September Shorts: Day 2

It was supposed to be a fun trip in which the author could meet some of his readers but when he travels to their country, he soon learns their reasons for coming to meet him aren't quite as how he had imagined it...

MEET: HE CAME, THEY ATE by Matt Shaw isn't his best work. The action doesn't even begin until the story is halfway over. The characters lack any kind of depth.

Here's the thing, my favorite Shaw stories include amazing storylines, creative violence and bizarre characters. This didn't have any of that.

If you're new to Shaw I recommend his stories that take place in or around water. He's really in his element then.

As always,

AstraDaemon

30 Days of Creature Features: DOLPHIN

DOLPHIN by Matt Shaw needed to be written; I am so tired of everyone glossing over the dark side of dolphins. I'm not sure I would call this comedy horror, as I found the gory events quite serious. If you have a weak stomach, it's best to stay away from this one...unless you live near a beach. Then, read it as a cautionary tale.

If you decide to dive into this story, make sure to read the entire novella. The ending is a complete shocker.

I would love to see Shaw write about otters next.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Emotionally Devastating | Horror Review | AstraDaemon

THE THINGS HE HEARD by Matt Shaw is tragic and horrifying because of the realism. It doesn't take a stretch of imagination to envision this type of violence behind closed doors or in the classroom.

The most disturbing aspect is the way the boy's thoughts and feelings are completely disregarded. The emotional aspect is similar to IMMORTAL SHADOWS and THE SUICIDE CLUB.

I recommend all three.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Faulty Appliance | Short Story Review | AstraDaemon

Going to be reviewing a lot of short stories and flash fiction this month...

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THE FRIDGE by J.R. Rain is a nightmare with layers...not getting the product as described, being forced to endure someone else's will, and more. While captivating, I do wish the author had written more about the history of the fridge.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Blood Feud | Kindle Vella Review | AstraDaemon

I've brought you zombies and werewolves from Kindle Vella...today, I'm bringing a vampire serial into the Lair...

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HAINT by Samuel Brower takes place in Kentucky, after a mine collapse. One tragedy leads to another, and corpses begin to pile up around the small town of Haint's Hollow. The sheriff soon realizes this is something much worse than the work of meth-heads and drug dealers.

The author does an excellent job of twisting family drama and crime drama into an action-packed horror serial. While the story comes to a natural conclusion, I'd love to see more of these characters. (Maybe the Appalachian Druid series?)

If you want a Vella story which doesn't use cliché cliff-hangers to keep readers interested, you really need to dip into these episodes.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Barbarian Badass | Kindle Vella Review | AstraDaemon

In 2022, I began reading stories on Kindle Vella and I am surprised how much I enjoy the format. The following is the first serial story I completed...

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ISLAND OF THE DEAD by Brian Keene features a captured barbarian forced to row in a war galley. After he is shipwrecked with a few other prisoners and soldiers on an unchartered island, the barbarian soon finds out the ship was transporting the undead. Unfortunately, the zombies are the least of the survivors' problems.

I think Keene was channeling Robert E. Howard a bit for this one. The author mixes dark fantasy with science fiction, and soaks them in blood and guts for an action-packed horror serial. Every episode gives readers a reason to continue onto the next installment, particularly the cast of characters.

I'm recommending this to both horror and fantasy readers.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Best Friend Betrayal | Horror Review | AstraDaemon

Happy New Year!

I'm sure many of you thought I abandoned the Lair...I suppose, in a way, I did. I simply had to step away to handle several back-to-back family emergencies. Never in my life did I think I'd be calling an ambulance for both my husband and my son in the same year. All is well within our household now, so I hope to resume posting daily.

I did read throughout 2022 (362 titles, according to my Kindle app), and I will be back-posting reviews for those stories...no idea how long it will take me, but I'm determined to fill the emptiness of last year.

With that addressed, I thought I'd begin the year with one of my favorite authors...

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SOMETHING UNNATURAL by Joshua Scribner is a novella centered on a family struggling to survive an apocalyptic event. While the author is best known for his flash fiction, he does write longer stories every once in a while, and they are usually mind-blowing. This one is no exception.

I love how Scribner mixes theology, folklore, science and horror to create a terrifying battle between humans and canines. Fair warning, there a few scenes which might upset animal lovers, but the sinister details prove rather important in the end.

This story is a stand-alone, but I wouldn't mind another one set in this global event. In fact, I'd love to see the story told from Bo's POV.

If you've never read Scribner's work before, this is an excellent starting point.

As always,

AstraDaemon

House of Crows Book 4 | Horror Review | AstraDaemon

What’s drawn four damaged people back to Merle House? The answer could destroy them all in a gripping short story of the truths we bury and the lies we tell ourselves.

Matthew, Claire, Ian, and Mason haven’t set foot on the Merle family property since the summer they were sixteen. They tried for years to put their history behind them, to forget the mystery of the girl who vanished so long ago. But a powerful force from their past is still at play. This time, there’s no hiding from it.

LOVE THE WAY YOU LIE by Lisa Unger is an interesting ending to the series. Still not sure if the author intended this as a crime thriller or a story with a supernatural twist. Easy to blame one character in particular for events, and yet, thinking back on details in the three previous installments, the Dark Man's origin/status is debatable.

I honestly don't know if readers can trust the POVs of the characters, as one or more might still be hiding something.

As always,

AstraDaemon

House of Crows Book 3 | Horror Review | AstraDaemon

Is it a hoax, or is it something unspeakably real? In this short story about evil games and spiraling secrets, whatever bargain you strike, there’s a price to be paid.

Mason Brandt dropped out of seminary and found a job at a spiritual center offering guidance to troubled teens. Mason was one himself years ago—a suspect in a young girl’s disappearance. When a female student is found murdered, Mason is dogged by suspicion and flees. He hopes Merle House will offer him sanctuary once again.

CIRCLING THE DRAIN by Lisa Unger is the third installment of the House of Crows mini-series. This one centers mainly on Mason, one of Matthew's childhood companions, now an adult struggling to keep his life stable. His connection to Amelia and her disappearance is revealed, but the Dark Man and his intentions remain unknown. History repeats itself, and Mason has no choice but to reconnect with his past.

As the pieces fall into place, there is an obvious pattern to events. However, the main characters are either in denial, hiding secrets or both. I really hope the last book will answer all my questions.

As always,

AstraDaemon

House of Crows Book 2 | Horror Review | AstraDaemon

A grief-stricken spiritualist thought his faith in life after death was broken. Until the ghosts of his past come calling in this short story of believing in what can’t be seen.

Driven by an uncanny mystery from his youth, Ian Randall became a “spiritual cleanser,” ridding disturbances from homes. But his belief in the beyond was challenged by his wife’s death. Merle House, the root of Ian’s obsession, could change that. The woods are restless again. Maybe here, Ian will find what he needs—if he’s willing to make a deal with the dark.

FOG DESCENDING by Lisa Unger is the second installment of the House of Crows mini-series. I was already hooked on this series after reading Book 1, but the flashbacks in this installment have me completely freaking out. I can't wait to find out who the Dark Man is, how he is connected to the Merle House and why he seems fixed on the four friends.

I love Unger's writing style...even with the alternating POVs and flashes to the characters' childhood discovery, the story flows quite smoothly. I hope the rest of the series is as horrifying as the first two books.

As always,

AstraDaemon

House of Crows Book 1 | Horror Review | AstraDaemon

For disgraced professor Matthew Merle, the inheritance of his grandfather’s crumbling mansion is both a burden and an offer of safe haven. His childhood friend Claire, a psychiatrist, desperately needs a haven of her own after one of her patients unleashes his dark side. At turning points in their lives, it’s inevitable that they should return to the past. And to Merle House. It’s been waiting for them.

ALL MY DARKEST IMPULSES by Lisa Unger is essentially the setup for the rest of the series, but I'm already hooked. The tone is a mix of AHS Haunted House with the writing style of Stephen King's It. However, Unger does a great job creating new twists on the common trope of the past catching up to the present.

So far, I dislike Matthew, feel sorry for Samantha, couldn't careless about Jewel, and Claire is the only character I care about. I don't know if any of that will change as the series progresses. With the cliff-hanger of the first installment, I'm looking forward to Fog Descending.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Cost of Doing Business | Horror Story Review | AstraDaemon

DEEP TERROR by Eric S. Brown is an action-packed mix of science fiction and horror. I can think of several movies and books with scientists disturbing something evil in an ocean trench, but Brown's creatures stand out from the rest...not at all what I expected.

The in-fighting among the crew is full of suspense, but didn't interest me as much as what happens outside of the research facility. I love the battle scenes with the Silt Stompers!

Anyone familiar with Brown's writing style won't be surprised by the ending, but I'm still hoping the author might give a us a sequel. I'd like to know more about the substance being harvested.

As always,

AstraDaemon

New Addiction | Horror Story Review | AstraDaemon

THE DREAMS THEY WEAVE by Matt Shaw is my new favorite from this author. This is an excellent mix of science fiction and horror...a great example of why I continue to be a fan: suspenseful setting, intriguing characters, and intense format.

I would love to see this become a film, instead of the regurgitated garbage Hollywood spews out. I highly recommend this to all horror fans who have been searching for a new monster to fear.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Blah | Flash Fiction Review | AstraDaemon

SAFE AGAIN by Bradley Poage is one of the worst stories I've read by this author. No action, boring characters, very little suspense.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Trust Issue | Flash Fiction Review | AstraDaemon

COOKED ALIVE by Bradley Poage is a flash fiction story about revenge, but the ending is quite unexpected. Worth a read.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Lady of the Night | Short Story Review | AstraDaemon

THE WHISPER by Bradley Poage is too predictable for my liking. The author usually has more suspense in his stories.

THE CREEK and THE DOLL are much better.

As always,

AstraDaemon

March Book Video | Recommend Reading | AstraDaemon

"Welcome to my nightmare. I think you're gonna like it." ~Alice Cooper



As always,

AstraDaemon

Monsters Within | Flash Fiction Review | AstraDaemon

HATCHLINGS by Bradley Poage is a mix of science fiction and horror. Reminded me a little of the movie Night of the Creeps.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Creepy Dummy | Flash Fiction Review | AstraDaemon

THE CURSE OF MILEY by Bradley Poage features a husband who appears to be controlled by a dummy from his childhood. Kind of has a Tales From the Darkside vibe.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Difficult Customer | Flash Fiction Review | AstraDaemon

PET PEEVES by Bradley Poage centers on a customer who prefers one particular cashier at a store, but the cashier can't stand him. Very believable with a dark ending.

As always,

AstraDaemon