Too Many Words, Not Enough Story

THE BURNING OF NIGHT by Louis Lalande is full of descriptive words, no doubt meant to create a dramatic tone for the story. Instead, the author succeeds only in suffocating any trace of suspense. Take away the abundance of adjectives, and there really isn't much left to the story.

Practically nothing is revealed about the main character, even less about the entity he discovers. In other words, there doesn't appear to be a point to this piece of fiction. A better ending would have had the parents waking up to a house fire seemingly caused by their son smoking bed, with readers knowing the "true" story.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Never Trust Cherry Chapstick Girls

PARAMORTAL by J.M. Tompkins is not "a fun tale full of playful horror." Nothing fun or playful about the events which take place. This story is, in fact, an excellent mix of the supernatural and dark horror. While the beginning is a little flippant, with the POV belonging to a horny college guy, the story soon takes a very sinister twist.

I thought this might have something to do with the undead, or some similar abomination, but the nightmare Tompkins unleashes on her readers is much more complicated. The Curator is quite a character...I wouldn't mind a sequel with Gary doing some research on the old man's personal history. Paramortal's concept is too awesome too keep confined to one short story.

I do agree with the book's description: Evil Dead fans will enjoy this one. Maisey has some truly cringeworthy moments, and I'm thinking she needs a sequel as well.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Permanently Benched

STAY WITH US by Kyle J. Franklin follows a boy named Robert into a clearing with a notorious reputation. Even though he has heard of people going missing in the clearing, he is determined to perform the midnight challenge to impress a girl.

The author doesn't reveal much, but readers will feel Robert's terror just the same. The suspense reminds me of the horror stories I read as a kid in the 80s, making the story one of those rare ones I can recommend to readers of any age...as long as one does not have a fear of the dark.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Bad Connection

DARK WEB by Kelvin Teo is a clever mix of crime drama, time travel and horror. This flash fiction piece had me hooked all the way through, but the ending is too abrupt. There are just enough details about Malcom and his friend Jackie to make me care about the two teens, so I can't let it go. The story idea is too good not to develop into a novel.

You don't have to be a horror fan to appreciate the suspense created by Teo.

As always,
AstraDaemon

The Perfect Planter

GREEN THUMB by Earl Hatsby centers on a pair of brothers, recently captured by a sinister man known as Green Thumb. It's unclear if the mystery man is indeed human or something else, based on the description. One could almost imagine him to be a type of goblin who has found a way to blend in.

Even if Green Thumb is just a human psychopath, he definitely qualifies as an evil genius. Most likely, his special projects will become a famous case study, in Hatsby's creation, of course.

Knowing this is flash fiction is the only comfort after the horrific reveal at the end.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Sunday With Scribner: The Doctor Is In

His patient is an unwilling participant. The bound man likes the demon inside him and the ravenous appetite it brings. On top of this, the demon knows things about the doctor and will take the fight to a personal level.

BINARY MONSTER by Joshua Scribner is another installment in the Doctor Wolfstone's Clinic series. If you haven't read any of the past stories in this series, stop reading this review. Each story builds slightly upon the previous episode. Readers will enjoy Doctor Wolfstone's work more, if they are familiar with his practice.

Anyone who is a fan of the Doctor's sessions will know the demons usually try to get at him. The confrontation in this one is one of the very best. I'm also thrilled to finally read more about Wolfstone's personal background. Basically, this is the installment I've been waiting for, and I am not disappointed. The ending is a cliffhanger, but a welcome piece of the puzzle.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Sci-Fi Saturday: Stowaway

YLLAS YOT by Abe Evergreen is a mix of sci-fi and crime drama, kind of like a simplified version of the 80s movie, Ice Pirates. Yll finds a woman, Ada, hiding aboard his freighter, trying to escape from a planetary crime lord who wants to add her to his brothel.

Ada has an entitled attitude which doesn't go over well with Yllas, and he can't decide if he wants to take her bribe to get her home, or accept the reward for returning her to her captors.

Being a short story, the story left me wanting more. Evergreen should consider turning this one into another mini-series, the way the author did with Dark City.

As always,
AstraDaemon