Honestly, I was pretty down with this in the first half. Total B-Movie feature creature style. But then it had the twist that will become abundantly cHonestly, I was pretty down with this in the first half. Total B-Movie feature creature style. But then it had the twist that will become abundantly clear almost immediately and I was like, Hey, that's unusual in the usual way, but just how far can it be taken?
Yes, I know, it can be taken very, very far. And in this one? It is.
I WANT to like that fact. But almost immediately, my reaction settles in and it just says... "This is tedious".
But why? Probably because the MC simply doesn't have many redeeming features. His rationale aside. And even that is extremely iffy.
So while this IS pretty short, it's also pretty un-fun. Which is sad because I've liked just about everything else Mr. Jones has written. ...more
Yeah. So. This one really didn't connect with me. I mean, Mr. Beast doing a reality TV show contest on Survival Island, only it goes really bad with dYeah. So. This one really didn't connect with me. I mean, Mr. Beast doing a reality TV show contest on Survival Island, only it goes really bad with deep dark mystery island stuff a-la cults. Yeah. Well. Practically none of that sparks me as original or not over-done in today's entertainment.
When books need to steal from youtube and decades of reality tv and a smidge of Jonestown, you know we're scraping the bottom of the barrel.
Otherwise, the writing was okay. I simply had a hard time caring....more
Definitely a good horror read if you A: like writers being messed up, B: like psychological mindfucks that carry over directly to the plot, C: like maDefinitely a good horror read if you A: like writers being messed up, B: like psychological mindfucks that carry over directly to the plot, C: like massive PoV jumps that make sense in the way that you like to string up facts on a pin-board like a detective OR a conspiracy theorist.
Me? I could have gone either way on this book.
I appreciate the messed up bits a lot, but by the time it was CONTINUING to get more messed up and I'd had to throw out all my working theories at least three times only to circle full back to the ORIGINAL theory, I was wondering if I even liked the tale at all.
Hello West Virginia. Hello claustrophobic Southern Family Horror.
I can't really say much here without giving away all the little discov*twangs banjo*
Hello West Virginia. Hello claustrophobic Southern Family Horror.
I can't really say much here without giving away all the little discoverable treats in this book, but I can say that the atmosphere is both strange and neat. A family that stays together--ah, well, let's not QUITE go there, yet, unless you start reading.
Strange book. It feels like a 70's pulp horror novel, complete with the same setting, types of characters, everything, but it's modern.
Vamps, revenge,Strange book. It feels like a 70's pulp horror novel, complete with the same setting, types of characters, everything, but it's modern.
Vamps, revenge, massive disadvantages as a vamp, and every character is super flawed and grounded.
So, I should say it's a good novel in that it succeeds in all the ways it sets out to succeed.
And yet, I've read a number of novels quite like this and it'll never hold up to say, Interview, or many others. Indeed, it's a true-crime level, low-level thugs and regular people forced into hard circumstances type. It would have made a decent 70's hard-boiled movie with undertones of King but mostly like Bloch.
I have nothing really bad to say about this book. Not really. It's a Flannagan-era take on demons and a haunted house as seen through a young influencI have nothing really bad to say about this book. Not really. It's a Flannagan-era take on demons and a haunted house as seen through a young influencer's eyes and how she grew up.
Put simply.
It's giving the popular crowd and the newly popular take on the horror genre exactly what it desires. I, too, really enjoy Mike's takes, and this gives us more. So, bon appetite!
Definitely an uncomfortable, even rage-baiting read. But then, where else should we be in a horror about real life child abuse, institutional-style?
ItDefinitely an uncomfortable, even rage-baiting read. But then, where else should we be in a horror about real life child abuse, institutional-style?
It may have taken place in the 1950's at the height of the Jim Crow era, and the kinds of reform schools for boys, especially black boys, are a well known tragedy just one step to the side from actual slavery, but that doesn't make it any the less resonate with today.
Racism is absolutely rampant and it takes a whole village to create a slave and the slavery mindset.
I can't tell you how happy I was to see some kind of happy ending to this novel.
Ghosts aside, abuse and death aside, I have to say this book was rather soul-killing. I guess that CAN be a mark of a good horror, no? I just wish it wasn't hitting so close to home.
This was freaking amazing. I was simply unprepared for what this became.
Decades of story, this epic horror revels in an old myth so modernized and psyThis was freaking amazing. I was simply unprepared for what this became.
Decades of story, this epic horror revels in an old myth so modernized and psychological and nastily PRESENT that I'm frankly a bit shocked that it COULD be St. George versus the Dragon.
Because, let's face it, that's what this is.
Of course, it's so much more. 80's satanic panic, occultism, friends getting in WAY too deep, and the fact that a single stupid moment can ruin the rest of their lives. But that opening is just the beginning.
But let's take another look at this novel. I should mention that it is a horror that NEEDS to be read on Easter. Trust me. Easter. It's an Easter horror. A dragon Easter horror.
Well now. That was chaotic and disturbing as all hell.
Ignore normal body-horror fiction for a moment and just settle in for a little pregnancy fictionWell now. That was chaotic and disturbing as all hell.
Ignore normal body-horror fiction for a moment and just settle in for a little pregnancy fiction.
Oh, never mind, settle in for some serious body-horror pregnancy fiction.
Nightmare fuel.
Oh, and it's very much a LGBTQ transitional piece, too, as well as some nice cthuhlu tones. But no matter what you might expect, expect to be bleed from many orifices.
This might be my favorite book by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. I've enjoyed them all, to be sure, but this one did witches well. Not cliche, not sympathetic,This might be my favorite book by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. I've enjoyed them all, to be sure, but this one did witches well. Not cliche, not sympathetic, but steeped in several traditions. And, of course, done well.
The hopping back and forth happens in several different ways. Time periods, of course, and witching traditions, even within the separate time periods--but beautifully enough, of switching between HORROR sub-genres as well! I suppose it takes a connoisseur to really appreciate it.
What a great Halloween book. Or even an anytime psychological horror book. Or perhaps something rather more psychological. House-shattering, even.
HoneWhat a great Halloween book. Or even an anytime psychological horror book. Or perhaps something rather more psychological. House-shattering, even.
Honestly, the first thing that ran through my head as I began reading this was how refreshing it was to start a tale AFTER the events. It's all long-after the main action, so we've got a delicious wrap-up ahead of us. Or unraveling. You know how these things go.
And then it just got funny. Deliciously funny. And without spoiling ANYTHING, I'll just say, vaguely, that a lot of twists and turns will happen with our expectations. Wonderfully so.
Suffice to say, this woman can absolutely make a heaven out of hell. I feel seen, too, in how well we both can roll with the changes--no matter how decidedly fucked up they are. Of course, making do and having a strong mind and body to make a HOME out of this situation CAN seem to be taken a BIT too far. But I'm an INFP and I SWEAR this character is, too.
We get it. We make do in the face of absolute insanity. Have you seen the rest of ya'll?
Ahem.
No matter how I look at it, this book was one hell of a kickass horror. Total recommendation.
A very amusing, wild ride. Like watching Californication as a ghost story. Or as the decent of a skeptical egoist into insanity. Or as a fine, fucked A very amusing, wild ride. Like watching Californication as a ghost story. Or as the decent of a skeptical egoist into insanity. Or as a fine, fucked up horror. Or all of the above.
I won't spoil things, but the things that happen were very, very amusing and sometimes quite creepy. But no matter how I look at it, Jack Sparks' personality is one for the books.
What this is: a beautifully atmospheric medical horror, a gothic, claustrophobic nightmare that may--or may not--be something other than what it seemsWhat this is: a beautifully atmospheric medical horror, a gothic, claustrophobic nightmare that may--or may not--be something other than what it seems.
But that's the best part of the novel. Being trapped, not knowing, and being worn down to a nub.
In that respect, it's a mirror to life, no?
But the writing is spot on and great. Perfect for those of us who want to escape into someone else's misery. I got lost for a time, and that's a wonderful thing.
Personal note: If anyone reading my reviews is be interested in reading my SF (Very hard SF, mind you), I'm open to requests.
Just direct message me in goodreads or email me on my site. I'd love to get some eyes on my novels.
Damn, I feel like I just got transported to a strange and weirdly glorious past, where epic horrors came with great, huge page-counts, in-depth characDamn, I feel like I just got transported to a strange and weirdly glorious past, where epic horrors came with great, huge page-counts, in-depth character studies with multiple characters, a slow-burn degradation of society, a strange, often awe-inspiring supernatural entity, sometimes even lovecraftian, and a huge blow-out that leaves a very satisfying body count.
You know, like early Stephen King.
Indeed, since I know this came out in '86 during the true heyday of epic horror classics, I know it's totally riding on the tide. Indeed, I know this is a intra-author nod to Koontz's Moon, too. I never read Hungry Moon until now, probably because I thought it was a cash-grab knock off... but damn was I wrong.
It's entirely its own thing and wildly creative. Its reveals are very different from King or Koontz even if the whole FEEL of the first half is so in-tune with the others.
Suffice to say, I got blown away by this way-back machine.
And WHY THE HELL did I get the impression this was a werewolf novel? Spoiler alert: it's so much more, and much more interesting. Lovecraftian goodness.
Personal note: If anyone reading my reviews is be interested in reading my SF (Very hard SF, mind you), I'm open to requests.
Just direct message me in goodreads or email me on my site. I'd love to get some eyes on my novels.
This turned out to be a pretty decent gothic horror novel. Great characters, dark mystery, old mansion, and murder most foul. You know the type.
As itThis turned out to be a pretty decent gothic horror novel. Great characters, dark mystery, old mansion, and murder most foul. You know the type.
As it is, I had a pretty good time. I enjoyed the care-taking bits, the teasing-out of the mystery, the many, many reveals. It was almost as nuts as a game of Clue. And that's what was so good about it.
Definitely worth it if this is your hankering. Fortunately, it was mine.
Personal note: If anyone reading my reviews is be interested in reading my SF (Very hard SF, mind you), I'm open to requests.
Just direct message me in goodreads or email me on my site. I'd love to get some eyes on my novels.
This novella establishes Sworn Soldier in the annals of a regular serial. Mystery, some boilerplate, and a general "type" of monster-of-the-week feel.This novella establishes Sworn Soldier in the annals of a regular serial. Mystery, some boilerplate, and a general "type" of monster-of-the-week feel.
I'm not saying it isn't good. It is. But it's found its primary cake mould and it's baking the same kind of cakes every time. Different monsters, sure, and different friends, but it's definitely getting slightly rocky. (Yes, I joke)
Personal note: If anyone reading my reviews is be interested in reading my SF (Very hard SF, mind you), I'm open to requests.
Just direct message me in goodreads or email me on my site. I'd love to get some eyes on my novels.
Something I think most of us can agree on: Kingfisher writes a solid horror. I feel like she's channeling some Koontz here. Got the doggo, got the shaSomething I think most of us can agree on: Kingfisher writes a solid horror. I feel like she's channeling some Koontz here. Got the doggo, got the sharp, everywoman voice, got friendship, some creepos, and some interesting baddies.
As a formula, it's pretty much perfect, standard, and comfortable.
And it's enjoyable for exactly that reason. Solid and stable.
What makes this one stand out is the Twisted Ones, themselves, of course. Very creepy, very adjacent to so many supernatural baddies, and delicious.
Recommended.
Personal note: If anyone reading my reviews is be interested in reading my SF (Very hard SF, mind you), I'm open to requests.
Just direct message me in goodreads or email me on my site. I'd love to get some eyes on my novels.
If not for the end and its battle and surprise addition, I probably would have been super annoyed at this book.
For one, there was an AWFUL lot of outIf not for the end and its battle and surprise addition, I probably would have been super annoyed at this book.
For one, there was an AWFUL lot of outside the game machinations and simply not enough liche goodness. Or overall craziness. Sure, it gets there eventually, but I just didn't find it all that interesting in such high doses.
And then Smiles and crew were OKAY for the most part, but I wanted to go back to OUR crew almost the entire time I was reading.
Am I grousing a bit? Maybe. Still, all's well that ends well--or cataclysmic--right?
Personal note: If anyone reading my reviews is be interested in reading my SF (Very hard SF, mind you), I'm open to requests.
Just direct message me in goodreads or email me on my site. I'd love to get some eyes on my novels.
The best I can say about this Medieval dark fantasy/horror is that it maintains a very specific vibe well. I was thinking of Doomsday Book and BetweenThe best I can say about this Medieval dark fantasy/horror is that it maintains a very specific vibe well. I was thinking of Doomsday Book and Between Two Fires for a great deal of the beginning, and a romp through (view spoiler)[fae-vampire (hide spoiler)] territory during the second half.
I don't think it was bad at all.
However, it did feel a bit like it was straying into overdone territory a bit. There have been quite a few novels over the last couple of years that keep on revisiting bits and pieces of this and I personally got a bit tired of the direction it took.
Mind you, that's just me and the fact that I read a lot. Taken on its own, without having read the sheer amount of things I've read, I'd have probably enjoyed this a great deal more. But that's just it. The originality doesn't shine. It's crafted well and it has interesting leads and baddies and considering the time and place, it has a pretty solid plot. Beyond that, I can't say much else.
Personal note: If anyone reading my reviews is be interested in reading my SF (Very hard SF, mind you), I'm open to requests.
Just direct message me in goodreads or email me on my site. I'd love to get some eyes on my novels.
Of course, my jaded ass tends to want to find morals and divine retribution in things, almost as if this was some kind of KoreStraight thriller here.
Of course, my jaded ass tends to want to find morals and divine retribution in things, almost as if this was some kind of Korean horror film, but no. Our MC is just *slightly* unethical in how he goes about his attempt to find a new wife. The fact that he turns out to be a relatively decent guy and how he comes mostly clean (even if not really) isn't an obvious automatic condemnation. Indeed, he just seems lonely and rather lost most of the time.
The true hardcore aspect of this novel is pretty simple: the twist. The normal trope is switched around. Women are usually stalked. In this regard, the novel truly stands out as a sweet piece of transgression from the norm.
No, it's not Lady Vengeance, but it's great for a role reversal.
Personal note: If anyone reading my reviews is be interested in reading my SF (Very hard SF, mind you), I'm open to requests.
Just direct message me in goodreads or email me on my site. I'd love to get some eyes on my novels.
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