinister.

Shira is definitely on my radar after this flash fiction piece.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Vengeance Week | Next of Kin | Short Story Review | AstraDaemon

"It was vengeance never satisfied, the empty place in my soul that justice should have filled was still and dark and cold." ~Faith Hunter

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FAMILY TO THE BONE by Bobbi A. Chukran kept me guessing from start to finish, and the big reveal is horrific. The narrator only tells events from his POV, leaving readers to wonder how much can be believed.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Vengeance Week | Keep Your Friends Close | Short Story Review | AstraDaemon

"Vengeance is a form of reciprocity in which each deed begets another. Each act of vengeance is a response to a previous wrong." ~James T. Siegel

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THE WRONG SIDE OF ALBERT by Stories From The Attic is a story within a story. An inmate befriends the prison librarian and soon realizes his new friendship offers protection. However, a new cellmate reveals the terrifying reason everyone fears Albert.

The suspense is intense, and Albert's true nature is frightening. Although the ending is abit abrupt, I highly recommend this one.

As always,

AstraDaemon