Made for TV | Novel Review | AstraDaemon

OUR LITTLE SECRET by Kiersten Modglin deserves to be made into a mini-series. Not unlike a soap opera, a secluded neighborhood is about to explode with all the dirty laundry the residents have been trying to hide. A missing husband, a dead wife, an affair, and teenagers sneaking around while their parents try to stop an investigation. With judgment, suspicion and scandalous behavior increasing with every passing day, individuals must decide who they are loyal to and who they will sacrifice. The ending is a kick to the head.

If you enjoy stories such as EYES ON YOU (Kate White) or A LINE OF BLOOD (Ben McPherson), then you definitely need to read this one!

As always,

AstraDaemon

Come Hell or High Water | Horror Review | AstraDaemon

HORRORICANE by Edward Newton (Grinning Skull Press) is the second installment in the Tempests of Terror series. However, this book and HORRORFROST function quite well as stand-alones, even though they take place simultaneously in two different US states.

While the residents of Montana are dealing with a monster in a blizzard, Florida survivors are attempting to escape from a hurricane with its own elemental Kaiju. The assortment of characters create several layers to the story, and, although the first few chapters are spent setting up the various POVs and backstories, the brutal action is nonstop once it kicks off.

I was so impressed with the first installment, I placed HORRORFROST on my Top 2020 list. With that in mind, HORRORICANE is much more thrilling. Newton has raised the bar yet again, and I'm looking forward to finding out what has been happening in California. Not only is the Tempests of Terror series making my Best of 2022 list, I am recommending this one to all fiction fans.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Forced Migration | Horror Book Review | AstraDaemon

THE BREEDING SEASON by Kody Boye is the third book in the Dagana series. In the first installment, THE LAST MERMAID, Jessica's parents are both found dead, their bodies savagely mutilated by some unidentifiable creature. Jessica and her friends realize they are dealing with a blood-thirsty mermaid. The three teens decide to battle the deadly creature. In the sequel, THE SECOND SPAWN, Jessica and her friends learn a wealthy man with misguided "good" intentions has undone everything the the three friends accomplished, making their shorelines a hunting ground once again.

This book centers on betrayal. Despite all the evidence, there are still attempts to cover up the deadly threat the creatures pose to the residents of Mermaid Cove. Someone close to Jessica takes credit for the discovery of the mermaids, and lies about the events leading up to big reveal. As if the situation couldn't be more out of control, an enemy from the past threatens to kill Jessica and anyone who tries to protect her.

This installment is definitely a rollercoaster compared to the previous two books. The ending left me wondering if there might be another book. Highly recommend this series.

As always,

AstraDaemon

No Solace | Short Story Review | AstraDaemon

HOUR OF POWER by P.J. Douglas is a story I found doing a specific search for horror...this is more of a family drama. Two men play a drinking game and reminisce about their wild adventures as young teens, but one of them has decided this will be his last round.

The other one thinks he managed to keep a secret to himself (the only way two people can keep a secret is if one is dead), but he thought wrong. The last sentence seemed completely out of place.

Well-written, but presented all wrong.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Shadow Walkers | Horror Review | AstraDaemon

BAD VISION by Dave Jeffery is a strange story, quite different from his supernatural and post-apocalyptic stories. I struggled with the format of this one because the POV changed often, without warning, and I had to backtrack several times once I realized the storyline had shifted from one character to another.

This is more or less five short stories blended together to form one novella, with Ray being the one to connect them all, even if the connection is tenuous at best. Jeffery presents a psychic, an adulterer, a murderer, a stalker and an artist  to readers, while cleverly comparing and contrasting the different shades of immorality. I suppose the detective could pass for a sixth, with his story being a crime drama of sorts.

If you would enjoy a soap opera of deception and horror, this is one you can't pass up.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Re-education | Book Review | AstraDaemon

THE SAMARITAN by Dave Jeffery is the third installment in a series about a meningitis mutation which causes deafness. Those born deaf (Harbingers) are blamed for the virus, and those who retain their hearing (Harks) are forced into slavery for those survivors who have become deaf after contracting the disease. Cathedral is one of the settlements which victimizes both Harbingers and Harks, while forbidding the use of sign language. Last but not least, the Samaritans patrol beyond the walls for supplies and survivors. The first two stories can be read in any order, but I recommend reading both of them before this third novella.

This one hit me harder than the others in the series. You know you're going to be a mess by the end when you're covering your own mouth to stop the screams. The experiences of the main character are a study of coercive persuasion in multiple forms. Jeffery couldn't have shocked me more if he took a crowbar to my knees. The ending absolutely floored me.

I highly recommend this series to all readers, not just horror fans...and keep in mind, the author wrote the first book BEFORE the pandemic.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Real Talk | Book Review | AstraDaemon

THE ONLY GOOD INDIANS by Stephen Graham Jones is a slow read. This is the first story by this author I didn't enjoy much. While I love the idea of an elk spirit looking for vengeance, and I appreciate the struggles of Native Americans (Blackfeet) both on and off the reservation, the writing style is very different from other books by Jones. The alternating POV seems disjointed more often than not, but I think the bigger issue is cultural.

I lived in a small town in South Dakota with a reservation on either side of us, and at least half the students, if not more, were Sioux. (Many of the other small towns had even more Native students than we did.) My family includes Yankton Sioux (by marriage), and my Sioux friends often shared their experiences growing up Native in the Dakotas with racism, alcoholism, and many other issues. Despite my own interactions with their culture/heritage, I think I'm too white to really appreciate this book.

I've always enjoyed novels with cultural themes, especially the ones which highlight personal struggles within a particular society...and, while I know people who can relate to these characters, I can't. I'm no stranger to the slang, which some readers complain about, but I'm never going to know what it is to feel too Native to fit in with whites, and yet feel a disconnect to the traditional ways of my own tribe. I can remember a friend studying his own Native language in college because he was denied the opportunity in his younger years...but, remembering someone else's pain and living it are not even close to being the same.

Even though I don't think this a horror novel as much as a family drama, with some coming-of-age moments, I am still recommending this. I think we need to make an effort to listen to the voices of authors from different cultures, even if we don't understand.

I also recommend WAIT FOR THE NIGHT and THE NIGHT CYCLIST for more terrifying horror pieces by SGJ.

As always,

AstraDaemon

No Fairytale Ending | AstraDaemon

DAGANA: THE SECOND SPAWN by Kody Boye is the second installment in his cryptid-thriller series for YA and new adult fiction readers. In the first book, Jessica's parents are brutally killed by what others assume is a shark. After more deaths, and an up-close encounter, Jessica and her friends realize they are dealing with a blood-thirsty mermaid. The three teens decide to battle the deadly creature.

In the second book, they discover Dagana was not the last of her kind. They also learn a wealthy man with misguided "good" intentions has undone everything the the three friends accomplished, making their shorelines a hunting ground once again. Jessica is no longer the only one on a revenge mission, but Samantha and Chase are refusing to risk their lives to rid the cove of the new predator.

I thought I knew what to expect from this sequel, but Boye speared me in the gut more than once. The action is intense, and the ending unleashes a horrifying realization for Jessica and her loved ones. I'm looking forward to the final story in this trilogy.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Absolute Insanity | AstraDaemon

CATHEDRAL by Dave Jeffery is the sequel to A QUIET APOCALYPSE, but either one can function as a stand-alone or be read in reverse order. In both books, a global pandemic kills millions, while survivors of the meningitis mutation are rendered deaf. The hearing are hunted down to become servants for the newly afflicted. Those who are born deaf are blamed for the virus, and are brutally tortured to death.

While Book 1 is told from the POV of a Hark, someone who can still hear, Book 2 is told from the POV of a virus survivor who is deaf. Readers are shown how they have adjusted to their condition, as well as the terrifying way they justify victimizing Harks and Harbingers (the slur for deaf-born). I knew the people in Cathedral were irrational, but I had no idea just how truly insane they have become.

I would like two more books set in this world: one story told from the POV of a deaf-born, and one final book with the Harks and deaf-born working together to take down Cathedral and like-minded settlements. I don't even need a happy ending, but I'd love to see Chris and Sarah in a confrontation, just to tie the storylines together.

In any case, I recommend this series to ALL readers.

As always,

AstraDaemon

New Episode of The Game | AstraDaemon

MURDER HOUSE: WHO WILL SURVIVE? (THE GAME BOOK 5) by Matt Shaw is (obviously) one of his infamous black cover books, which I usually try to avoid because my level of comfort with the author's brand of horror stops at the Octopus trilogy. I chose to read this one because I am one of the characters, but I've also found Shaw's creations during 2020 to be quite entertaining. Apparently, being locked down stokes his dark imagination.

While there are small references to previous installments in The Game series, this novella can function as a stand-alone. Also, this black cover book is rather tame compared to some of the bits and pieces I've seen quoted from the others. I love the crime noir Shaw worked into the storyline. Shaw may have made a name for himself with graphic horror, but he has a real flair for drama within relationships.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Halloween Reading: Consumption Week | BIG CAT REPOST | AstraDaemon

Each week will have a different theme. The first week is all about consumption...being eaten...devoured. The prize will be a copy of BIG CAT, signed by Bowie Ibarra.

In order to enter, all you have to do is leave a comment on one of the (Blogger) posts dated Oct 1st to Oct 4th. The comments can be about the stories, the themes or Halloween. A winner will be selected and announced on Sunday, October 4th. Unfortunately, due to postal issues, only U.S. residents will be allowed to enter.

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BIG CAT by Bowie Ibarra, author of the Down The Road series, is an entertaining suspense-thriller featuring a predator terrorizing a rural area near San Uvalde. Nothing supernatural or over the top, just a lot of unfortunate people who have forgotten their true place in the food chain.

True to his writing style, Ibarra has included some sexual content, giving the story an 80s slasher motif. However, the serial killer hunts on four legs and doesn't wear a mask. Due to the naughty bits, I don't recommend this story to anyone under the age of 14.

The rotating POV creates some intense, scream-at-the-book moments, especially with the personal drama between the main characters. Even though some of the personalities are somewhat cliché, especially the two idiot cops and the airhead named Chip, the variety keeps readers guessing about everyone's chance of surviving to the end.

The moral of the story: don't get caught with your pants down.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Powerful Thoughts | AstraDaemon

DOUBLE FEATURE by James Loscombe is a fantastic two-for-one:

MIND READER is told through the POV of a teacher who can read thoughts, and realizes something bad is going to happen among her students.

ALIEN VIRUS is another story about the power of minds, but not as entertaining as the first one.

In any case, the first story is an excellent reason to pick up this title.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Sci-Fi Nightmare

He came to the city for a better life. His parents came to find out what happened to him.

Harlan Potts has the answers but do they want to hear them? Harlan knows that what he has to tell them may break their hearts but they have paid him to do a job and he is a man of his word. No matter what the cost, he intends to tell them the truth.

THE FORGOTTEN by James Loscombe takes place in a dystopian future, in which people use cranial implants to connect to The Network. A young man leaves his off-the-grid commune to live in the tech-driven city. When he goes missing, Harlan is hired by the parents, who want to know what happened to their adult son. What the private investigator finds instead is the victim of a virus.

The POV switches between a Network feed, a handwritten journal, news bulletins, and Harlan's meeting with his clients. The similarities between Loscombe's sci-fi creation, and our current reality make this short story quite frightening.

I also recommend Loscombe's short story, VISITORS.

As always,
AstraDaemon

King's Kids

CHILDREN OF THE CORN by Stephen King is one I have no memory of reading before now. I didn't think much of the movie, so I never bothered with the story. I couldn't understand what people found so frightening about this short, and I still don't.

While a boy with a slit throat in the road is terribly disturbing, and a deserted town is creepy, there's just not much more to this story than the husband and wife fighting with each other. I don't even care what happens to them.

Instead, I recommend MILE 81, written by King within this decade and borrowing some themes from his older stories.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Watch Your Step

VISITORS by James Loscombe is noting like what I expected...definitely a roller coaster ride: twist after twist. I couldn't have predicted this ending, if my life depended on it. I highly recommend this mix of crime drama and horror.

One of my favorite Loscombe stories!

As always,
AstraDaemon

A New Metal Monster

MILE 81 by Stephen King is a novella I haven't read before, and I must admit, I have been reluctant to read anything King has written after THE GIRL WHO LOVED TOM GORDON. I am so glad I gave this story a chance because this is one of my new King favorites.

King appears to have channeled several of his older stories for this one: Christine, Trucks and The Raft. Even with all the horror elements, this is more or less Pete Simmons' coming-of-age story. All he wants is a cool adventure to share with his older brother and his bicycle gang, but he soon finds himself in a supernatural battle for survival.

The author torments readers further by including a horse as well as three children...kids and a defenseless animal? Nothing scares the crap out of me more than placing innocent lives within the grasp of a monster. I really wish King would stick with this style of storytelling.

As much as I enjoy the rest area nightmare, my favorite King story is still THE EYES OF THE DRAGON, and I highly recommend both to all readers.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Fantasy & Suspense

SON OF THE SEA by James Loscombe begins with a young man shipwrecked and confused. As soon as Tiboth attempts to "reach out" with his mind, the author had me hooked.

With a mix of fantasy and suspense, Loscombe has created a fable of sorts about developing empathy for others. While I enjoyed this tale, I'm vexed by the ending. I want to know more about the calling.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Dark Drama

LOVE LIFE by Matt Shaw (in film production) begins with one of the most entertaining author introductions I've ever read. Unfortunately, my expectations were raised fairly high, only to be disappointed.

This is a well-written drama, but not the type of story I'm used to from the author, and not really my kind of drama in general. Reading this after so many graphic novels by Shaw, is like drinking water when you have braced yourself for Everclear.

Instead, I recommend SHARK WEEK by Shaw, a crimson tide of death with much more brutal interactions between couples.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Undead Texas Slaughter

THE FALL OF AUSTIN by Bowie Ibarra is set in the zombie apocalypse of DOWN THE ROAD, but this novel is a stand-alone story. However, I do recommend reading the other two books which provide different perspectives to the horror unfolding across Texas. All three novels have a variety of characters, plenty of conflict among the survivors, and some of the most brutal action scenes I've ever read.

Of the three DTR books, this one is the most emotional. The contrast of heroes and villains is gut-wrenching, as Ibarra's undead onslaught brings out the best and worst in his characters. After following the bloody battles between the various survivor groups, the ending left me in tears.

I know years have passed since Ibarra wrote these books, but I would LOVE to have a novel centered on the two leaders of the southern exodus. PLEEEASE!!

As always,
AstraDaemon

Loving A Dead Girl

MIDNIGHT LULLABY is a novella centered on a young man named Benedict Lyon, who has been hiding his relationship with Emmaline from his family. After returning to his family home for his mother's funeral, he soon discovers he's not the only one keeping a dark secret.

Tragic story of a young man from a family of ghost hunters, involved with the spirit of a murdered girl...the ending will haunt you. Cheryl Low redefines horror with this lullaby of the dead.

I also recommend INFERNAL, a frightening mystery-thriller, mixing folklore and supernatural elements with science.

As always,
AstraDaemon