Choose Your Poison

It's been six years since the dead rose up from their graves to walk among us. In that time, the rules for survival have been altered dramatically. They are about to change yet again, as Alex and Eve, while scavenging for supplies, make a startling discovery that will forever change the rules of engagement between the undead and the living.

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MUTATION by Michael J. Evans is one of the very best zombie stories I have ever read, period. The fantastic use of suspense had me sitting on the edge of my chair, literally. The two main characters, Alex and Eve, make a startling discovery while scavenging, which changes the rules of engagement between the undead and the living.

If zombies aren't your sub-genre of choice, check out my review of another Evans story, For The Preservation of The Species. Once you're familiar with the stories of Michael J. Evans, you'll realize he doesn't think much of the survival of the human race...however, horror fans will enjoy every sickening moment.

One of my favorite aspects about Evans' writing style is his ability to create scenarios that have never crossed your mind, but, once they have, his storytelling will leave you questioning your will to live, should you find yourself in one of his life-altering nightmares.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Never Text And Drive. NEVER.

Speed Bump by Sam Galbraith left me feeling so sick...nothing like real-life horror to bring the pain. In this case, the author had two layers of drama and suspense in the form of a bad relationship and a woman who texts while driving. One mistake leads to another. Poor Meatloaf.

I definitely recommend this story to all readers.

As always,
AstraDaemon

The Executioners Return

After one hundred years of silence, The Hand of Death is on the radar again – and Franklin is assigned to deal with the situation. Part of a team, they discover it’s not just Jorick who’s involved, but also the Tormentor, Kateesha. In a battle against legends, what can go wrong? Celebrate Shades of Gray’s eighth anniversary and read the attack on Oren’s den through the Executioner’s point of view. 

WARNING: This story contains spoilers for the novel Shades of Gray. Not recommended as a stand alone.

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Franklin: The Promise by Joleene Naylor is another story set in the world of Amaranthine. This particular tale contains crucial spoilers, so, if you haven't read Shades of Gray, but you intend to, go read the novel first. Usually, it's safe to read Tales of the Executioners as a mini-series, but this is an exception. You have been warned.

After reading the other stories in this mini-series, I could appreciate the Executioners' roles even more. Naylor has put an incredible about of thought into the details of her Amaranthine creation. I've read a few other series with multiple full-length novels, as well as short story features, but very few can come close to the complexity of this vampire world.

Most of the time, the Executioner tales have been a mix of drama, suspense and even romance, but this time, the story is quite horrifying and the ending nearly brought me to my knees.

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A cartoon vampire on the “haunted house” advertisement catches Greneth’s eyes. Then, a couples-only discount sweetens the deal, if he can find someone to take. Griselda seems the perfect choice, but when she starts asking silly questions – like just what is a haunted house, anyway? – and talking about so-called real ghosts, he wonders if he’s made the right choice.

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Greneth: Halloween Hijinks by Joleene Naylor began somewhat light-hearted and slowly turned into a dark and guilt-ridden situation. I don't understand why the female vampires in these stories give the males such a difficult time about most everything. I'm thinking it has something to do with the time period they lived in as humans. The interactions between the Executioners give away more about the characters' personalities than their inner thoughts. A sociologist could have a field day in the Citadel.

I enjoyed the haunted house setting, rather than the typical assignment setting. I would like to see more origin stories about the female vampires.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Is This A Joke?!

What is the most dire situation have you been in? Jaffrey Concoost is just starting to build a life in the city when an unlikely event takes place, he and the rest of the employees gets to be part of an act of crime. With only a single reason to hold on to dear life, will he be able to continue his journey, to buy a house, a new car, and make his dreams come true?

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Three Dead Bodies by Damien Cords is another editing nightmare. I found this story looking using an Amazon horror search, but this is a drama at best. Impossible to relate to the main character in any way, as his thoughts are all over the place. Describing the antagonist as a "mysterious black man" over and over shows a serious lack of effort. I could go down a list of writing atrocities, but I'd rather move on to the next item on my list.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Bloody Hell, Hire An Editor

Steve is out for revenge.He has endured three years of bullying at his place of work. So arriving unannounced at the Christmas works do and armed to the teeth he makes sure this will be a Christmas they will never forget.

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Bully by C.S. Hassall is a difficult read due to multiple editing and formatting issues. I'm not sure if the author tried to write a legitimate a story or just bang out a revenge fantasy. Steve definitely comes across as a disgruntled employee, but Hassall spends more time describing the setting than revealing his character's thoughts and feelings. A flashback would have given the story more depth.

I think this story had potential, but it appears the author published a rough draft.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Off The Beaten Path

After dark. In the park. A warning ignored.

What could go wrong for two college students looking for a little alone time off the beaten trail? After all, they're not hurting anyone. Right? The inhabitants of the Clearing would disagree.

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The Clearing by A.M. Rycroft is a thrilling piece of flash fiction. If it wasn't for the warning sign spotted by the couple, I wouldn't have guessed who the inhabitants would be. Even when they did make their appearance, I was still caught off guard. I loved the ending, but the story left me with so many questions. I think Rycroft needs to send more characters into The Clearing or write another story centered on the security guard...maybe the same story, but from his perspective.

Rycroft is definitely an author I will have to keep on my watchlist.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Don't Touch The Wildlife

Sarah would do anything for the tiny newborn orphan creature she found. The only problem is what to feed him when it turns out he has a taste for flesh.

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The Foundling by Renee Lee is a frightening story for many reasons. Elwood, the creature, is terrifying, but Sarah's nonchalant attitude to his disturbing characteristics is possibly more frightening. I love the originality of this story, but I felt Lee spent too much time on Sarah's inner thoughts and not enough time on Elwood and his supernatural nature. The author sort of breezed through the creature's interactions with visitors to the house. I would have like to read more about Thomas and his alone time with Elwood.

All in all, the story is an excellent reminder to leave wildlife in the wild.

As always,
AstraDaemon