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

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

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

No Story | Flash Fiction Review | AstraDaemon

SLICE by Ruby Ransom is a flash fiction piece which reveals a single torture scene, rather than a story of any kind.

Complete disappointment after reading RECONCILED by the same author. The writing styles are vastly different.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Dark Humor | Novella Review | AstraDaemon

LOCH NESS by Matt Shaw is more dark humor than horror. Entertaining and full of cheeky characters, but not what I was hoping for.

The author raised the bar pretty damn high with BELOW DECK, and I haven't been fully satisfied with Shaw since then.

I still enjoy his writing, and I recommend this one to his fans, who will appreciate the details the most.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Genre Surprise | Drama Review | AstraDaemon

RECONCILED by Ruby Ransom is a drama centered on a female Ranger returning to her life several years after an assignment goes wrong. For some reason, I found this during a horror search. While this novella isn't what I expected, I enjoyed this story.

The author's writing style works well for this genre, and I love how Ransom addresses the aftermath of being held captive by a cartel leader, rather than focusing on the violence endured by Nora. The POV switches from the main character to the two people closest to her: her partner and her boss, giving the story some real depth.

I'm planning to read more by Ransom.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Blood of the Covenant | Psychological Horror Review | AstraDaemon

THE PALE WHITE by Chad Lutzke is centered on three girls who are sex trafficking victims, their escape, and the psychological fallout after the nightmare they have endured for years. Throughout the novella, there are flashbacks to key moments which have defined the way each girl copes with the ongoing violence and exploitation. The author avoids graphic details by focusing on the emotions of the three victims, as well as their different reactions to the freedom they've won for themselves.

Just knowing that this is a very real issue makes this one of the most horrific and tragic stories I've ever read, despite this being a work of fiction. Lutzke goes deep into the sickness by including confrontations with three of the men who have victimized the three girls. As the youngest girl's backstory is revealed, I felt absolutely broken.

I've noticed a captivity theme in the stories I've read by Lutzke, but this time he takes his writing to a new level, highlighting the very human side of horror. The author also avoids the tropes of a tidy ending filled with joy and/or revenge, and reminds readers, we might defeat the monsters, but they always leave scars.

If you only read one story by Lutzke, make it this one.

As always,

AstraDaemon

BEST FICTION OF 2021 | End of Year Review | AstraDaemon

I decided to do something a little different with my end-of-year list, and categorize my favorite stories by theme. Four really stood out this past year, with most authors using houses, deaths, kids, or creatures. From there, I chose five titles for each theme, ranging from flash fiction to full-length novels. These are the ones which stayed with me, even though I read nearly 400 this year...

I present the BEST FICTION OF 2021 from the Lair, inlcuding horror, science fiction and supernatural suspense:

HOUSE THEME

THE HOUSE WHERE SHE DIED by Amy Cross is a very unique haunted house story with the narrator being the house itself. (novel)

HOUSE WITH ONE HUNDRED DOORS: AND OTHER DARK TALES by Travis Brown includes several house-themed horrors, but the one which gave me nightmares is THE WHISTLER. (anthology)

THE DOLLHOUSE by Bradley Poage tells the twisted tale of a house within a house. (short story)

THESE GHOSTS BLEED by Christy Aldridge is far more horrific than the revenge haunting of a dead wife.

BELOW DECK: HELL OR HIGH WATER by Matt Shaw technically takes place on a yacht, but is now home to a very depraved crew with a rather sick business venture. (novella)

DEATH THEME

A HOSTILE TAKEOVER by Christopher Motz first appears to be following the same formula as the movie, The Belko Experiment, but don't be fooled...this is far more brutal and sinister. (novel)

JUDGE DEE AND THE THREE DEATHS OF COUNT WERDENFELS by Lavie Tidhar centers on the vampire who serves as judge, jury, and executioner to make sure others of his kind are following their laws. (short story)

NAKED IN MY BEAUTIFUL CLOTHES and FOLLOW THE CROWS by Joshua Scribner are both told through the POVs of predators, with a supernatural element. (flash fiction)

THE REFLECTION by Dan DeLuise is my favorite of the Five-Minute Fright series. (flash fiction)

TOMB OF THE GODS by Brian Moreland is a terrifying mix of mythology, religion, horror and science fiction. (novel)

KIDS THEME

AUTUMN BLEEDS INTO WINTER by Jeff Strand is a coming of age story, under the most gruesome circumstances, and then some. (novel)

SCARY MOVIES by Stories From The Attic will definitely appeal to 80s horror movie fans. (short story)

HIDE AND SEEKER by Daka Hermon is a YA horror fiction novel centered on a group of friends who are marked by a demonic entity called the Seeker, after they break the rules of the game, Hide and Seek. (novel)

LORD OF PLAYGROUNDS by Brett O'Reilly is essentially cult versus cult, scam artists versus true believers. (novella)

OF MEN AND MONSTERS by Tom Deady follows a boy escaping an abusive father with his older brother and mother..he discovers his new sea pet is a vicious creature and finds out he's not the only one with a monster in his house. (novella)

CREATURE THEME

WITH TEETH by Brian Keene also includes two short stories, The Last Supper and Down Under. All three are great vampire stories. (novella)

TRAPPED by Armand Rosamilia centers on characters from his previous five Severed Press stories (OGROMNY, THE BEAST, FROZEN IN ICE, THE SEA WAS ANGRY and ABANDONED) snowed in at the same airport during a massive blizzard. (novella)

THE THING THAT CALLS by J.J. Mott is a collection of a dozen short stories by the author. My favorite is LITTLE ONES, and the specific reason this anthology made my list. (anthology)

THINGS UNDONE by Travis Liebert is a collection of 18 frightening tales, full of Lovecraftian nightmares. (anthology)

SEVERED by Joshua Marsella is an action-packed battle with an ancient demon in the jungle of Vietnam. (novella)

HONORABLE MENTION

THE NIGHT AIR by Kiran Revi is quite excellent...I'd love to see this one become a horror film. Revi has essentially mixed themes from the Twilight Zone's episode "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet" and the movie Escape Room, but added a terrifying element of demonic hell.

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Perhaps these themes could be called the four horseman of 2021?

Annnywaaay...if you've never read any of these authors, you now have a list of great starting points.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Over-Hyped | Horror Review | AstraDaemon

NOTHING BUT BLACKENED TEETH by Cassandra Khaw is one of the most over-hyped stories I've ever read. While well-written, and steeped in suspense, there's not much in the way of action, dialogue, or the supernatural. I expected to be frightened, but She-With-The-Blackened-Teeth doesn't even come close to the Japanese horror I hoped for.

The characters are the weakest part of the story. You have the pretty boy who has apparently slept with both the females in the group. The narrator who is suffering from mental illness, and has had a dysfunctional relationship with all three guys. The chick who can't stand the narrator because of jealousy issues. The guy hopelessly in love the jealous chick, and the married guy who only showed up to see his ex-girlfriend. Zero character development, and pitiful interactions.

I wanted them all to die, but, alas, no happy ending for the reader, just a really self-centered summary, courtesy of the narrator, who manages to make everything be about her.

I very rarely bring up the cost of a book (because I really do try to respect the time and effort authors put into their creations), but I don't think this story is worth the full price I paid...not for a lackluster novella.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Falling | Horror Review | AstraDaemon

IMMORTAL SHADOWS by Matt Shaw almost made me cry. At first, I thought this would simply be a story about a patient who sees some terrifying apparitions in a hospital, perhaps fight a demonic force during recovery. No such luck.

I arrogantly thought I had guessed correctly what had happened to the main character, until the horrific reveal towards the end. Shaw leads readers to the metaphorical elevator, letting them think they know where it will take them, and, once the doors open as expected, promptly shoves them down the dark shaft.

Much like THE SUICIDE CLUB, Matt Shaw has blended real-life fears with thought-provoking terror to create a ghost story readers won't soon forget.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Interview Week | Armand Rosamilia | Horror Author | AstraDaemon

This week I'll be interviewing horror authors for their take on the genre...some are well-known names, others will be making their first appearance in the Lair. Today, we begin with Armand Rosamilia, author of the recently released TRAPPED.

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What was your first experience with the horror genre, and did that influence you as an author in anyway?

I imagine indirectly. I never really thought about it, but as a teenager I read a ton of Dean Koontz books, watched every 80’s horror movie I could find, and read a lot of horror comic books. That was my enlightenment in horror.

Why do you think the horror is so popular in both literature and films?

Horror is an emotion, first and foremost. No other emotion has their own genre. You know about romance, but they don’t call it lust or love. Yearning. Something cheesy like that. Anyhoo… it is emotional, and it helps us to cope with the world around us. When the pandemic reared its ugly head, people ran to horror movies and books. Especially ones about a pandemic. It helps us to figure things out, and the crazier the world is around us, the more horror we’ll read and watch.

What do you think of the alternative sources of horror, such as Reddit’s No Sleep stories?

I think any way for people to read, write and/or hear horror is a good thing. With so much technology today, it is quite easy to find some good horror to enjoy. To make you feel something. As a kid, I had books if I could find them, or had to wait for a movie to be released in the theater or later on cable. Today? I can read, watch and listen to whatever I want. And so can you.

What kind of horror do you prefer for your own entertainment?

I don’t really watch horror movies anymore. Haven’t in many years. I am a huge fan of quiet horror in literature. Not a fan of the slasher, serial killer madman stories with a lot of blood and guts and spilled intestines. I like horror that sneaks up on you, makes you think. Makes you believe it could really happen to you or someone you love.

What is your favorite kind of horror monster and why?

Humans. They are scarier than anything with fangs, demonic powers or claws. The human race is an awful monster, and when a person is the focus of a horror story… just sickening. But in a good way. Right?

Do you do anything special for Halloween?

My wife and I set up a table in our driveway, and we give out bags of candy as well as children’s Halloween books and comic books to the kids coming by. We live in a very large development, and people drive their kids in each year, so we’ll give out over 200 bags of candy. I have two Little Free Libraries on my property, and it gives the adults and children a chance to also grab a good book from there, too.

Name one of your horror stories you think fans should read.

Uh… all of them? One of my absolute favorites has to be one of the books I co-wrote with author Jay Wilburn: The Enemy Held Near. It’s a ghost story, a family struggle, and lots of fun twists in it. Then… go read all of the rest of my stories, too.

Thanks for the great interview!

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Special thanks to Armand Rosamilia for taking time out of his busy schedule.

Check back for more interviews!

As always,

AstraDaemon

Monster Week | Squid Vicious | Horror Review | AstraDaemon

OF MEN AND MONSTERS by Tom Deady is one of the very best stories I've read in 2021. A boy escaping an abusive father with his older brother and mother discovers his new sea pet is a vicious creature. As if this wasn't enough to deal with, he soon finds out he's not the only one with a monster in his house. Ryan eventually learns one problem can be a solution to the other, but the price will haunt him for the rest of his life.

Deady sinks his hooks into his readers and drags them below the surface of his characters, revealing the darkness each is hiding within. I highly recommend this novella to everyone, even if horror is not your preferred diversion. I would also like to add, the choice of cover illustration is perfect.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Get Off My Lawn | Horror Review | AstraDaemon

THE BEAST by Armand Rosamilia is a coming-of-age creature feature, complete with political corruption and family drama. The townsfolk live in an area where they do NOT have large predators such as bears, which explains why most don't have the proper firepower to deal with the problem. The characters also remain in denial, until the beast is tearing through their neighborhoods and breaking down their doors. FUBAR doesn't even begin to describe this nightmare unfolding around a group of teens.

This story takes place in the same world as OGROMNY, FROZEN IN ICE, THE SEA WAS ANGRY and ABANDONED, and, even though all of the stories are stand-alones, one survivor from each book ends up snowed in together with the others at the same airport in TRAPPED. I highly recommend reading all of them.

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

Unknown Caller | Horror Review | AstraDaemon

A train journey home for Owen breaks from its uneventful tradition when all of the phones in his carriage begin to ring simultaneously. A private number. Owen ignores the call and heads home from the station. Turns out it wasn't just the phones on his train. Owen soon discovers that the event occurred around the world, though it seems that nobody thought to answer it. Some kind of poorly judged advertising campaign, it appears.

Three months later, the private number rings again.

As the calls continue to come, it becomes increasingly obvious that those that have answered the phone are no longer the same people they once were.

COLD CALL by Jon Hillman is far more intense than I ever imagined. The first phone call is strange, and, even though people are immediately impacted, I understand why no one made a connection until the third and fourth calls. Anyone who may have linked the calls with the worldwide pandemic of severe depression would have been dismissed as conspiracy theorists.

However, despite the lockdowns, even Owen doesn't seem to be afraid enough to take better precautions, especially with his twin infant daughters. The effect of the calls moves from psychological to physical, and Owen has a complete meltdown around the time he realizes there are other ways to reach people besides phones.

Of all the horrible things which happen to Owen and his loved ones, the scene with the dog is the one I broke down over. I knew not to expect a happy ending, but I wasn't expecting to be left with unanswered questions. I'm fine with the story as a stand-alone, but I think some readers are going to be furious.

In any case, this novella is absolutely terrifying, especially after the events of 2020 and 2021...which is why I'm recommending this to all horror fans.

As always,

AstraDaemon

The Last Lie | Horror Review | AstraDaemon

THE CALL by Matt Shaw is based on his film of the same name, not the other way around. This is definitely extreme horror...I thought I could handle the story, since it's not one of the author's black-cover books, but I struggled.

While Shaw has the class not to go into graphic detail with certain scenes of violence, the author has a unique way of showing without telling by using the reactions of his characters and describing the bits and pieces which capture their attention. In this way, Jaime Lee's POV is just as horrifying as, if not more than, the torture visited upon the others dragged into her bad decision.

Not only are the death scenes shocking, but the explanation of how one is prepared to inflict that level of pain and suffering is a gruesome process. In this way, Shaw illustrates how one selfish decision can change the lives of many, and drives his message home like hammer to the head.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Guess Again | Horror Review | AstraDaemon

PIECES by Matt Shaw is not necessarily extreme, just sexually graphic in a few places. In fact, I would describe this as more mystery-thriller than anything else, and the author does a great job of mixing crime-drama and suspense into a traumatic rollercoaster for both readers and the main character.

Not only does the story flash back and forth in time, offering some insight into Billy's way of thinking, but the POV also offers a glimpse into the thoughts of those who know Billy. I'm not a fan of jumping around on a timeline, but Shaw's transitions are easy to follow, while keeping the ending unpredictable.

If I had to compare this to any of his previous stories, I'd choose FROM THE FLAMES. The two have similar writing styles. Definitely recommending this novella.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Crossover Into Hell | Horror Review | AstraDaemon

Forget the conspiracy theories about Denver International Airport... this just got real.

When a massive snowstorm shuts down the airport and forces a plane carrying exotic and deadly cargo, those trapped inside the terminal have no idea what's in store for them.

Can a group of passengers and airport workers band together to face the onslaught, or will they be ripped apart?

TRAPPED by Armand Rosamilia centers on characters from his previous five Severed Press stories (OGROMNY, THE BEAST, FROZEN IN ICE, THE SEA WAS ANGRY and ABANDONED) snowed in at the same airport during a massive blizzard. I absolutely love their speculation of how they ended up in the same place, at the same time.

The action and suspense are well-balanced. Never a dull moment, and full of surprises. The author doesn't take it easy on his characters, and the ending is extremely sinister. I highly recommend this one to horror fans, and I hope the author will consider writing another story with returning characters from his cryptid world.

As always,

AstraDaemon