Texas Terror | Kindle Vella Review | AstraDaemon

Yesterday, I posted a review about a Vella serial with zombies...now we move on to a werewolf story...

---

THE BEAST OF SETTLER'S POINT by Kody Boye is a mix of western horror and supernatural folklore. The story takes place in 1845, told from the POV of a young girl who soon discovers war is not the only thing killing people in the wilds of Texas.

I've read many stories by this author, but Boye still surprised me with the interaction between characters and the ending. Every episode had me changing my guess about the details of the werewolf threat.

I'm recommending this one to Young Adult and New Adult fiction fans.

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...

---

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

March Book Video | Recommend Reading | AstraDaemon

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



As always,

AstraDaemon

Not Like Old Shaw | Short Story Review | AstraDaemon

THE DOOR TO EVERYWHERE by Matt Shaw held my attention from beginning to end, but I'm not impressed in any way. No character development, no real action...jarring ending without resolution. Not really horror, and pretty bland compared to what the author usually writes.

Shaw's recent stories are not nearly as entertaining as his creations from previous years. I hope he's not burning out. I miss his cosmic horror filled with supernatural creatures.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Throwback Thursday | February Book Video | Recommend Reading | AstraDaemon

"The charm of horror only tempts the strong." ~Jean Lorrain



As always,

AstraDaemon

Throwback Thursday | January Book Video | Recommend Reading | AstraDaemon

"Everybody is a book of blood; wherever we’re opened, we’re red." ~Clive Barker (Books of Blood)



As always,

AstraDaemon

Throwback Thursday | December Book Video | Recommend Reading | AstraDaemon

“Danger doesn’t lurk at every corner. It’s just hanging out, waiting for fear and horror to show up.” ~Unknown



As always,

AstraDaemon

November Book Video | Recommended Reading | AstraDaemon

“Normal is an illusion. What is normal for the spider is chaos for the fly.” ~Charles Addams



As always,

AstraDaemon

Ugh, Another Series | Horror Review | AstraDaemon

THE FIRST ORDER by Amy Cross takes place in 1956. A young nun names June is sent to a Swiss Castle to assist another nun and a priest while they conduct secret experiments. Eventually she discovers a prisoner who begs to be set free. June finds herself torn between what she has been taught and what she has seen with her own eyes, and she begins to doubt her faith.

The nun and the priest remind me of the sick, twisted characters found in The Pillars of the Earth. June's lack of conviction in anything is annoying. I wish more background had been revealed about the prisoner. However, despite my frustrations, I remained captivated with the story.

I thought this was a stand-alone, and the ending appeared to tie everything up, but there will be a sequel in this new series, The Chronicles of Sister June. I'm not intrigued by June enough to continue with the second installment.

As always,

AstraDaemon

October Book Video | Recommended Reading | AstraDaemon

"It is a mistake to fancy that horror is associated inextricably with darkness, silence, and solitude." ~H.P. Lovecraft



As always,

AstraDaemon

Hill Jack Secrets | Supernatural Horror Review | AstraDaemon

APPALACHIAN DRUID: BOOK ONE - THE MASH by Samuel Brower is one of the best stories I've read in a long time, and I don't remember reading a storyline quite like this. There's a slight Pumpkinhead tone to the setting, with a touch of Last Man Standing, but the characters are the element which kept me captivated: brothers with a moonshine business, a friend with a talent for getting into trouble, an exploitive corporation, big city gangsters, and, last but not least, three generations of shape-shifting druids.

Erin is a freaking rockstar as far as I'm concerned, and I love Grandpa constantly showing up skyclad...I am looking forward to seeing what charisma Sean brings to the table.

The next installment can't come out fast enough, and I highly recommend the first of this new series by Brower!

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 | Bowie V. Ibarra | Horror Author | AstraDaemon

Today, Bowie V. Ibarra, author of THE LEGEND OF ST. UVALDE, stops by the Lair...

---

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

I distinctly remember the trauma of watching Friday the13th at my neighbors house when I was around 6. The ax to the face scene totally messed me up. Watching ‘The Funhouse’ at my aunt’s house in my cousins room at around the same age was traumatizing, too. Still, it did create a fascination for horror movies that I dug into when I got older and was able to understand what was going on.

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

Because we’re all sick and twisted and need psychological help. But seriously, it's exciting to be scared. As an armchair psychologist, there’s a certain thrill making it through a horror movie, a feeling of exhilaration having placed yourself vicariously as the protagonist and making it to the end. Of course, we were never really in danger. But, we put ourselves there in our mind. It's definitely a fix folks develop.

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

Any venue that allows folks to be creative and express themselves through any artistic medium, I support. It’s incredibly beneficial for mental health to be able to express our feelings and products of our imagination through any art form.

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

I’m open to all horror, but I have always had an affinity for classic Romero/Fulci style zombie horror. The major 80s slashers are great, and also happen to be looked upon as great examples of female empowerment. I have personally written a supernatural horror story with “Alamo Rising”, 80s style creature horror with the popular “Big Cat”, as well as zombie horror titles which are the foundation of my writing career. I recently regained the rights to the ‘Down the Road’ zombie horror series. A re-release of the popular underground zombie horror series should be out in 2021, so keep an eye out for that.

What is your favorite kind of horror monster and why?

Its Romero/Fulci-style zombies all the way.

Do you do anything special for Halloween?

You would think I would, but I do not. Best I might do is dip into my horror movie library throughout the month.

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

Truth is, it would depend of what they were in to.

If they’re into traditional Romero-style zombie horror, the Down the Road series would be best to check out.

If they like a zombie horror story with some depth and a lucha libre theme, then “Sword of the Angel” is a story they will love.

If folks are in to violent criminal atrocities with extreme zombie brutality, “The Texas Assassins” is an incredible story filled with some of the most disturbing passages of violence committed to the page.

If they like ghosts and supernatural horror in the tradition of ‘The Fog’ or “The Beyond”, “Alamo Rising” is a must.

If they like the 80s horror style like ‘Jaws’, ‘Alligator’, ‘Grizzly’, then they would love “Big Cat”, one of the most popular of my books, and a loving tribute to 80s horror.

If they like ‘Twilight Zone’, ‘Creepshow’, or other anthology-style horror stories, then they need to pick up “Asylum of Terror” today. Filled with short stories by some of the most talented underground writers, it’s a must-have.

As I look at this list, its clear the ax to the face of that lady really planted the seed of inspiration for the horror stories I write.

---

Special thanks to Bowie V. Ibarra for stopping by on such short notice. Come back tomorrow for another visitor!

As always,

AstraDaemon

Things Week | Shattered God | Horror Review | AstraDaemon

THINGS UNDONE by Travis Liebert is a collection of 18 frightening tales, some of which I've read previously as short story stand-alones (but they are remain as horrifying as the first read). The author adds an extra layer of terror by adding a verse from an ancient text about the Shattered God parts.

Many of these stories make me wonder why people spend so much time carrying on about HP Lovecraft and Stephen King, when there is so much gruesome entertainment to be had with this new generation of storytellers.

If you enjoy movies such as In the Mouth of Madness or creatures found in the films of Guillermo del Toro, I urge you to add this one to your horror shelf.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Monster Week | September Book Video | Recommended Reading | AstraDaemon

“We stopped looking for monsters under our beds when we realized they are inside us.” ~Charles Darwin



As always,

AstraDaemon

August Book Video | Recommended Reading | AstraDaemon

Prepare for a wild ride with these stories...



As always,

AstraDaemon

Tied Up, Tied Down | Horror Review | AstraDaemon

THE HAUNTING OF MATTHEW THORNE by Amy Cross plays the long-game with readers...for most of the book, this appears to be just another great ghost story from the author. Plenty of action, drama and suspense among the characters, with Stella and Gary under constant threat by a drug lord, and Matthew's mansion apparently haunted.

When the sinister reveal finally occurs towards the end, the twist is drawn out through more than one POV, and I couldn't have guessed any part of it. However, much like Matthew, I went mad trying to figure out the last third of the "knot."

This is one of my new favorites from Cross, and I highly recommend this story to horror fans looking for a change from the usual haunted tales.

As always,

AstraDaemon

July Book Video | Recommended Reading | AstraDaemon

Still trying to catch up on posts...been pretty damn sick...enjoy:



As always,

AstraDaemon

June Book Video | Recommended Reading | AstraDaemon

Only a handful of stories impressed me enough this month to make the video cut:

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