Watch Your Step

VISITORS by James Loscombe is noting like what I expected...definitely a roller coaster ride: twist after twist. I couldn't have predicted this ending, if my life depended on it. I highly recommend this mix of crime drama and horror.

One of my favorite Loscombe stories!

As always,
AstraDaemon

No Going Back

DECISIONS by Jason Myers is not what I expected. I thought the story would be focused on one moment, but instead readers are taken on a journey of all the life-changing decisions the main character makes in his adult life. Unfortunately, the last decisions is taken out of his hands.

As always,
AstraDaemon

An Ancestral Revenge

MOUSE AND OWL by Bracken McLeod is dark short story about revenge, written in the style of folklore. While the main character carries out her plan, details of the dystopian society are revealed. The erasure of a culture, while placed in a fantasy setting, is reminiscent of real life history.

The ending has the perfect touch of horror, without taking away from the message of standing up to genocide. I recommend this one to all readers.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Lots of Bad Guys

THE DRAIN by Victor Vilestone has been revised and re-released. In my review of the original version, I stated the author should've included a twist or two because the story was predictable. This ending is far superior, and I LOVE the changes. In fact, I think Vilestone should consider writing a follow-up short because the characters are so much more intriguing this time around.

MESSED WITH THE WRONG GUY is filled with raw emotion, leading up to one hell of a shock. Dave only wanted revenge, but he found a horrifying truth instead.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Lovecraft Being Racist

THE TERRIBLE OLD MAN by H.P. Lovecraft, set in the fishing village of Kingsport, isn't much of a story as it is a set-up...shadow without the substance. The author has a talent for creating, but not story-telling. His pieces are intriguing, but how he moves them lacks skill.

I'm amazed at how much of an influence Lovecraft has over present-day authors, many of which write far better stories. I also noticed his racism showing in this one.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Supernatural or Imagined?

THE VISITOR by Clark Roberts is disappointing, nothing like what I've come to expect from the author. However, this one is older than the previous two I've read/reviewed, so it seems Roberts has improved his storytelling over time.

The ending isn't clear enough for me. Not sure if the story is supernatural or something imagined by the main character.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Survivors or Terrorists?

THE HIM DEEP DOWN by Chad Lutzke and Terry M. West begins with one of the most horrifying sentences I've ever read, only to have the story grow darker with every page. I don't know what I expected, but it sure as hell wasn't the wicked twist, crack and crunch.

This is less about the undead and more about the horrible things people do in the name of survival. Well-written and filled with gore.

As always,
AstraDaemon