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

Vampire vs. Santa | Short Story Review

THE CHRISTMAS VAMPIRE by Dead Shearer is not nearly as entertaining as THE CHRISTMAS WEREWOLF, which really disppointed me. The narrator is a dull character. The best part is the scene with the character wearing Spiderman pajamas.

I'm still going to read more of this author's work, and hope I might see more of Shearer's dark humor.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Some Neighbors Suck | AstraDaemon

THE VAMPIRE NEXT DOOR by James Loscombe is the darkest story I've read by this author, thus far. I didn't expect anything so horrific, but there is one scene in particular which just about broke me. There is nothing sweet or seductive about the vampires in this story.

While there isn't much character development, the suspense is great and the action is intense. This novella works well as a stand-alone, but I wouldn't say no to another story with Haywood.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Vampires Have Feelings Too

THE VAMPIRE SOLUMNATU by Nicholas Leonard is a flash fiction piece about a vampire who has been chained to prevent him from attacking people in the village. Every now and then, two farmhands are tasked with bringing an animal to keep the vampire satiated. All is well, until one of them gets too close...

I would classify this more as YA fiction, and, while the descriptions are well-written, there is little to no action or suspense. The ending is clever, but I have a feeling many won't appreciate the creativity.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Monday Murder: Preternatural Revenge

EXPOSED by Alex R Carver is an excellent short story about a gent who has his life ended abruptly by a couple of neighborhood thugs. Displeased with having to start over, Julian decides to exact some revenge before moving on. While the setup is deliberately slow, once Julian sets out on his hunt, the action is thrilling.

I would love to see Carver write a mini-series centered on Julian. I can't help but wonder if the youth trying to rob him is the son of the couple that Julian tried to protect.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Bloody Kisses

Unaware of the vile task his partner in crime has planned during their last heist. Shane Clemis finds himself lost in a maze of darkness. While Don Williams tries to assault the woman who they think is sleeping in a bedroom upstairs.


Little does Don know, the woman is not as defenseless as he expects. And when he opens her bedroom door to attack. He finds himself in a world of pain that there is no escaping from.


Neither man can resist her. And only one will make it out Before Sunrise.

BEFORE SUNRISE by Shawn Weaver is a great vampire short, but the story looks like a rough draft. I think the author should polish it up because preternatural fans would really enjoy the surprise ending. Weaver succeeds in adding a new twist to the subgenre, and I wish the story had been longer.

As always,
AstraDaemon