I read World War Z years ago and completely fell in love with it. The writing style, the story, the way it’s told, I just loved it. So when I saw that Max Brooks was coming out with Devolution I was stoked. Big Foot isn’t necessarily my favourite folklore creature but it’s also something I don’t come across often, so I was intrigued to see where this would go.
Fear For All
Review: The Book of Accidents by Chuck Wendig
The Book of Accidents isn’t the horror story you think it is. It’s bigger and better, and you’ll actually be able to sleep at night. Wendig hasn’t set out to scare you or give you nightmares. Instead he has crafted a sweeping epic that captures you and creeps you out. It’s impossible to put it down because you just want to know what happens next. It’s a masterclass in mixing genres with complex and intertwining stories that are all pulled together at the end. If you think you know where it is going, you’re probably wrong.
Review: The Liar of Red Valley by Walter Goodwater
Synopsis Red Valley is real boondock country. There’s a Walmart, a dive bar, a diner with a tree growing through it, and a river. There’s also the King. You don’t cross the King. You never, ever, go in the river. Oh, and you don’t trust the Liar … The Liar’s powers allow her to turn […]
Review: Spec Ops Z by Gavin G. Smith
I generally tend to love zombie books because I’m such a huge fan of the genre. I am especially happy when it is more focussed on zombie/human conflict rather than the human/human conflict many books fall into. Therefore I was over the moon with Spec Ops Z. Not only is it very much about zombie/human conflict, and not only that, our main characters become zombies themselves. Thinking, intelligent zombies who hunger for human flesh but can control themselves. It’s a twist on a genre I love so much.
Review: Vampires Never Get Old: Tales With a Fresh Bite edited by Zoradia Córdova and Natalie C. Parker
I debated for a little while the best way to review this book, it felt too general to just do a summary so I’m doing a bunch of mini reviews for the stories we get within this anthology. Overall, I enjoyed this, there are some stand-out stories and a few that have already faded from memory. I feel that this is the case with most anthologies and with the exception of V. E. Schwab the authors are all new to me! Don’t ask me how but that’s just how my reading has worked out.
Book Tour and Review: Red in Tooth and Claw by Ryan Howse
Review: For Rye by Gavin Gardiner
Rating: 10/10 Synopsis Renata Wakefield, a traumatised novelist on the brink of suicide, is drawn back to her childhood hometown following her mother’s ritualistic murder. Before long, she becomes ensnared in the mysteries of Millbury Peak as one question lies heavy: who killed Sylvia Wakefield? As the answer draws nearer, as madness continues to envelop […]
Review: The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward
The Last House on Needless Street is as good, if not better, than advertised. Believe all of the hype surrounding this novel from names like Stephen King, Joe Hill, Paul Tremblay, Alex North, Sarah Pinborough and a litany of others. It is an absolutely mesmerizing novel; a bone-chilling masterwork of dark fiction that is as disquieting as it is heart-wrenching. A true standout in the genre.
Review: Near The Bone by Christina Henry
Do you remember a time where you were sitting around a campfire and told creepy stories to scare each other? Well, Near The Bone is a story that would be worth telling before you send your troops to bed. It got the tropes of a Stephen king novel, about human beings at their worst or best, mixed with a chilling story involving a beast in the woods. “We came up here to do some research and now we’re in a horror movie with a monster and an unkillable redneck with a gun.”
Review: Your Turn To Suffer by Tim Waggoner
Your turn to suffer is the kind of book some people will hate, and others will love. As a reviewer, I go beyond just the overall story; I look at structure, characters, style and the overall plot. If you enjoy Clive Barker-Neil Gaiman’s styles, you’ll love this book. It’s a horror novel peppered with the weirdness of a Lovecraftian tale — sometimes called weird fiction. The overall story wasn’t my typical go-to genre, however I loved everything else about it.
Review: Clare at Sixteen (Clare Bleeker #1) by Don Roff
I’d say this book is a cross between Dexter and Riverdale… if you’re looking for a fast, funny B-movie of a book, then be sure to pick this up!
Review: Secret Santa by Andrew Shaffer
Secret Santa was a blast to read, short, but an interesting YA paranormal mystery. This 216 pages novella mixed the spirit of Christmas with the mysteries of a demonized doll and peppered it with a dose of humour. The principal character, Lussi, was well developed — we had a great sense of who she was — her reasoning. This made the ride all the sweeter. I especially loved the publishing world backstory, which represented a proper setup for the narrative.