Synopsis Long ago a dark elf entered the underworld to hold audience with Hel, the goddess of the dead. He offered her a proposition to make him King, one that she refused. Angered by this, the elf gathered an army formed out of greed of those who wished to overthrow the goddess and take what […]
About C. J. Daley (CJDsCurrentRead)
Dissecting The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim First and foremost, I want it to be understood that this is not so much a review as it is my attempt to dissect the good and bad of the latest entry into the world of Tolkien. With that being said, any or all of […]
Review: Hark! The Herald Angels Scream Ed by Christopher Golden
Synopsis Eighteen stories of Christmas horror from bestselling, acclaimed authors including Scott Smith, Seanan McGuire, Josh Malerman, Michael Koryta, Sarah Pinborough, and many more. That there is darkness at the heart of the Yuletide season should not surprise. Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is filled with scenes that are unsettling. Marley untying the bandage that holds his […]
Review: In the Spirit of Christmas by William Beck
Synopsis All the warmth and cheer of Christmas can’t thaw a frozen heart. To some, Christmas is a time of family and love. Moments to cherish and joy to share. But not for Ebenezer Scrooge. After the tragic loss of his wife Marley, Christmas has become a beacon to grief, and a life long since […]
Review: The Thing in Christmas Town by Iseult Murphy
Synopsis Welcome to Christmas Town, where it is Christmas every day!Visit the town where your wishes come true. Recapture the magic of your youth. Find love and happiness.You’ll never want to leave. Christmas was once Diane’s favourite holiday, but she can’t face it after the tragic accident that took her husband’s life shortly before the […]
Review: Is it Real? The Loch Ness Monster by Candace Fleming
Synopsis Put on your detective hat and prepare all your investigative tools, because you’ve been assigned a new case to solve: the mystery of the Loch Ness Monster! Follow along as award-winning author Candace Fleming uses all of her nonfiction tools and storytelling prowess to investigate the enduring mystery surrounding the existence of the Loch […]
C. J. Daley’s Top Reads of 2024
Another year is coming to a close if you can believe it… and with all the books I’ve managed to read this year, it’ll be another trial narrowing it down to just a top ten. I won’t be splitting it by genre or anything like that, as picking them is hard enough as is, so […]
Review: The Walking Dead: The Alien by Brian K Vaughan / Marcos Martín
Synopsis COLLECTED IN HARDCOVER FOR THE FIRST TIME! Originally only available on PanelSyndicate.com, this oversized hardcover features a story firmly set in THE WALKING DEAD comic book continuity by BRIAN K. VAUGHAN (SAGA, PAPER GIRLS) and MARCOS MARTIN (THE PRIVATE EYE, BARRIER). Review Found this while browsing Skybound’s Black Friday sale. I didn’t know there were in-universe stories […]
Review: Christmas and Other Horrors: A Winter Solstice Anthology Edited by Ellen Datlow
Synopsis Hugo Award winning editor, and horror legend, Ellen Datlow presents this chilling horror anthology of 18 original short stories exploring the endless terrors of winter solstice traditions across the globe, featuring chillers by Tananarive Due, Stephen Graham Jones, Alma Katsu and many more. The winter solstice is celebrated as a time of joy around […]
Review: Candy Cain Kills Again: The Second Slaying (Killer VHS Series # 5) by Brian McAuley
Synopsis She’s making a list… and chopping it twice! After surviving the horrors of Christmas Eve at the Thornton house, Austin, Mateo and Fiona head to the Church of Nodland to get some confessions from Pastor Wendell and his congregation. Little do they know that Candy Cain is coming to town to wish one and […]
Review: Minotaur: Stories by Josh Hanson
Synopsis Stories of the worlds that lie just below and behind this one. A grieving boy finds a doorway within a burnt out house that opens onto the past. A woman researching her dissertation on a famous Irish poet discovers secrets she wishes she could forget. A red, lichenous growth rises out of the seas […]
Review: Into the Seventeen Towers by Jareth Z. Navratil
Synopsis Heroes stand! But Nathaniel is no hero… He is an all-around average, thirty-something, failed-to-launch, American do-nothing. However, one small fact rescues Nathaniel from wallowing in his mediocrity…He is a Page-Walker! Nathaniel can escape his humdrum existence by entering the pages of books, living vicariously through their characters’ adventures. Nathaniel’s comfortable existence is challenged when […]