Tag: supernatural horror

The Demon Secret by Dan Gindlesperger 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 lone exorcist discovers a shocking truth behind the demons he has been fighting and must discover a way to stop them before mankind is torn asunder in author Dan Gindlesperger’s “The Demon Secret”.

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The Synopsis

Father Luke, a trained exorcist, uncovers sacred knowledge hidden in time while removing demons from the innocent. These truths put his own life and the lives of those he cares about in grave danger from every direction. Based near Washington, DC, where greed and deception are around every corner, lie these dangerous secrets, ones that threaten the very fabric of our human world.

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The Review

This was such a rich and thrilling take on the supernatural horror genre. The author found a way to infuse a great sense of humor and wit into the genre, allowing the reader to feel pops of lightness in an otherwise dark and haunting narrative. The layered atmosphere the author was able to draw upon, and the powerful imagery in the author’s writing (as well as the thematic imagery of the threat of demons amidst the human corruption of organized religion) made this story stand out.

What stood out to me as a reader was the rich character development of this narrative. The mythos, the world-building, and the setting all played up thanks to the characters’ dynamics, as the protagonist had to deal with some heavy and complex situations. He had to face the supernatural threats of demons, the horrors of human corruption, and the lengths people are willing to go to protect their secrets. It also challenged his lifelong commitment to the Church, his thoughts on the organization, and the juxtaposition to his faith, making this a compelling story.

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The Verdict

Memorable, haunting, and entertaining author Dan Gindlesperger’s “The Demon Secret” is a must-read supernatural horror novel. The narrative twists and turns and gripping character development made this story feel alive and thrilling on the page. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

I was raised in a poor household with parents that drank beyond excess, so I found my escape in books from the world that I was brought into. Books were free from the library and I could imagine myself as a hero saving  the world. When I read a book I want to be able to smell the air, feel the warmth and be emersed in the world that is before me. That is how I want my work to feel to the readers, like that are more than readers, that are part of the journey.

The Hiding (The Seer of York Book One) by Alethea Lyons 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 killer is loose in York, and a young woman must navigate the worlds of both humans and the supernatural in order to stop this ruthless killer in author Alethea Lyons’s “The Hiding”, the first book in The Seer of York series.

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The Synopsis

Arcane archivist Harper has always been plagued by dreams of grotesque creatures and bloody deaths. When she bumps into a ghostwalker in the Shambles and has a visceral experience of his execution, she knows it’s a foretelling. Yet fear of the Queen’s Guard stops her speaking out. When her vision indeed comes true, the unusual markings on the ghostwalker’s corpse, combined with his neatly excised vocal cords, send a ripple of terror through York.

The witch hunt is on. As the body count rises, Harper knows her magic is the only way to find the killer – if she can avoid being hanged as a witch. To protect both human and supernatural, Harper walks the thin line between their worlds. She and her demonhunter foster-sister form a multi-faith team with a forensic scientist, a spirit Harper accidentally summoned, and a techno-witch, to catch the killer before more people die.

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The Review

This was a compelling and fascinating read. The author does an incredible job of layering this story with mystery and intrigue. The infusion of the supernatural into the narrative felt very much integrated into the fabric of this world. The balance between this thriller, dark, and horror-filled storylines and the pops of humor and heart amongst the characters really brought readers into the narrative in a fun way.

Yet, it was the character development and setting that really made this story shine. Setting the narrative in and around the town of York and yet merging this shadowy, supernatural realm all around it allowed the town to feel like its own character. The banter and relationship between the main character and her sister will draw on the reader’s heartstrings, and the hint of romance that the author uses to shake up the main character’s world, even more, is also a great draw. Yet the complex themes of the blending of cultures and the hardship some face when met with criticism and judgment from overzealous minds really kept the narrative alive.

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The Verdict

Heart-pounding, gripping, and engaging author Alethea Lyons’s “The Hiding” is a must-read horror/thriller that is not to be missed. The perfect way for horror fans to kick off the 2024 spring season, the twists and turns in the story and the shocking open-ended ending will leave fans eager for more. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy on March 5th, 2024!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Alethea (she/ze) writes various forms of SFF, with a particular love for science-fantasy, dark fantasy, dystopias, and folklore. Many of her works take place at the intersection between technology and magic. She enjoys writing stories with subtle political and philosophical messages, but primarily wants her stories to be great tales with characters readers will love. She also has soft spots for found family, hopeless romances, and non-human characters. Her short stories can be found in a variety of publications and links for these are on her website.

Alethea lives in Manchester, UK with her husband, little Sprite, a cacophony of stringed instruments, and more tea than she can drink in a lifetime.

Bonus content for The Hiding & other works can be found on her website.

Socials: @AletheaRLyons

https://alethealyons.wixsite.com/stories

The 666 Murders: A Supernatural Thriller by Alan Golbourn 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.

A London investigator and a private eye in the late 60s must work together to stop a ritualistic killer before it’s too late in author Alan Golbourn’s “The 666 Murders: A Supernatural Thriller”.

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The Synopsis 

His time is now …

London, 1966

Fear grips the capital when a second ritualistically murdered victim is found in an alleyway — with their heart removed.

With no leads or motive, DCS Kendall Quincy is under intense pressure to find the sadistic killer before a third victim is claimed.

Out of luck Randolph Landon — disillusioned with his life as a private investigator and separated from his family, soon becomes embroiled with his biggest, challenging, and most terrifying case to date. The case leads him down a sinister road to a chilling discovery like no other, so that he regrets grumbling about his lack of work and misfortune …

The Review

This was such a chilling and haunting read. The author did an incredible job of building tension and layering the atmosphere with suspense that kept readers on the edge of their seats. The balance of mythos and world-building the author made with the complex yet nuanced character development was greatly felt throughout the reading and made the growing mystery of this series of occult murders so harrowing to read.

Yet it was the richness of the narrative itself and the slow growth of the characters and their backgrounds that really kept me invested. The ways in which the heroes all came together by the book’s end completely made me conjure up images of Van Helsing, Jonathan Harker, and Quincy Morris traveling to Dracula’s castle to slay the immortal monster. The well-developed villain of the tale is quite horrifying and yet mesmerizing to read, and the way his backstory plays into the narrative and the mythos as a whole was so creative and unique, making me hooked on the author’s tale.

The Verdict

Brilliant, entertaining, and spookily delightful to behold, author Alan Golbourn’s “The 666 Murders” are a must-read suspense horror read. The equal ways in which the author develops the thriller aspects of the narrative with the supernatural mythos and action that takes place throughout the read made this story a classic horror tale in the making. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Alan Golbourn was born in Essex, England. He has enjoyed writing stories since a young age, when he was recognized early for his writing abilities. Amongst several interests and hobbies, including football and computer games, he holds a love and compassion for animals.