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drakaina16's reviews
2013 reviews
A Gray God : A Novel by Sean Flynn
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Thank you to Wicked House Publishing for providing a review copy.
This was an unexpectedly hard review to write - I actually had to sleep on it before I felt I could review it properly. This book is a slow, slow burn. The drama between the characters keeps it interesting, but getting there takes awhile, then everything just explodes in the end. I felt pretty unsatisfied with the ending at first, but the more I think about it, the more I like it. I hesitate to say much more to avoid spoilers. The Gray God is very well-written, it kept my attention and, even though I didn't like any of the characters, they were well thought out. 4.25 stars
This was an unexpectedly hard review to write - I actually had to sleep on it before I felt I could review it properly. This book is a slow, slow burn. The drama between the characters keeps it interesting, but getting there takes awhile, then everything just explodes in the end. I felt pretty unsatisfied with the ending at first, but the more I think about it, the more I like it. I hesitate to say much more to avoid spoilers. The Gray God is very well-written, it kept my attention and, even though I didn't like any of the characters, they were well thought out. 4.25 stars
House of Haunts by Heather Daughrity, Heather Daughrity, Josh Malerman
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
I absolutely love the premise of this anthology - a haunted mansion, every room haunted by its own unique ghost and story. I enjoyed every single story, which is quite a feat in an anthology this large. Two stories in particular have stuck with me: Seeking Ruin by Jeremy Megargee and Spiraling Upward by Gage Greenwood. It has been about a week since I read both stories and I'm still thinking about them. 4.25 stars
Save Me a Spot on the Old Porch Swing by Ronald Kelly ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Love Historically by Justin Holley ⭐⭐⭐.5
Seeking Ruin by Jeremy Megargee ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Suppertime With the Lord by Mer Whinery ⭐⭐⭐.75
The Living Library of Hale House by Samantha Underhill ⭐⭐⭐.25
The Murder Masque by Joshua Lloyd Fox ⭐⭐⭐.5
Roses and Worms by Joe DeRouen ⭐⭐⭐
Bluebells in the Rug by Jo Kaplan ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Spiraling Upward by Gage Greenwood ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rug Burns by Clay McLeod Chapman ⭐⭐⭐⭐.75
Death in C Major by D.E. McCluskey ⭐⭐⭐⭐.75
Opening Move by J-F. Dubeau ⭐⭐⭐
Inez by Jennifer Anne Gordon ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
A Flicker of Candlelight by Simon Bleaken ⭐⭐⭐.75
The Cursed Coin of Hale House by Jay Bower ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The House Takes by Marie Lanza ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
My Fairlady by Brooklyn Ann ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I Can't Miss You if You Never Leave by Caitlin Marceau ⭐⭐⭐⭐.75
Inherited by Christy Aldridge ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
A Tree and A Life by Joe Scipione ⭐⭐⭐.25
The Bleeding Garden by William J. Donahue ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Apparitions and Starshine Gods by Mercedes M. Yardley ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Life and Death of Joshua Hale by Heather Daughrity ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Save Me a Spot on the Old Porch Swing by Ronald Kelly ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Love Historically by Justin Holley ⭐⭐⭐.5
Seeking Ruin by Jeremy Megargee ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Suppertime With the Lord by Mer Whinery ⭐⭐⭐.75
The Living Library of Hale House by Samantha Underhill ⭐⭐⭐.25
The Murder Masque by Joshua Lloyd Fox ⭐⭐⭐.5
Roses and Worms by Joe DeRouen ⭐⭐⭐
Bluebells in the Rug by Jo Kaplan ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Spiraling Upward by Gage Greenwood ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rug Burns by Clay McLeod Chapman ⭐⭐⭐⭐.75
Death in C Major by D.E. McCluskey ⭐⭐⭐⭐.75
Opening Move by J-F. Dubeau ⭐⭐⭐
Inez by Jennifer Anne Gordon ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
A Flicker of Candlelight by Simon Bleaken ⭐⭐⭐.75
The Cursed Coin of Hale House by Jay Bower ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The House Takes by Marie Lanza ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
My Fairlady by Brooklyn Ann ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I Can't Miss You if You Never Leave by Caitlin Marceau ⭐⭐⭐⭐.75
Inherited by Christy Aldridge ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
A Tree and A Life by Joe Scipione ⭐⭐⭐.25
The Bleeding Garden by William J. Donahue ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Apparitions and Starshine Gods by Mercedes M. Yardley ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Life and Death of Joshua Hale by Heather Daughrity ⭐⭐⭐⭐
We've Already Gone Too Far by M.J. Mars
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Thank you to the author for providing a review copy.
I had very high expectations for this collection. I read The Suffering last year and I still think about the ending a lot. I'm happy to report We've Already Gone Too Far lived up to my high hopes. If you love creature features, this will be right up your alley, as most (but not all) stories feature a cryptid or supernatural creature of some sort. I'd have happily read a novella or novella length book of any of these stories. One even managed to cram two of my big fears in one story (The 'Fasten Seatbelt' Light is On). Well done! 4.5 stars
Jeff Through the Trees ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
In Bocca Al Lupo ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The ‘Fasten Seatbelt’ Light is On ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Fallen Eagles and Aces ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Monastery Blood Moon ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Big Gulps and Bigfoot ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Stooge ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
We've Already Gone Too Far ⭐⭐⭐⭐.75
I had very high expectations for this collection. I read The Suffering last year and I still think about the ending a lot. I'm happy to report We've Already Gone Too Far lived up to my high hopes. If you love creature features, this will be right up your alley, as most (but not all) stories feature a cryptid or supernatural creature of some sort. I'd have happily read a novella or novella length book of any of these stories. One even managed to cram two of my big fears in one story (The 'Fasten Seatbelt' Light is On). Well done! 4.5 stars
Jeff Through the Trees ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
In Bocca Al Lupo ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The ‘Fasten Seatbelt’ Light is On ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Fallen Eagles and Aces ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Monastery Blood Moon ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Big Gulps and Bigfoot ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Stooge ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
We've Already Gone Too Far ⭐⭐⭐⭐.75
Tides of Darkness by Andrew Van Wey
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Thank you to the author for providing a review copy.
This is my third Andrew Van Wey book. Every time I finish one, I am just blown away by the sheer writing ability and how the characters feel like real people. Picking up months after the events of the first book, we are thrust right back into all the strange happenings in Greywood Bay. The story gains traction and gets much deeper this time around, providing more backstory for both the town and the players in Greywood Bay's game. I care deeply about these characters and I'm super invested in them now. I can't wait to go back to the Lost Coast again.
This is my third Andrew Van Wey book. Every time I finish one, I am just blown away by the sheer writing ability and how the characters feel like real people. Picking up months after the events of the first book, we are thrust right back into all the strange happenings in Greywood Bay. The story gains traction and gets much deeper this time around, providing more backstory for both the town and the players in Greywood Bay's game. I care deeply about these characters and I'm super invested in them now. I can't wait to go back to the Lost Coast again.
Children of the Dark by Jonathan Janz, Matthew Revert
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Thank you to Cemetery Dance for providing a review copy.
For some reason, I was under the impression that Children of the Dark just had to be a vampire novel. Imagine my surprise when I actually read the blurb and found out it combines two of my favorite subgenres - coming of age and cryptids. The writing is very good and cinematic and the characters are fleshed out and sympathetic. My only gripe is that some situations and decisions seemed very unrealistic. (Yes, despite the fact it's about cryptids.) Add a serial killer into the mix, and it has a lot going on. I did have a lot of fun with it despite a few minor complaints and I do plan on reading the second book. 4.25 stars
For some reason, I was under the impression that Children of the Dark just had to be a vampire novel. Imagine my surprise when I actually read the blurb and found out it combines two of my favorite subgenres - coming of age and cryptids. The writing is very good and cinematic and the characters are fleshed out and sympathetic. My only gripe is that some situations and decisions seemed very unrealistic. (Yes, despite the fact it's about cryptids.) Add a serial killer into the mix, and it has a lot going on. I did have a lot of fun with it despite a few minor complaints and I do plan on reading the second book. 4.25 stars
Home by Ben Young
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Ben Young writes horror stories with so much heart. I read Stuck last year and was blown away - I could not believe it was a debut. I feel the same way this time around. How is this book a sophomore effort? The writing is so solid and so mature for someone on only their second book. The characters absolutely make the book, and they feel real. I'm so excited for future titles by Ben Young.
What October Brings: A Lovecraftian Celebration of Halloween by Douglas Draa
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I had this anthology on my TBR for a very long time, and I'm sad I didn't read it before now. It's one of the best multi-author anthologies I've read in a long time! Definitely pick this one up if you like your Halloween stories full of tentacles and the blackness between stars.
Uncle’s In the Treetops by Darrell Schweitzer ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Uncle’s In the Treetops by Darrell Schweitzer ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Down into Silence by Storm Constantine ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The War on Halloween by Cody Goodfellow ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
That Small, Furry, Sharp-toothed Thing by Paul Dale Anderson ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Waters Strangely Clear by Alan Baxter ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The House on Jimtown Road by Ran Cartwright ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Spider Wasp by Tim Curran ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
The Old Man Down the Road by Arinn Dembo ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Immortician by Andre E. Harewood ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Nyarlahotep Came Down to Georgia by Nancy Holder ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A Night for Masks by Brian M. Sammons ⭐⭐⭐⭐
No Other God but Me by Adrian Cole ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Inheritance by Ann K. Schwader ⭐⭐⭐.75
Hum - Hurt You. Hum - Hurt You. Hum - Hurt You. by John Shirley ⭐⭐⭐.5
Cosmic Cola by Lucy A. Snyder ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Hell Among the Yearlings by Chet Williamson ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Summer's End by Erica Ruppert ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Erstwhile Tyler Kyle by Steve Hugh Westenra
Did not finish book. Stopped at 80%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 80%.
I just realized I really didn't care what happened in the story anymore, and pretty much all the characters are unlikeable.
Echoes of Home by M.L. Rayner
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This book is not the kind of ghost story that I would normally pick up. I tend to like my ghosts a bit more bloodthirsty, but this book was so beautifully written that I didn't mind this more sad, quiet type of story. If you like your ghost stories a bit more melancholy, with almost no gore, this will definitely be up your alley. 4 stars
GASPS: A Quiet Horror Anthology by Judith Sonnet
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I was so excited when I heard this anthology announced! It was a lot of fun to see my favorite splatterpunks stretch their horror muscles and deliver something totally different. 4.5 stars
Odd Jobs by Rob Daley ⭐⭐⭐.5
Her Strength Remains by Dana M. Evans ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Doberman by Garrett Cook ⭐⭐⭐
Chilly Reception by Lucas Mangum ⭐⭐⭐.5
Worm in the Wall by Veronica J. Hart ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Reunited by Chisto Healy ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I Cried Out to the Darkness by J. Rocky Colavito ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
In the Basement by Chuck Nasty ⭐⭐⭐.25
Rooms of Our Own by Toshiya Kamei ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
The Guests by Ann O’Mara Heyward ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Finally by Gord Rollo ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Bleeding Rainbows by Shane McKenzie ⭐⭐⭐⭐.75
Best Friends by Wrath James Wright ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Cold Pocket by Judith Sonnet ⭐⭐⭐⭐.75
Odd Jobs by Rob Daley ⭐⭐⭐.5
Her Strength Remains by Dana M. Evans ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Doberman by Garrett Cook ⭐⭐⭐
Chilly Reception by Lucas Mangum ⭐⭐⭐.5
Worm in the Wall by Veronica J. Hart ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Reunited by Chisto Healy ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I Cried Out to the Darkness by J. Rocky Colavito ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
In the Basement by Chuck Nasty ⭐⭐⭐.25
Rooms of Our Own by Toshiya Kamei ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
The Guests by Ann O’Mara Heyward ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Finally by Gord Rollo ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Bleeding Rainbows by Shane McKenzie ⭐⭐⭐⭐.75
Best Friends by Wrath James Wright ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Cold Pocket by Judith Sonnet ⭐⭐⭐⭐.75