I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A young woman must face both psychological and physical horrors in one night in order to keep her family together in author Erica Schaef’s “This Cold Night”.
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The Synopsis
Following the death of a loved one, Rachelle Collins visits Ferguson Estate, an expansive country mansion that holds many fond memories, and one sinister secret, within its walls. Throughout the course of a single, terrifying night, Rachelle must confront horrors, both psychological and tangible, to prove just how far she is willing to go to keep her family together.
The Review
This was a short yet powerful horror read. The author took an iconic story trope like the haunted house horror genre and flipped it upside down, crafting a chilling atmosphere and haunting setting that kept the reader glued to the page as the story unfolded. The grim imagery the author employed was balanced well with the emotional weight of the protagonist’s journey.
Yet for this story, it was the narrative and character growth that really held this novel together. The backstory of how the protagonist and her best friend came together as a family and the emotional weight of their shared loss was so profoundly moving, and yet the jarring experience of the horrors they face in this story will leave readers breathless. The mythos the author builds upon for this setting really puts an interesting spin on the haunted house tale and keeps readers invested as the story progresses.
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The Verdict
Thoughtful, terrifying, and entertaining, author Erica Schaef’s “This Cold Night” is a must-read novel to end the year. The twists and turns in the narrative and the haunting tone the story sets will keep readers hanging off of the author’s every word, and will keep them wanting more from the author in the future. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
An aspiring actor and part-time pizza deliveryman working in a wealthy Los Angeles neighborhood discover mysterious and sometimes dangerous voices hijacking his GPS, and soon learns a deadly threat looms behind one of the doors of this wealthy community in author Ronan Barbour’s “The Pizza Deliveryman’s Tale”.
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The Synopsis
Can a phone be haunted? That is the question for Dylan Murray, an aspiring actor who gets a part-time job as pizza delivery driver in the beautiful affluent Los Angeles neighborhood of Grantwood. All seems easy sailing until mysterious voices on his smartphone begin to interrupt his GPS, one of which, ‘The Demon Voice, ‘ deliberately misdirects him away from his route and into areas of danger. As his encounters with the quirky and sometimes bizarre residents of Grantwood continue, a mysterious thief known only as The Cat Burglar makes nationwide headlines for a string of high-end estate robberies in the area. Is it a matter of time before the malevolent voice interrupting his GPS leads him to the wrong place at the wrong time? One thing is certain: behind one of these doors awaits Vampire Santa, and you will not like his presence. .
The Review
The first thing that stood out to me was the absolute mastery the author has over imagery through their writing. The entire story felt very cinematic and jumped off the page. The vibrant atmosphere of the Los Angeles/Hollywood setting clashed beautifully with the horrors hiding underneath the city. This was illustrated perfectly by the neighborhood of Grantwood itself, which seems beautiful on the outside but held great terrors behind closed doors.
The heart of this narrative was the rich character dynamics the author established early on and the haunting tone the story set throughout the entirety of the novel. The protagonist highlights and represents the unique backstory of many aspiring actors, working difficult and almost impossible jobs to help until they realize their dreams, only to meet loss after loss in the process. The wide variety of characters the protagonist comes across in his line of work, as well as his coworkers and even his best friend and comedy writer roommate, reflected the setting of Los Angeles and those who often call it home perfectly.
The Verdict
Thoughtful in its approach, haunting and chilling to the core, and thoroughly entertaining, author Ronan Barbour’s “The Pizza Deliveryman’s Tale” is a fun and twisted horror read. A perfect twist in the story adds the perfect holiday element to sink your teeth into as a horror fan this holiday season, and the dynamic storytelling the author employs here makes this one novel you won’t be able to get enough of from a stellar up-and-coming horror author. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Ronan Barbour is an Irish-Canadian actor and writer based in Los Angeles, California. He most recently co-starred in the award-winning shorts MOJAVE SHADOWS and THE McHENRY TRIAL–DON’T JUDGE A KID BY THEIR HOODIE directed by Jaime Torres and Ken Sagoes of A Nightmare on Elm Street fame.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Author Eric Raglin takes readers on a perilous journey through 18 short stories that explore the depths of humanity and the horrors of our world (and the next) in the collection “Extinction Hymns”.
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The Synopsis
A vengeful owl haunts the man who poached her. A desperate entrepreneur holds a ghost hostage for profit. An addict finds hope and terror in an imprisoned angel. A father and son search their dying world for something to eat other than human flesh. Eric Raglin, author of Nightmare Yearnings, returns with his second collection of horror and weird fiction. Strange, terrifying, and tender, these eighteen stories explore what happens when extinction comes for us all.
The Review
This is both an emotional and frightening collection of stories. The author does an incredible job of capturing the grief and emotional weight of these characters and their circumstances, all without shying away from the terrifying and haunting atmosphere these stories instill in the reader. The equally haunting imagery that these tales conjure up captures the chilling nature of these stories and reflects the horrors of humanity and our world in general, from grief and loss to addiction and greed.
The heart of all of the author’s stories has to be the world-building and character development that these stories brought to life. Whether it was the injured workman using the ghost in his home to bring him much-needed money, or the man desperate to understand his husband’s tragic loss, the decisions made in desperation and grief added depth to the author’s plunge into horror. The variety of supernatural occurrences made this an equally entertaining and chilling collection as much as it was poignant.
The Verdict
Haunting, thrilling, and engaging, author Eric Raglin’s “Extinction Hymns” is a must-read horror short story collection. The inclusion of LGBTQ+ themes and characters throughout these stories added more layers to this growing collection and kept the collection more relatable and engaging for readers overall. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Eric Raglin (he/him) is a Nebraska-based speculative fiction writer. He frequently writes about queer issues, the terrors of capitalism, and body horror. His debut short story collection is NIGHTMARE YEARNINGS. He hosts the Cursed Morsels Podcast and is the editor of SHREDDED and ANTIFA SPLATTERPUNK. Find him at ericraglin.com or on Twitter @ericraglin1992.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A man seeking a temporary escape from the responsibilities of life finds intrigue and mystery surrounding him as he escapes to the circus for a night, only to find himself immersed in dangers that threaten his future and force him to confront his past in author J.M. Sawyer’s “South Side Alchemy”.
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The Synopsis
Jordan Peele’s Get Out meets Ray Bradbury’s Something Wicked This Way Comes.
Henry Lewis needed a temporary escape from his life. His job, home, and family have become the shackles that bind him in the prison of his mind. He longs to be free of it. . . for at least a little while. When Henry learns the circus has arrived in his Bronzeville neighborhood, he sneaks away in the night, hoping to find a brief escape from his troubles. With a world of distractions all around him, he finally feels free. But the circus paints a bright facade over a dark past, and the freer he feels, the more bound he becomes. He needs to break away. But before he can save his future, he’ll have to discover the sinister truth about his past. The stakes are high, and time is running out.
The Review
This was such a powerful and moving story. The blend of suspense and horror with edge-of-your-seat thriller and a hint of magic made this novel flow and kept me engaged throughout the story. The rich settings of this story, set in a particular historical period that gave readers a unique point of view that is rarely explored, were brought to life through powerfully vivid imagery and made the atmosphere feel thicker with tension.
For me, the psychologically and emotionally complex social and historical themes that were brought to life through dynamic character development made this a one-of-a-kind read. The protagonist’s journey and everything he endured were pushed to reflect the haunting history of the Black community and the chilling realities that very few people will ever know or understand. The dynamics between his interactions with the circus folks and the “real-world” people he interacted with not only mirrored the themes of segregation and social dynamics but the powerful effects that the events of the narrative began to have on his own psyche.
The Verdict
Powerful, engaging, and thought-provoking, author J.M. Sawyer’s “South Side Alchemy” is a must-read suspense and horror thriller you won’t want to miss. The twists and turns in this story feel like a Jordan Peele movie bleeding into historical fiction and magical surrealism novel with a few elements of It’s a Wonderful Life thrown in for good measure, making this one novel that readers won’t want to miss this year. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
J. M. Sawyer is an author of adult suspense and horror novels. He received his B.A., summa cum laude, in Political Science from Seton Hall University and his J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law. Formerly a criminal defense attorney, his road to publication was anything but conventional. It was during trial preparation that he learned his true calling was that of a storyteller and his true talent was plotting complex, multi-layered narratives that will keep readers turning pages until the very end. Those are the stories that shaped his love of books, so those are the stories he endeavors to tell. A New Jersey native, he now lives in Michigan with his wife, Nora, and his two sons, Jesse and Alexander.
It’s not often that I get the rare opportunity to reexamine a special book I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing before, but my friend and fellow author Alan McGill have just released a brand new special edition of his book, A Cry in the Moon’s Light, and I thought I’d share some of my thoughts on the new edition. First, here’s a synopsis.
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The Synopsis
Includes special sneak peek of the next book in the series!
In a time of castles, muskets, and hideous creatures of the night, a beautiful woman travels across the treacherous Dark Forest to be by the side of her dying grandmother. With only a young carriage driver to protect her, she must use her wits and all of her courage to cross the wild country—and to evade the mysterious beast who stalks her.
What follows is a tale full of horror, mystery, and romance: gruesome murders at a village hidden deep in the forest, a castle that holds dark secrets, and a black wolf leading a deadly pack. Nothing is as it seems, and this journey has only just begun. The beautiful lady in the carriage will learn that only love can defeat evil, but is it love or danger that cries out to her in the deceitful light of the moon?
The Review
Now for those of you who didn’t see the first book review I did, you can read the full review here, but here’s a snippet:
I was hooked immediately on this book. The author did such an amazing job of crafting a narrative that was both emotionally invested and chilling at the same time. The story was written in a way that felt like historical fiction meets Brothers Grimm meets folklore all at once. The nods and homages to classic fairy tale style storytelling elements and themes were felt immediately, but then did such a great job of taking readers immediately into a right turn that held gruesome mayhem and terrifying creatures, and then made a completely new turn into heartbreaking and heartfelt romance and drama.
The character growth in this narrative made the story everything it was. The horror, the scares, the heart, all of it wouldn’t have been possible without such strong characters and their bond with one another. From the young woman seeking to care for her grandmother to the loyal carriage driver hoping to protect her, and the creatures she shares a mysterious connection with, each of these characters felt dynamic and grand in their design, and yet very human and emotional in their motives and interactions with one another, making this such a superb read.
However, one thing that really makes this special edition stand out is the new chapters that the author previews from book two in the series, Undead Wars. The new book promises to flesh out this magnificent gothic world, even more, introducing new creatures and delving into the decade after the emotional ending of book one in the series. The stakes are raised immediately, honing in on the chaos these creatures are bringing to the European continent and even showcasing the conflicts emerging between the different European nations and kingdoms of this period of history.
The Verdict
This is a masterclass special edition of one of my favorite gothic horror reads of the last few years. The author’s work and ability to world-build are unparalleled, and the promise of a fantastic new chapter in this gothic universe will have readers clamoring for more from this stellar author’s work. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy of this special edition today!
Alan McGill is an American author who lives in an old farmhouse with a clowder of cats. Alan was close to his grandparents, who grew up during the Great Depression. They were married young and remained together until his grandmother’s passing. His grandfather served in the Navy during WWII and was a gifted storyteller who wove humorous tales about tough events. Alan grew up listening to these stories of right and wrong and watching fictional heroes–such as the Lone Ranger, Adam West’s Batman, and Captain America–stand up to bullies and protect those who count not protect themselves. This inspired him to always do what was right in his own life and shaped his love of storytelling. He is a multigenre author whose debut novel, A Cry in the Moon’s Light, combines horror, romance, and mystery. As with all his books, A Cry in the Moon’s Light centers on characters who strive to do the right thing regardless of the adversity they face. The book focuses on the theme of love–a pure and deep love that defeats all evil.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A teen boy starts to look into the mysteries of the small town defined by its prison system after discovering a hidden tunnel in the basement of a home, and in doing so uncovers dark histories and hidden secrets that will terrify him to his core in the author Shannon Felton’s “The Prisoners of Stewartville”.
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The Synopsis
Stewartville. A town living in the shadow of the prisons that drive its economy. Haunted by the ghosts of its past. Cursed by the dark secrets hidden beneath. A town so entwined with the prisons waiting outside the city limits that it’s impossible to imagine one without the other, or to ever imagine escaping either.
When a teenage boy digs into the history of the town, he discovers a tunnel system beneath Stewartville, passageways filled with dark secrets. Secrets leading not to freedom, but to unrelenting terror.
Stewartville. Where the convicts aren’t the only prisoners.
The Review
This was a truly captivating and masterful read. The heavy atmosphere of the narrative kept readers engaged right from the beginning. The rich mythos that the author develops for this story and the evil that infects this town (or is it the other way around?), really do a remarkable job of keeping the reader’s hearts pumping.
The heart of this short horror read is actually the balance of character development and the book’s setting. The thing that stuck out to me was how the people of this town felt very much like a by-product of the infestation that this town had become, as it not only seemed to draw in people who are typically deemed by society to live “on the fringes” but would transform people into their worst nightmares through fear and terror. The protagonist’s story and his confrontation with the evil of this town reflected the status of the town altogether, which became a central character in its own right.
The Verdict
Horrifying, chilling, and entertaining, author Shannon Felton’s “The Prisoners of Stewartville” is a must-read occult fiction meets paranormal & urban fantasy novel. The twists and turns this narrative takes and the larger discussion on the prison system and how society treats those living on the fringe kept me invested in this gripping story, as did the shocking twist final pages of this instant horror classic. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Shannon Felton lives in Buckeye, Arizona with her husband, their four children, and three dogs. The Prisoners of Stewartville is her debut novella.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Two detectives searching for proof of the supernatural must search for a missing friend who had reached out to them regarding a young woman with a mysterious ailment, but their search soon uncovers a horrible abomination that cannot be explained by science or modern medicine in author Chad Miller’s “The Prisoner of Fear”.
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The Synopsis
It is 1889 in Philadelphia, and detective John Doyle is restless. Along with his miserable partner, Thomas Braham, Doyle pursues mysteries, strange sightings, and other obscurities tossed aside and disregarded by the police. For years, Doyle has taken on these cases in the hopes of discovering something supernatural – something that could upend and dispute his long-standing, debilitating fear that immortal souls do not exist.
Doyle’s search for the supernatural remains unsuccessful until he receives a strange letter from an old doctor friend regarding a young woman with a mysterious and rather disturbing illness. When the doctor goes missing in the same town that this young woman resides in, Doyle and Braham decide to take on the case and search for clues regarding their missing friend. In doing so, they discover that there is no longer any suffering young woman, but a dangerous abomination whose origin cannot be explained by science nor modern medicine.
Meanwhile, an unnamed victim has been kidnapped. Trapped in a cell with nothing but a journal to document their experiences, this mysterious Prisoner must undergo terrifying scientific experiments while trying not to lose all hope and sanity.
Inspired by the works of renowned horror and mystery writers like Stephen King, Edgar Allen Poe, and Arthur Conan Doyle, The Prisoner of Fear brilliantly weaves questions of mortality and the human propensity for evil into a truly intriguing, unique, and frightening narrative.
The Review
This is the perfect blend of the gothic horror-meeting medical thriller. The author does an incredible job of immediately thrusting readers into a heavy atmosphere, as the narrative jumps between those seeking answers and the fearful ramblings of the unknown prisoner. The way the author writes this story in a format that showcases journal entries, various correspondence between characters, and even newspaper articles from the fictional world he has created was an inspired choice, as it felt like the 19th century and literary version of a found footage film.
The world-building and character development indeed took center stage in this novel. The 19th-century Philadelphia setting played well into the gothic tone of the story while also giving readers a vastly different perspective than classic gothic horror has in the past. The relatability of the characters, especially Doyle and his deep desire to find that irrefutable proof of an afterlife, was so great to see come forward in a rich storyline such as this. The story’s tension and chilling nature will stay with readers long after they put the book down.
The Verdict
Thrilling, haunting, and engaging, author Chad Miller’s “The Prisoner of Fear” is a must-read gothic horror and medical thriller novel of 2022. The twists and turns this narrative takes will feed well into the frightening atmosphere and adrenaline-fueled story the author has created. The dynamics between these characters will have readers fully invested as the horrors begin to reveal themselves. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Chad Miller has a B.A. in Psychology from Syracuse University and a Pharm D from the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia. He’s a pharmacist and lives in lifeless Delaware with his girlfriend, Natasha and her daughter, Sasha, and his three kids, Killian, Willow, and Halina. He is a horror writer and began crafting stories 25 years ago. His writing is not for the faint at heart and his goal is to plant seeds of terror in your mind so that you can’t sleep at night. His novel, The Prisoner of Fear, is being published by Hear Our Voice and will be out fall of 2022. His short story collection, The Void is available on Amazon now! His short story, The Thorn, is published by Sweety Cat Press and is included in the anthology, Beautiful: In the Eye of the Beholder and is out now available on Amazon. His story, Diseased, will be included in the anthology, Movement: Bodies in Motion, and is available now. His future project includes his follow-up novel, A Paroxysm of Fear, and a 3 part series of novellas titled Cerebus. Check out other stories on his website, chadmiller-author.com.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A young man who has grown up in a monastery soon has his world turned upside down after the arrival of a young girl who holds the key to unlocking the secrets of his past and that of the Sanctuary he calls home in author Michael J. Stiehl’s “Sanctuary”, the seventh book in the Hell Hare House Short Reads series.
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The Synopsis
Deep in an impenetrable swamp, lies the Sanctuary. Abandoned there as a child, Theobard has lived a quiet life among the Silent Brotherhood, a monastic sect that never speaks.
The arrival of Dellia, a beautiful golden-eyed girl with a secret, will change everything.
Her secret will expose Theobard’s true nature, and that of the Sanctuary, pulling apart the only world he has ever known, leaving nothing the same.
The Review
The author did an incredible job of crafting a unique and captivating horror story. The tension and heaviness of the setting really captured the isolation and eerie silence that mirrored the monks and their dark secrets. The blending of different sub-genres of horror, from psychological thriller to creature features made this story feel very haunting and kept me on the edge of my seat.
The heart of this narrative however was a unique blend of the rich character dynamics and the chilling atmosphere the author was able to infuse into the narrative. The physical and emotional toll the twists and turns this story took on the protagonist and the connection he made to this new arrival emphasized the harrowing journey they found themselves on, and the atmospheric style of writing really honed in on the horrifying nature of the dark secrets this Sanctuary holds.
The Verdict
Thought-provoking, mesmerizing and entertaining, author Michael J. Stiehl’s “Sanctuary” is the perfect short horror read and the perfect continuation of the Hell Hare House Short Reads series. A brilliant blend of psychological thriller and horror, the fusion of gothic and isolated horror themes really brought the terror and heart-pounding action to life in the best way possible. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Michael J. Stiehl has had a lifelong passion for fiction, in particular horror, comics, adventure and science fiction, and is thrilled to finally be writing some of his own. Michael lives in the Chicago suburbs with his wife, two kids and his very silly poodle Jack. When not writing fiction, Michael spends his time riding bikes, camping, reading books, obsessively listening to music and playing D&D with his friends. In short, he hasn’t changed a bit since junior high.
1) Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into writing?
I’ve always been creative. I have an over active imagination. And often times I’ll read a story and think the ending could have been better, or something else would have made more sense. So I eventually decided to write my own stories.
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2) What inspired you to write your book?
Specifically with this book, I was sick of most vampire stories featuring vampires falling in love with a whiney neurotic teenager. Vampires see us as food, not lovers. I’ve never lusted after a big mac. So why would a vampire lust after his food. So I decided to write a dark vampire story with an actual monster who has a complete disregard for human life.
3) What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book?
That’s a tough on. The theme itself is about revenge. But at its heart…the story explores the vampires broken heart. He loved someone who turned on him. It drove him mad. And most of the book focuses on his madness. I guess that’s the take away…women drive men mad
4) What drew you into this particular genre?
Honestly…a facebook vote lol. I wanted to write several different genres. And I asked my followers which of several ideas they liked most based off 3 line pitches…and this one got most likes lol.
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5) If you could sit down with any character in your book, what would you ask them and why?
This is a hard one. I get into the head of all my characters as I write them. Good or bad, I try to write from his or her point of view. So in essence…I’m already a part of all of them.
6) What social media site has been the most helpful in developing your readership?
Id say facebook has been most influential. I have a decent following from my days as a former youtuber. My old YouTube channel still has 25k subs…and I haven’t yet released a video on the channel to get sales for my book. But im debating advertising on my old channel. So if I do…YouTube will likely be most helpful lol but as of now…its facebook.
7) What advice would you give to aspiring or just starting authors out there?
Just do it. Don’t do it for fame or money. Just write what you enjoy. Tell a story you would want to read. And get it done. If people like it great. If not…who cares. You did it. The most satisfying part so far…is being able to say I wrote a book. The fact so many people who’ve read it….like it…is just a bonus.
8) What does the future hold in store for you? Are any new books/projects on the horizon?
This book is a planned trilogy. So I’m really excited for people to find out what happens to Alaric after the cliffhanger ending. After that I want to do a autobiography. I’ve lived a crazy life and want to document it in case I die one day lol
