Tag: halloween

Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman 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. 

A young girl begins questioning the motives of the woman who secretly visits her in author Josh Malerman’s “Incidents Around the House.”

Advertisements

The Synopsis

To eight-year-old Bela, her family is her world. There’s Mommy, Daddo, and Grandma Ruth. But there is also Other Mommy, a malevolent entity who asks her every day: “Can I go inside your heart?”

When horrifying incidents around the house signal that Other Mommy is growing tired of asking Bela the question over and over, Bela understands that unless she says yes, her family will soon pay.

Other Mommy is getting restless, stronger, bolder. Only the bonds of family can keep Bela safe, but other incidents show cracks in her parents’ marriage. The safety Bela relies on is about to unravel.

But Other Mommy needs an answer.

Incidents Around the House is a chilling, wholly unique tale of true horror about a family as haunted as their home.

Grafton Mini Pen

The Review

I know this book was released last year, but it has been one of my most anticipated reads in recent years, and I couldn’t think of a better time to review it than now, on Halloween. This was definitely one of the scariest reads that I’ve had the pleasure of reading in years. Not since the first time I read Stephen King’s It have I felt such chills, and what made this book stand out was the perspective from which the story was told —through the eyes of a young child. The protagonist, Bela, is innocent and clearly struggling through a great deal in this story. Readers will instantly connect to her unique viewpoint and desperation to keep her family together and safe, while experiencing the confusion and pain that this situation rightfully causes.

Yet Other Mommy steals the show as one of literature’s newest yet most haunting horror creatures. Not a typical ghost story, this haunted house meets paranormal horror story brings to life a being whose name not only instills dread from the outset, but whose appearance constantly shifts, and for which each subsequent appearance becomes increasingly unsettling. By the time the parents of Bela begin to take notice of Other Mommy, things have taken quite a dark turn. The imagery and atmosphere she conveys in this story send chills down the reader’s spine. The tension builds quickly as the ghost of this story soon becomes a hungry monster, and every tactic the parents try to protect their child leads to more dire consequences.

The Verdict

An emotionally compelling and gripping horror thriller, author Josh Malerman’s “Incidents Around the House” is a must-read for this Halloween. The twists and turns this story takes, the time the author takes to balance the scares out with deep human connection and shocking revelations between the two parents, and the hopeful yet frightful journey Bela takes as Other Mommy’s true purpose comes to life, will stay with readers long after the book ends. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

Advertisements

About the Author

Josh Malerman is a New York Times best selling author and one of two singer/songwriters for the rock band The High Strung, whose song “The Luck You Got” can be heard as the theme song to the Showtime show “Shameless”. His book Bird Box was made into a Netflix film of the same name, starring Sandra Bullock and John Malkovich. He has been nominated for 10 Bram Stoker Awards and has written 40 books, many of those (14) prior to the publication of Bird Box, his debut. Incidents Around the House is his 13th published book. He lives in Michigan with his fiancee, the artist/musician Allison Laakko and their many brilliant pets.

Home

https://amzn.to/3LfxISy

http://barnesandnoble.com/w/incidents-around-the-house-josh-malerman/1144178178?ean=9780593723128

Always Haunted: Hallowe’en Poems by LindaAnn LoSchiavo Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviews1 Comment

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

Author and poet LindaAnn LoSchiavo share a collection of poems that will explore the reimagining of true crimes and injustices through a Halloween lens in the collection “Always Haunted: Hallowe’en Poems.”

Advertisements

The Synopsis

Trick or treat twisted with treachery.

Haunting and harrowing visions of All Hallows’ Eve here include horrific crimes committed on October 31st, a honeymoon homicide, mysterious witches, amorous vampires, dead serious poltergeists, along with a pageant of autumnal imagery sure to evoke goosebumps beyond the spooky season. Wearing the cunning costume of a Hallowe’en poetry collection, 24 poems reimagine macabre true crimes and explore injustices brought to life by original artwork.

The Review

What a powerful and remarkable read. The author did a wonderful job of balancing themes of horror and the supernatural with true crime and historical injustice against women. The imagery (both the original illustrations and the imagery in the author’s writing) allowed the reader to be transported instantly into these poetic stories. The infusion of so many styles of poetry, from the almost Shakespearean retelling of the legend of Sleepy Hollow to the modern-day examination of Dracula’s social media presence, allowed the reader to be entertained while tapping into an emotional wellspring that horror and poetry fans can enjoy.

There were many powerful moments found in this book that spoke to the Halloween fan in all of us, as well as the meaningful moments in history when women fell victim to everything from fear to crimes, both social and personal. One great example that was a favorite of mine was Hetty Green, the Witch of Wall Street, showcasing how women are often misrepresented in life whenever they succeed where men have failed. The power of these poems and the way they illustrate how horror often mirrors real life made this a powerful collection.

The Verdict

Heartfelt, highly creative, and entertaining author LindaAnn LoSchiavo’s “Always Haunted: Hallowe’en Poems” is a must-read collection of poetry this fall. The incredible imagery and haunting presence each poem brings will keep readers coming back to this book time and time again. If you haven’t yet, preorder your copy today or get your copy on October 1st, 2024! 

Rating: 10/10

Advertisements

About the Author

Native New Yorker LindaAnn LoSchiavo, a four time nominee for The Pushcart Prize, has also been nominated for Best of the Net, the Rhysling Award, and Dwarf Stars. She is a member of SFPA, The British Fantasy Society, and The Dramatists Guild.

Elgin Award winner “A Route Obscure and Lonely” (US: Wapshott Press, 2019), “Women Who Were Warned” (UK: Cerasus Poetry, 2022), Firecracker Award, Balcones Poetry Prize, Quill and Ink, Paterson Poetry Prize, and IPPY Award nominee “Messengers of the Macabre” [co-written with David Davies] (US: Audience Askew, 2022), “Apprenticed to the Night” (UK: UniVerse Press, 2023), and “Felones de Se: Poems about Suicide” (Canada: Ukiyoto Publishing, 2023) are her latest poetry titles.

In 2023, her poetry placed as a finalist in Thirty West Publishing’s “Fresh Start Contest” and in the 8th annual Stephen DiBiase contest.

LoSchiavo is a Prohibition Era historian and her Texas Guinan film won “Best Feature Documentary” at N.Y. Women’s Film Fest (Dec. 2021).

― ― links ― ―

https://linktr.ee/LindaAnn.LoSchiavo

AWARD LINK:    https://thechrysalisbrewproject.com/2024/07/23/book-review-always-haunted-halloween-poems-by-lindaann-loschiavo/AWARD  Press Release:  https://www.newsnetmedia.com/story/51134515/the-chrysalis-brew-project-announces-the-recent-winners-of-the-brew-international-blog-and-book-awards

Slewfoot by Brom 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. 

A young Englishwoman who moved to a Puritan Colony alongside her new husband finds herself quickly a widow and must learn to survive in a patriarchal society. At the same time, a powerful spirit awakens, and together with the woman they must discover who they are and how to survive in this judgmental and deadly world in author Brom’s “Slewfoot”.

The Synopsis

A spirited young Englishwoman, Abitha, arrives at a Puritan colony betrothed to a stranger – only to become quickly widowed when her husband dies under mysterious circumstances. All alone in this pious and patriarchal society, Abitha fights for what little freedom she can grasp onto while trying to stay true to herself and her past.

Enter Slewfoot, a powerful spirit of antiquity newly woken… and trying to find his own role in the world. Healer or destroyer? Protector or predator? But as the shadows walk and villagers start dying, a new rumor is whispered: Witch.

Both Abitha and Slewfoot must swiftly decide who they are, and what they must do to survive in a world intent on hanging any who meddle in the dark arts.

Advertisements

The Review

This was such a brilliantly written novel. The author did an incredible job of finding a balance between the historical fiction aspect of the narrative by exploring the Puritanical society of that era and the way it mirrors modern-day sexism, and the mythology and culture of the land settled originally by the Native American people, and later taken over by the Puritans. This clash of cultures allowed for the exploration of magic, nature spirits and so much more in this dark fantasy and horror read. 

What really stuck out as awe-inspiring though was the character growth of the cast of characters. The strength and evolution of protagonist Abitha were fantastic to read, as she represented the women who were mercilessly targeted in this society for daring to go in any other direction other than “God’s Will”. The villainous townsfolk who target Abitha is complex yet gripping as the protagonist’s foil in this narrative, while the mysterious and powerful being of many names, including Slewfoot, gave a challenging performance that straddled the line between hopeful ally and bloodthirsty demon. 

The Verdict

A remarkable, magical, and entertaining read, author Brom’s “Slewfoot” is a perfect horror read this Halloween. The folklore, mythos, and chilling atmosphere and tone will thrust readers into this haunting historical fiction and dark fantasy thriller, and the author’s incredibly chilling artwork will keep readers up at night for sure. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

Advertisements

About the Author

Born in the deep dark south in the mid-sixties. Brom, an army brat, spent his entire youth on the move and unabashedly blames living in such places as Japan, Hawaii, Germany, and Alabama for all his afflictions. From his earliest memories, Brom has been obsessed with the creation of the weird, the monstrous, and the beautiful.

At age twenty, Brom began working full-time as a commercial illustrator in Atlanta, Georgia. Three years later he entered the field of fantastic art he’d loved his whole life, making his mark developing and illustrating for TSR’s best-selling role-playing worlds.

He has since gone on to lend his distinctive vision to all facets of the creative industries, from novels and games to comics and film, receiving numerous awards such as the Spectrum Fantastic Art Grand Master award and the Chesley Lifetime Achievement award. He is also the author of a series of award-winning illustrated horror novels: Slewfoot, Lost Gods, Krampus the Yule Lord, The Child Thief, The Plucker, and The Devil’s Rose. Brom is currently kept in a dank cellar somewhere just outside of Seattle.

https://www.bromart.com/

Interview with Author Ryan Cowan

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn InterviewsLeave a comment


1) Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into writing?  

I started writing poems when I was 16 years old.  Throughout my life, I’ve always written poems and songs, but I never really thought about writing a book.  As a graduate student at UCLA, I was heavily immersed in the writing process for my thesis.  After my program finished (2011), I sat down at the computer and began The Halloween Crystal on a whim.  

I worked at it and revised it a lot and the story grew.  Then, I put it away for about 7 years and completed it during the summer of 2018.  I immediately self-published my book on Amazon.  

I’ve been very happy with the reviews and success my story has achieved, and I can’t wait to expand the story by writing more books!  

Advertisements

2) What inspired you to write your book?  

My career as a teacher inspired me to write Mr. Moonbeam and the Halloween Crystal.  I wanted to write a book about the difficulties of teaching and present Sloan Moonbeam as a hero/teacher!  

Halloween inspired my book.  I love Halloween, so I wanted to write a fun, spooky Halloween story that people could enjoy every fall.    

3) What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book?  

I hope that young people and adults who choose to read my story reflect afterwards on the complexities of teaching and the sacrifices teachers make for the communities they serve.  Perseverance is a big theme throughout the book.  With guidance and support from Mr. Moonbeam, Elliott learns to believe in himself and improve his magic.  I hope that kids will enjoy Elliott’s success and see him as an inspirational character for their own lives.  

Halloween is presented as a magical time of year – not a gory, macabre event.  I think that is important too.  As a society, we need to bring innocence and magic back to Halloween.     

4) What drew you into this particular genre?  

I was inspired by a cartoon I used to watch as a child called, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe.  The He-Man cartoons were written with action, excitement, and magic, but they were also written to teach kids important lessons.  I wanted to create a magical world with magical beings and adventures that also taught kids valuable lessons similar to the He-Man stories.    

5) If you could sit down with any character in your book, what would you ask them and why?  

I would also ask Elliott to predict where he thinks he’s headed in the series… 

I would ask Sloan Moonbeam for his advice on how to make the stories even better!  

6) What social media site has been the most helpful in developing your readership? 

Facebook!  I love my Facebook fans.  They always support me.  

7) What advice would you give to aspiring or just starting authors out there?  

Give your manuscript to a few people you trust and ask for their honest opinion before publishing.  Then, make changes if you need to.  I’m new to this, but I believe it is good to hear the viewpoints of others.  I also think it is good to step-away from the project from time to time.  For me, writing should be a combination of work and enjoyment.  I get my best ideas when I walk 10,000 steps!    

8) What does the future hold in store for you? Any new books/projects on the horizon? 

 I am busy planning and writing the sequel to Mr. Moonbeam and the Halloween Crystal tentatively titled, The Legends of Moonstone.  I would also like to publish my collection of poems.  

I am hopeful that my books will make a difference in the world of children’s literature.  ☺ 

Advertisements
Mr. Moonbeam and the Halloween Crystal Review

About the Author

Ryan Cowan grew up in a small town called Middleport, Ohio. He currently lives in Hawthorne, CA. As a teacher with almost 20 years of experience, Ryan has taught all grades from K-6th. He currently works as an assistant principal for the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Mr. Moonbeam and the Halloween Crystal is his first children’s book. A magical story with complex themes, Mr. Moonbeam and the Halloween Crystal highlights the difficulties of teaching while also chronicling the important problem solving relationship between a teacher and his student. A sequel is currently in the works.

Ryan has degrees and/or credentials in education from the following universities: Marshall University (BFA Music Theory), UCLA (M.Ed. Urban Education), California State University Los Angeles (Multiple Subject Teaching Credential), and California State University Dominguez Hills (Administrative Services Credential).

A Very Vegan Halloween: The Witch’s Cauldron Cookbook by Rebecca Henry Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviews2 Comments

Although Halloween season may indeed be over, there is never a bad time to find some creepy themed holiday treats as evidenced in author Rebecca Henry’s novel “A Very Vegan Halloween: The Witch’s Cauldron Cookbook”.

Advertisements

The Synopsis

Halloween has always been an important holiday in my home and a time for food and parties. This book contains traditional, bootiful Halloween recipes prepared from nondairy and cruelty free ingredients.

With 41 bewitching recipes to choose from, you will have a spooktacular selection of recipes to inspire your little ghost or goblins to gobble up their plates! Being a mom of two, and so no stranger to hosting Halloween parties for little ones, I understand the importance of presentation. If the food is fun and engaging, children and adults alike, will want to try vegan options. The recipes come with creative decorating ideas, party suggestions and terribly terrifying recipe names, to get your cute little ghouls eager to bake with you in the kitchen.

The Review

This fun and exciting read is a truly one of a kind, creative read that showcases the author’s natural gift for storytelling infused into a vegan friendly cookbook. The recipes readers will find here are perfect for not only Halloween, but anyone who enjoys creepy, spooky or horror themed goods all year round (like I do). 

One recipe that really stood out was the Bewitching Autumn Apples, as I have always loved caramel apples and this intriguing treat was not only creative on the authors part but the recipe itself was easy to follow as well. That is one example of the amazing recipes in this book, from baked goods and drinks to pizza and more. 

The Verdict

A fun, wicked good time of a cookbook, author Rebecca Henry strikes gold again with this novel, proving her writing skills know no bounds. Filled with delicious recipes that families will love and can enjoy in a vegan friendly way, this cookbook is a one of a kind read that should be used all year round. If you haven’t yet, grab your copy of “A Very Vegan Halloween: The Witch’s Cauldron Cookbook” by Rebecca Henry today!

Rating: 10/10

Advertisements

About the Author

Rebecca Henry is a world traveler living abroad in England. Besides being an American author of two published books, Rebecca is also a podcast talk host on the show The Latte Talk. The podcast was inspired by her novel, Louisiana Latte and her diva sister Deb. Rebecca is a serious vegan, gardener, wife and mom who practices yoga.

Links:

website

Amazon

Goodreads

Instagram: @rebeccahenryauthor

Twitter: @rebeccahenryaut

Advertisements
Hybrid Review
The Lady Raven Review
Interview with Author Rebecca Henry
Louisiana Latte Review

Want to keep up to date on the latest book reviews on author Anthony Avina’s website, as well as other book related news? Sign up now for the monthly newsletter and receive a free short story when you subscribe!

By clicking submit, you agree to share your email address with the site owner and Mailchimp to receive marketing, updates, and other emails from the site owner. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.

Processing…
Success! You're on the list.
Advertisements
On By authoranthonyavinablogIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

It’s October my friends, and I want to start sharing more #bookstagram related photos, so in honor of Halloween I thought I’d share two zombie related books: @stephenking ’s Cell, and the second book in my Nightmare War series, Infection, which puts a new spin on the zombie genre. What are some of your favorite zombie books? Name them in the comments down below! 📖😃 #halloween #zombies

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js

It’s been a fun, busy couple of weeks. Interviews, Halloween fun and a great day in LA for Comikaze Expo 2015! Song is Focus by Ariana Grande. @arianagrande made with @flipagram

#flipagram #ArianaGrande

See full video at https://flipagram.com/BigAntone34 #weekinphotos #memories #picture #video #comikaze #comikaze15 #comikaze2015 #comikazeexpo #focus #cosplay #youtube #youtuber #youtubers #youtubecrew #halloween @youtube

(Source: https://www.instagram.com/)