Tag: cult horror

The Gods Who Want to Die by Luke McCamley Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

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A woman must navigate her way through a dangerous cult and the killer going after them in author Luke McCamley’s “The Gods Who Want To Die”.

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The Synopsis

A devoted mother is torn between love of family, and loyalty to a religious cult leader whose demands become increasingly bizarre-and deadly.

To all appearances, Shelly Grinstead is a happily married woman with three children. But appearances can be deceiving. There’s a dark past behind her, and a greater darkness looms ahead. Shelly is a firm believer in Necrotheism, a religious cult that helps immortal gods end their lives through the ceremonial mock-deaths of cult members. The only problem is, the latest deaths aren’t just ceremonial; they’re real. Someone is killing those who kill the gods, and no one knows who, or what, or how to stop it.

Shelly is also in love with cult leader Magnolia Blanchot, whose increasingly bizarre demands threaten to rip Shelly’s family apart. The police are just as bad in their own way, blackmailing Shelly’s son into playing bait for the killer. Whether that killer be god or man, Shelly’s not sure.

When tragedy strikes close to home, Shelly is forced to choose between loyalty and betrayal, faith and disbelief, life and death-before her tenuous grip on reality slips away….

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The Review

This was a gritty, yet wonderful blend of dark psychological horror and fantasy. The harsh realities of cult life and the psychological trauma and mind games that occur for people lost in these groups were extensively explored in this novel, allowing the more fantastic and supernatural elements of the mythos of this world to feel grounded and engaging to readers.

The author did a remarkable job capturing gripping character development and vivid imagery in this novel. The passionate and cruel reality of protagonist Shelly and her situation within the cult and her family really highlights the horror of this storyline and the depth of the world-building that went into the author’s narrative, allowing the gripping psychological drama to take hold in the reader’s mind.

The Verdict

Memorable, captivating, and entertaining, author Luke McCamley’s “The Gods Who Want To Die” is a must-read psychological horror and fantasy read. The twists and turns in the narrative, the grim horrors that the author brings to life through captivating detail, and thoughtful looks into the narrative made this a brilliant read. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Luke has a background in teaching philosophy, religion, and ethics. He has written two novels and is currently working on a third. Formerly a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Luke left the cult in 2014 and experienced a profound transformation in values and outlook. He has two children, and currently lives in the west midlands in the UK. Major influences on his work are authors such as Chuck Palahniuk, Bret Easton Ellis, Alissa Nutting, Marisha Pessl, Iain Reid, Matthew Stokoe, and William Burroughs. His style is one that typically blends elements of true crime stories with philosophical, moral, and supernatural themes including fantasy horror. On a personal level, Luke subscribes to the philosophy of Absurdism, inspired by the writings of Albert Camus.

Delta by Tom Starita Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Tensions mount in one man’s life when he discovers a young girl locked in his basement soon after the loss of his daughter, claiming to in fact be his daughter, and he must decide if fate has brought his daughter back to him or if he is slowly losing his grip on reality in author Tom Starita’s “Delta”.

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The Synopsis

Jason Carico is a grieving father, desperately trying to come to grips with the loss of his eight-year-old stepdaughter, Delta, who drowned two months ago.

But if she’s dead, then why is there a little girl claiming to be Delta locked up in his basement?

Desperately wanting to believe her, Jason attempts to live a normal life while hiding his nightmare below. His anxiety explodes when his late wife’s sister appears on his doorstep. Can he trust her? Would she believe him? And what will the police think if they ever find out the only African American man in town has a white girl trapped in his basement?

The haunting motto of Mother’s death cult tolls throughout the book, “The Universe has a plan, independent from the wants of man.” 

The Review

This was such a chilling and haunting read. The tension and heart-pounding suspense the novel’s narrative brings to life was the perfect way to marry both the horror and thriller genres that this story needed. The pacing the author set up perfectly allowed readers to develop this compulsive need to understand the circumstances surrounding this strange and troubling situation, as one minute readers see a tale of a man who has captured a young girl in his basement, and in the next a disturbing cult has set their sights on the same girl, and in the next a powerful force of nature threatens to converge on everyone at once.

This book’s narrative was definitely character-driven, and the characters really elevated the tension and atmosphere of this gritty suspense thriller meet horror read. The emotional pull of these characters, from Jason’s fractured psyche and desire to “protect” Delta, to Colleen’s struggle to right a grievous wrong and stop the madness she suspects is happening, really kept me invested in the narrative. 

The Verdict

Haunting, engaging, and thrilling, author Tom Starita’s “Delta” is a must-read horror suspense read of 2022. The chilling atmosphere the author’s use of imagery creates and the shocking twists and turns that leave readers on the edge of their seats, eager for a second book, made this story shine so brightly. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Tom Starita is the author of three novels, “Two Ways to Sunday,” “Growth and Change Are Highly Overrated,” and his latest “Delta.” When asked for her thoughts about him, Oprah Winfrey said, “Who?” Tom Hanks refused to respond to an email asking for a quote, and former Mets great Mookie Wilson once waved to him from a passing taxi.

Originally from Staten Island, NY, Starita has now found a home in Connecticut with his amazing wife Shannon, their beautiful daughter Chloe and their potato of a dog Lola. But, most importantly, he loves the New York Mets.

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