On the origin of this book, Brom is quoted saying “It was while watching a documentary on the Salem witch trials that I kept thinking, Now what would On the origin of this book, Brom is quoted saying “It was while watching a documentary on the Salem witch trials that I kept thinking, Now what would it be like if those accused of witchcraft were really witches, if the Devil was their ally, what havoc would ensue? And the tale of Slewfoot was born.”
Slewfoot is a dark, tale that takes place in 1666 New England, in a small Puritan village. An ancient malevolent force awakens in the haunting woods and the villagers are fearful of what awaits them. Abitha comes from a long line of cunning folk and bewitchery herself. When her husband mysteriously disappears, and she is left with the task of saving their land by farming and selling corn. The task is too much for a single person, especially a slight woman. Just as she is giving up, her body and soul worn down to just a sliver of its former self, she sees a figure who is a half-human and half-horned beast. She becomes enamored with the man-beast and since his true identity is unknown, she names him Samson. Who is Samson? Is he a protector or slayer? Is he virtuous or monstrous? Is he the devil himself?
Slewfoot is an extraordinary tale about a unusual partnership and a demon trying to find his self. It’s a Story based on history and fact of witchcraft, misogyny, paganism, and religious zeal.
Slewfoot is written with amazing talent and craft, and kept me spellbound until the end. Read this, savor every word to see how a story is truly crafted.
Tor publishing’s new horror division, Nightfire, publishes wonderful books and stories of horror and fantasy. They understand what horror should be and only brings what truly embraces that genre.
Thanks to @Netgalley and Tor Nightfire publishing for the chance to read this in exchange of my honest and unbiased opinion
Merged review:
On the origin of this book, Brom is quoted saying “It was while watching a documentary on the Salem witch trials that I kept thinking, Now what would it be like if those accused of witchcraft were really witches, if the Devil was their ally, what havoc would ensue? And the tale of Slewfoot was born.”
Slewfoot is a dark, tale that takes place in 1666 New England, in a small Puritan village. An ancient malevolent force awakens in the haunting woods and the villagers are fearful of what awaits them. Abitha comes from a long line of cunning folk and bewitchery herself. When her husband mysteriously disappears, and she is left with the task of saving their land by farming and selling corn. The task is too much for a single person, especially a slight woman. Just as she is giving up, her body and soul worn down to just a sliver of its former self, she sees a figure who is a half-human and half-horned beast. She becomes enamored with the man-beast and since his true identity is unknown, she names him Samson. Who is Samson? Is he a protector or slayer? Is he virtuous or monstrous? Is he the devil himself?
Slewfoot is an extraordinary tale about a unusual partnership and a demon trying to find his self. It’s a Story based on history and fact of witchcraft, misogyny, paganism, and religious zeal.
Slewfoot is written with amazing talent and craft, and kept me spellbound until the end. Read this, savor every word to see how a story is truly crafted.
Tor publishing’s new horror division, Nightfire, publishes wonderful books and stories of horror and fantasy. They understand what horror should be and only brings what truly embraces that genre.
Thanks to @Netgalley and Tor Nightfire publishing for the chance to read this in exchange of my honest and unbiased opinion...more
I tried, I really did. I wanted to love this, would have settled for liking it. Unfortunately, what was an excellent premise just didn’t follow througI tried, I really did. I wanted to love this, would have settled for liking it. Unfortunately, what was an excellent premise just didn’t follow through.
First, there is very bad editing. This was an eArc, so much of that can be forgiven but I hope it gets another going-over before publishing.
The story; an unidentified building falls from the sky, just like the title says. No one knows where it came from or why it’s there but it somehow manages, despite a series of escalating events suggesting that the house may be more dangerous than anyone ever thought possible, to be taken over by a privately owned company that hosts a lottery to lure the city’s residents, promising the winners a large cash reward if they dare to enter the house. Personally, I would skip that fun ride but that’s me.
The characters are mildly interesting, but for a group that is supposed to be in their 30’s, they are very immature. I assumed they were barely in their 20’s when they first arrive in the book.
It’s advertised as a haunted house tale, but it wouldn’t have been my first choice of descriptions. I may give it another try one day and see if my feelings change but for now, it’s not high on my list to recommend....more
A sadistic killer finds a way to commit murder from beyond the grave. Joseph Hickey is executed for killing an entire family, after doing unspeakable A sadistic killer finds a way to commit murder from beyond the grave. Joseph Hickey is executed for killing an entire family, after doing unspeakable things to the parents than making them watch as he tortured, brutalized, and slaughtered their young daughters. He gives no excuse, as for no mercy, and seems quite proud of what he has done.
The prison Chaplain at Sing-Sing is John Henry, a disillusioned man who no longer has the faith that brought him to the priesthood, and a killer like Hickey just reinforces the feeling that there is no God who cares. It’s his job to give last rites to the condemned men, and when it’s Hickey’s turn, John Henry makes no bones about how he feels about the killer and his deeds.
Hickey is executed, in the grossest fashion the writer could describe, but he’s far from done with killing or with John Henry. A few months later, a man walks into the police and confesses to a crime that is an exact duplicate of Hickeys and he wants to talk to John Henry.
That’s just where the roller coaster begins to move. The premise of the book is excellent. How do you fight a killer who keeps coming back as a different person, with no ties to the killing grounds or the victims? How many times will he do this before someone does something to stop him and what can they do? This is beyond mortal experience.
Near Death is well written and the author keeps you interested longer than you expect to be. I can be very cynical about mystery and thriller books. I don’t like a story that is not reasonable even if the elements are Paranormal. Anything less is cheating. There may have been a few spots where I rolled my eyes, but for the most part, Wall managed to make me buy what he was selling.
Thanks to @Netgalley, Burning Chair, and Richard Wall for the chance to read this eArc in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion. ...more
A wonderfully scripted novel that straddles two time periods, 1965 and 2010. The attention to detail dealing with the social injustices of the ’60s isA wonderfully scripted novel that straddles two time periods, 1965 and 2010. The attention to detail dealing with the social injustices of the ’60s is spot on. And the harm that some white southerners put themselves in the way of to right what they knew was wrong is shown in a way that makes you understand how and why someone would risk everything because others are not free.
Sadly, 2022 and this is still the way things are and this book not only shows where we were but the fact that we have not moved very far at all in the past 60+ years.
The characters are so realistic that it pains you when something happens to them. To me, making me care about a fictional character that deeply is a sign of a true artist.
I read the book and also listened to the audiobook. The Narrator, Susan Bennett, did an excellent job and kept you immersed in the story all the way through.
Thanks to @Netgalley, Macmillan Audio, and Diane Chamberlain for the opportunity to read and listen to this book in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion....more
Our Trespasses straddles between two genres, horror and mystery, and does it like a professional high-flying trapeze artist. Done with skill and talenOur Trespasses straddles between two genres, horror and mystery, and does it like a professional high-flying trapeze artist. Done with skill and talent, that did not let me down.
Matt Davis and his brother Jake, are identical twins. They share everything, including feelings and sensations. When one is hurt the other feels his pain, one is sick the other is too. But something happened between the brothers to break their close bond and Matt leaves town, never looking back.
Then one day, out of the blue, he is hit with the worse pain of his life, his head is exploding, he fights to stay standing and as he hits the ground he realizes his brother, thousands of miles away, has just been shot in the head and killed.
As if that wasn’t bad enough, when he returns home for the funeral he discovers the connection he shared with Jake is still alive, even though Jake is not. He has to find out who killed him and break that connection. That’s the mystery.
But who killed his brother is the least of his worries. Something has discovered their connection, something not of this world, and it wants to use that link to enter this world. Kick in the horror, hold on tight because Cordell is about to throw you all over the place at such a speed you won't know what hit you.
I really enjoy this book. I have never read, Michael Cordell, and honestly never heard of him. But my Lord, he is a talented story crafter! Reminds me of when Koontz was at his prime.
I tore through this book in record time, needing to find out how it ended and it was worth every minute.
Highly recommended.
Thanks to @Netgalley, TCK Publishing, and Michael Cordell for this eArc in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion. ...more
Very disappointed with this novel. The premise was excellent; an avenging killer, wearing the vestments of the Pope, sets out to stop the corruption aVery disappointed with this novel. The premise was excellent; an avenging killer, wearing the vestments of the Pope, sets out to stop the corruption and deviance of the Catholic Church. His solution, to slay the Priest who abuse children or forsake their vows giving into temptation of the flesh.
The first third of the book is interesting, disturbing, bloody, and violent.
The the train jumps the tracks, and suddenly this story makes no sense. The killer makes choices that are illogicalevnfor a psychopathic killer. He exposes himself repeatedly, yet is not caught. There was simply no rhyme or reason to anything that was going go and the story is lost.
So was I. I could not suffer through a other page and after reading 3/4 of this, I just could not take it anymore and did not finish.
Thanks to @netgalley and Crossroad Press for this eArc in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion...more
I know it’s a little early for Halloween, but when your genre of choice is horror, every day is Halloween. So when I saw this audiobook offered, I hadI know it’s a little early for Halloween, but when your genre of choice is horror, every day is Halloween. So when I saw this audiobook offered, I had to go for it.
It takes place in a small town in 1963. There is an Urban legend about the October boy, except this legend is very, very real.
He rises from the cornfield every Halloween, butcher knife at the ready, as he tries to make his way to the center of town, to the safe area of the church, while every boy from 16 to 21 lies in wait to stop him. To kill the October boy is their ticket out of town. The chance for their family to get a better life and for them to get out.
A very creepy tale made ore so by the talent of the narrator, Vikas Adam. His voice was like sitting around a campfire, as someone tells the scariest story you have ever heard. It's scratchy and rough, like any narrator of a spooky story should be. His voice made this so much more than simply reading it could ever have done.
As for Norman Partridge, his writing is more than just sound. It’s poetic and lyrical, something rarely found in horror books. His metaphors are sometimes eye-rolling and sometimes pure genius, as you the reader/listener is made to see exactly what he wants you to see. Reminded me of Ray Bradbury’s The Halloween Tree, but bloodier.
Highly recommended if you want a nice scare. It’s a short book, a short Audio; a little over 4 hours. The perfect length for a story like this.
Thanks to @netgalley, Macmillan Audio, Vikas Adam, and Norman Partridge for this audiobook in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion ...more
I rarely say this but there are two things you need to do as soon as possible; 1-Go out now and get this book! Get the physical book, the ebook, the aI rarely say this but there are two things you need to do as soon as possible; 1-Go out now and get this book! Get the physical book, the ebook, the audiobook, it doesn't matter… 2- Put the name Ian Kirkpatrick on your must-read list. Yeah, really. Right next to Stephen King...do it now, I’ll wait…
Now why I say these things; Ian Kirkpatrick was an unknown name to me until I read Bleed more, Bodymore. But it’s a name I will not only remember but will pop over to Barnes and Nobel and Amazon to see what else I can find of hers to read.
I want to be careful here because it would be so easy to give spoilers in this review, and there are few things I hate more than spoilers...and cheaters...and bad horror that’s not horror...of yeah, and rats...but I digress.
So Bleed More, Bodymore takes place in good old Baltimore, Md. A place I did not realize, even after years of going there for business on a bi-weekly basis, that it was so damn deadly! And this book gives a very valid and believable reason why it smells the way it does, but to tell you would be a spoiler. (See above paragraph).
Ok, the particulars; Joey’s a mechanic. One night, she receives a call from her best friend, asking for his car to be picked up from the infamous body dumping grounds of Baltimore: Leakin Park. Back at the body shop, it doesn’t take long for the smell of rot to permeate the trunk. Inside? A corpse. But something isn’t right in Baltimore. Her search for her friend reveals something much worse hiding under the city. Suddenly, the city’s rage and the stink rising out of the dirt make much more sense.
I loved every page, every word of this book. I loved Joey, one plucky, strong, street-wise woman who goes looking for a friend even when she’s scared out of her mind. Joey’s life has not been easy, her mom walked when she was a young kid, and her dad is a drunk who sits in his recliner watching bad TV and drinking beer when he’s not trying to beat Joey into an early grave. She can come across as a bit of a jerk, but it’s the woman hiding behind the snarky remarks and the rebellion that is the real Joey. Don’t judge her too quickly, she’s worth knowing.
This book is about to be one of the hottest titles out there, trust me on this, I know good horror and Kirkpatrick writes dang good horror! I am hoping and praying this is just book one in a long series, like Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files. I kid you not. The situations, the horror, the murder, the ghost just in Baltimore could fill at least 10 full novels...just saying.
I also listened to the audiobook version of this, and while it held my interest and was still a good novel, the use of a male narrator threw me at first. Joey is a girl, but for most of the audiobook, you find yourself wondering if you got that part wrong. Kieran Regan does a good job as narrator but I’m not sure he was the best choice for voicing a 24-year-old woman.
Thanks to NetGalley, Steak House Books, and Ian Kirkpatrick for this ebook and audio in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion....more
I find with the Halloween season I tend to read more short stories like I’m getting as much horror as possible into my brain. So after reading the pubI find with the Halloween season I tend to read more short stories like I’m getting as much horror as possible into my brain. So after reading the publisher’s blurb about The Odd & The Dead, I snatched it up.
I had high hopes for these stories, but unfortunately, I was disappointed.
One issue, and a major one for me, is that the book was badly edited. I know this is supposed to be an uncorrected proof but did a Beta even look it over? Regardless, it caused stumbles in the sentences which reverberated into the stories themselves.
I tried, I read every one but could not find one that I would recommend wholeheartedly. There were 7 stories, I’ll just mention a few;
The Boyfriend: in this grim and comedic tale of government overreach, a woman accidentally conjures a man so that she can be properly promoted. I almost stopped right after this one. It had the beginnings of a good sci-fi story but seemed to lose itself. And lost me as I tried to make heads or tales out of it.
Green Girl: kidnapped, a young woman’s future appears to lie in the paws of a creature she always assumed to be a myth. This one had legs. A woman kidnapped by an insane clown,(Yeah you heard me…) and is “saved” by something closer to Sasquatch than a man. No joy though, she is simply out of the frying pan and into the fire. This could be better, even though it is one of the better of the lot. If it was fleshed out a little more and removed the sexual components, I think you could have something here.
The Pawned Box: a pawnbroker and a junker come together in an attempt to save the world from forces unknown.
I actually liked this one a lot. A nice bit of time/space continuum, a dash of the butterfly effect, and just someone wanting to stop something horrible to save someone they love. I would read this as a complete novel. There are so many things we could attempt to fix in the future with a simple action done today.
So I’m sorry, I can’t even bother with the rest. I didn’t like them enough to waste the reader's time explaining why I didn’t like them.
Of course, this is all my own, humble opinion.
Thanks to @Netgalley, Dancing Flame Books, and Jody Smith for this arc in exchange for my unbiased and honest opinion....more
Graveneye is a beautiful graphic novel read in the voice of the old house Isla lives in. Marie, a small, meek woman has been hired to care for the houGraveneye is a beautiful graphic novel read in the voice of the old house Isla lives in. Marie, a small, meek woman has been hired to care for the house.
Marie has a rough life. A husband who is worthless and abusive, cleaning Isla’s house becomes everything and then even more than everything. She finds herself drawn to the strange woman she serves, and that becomes an attraction followed but what can only be called worship. But as much as she thinks she knows about Isla, she knows nothing.
The house itself is our guide and Isla’s confessor. It shows us who she really is and the unnatural hunger that beats in her breast. The house absorbs the terror and the blood that Isla sheds and protects her.
At first, I was confused by the point of view the author chose, not realizing it was the house that spoke to the reader, not the characters that lived within it.
The writing is as close to poetry as I have read in a graphic novel. Ms. Leong has a way with words that make even the horrific strangely beautiful.
The artwork done by Anna Bowles is perfect for this type of story. It shows the beauty and the ugliness of what Leong’s characters are doing or having done to them.
I’ll admit it wasn’t what I was expecting based on the publisher’s blurbs, I was expecting a haunted house story, but it actually became so much more than I had wanted when I sat down to read. Beautiful, haunting, violent, bloody, and sad. I hope to read more from this author.
Also a shout out to the publishing company TKO. I was not familiar with them but this is the second graphic novel I have read from their catalog and have been equally impressed by their offerings.
Thanks to @Netgalley, TKO Studios, and Sloane Leong for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion....more
A sadistic blogger gleefully documents the murders of Hollywood celebrities. I have to admit, even as distasteful as the reviewer's actions were, the A sadistic blogger gleefully documents the murders of Hollywood celebrities. I have to admit, even as distasteful as the reviewer's actions were, the story was kinda funny. I know it was meant to be scary, but maybe because he chose to kill a few "celebrities" that I don't particularly like, it amused me. Not for the easily offended, and I'll leave it at that.
A journalist infiltrates a sex club for the physically impaired, finding he has more in common with them than he first assumed. This was just weird. A sex club where missing or damaged body parts are a sexual turn-on. I didn't exactly care for this one.
A soon-to-be-dad gets seduced by a water spirit, which questions everything he thought he could impart as a father. While well written, this one left no impression on me at all. I had to go back to the book to see what it had been about even though I know I read it.
The best of the lot is the final story, a novella bout A primary school teacher who finds himself haunted by gruesome ghost children. They want something from him and try to use scare techniques to get it. In order to rid himself of the ghastly ghosts, he tries to help them find peace, even though he refuses to face his own inner demons. Every character is complete, and you have to feel something for each of them. The joy of a short story or in this case, a novella, is seeing the true mastery of the craft to fit so much in so small a box. This was not only the best of the bunch but also the most powerful. If you've ever lost someone you love, no matter how, and also lost yourself, this story will touch you. Yes, it's disturbing, kinda scary, but lord does it hit the mark for giving you the "feels"! In these stories, ordinary people must confront their biggest flaws and deepest fears in worlds eerily similar to our own. Because the worst horrors are the real ones we create for ourselves. I really did enjoy this book. I'm not familiar with the author but I would read his work again in a heartbeat. I really like the fact that most of the main characters were gay. And a good LGBTQ horror novel is very hard to find. Well, here is one that satisfies on all levels.
Thanks to @Netgalley and Unnerving Publishing, and Leo X. Robertson for this ARC in exchange for my unbiased and honest opinion....more
One October morning, Laina gets the news that her brother has been shot and killed by Boston cops. But what looks like a case of police brutality soonOne October morning, Laina gets the news that her brother has been shot and killed by Boston cops. But what looks like a case of police brutality soon reveals something much stranger. Monsters are real. And they want everyone to know it.
Reading the blurb for this book I was intrigued enough to want to read it, and having a chance to listen to the audiobook was a perfect way.
Turnbull's style of writing, very poetic and descriptive, was a definite plus for me. So many books in this genre are written as if the reader was a child.
But personally, this just wasn't for me. I understood how Turnbull made the connections between today's headlines and a story about Monsters coming out, but to me, it seemed to trivialize today's issues. Another issue, that is purely personal, is I read to escape the real-life horror of today's insensitive world. I can't say I found that escape here. I was agitated by the response to a werewolf being shot by a cop as I am when I hear of a black life lost for the same reason.
Unfortunately, I just could not find the empathy I needed for the characters. There was too much jumping from one character's story to another and I just started to feel annoyed and lost.
Dion Graham did a wonderful job as narrator.
Don't let my experience stop you though. The writing style alone is worth the read. Trumbull is a fine wordsmith and I will try another of his books in the future.
Thanks to @Netgalley, Blackstone Publishing, and Cadwell Trumbull for this audiobook in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion....more
Publisher's blurb: A collection of new and exclusive short stories inspired by, and in tribute to, Shirley Jackson. Shirley Jackson is a seminal writerPublisher's blurb: A collection of new and exclusive short stories inspired by, and in tribute to, Shirley Jackson. Shirley Jackson is a seminal writer of horror and mystery fiction, whose legacy resonates globally today. Chilling, human, poignant, and strange, her stories have inspired a generation of writers and readers. This anthology, edited by legendary horror editor Ellen Datlow, will bring together today’s leading horror writers to offer their own personal tribute to the work of Shirley Jackson. Featuring Joyce Carol Oates, Josh Malerman, Carmen Maria Machado, Paul Tremblay, Richard Kadrey, Stephen Graham Jones, Elizabeth Hand, Kelly Link, Cassandra Khaw, Karen Heuler, Benjamin Percy, John Langan, Laird Barron, Jeffrey Ford, M. Rickert, Seanan McGuire, Gemma Files, and Genevieve Valentine.
I love Shirley Jackson! Let's just get that out of the way right now. I think she may have been one of my first "favorite authors". I found her works long before that fateful day I was bought Salem's Lot. The Lottery and The Haunting of Hell House still rank as one of the very best horror stories written. What made Jackson unique, in my humble opinion, is the fact that she didn't just reach the guaranteed scares. Not a lot of blood and gore, no flashing knives, no splatterpunk full of blood thrown in your face for her! She used words, descriptions so complete you could see whatever she was describing as if in front of you. And once those words were strung together in an unforgettable tale, you were scared witless. A talent very few then, and now, can achieve. I wanted this simply because it was high time Shirley Jackson was properly hailed for her genius. I was also afraid I would end up angry and disappointed in other author's attempts to capture the spirit of Jackson. There were one or two that did disappoint, but oh...oh the rest were dead on! Josh Malerman, Carmen Mria Machado, even Stephen Graham Jones, who I have often given mediocre reviews to, shined like stars in the dark velvet sky! Hats off to Ellen Datlow for compiling these 18 stories in the perfect spooky collection. I think Ms. Jackson would have been proud of the stories they produced. Now I want to go back and read my collection of Shirley Jackson books all over again, and maybe a few from the authors whose tributes were done so well. Thanks to @Netgalley, Titan Books, and Ellen Datlow for this arc in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion....more
Cassandra Khaw's Nothing but Blackened Teeth is a gorgeously creepy haunted house tale, steeped in Japanese folklore and full of devastating twists.
AnCassandra Khaw's Nothing but Blackened Teeth is a gorgeously creepy haunted house tale, steeped in Japanese folklore and full of devastating twists.
An abandoned mansion whose foundations are said to rest on the bones of a young bride, murdered and hidden away. The legend says the walls are packed with the earthly remains of other brides, who have been sacrificed to keep the young bride company through eternity.
A group of friends goes to the mansion with the idea of celebrating the wedding of two of their group. It's a bad idea from the get-go, but the bride-to-be has always dreamed of having her wedding in a haunted house. Things go downhill as the drinks flow and the truths come out. And none are ready for what is hiding in the shadows, waiting for a new bride to keep her company.
This is a seriously spooky tale!
I love a good haunted house story and this is definitely in that column. It has everything you could want, a greedy ghost who wants as much company as possible for the afterlife, friends who have issues and secrets about each other, a bride-to-be who is selfish and wants what she wants, regardless of the danger.
Cassandra Khaw takes the classic style of the haunted house story and gives it a vicious twist in the guts!
So many real-life issues are packed into this fairly short audiobook. Khaw touches on grief, selfishness, the dark nature of friendship, and the basic rule that all actions have consequences.
The narrator, Suehyla El-Attar, has the perfect voice for this creepy tale.
As usual, Tor Nightfire has found another great scary story to keep us up at night.
Thanks to @Netgalley, Tor Nightfire, Macmillan Audio, and Cassandra Khaw for this audiobook in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion....more
Hetty Stanley was a cruel, spinster school teacher, who over a century ago killed her entire class. Of course a heinous act this huge would and did crHetty Stanley was a cruel, spinster school teacher, who over a century ago killed her entire class. Of course a heinous act this huge would and did create folklore of her haunting the lake she killed the children in. Ever few years a child would disappear from near the lake, keeping her story and the fear alive. Dane Butler, a struggling writer, inherits a home near the old schoolhouse where Hetty reined in terror. Winona and her four year old son move into the converted schoolhouse to try and start a new life. The two adults form a friendship and Dane forms a bond with the young boy over old '80's video games. Then as expected, the worst happens. Casey disappears and the hunt for the child and answers begin. Sounds formulaic, following the path of many a mystery or ghost story. But this one has just that extra little something, that something you find in a good scary horror novel like they used to write. Eddie Generous, whom I have never heard of or read anything from, reminded me of early Bentley Little or Robert Marasco. Finally a book under the genre of horror that delivers what it promised! I stayed up late reading, rushing to the end even as I wanted it to last longer. Definitely recommend to anyone who loved and misses the style of horror that creeps up on you, sinks it teeth in and shakes you around. Thanks to @Netgalley and Omnium Gatherum for this arc in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion....more
You gotta love a ghost story smashed with a Rebecca-type tale. Jane Lawrence is a no-nonsense woman who knew what she wanted and that was a simple, uncYou gotta love a ghost story smashed with a Rebecca-type tale. Jane Lawrence is a no-nonsense woman who knew what she wanted and that was a simple, uncomplicated life, where she would happily work on her math or accounting skills. But a woman had to have some security, especially in this Victorian-type era. But she had no prospects for love, nor wanted any. She did what she did best; she made a list of eligible bachelors and all their pros and cons and found which was her best match statistically. That was Augustine Lawrence, a doctor, a man of science, and a gentleman. He agreed to her offer, willing to have a marriage of convenience. So much easier said then done, soon emotions came into play and an unscheduled visit to the house Jane agreed to never visit changed everything. A very creepy story, with ghosts, mysteries, and magic. Caitlin Starling builds a world where magic was once accepted as real and replaced with religion as a result of a war between the two thoughts. Very reminiscent to post WWII England. But a few chapters in, and you will forget this is a parallel world and just go with it. Maybe if you’re lucky, you’ll find the secret of how to leave Lindridge Hall….maybe. Thanks to NetGalley, and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read this galley in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion. ...more
Becka used jogging to receive the guilty she felt over her dying husband, until one day she comes across an unlikely sight,a confessional in the woodsBecka used jogging to receive the guilty she felt over her dying husband, until one day she comes across an unlikely sight,a confessional in the woods. She decides to confess a rather e minor so and when something forgives her she feels euphoria. A high from that forgiveness that a Sociopath should not feel or care about. In no time, the confessions become like a drug habit. She must commit worse sins to get that high... Josh Malerman is quickly becoming one of my favorite horror writers. If you haven't tried him, do yourself a favor and read something from him. Hint* Bird Box is 100 times better as a book....more
Publisher’s blurb: Trev, Kent, and Brian are allegedly friends, but are best known as the backbiting hosts of the popular ghost hunting show, Ghost BrPublisher’s blurb: Trev, Kent, and Brian are allegedly friends, but are best known as the backbiting hosts of the popular ghost hunting show, Ghost Bros. With ratings falling and competition rising, they gamble it all on the Chernobyl of haunted locations: Edgeway Penitentiary. Armed only with a bag of cameras, some sick tattoos, and absolutely zero scientific knowledge, the Ghostbros find conclusive proof of the afterlife at Edgeway... After they die and come back as ghosts themselves, trapped there with the angry ghosts who killed them!
Oh, there are no words for just how much I loved this comic! I admit I am one of the believers in ghosts and I spent many a night watching Ghost Hunters, Ghost Adventures, heck, any ghost-related show! This is all of those and then some.
The Ghost Bros go to prove spirits are real and get killed by them and become ghosts themselves. On the 1st Anniversary of their deaths, their cable channel does a “live ghost hunting” show of the place they died. Now the Ghost bros must save their hated competitors while still trying to make the world see Ghost are real.
This was pure genius. Sebela and Sears did an amazing job on the story and the artwork. I want more Ghost Bros! Make it a multi-series, make it an animated TV show!
You have got to read this if you are just a little bit comic nerd and ghost nerd.
I received this book free from Oni Press, and Netgalley for my honest, unbiased review. ...more
Per publisher’s blurb: Alice loves to talk to her dolls, and her dolls and dollhouse love to talk back. When Alice is six, she is given a beautiful antPer publisher’s blurb: Alice loves to talk to her dolls, and her dolls and dollhouse love to talk back. When Alice is six, she is given a beautiful antique dollhouse. When things in her life get scary, Alice turns to her dolls and dollhouse for comfort. One day, they invite her to come and play inside with them. As Alice's life is turned upside down in the "big" world, she is always welcomed home to the little world inside the dollhouse; the house will even grant her a wish if she agrees to live with them!
Follow Alice through the door of the dollhouse and into the demon's den
This was a very interesting comic. It had all the necessary parts I enjoy in a supernatural tale. Murder, ghosts, legend, mystery, demons, and a child to lead them all. At some points, I was a little confused as the author jumped back and forth in time but it did all come together in the end. I also get the impression that the story is not over and we shall see more of a certain little girl, born with more courage than a thousand armies. I received this book free from DC Entertainment, and NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review....more
From the publisher; A disgraced journalist is called to cover a mysterious story on an isolated European island. As she investigates, she discovers thaFrom the publisher; A disgraced journalist is called to cover a mysterious story on an isolated European island. As she investigates, she discovers that children have taken control via weird technology linked to their smartphones and are somehow killing off all adults by their 40th birthdays. ~~~~ Such a simple explanation of a very complicated, but compelling story. It’s like a mashup of Stephen King’s “Children of the Corn, Cell Logan’s Run and Soilent Green. Basically a book nerds idea of the perfect comic.
The story is creepy because it seems like such a possibility when the kids today can do things with their phones most of us older folks can’t do on a desktop or even understand what the hell they are talking about. It could be the future...our future. So very easily.
I enjoyed the ride and would like to see how the story turns out, even though I may find the ending uncomfortable. The art is very well done. Evgeniy Bornyakov captured the vapid smile and stare of the adults as well as the very creepy grin of the kids. Made the story just that more believable and strange.
Kudos to Klickenstein, Bornyakov, Affe, and Bowland. This series should be a hit! I received this book free from Diamond Book Distributors, and Netgalley for my honest, unbiased review. ...more
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