Halloween Reading: Highway to Hell Week | Hunted in Hell | AstraDaemon

PREPARE TO MEET THY GOD by Matt Starr begins with a slow burn, but explodes with supernatural horror about halfway through. After several friends are slaughtered in a matter of minutes, the rest of Heath's group attempt a frantic escape from the hell unleashed upon them...literally and figuratively.

At first, horror fans might be tempted to think this is just another backwoods cult story, but Starr carves a name for himself in the subgenre by orchestrating a bloody massacre which will haunt readers.

Pay attention to the signs.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Highway to Hell Week | MOVIE REVIEW | AstraDaemon

PHANTASM, written and directed by Don Coscarelli, is one of the few horror movies which scared the crap out of me when I was a teen. (I didn't see it until the late 1980s). The idea of  discovering something so horrific happening to an entire town and eventually forcing a kid into a life on the run (in the sequels), overwhelmed my young imagination. I hadn't been a horror fan for very long, and, to be honest, something about the Tall Man and the demonic dwarves still creeps me out to this day.

While Freddy is most commonly associated with dreams, the Tall Man is a master of mixing horror and mindgames while blurring the line between being awake and asleep. He makes the old guy in Poltergeist look like a kind gent. Don't even get me started on the silver sentinels.

If you haven't watched this cult classic yet, make time for it. If you have friends who started decorating for Christmas before Halloween, make them watch it with you.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Halloween Reading: Highway to Hell Week | Crossroads | AstraDaemon

CRUEL WORLD by Joe Hart is very original outbreak story. Nothing could prepare me for the mutations. Quinn's facial deformities seem so trivial compared to the transformation of the living infected. While the setup takes up a fourth of the novel, once the action kicks, the various threats Quinn must face are terrifying.

There are so many revelations towards the end of the story, I worried Quinn's journey might require a sequel, but Hart delivers a final destination for young man's trip through hell.

I love the variety of characters throughout the book, particularly the two survivors Quinn travels with. The differences in appearances and personalities provides plenty of thrilling and emotional moments throughout this novel.

I recommend this one to all fiction readers.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Halloween Reading: Highway to Hell Week | Payback x2 | AstraDaemon

BIG DRIVER by Stephen King, originally published in Full Dark, No Stars, and was made into a Lifetime movie. (Let that sink in for a minute...) I've watched the movie, but I didn't read the written story until very recently. Of course, the book is better than the movie.

An author is on her way home after a signing event, and takes a recommended detour home. Only a few miles from her turn-off, she unknowingly runs over debris in the road, and must pull over due to an instant flat tire. Soon after, a giant of a man arrives, offering to help, but rapes her repeatedly instead.

King is kind enough not to include graphic details of the violence, and he's smart enough not to try and pawn this off as a "rape makes the victim stronger" scenario. Tess, lucky to have survived, is simply trying to figure out how to process the attack. Eventually she decides, in order to give life to her new persona, a sacrifice must be made.

There is also a bonus story, FAIR EXTENSION. A man dying of cancer makes a deal with a man selling extensions on the side of a road. Reminded me a bit of King's story Thinner, released under the name Richard Bachman. Only Streeter is a far more horrific character.

As always,

AstraDaemon

P.S. Don't forget to leave a comment for a chance to win the autographed five-book series.

Halloween Reading: Highway to Hell Week | Outback Bloodhouse | AstraDaemon

BROKEN HIGHWAY by Matthew Tait is a short, set in the Australian outback. While this first appears to be a lighter version of Wolf Creek, I do love what the author does with Jessica's situation.

Based on the description, I expected more characters. I found myself hoping for a supernatural element, but Tait chose to stick with realistic horror, which still provides a gruesome story.

As always,

AstraDaemon

P.S. Don't forget to leave a comment for a chance to win the autographed five-book series.

Halloween Reading: Highway to Hell Week | Symphony of Destruction | AstraDaemon

ONE FOR THE ROAD by Wesley Southard is one of the few stories I've read which lives up to all the accolades. This really is a mix of Silent Hill, Jacob's Ladder and Lost Highway. Damn. No wonder the author won a Splatterpunk Award this year.

I don't know if I trust the narrator's POV, especially with the ending. I spent much of the story wondering if one of them pissed off Satan or some demon. While there isn't much to the characters, the action is truly horrific, and this is definitely a gore-driven novella.

I'm recommending this one to all horror readers, especially fans of Brian Keene.

As always,

AstraDaemon

P.S. Don't forget to leave a comment for a chance to win the autographed five-book series.

Halloween Reading: Highway to Hell Week | ROADS LESS TRAVELED | AstraDaemon

ROADS LESS TRAVELED is a five-book series by C. Dulaney. A young woman named Kasey actually has a "Z-plan" in place before the zombie outbreak in the story. While traveling, Kasey and her friends make some startling discoveries about the undead. The story arc is amazing and unlike any other end-of-the-world scenario I've ever read, but the evolution of the characters is what really stands out. Dulaney digs into her creations, tears them into pieces and scatters their remains across each novel.

This week, the last giveaway prize will be autographed copies of all five paperbacks. In order to enter, just leave a comment on any of the Highway to Hell posts. A winner will be chosen on Halloween night.

As always,

AstraDaemon

P.S. Due to a family emergency, there has been a delay with the first three posts, but if you check back, everything should be posted before Wednesday (Oct 28th) night.