Tag Archives: Horror

Alis by Stephen Graham Jones

Book Review, ,
Overview
Image result for mad hatters and march hares ellen datlow book cover

Title: Alis
Author: Stephen Graham Jones
In: Mad Hatters and March Hares (Ellen Datlow)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Horror
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Tor
Year: 2017
5th sentence, 74th page: “Prime number,” Tabby called for herself.

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Synopsis

A horror retelling of the world beyond the mirror becomes something that is far more than just a story… it becomes a tale that will leave you with goosebumps and a sick feeling in the pit of your stomach.

Thoughts

This sent shivers up my spine. It gave me goosebumps. And I had to actually walk away from my computer, clean the house and make sure there were no ghoulies in it before I could even consider writing this review. It was that damn creepy. But also amazing. And something I will read again. In the middle of a very well-lit day.

This is a brilliantly written, horrifying retelling of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. In a way. It takes ideas of mirrors, finding oneself and alternate realities into account. There is an obsession with maths and wordplay. And there is a sense of the characters entering an entirely different dimension. Unlike the Lewis Carroll original, this will keep me up all night and every time I close my eyes… I see the “other” at the other end of a dark tunnel…

 <- Some Kind of Wonderland ReviewAll the King’s Men Review ->
Image source: Bookdepository

O Terrible Bird by Sandra Kasturi

Book Review, , ,
Overview
Image result for black feathers ellen datlow book cover

Title: O Terrible Bird
Author: Sandra Kasturi
In: Black Feathers (Ellen Datlow)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Horror, Poetry
Dates read: 23rd January 2019
Pace: Slow
Format: Poem
Publisher: Pegasus Books Ltd.
Year: 2017
5th sentence, 74th page: Was it you? Are they limp in your claws?

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Synopsis

An incredibly dark avian poem that will leave tingles running up and down your spine.

Thoughts

I knew that the collection Black Feathers was a horror collection based around birds. I knew this, and yet, it wasn’t until I read the opening poem that I really clicked as to what this truly meant. And then I was just uncomfortable. And drawn in. And imagining dark shadows soaring above us. This poem took me on a complete journey of horror and wonder. And in such a short amount of time.

This is the second of Kasturi’s poems that I’ve had the fortune of reading. And man, is it worth it. this is an incredibly intense and dark poem. One that, like all good pieces of poetry, has layer upon layer of meaning. And one that I will probably reread again and again in an attempt to find more meaning.

 <- Black Feathers ReviewThe Obscure Bird Review ->
Image source: Amazon

I Know Who You Ate Last Summer by Nancy Holder

Book Review, , ,
Overview
Blood Lite

Title: I Know Who You Ate Last Summer
Author: Nancy Holder
In: Blood Lite (Kevin J. Anderson)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Comedy, Horror
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Edge
Year: 2008
5th sentence, 74th page: Because I thought you told Carla M.

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Synopsis

Two cannibal rockstars are about to be found out… but will they turn on each other before they can escape the truth?

Thoughts

It’s obvious that this story will have something to do with the consumption of people in some way shape or form. I was honestly betting on vampire. And even after reading the first few pages – I still thought vampire. Until I got a little bit further along in the story and realised that no, these aren’t vampires, they’re just really weird and disturbed cannibals.

This is one of those sick and twisted stories that I love and keep thinking about it long after I have finished the tale. Two cannabilistic rock stars running free and wild. Two men who have been eating and killing their way across the country. Who have also joined AA and found a whole heap of new “friends” that were previously unexpected.

 <- Love Seat Solitaire ReviewBitches of the Night Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

Love Seat Solitaire by D.L. Snell

Book Review, , ,
Overview
Blood Lite

Title: Love Seat Solitaire
Author: D.L. Snell
In: Blood Lite (Kevin J. Anderson)
Rating Out of 5: 3.5 (Liked this)
My Bookshelves: Ghosts, Horror
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Edge
Year: 2008
5th sentence, 74th page: “And I’m sure he does card tricks, too,” Dave said.

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Synopsis

The haunting of Sam’s house is about to get a lot more sinister and tricky…

Thoughts

This story just reaches a whole new level of weird and creepy. I was expecting a good, funny, humorous haunting story from the beginning. It didn’t turn out that way. It was all fun and games and whirlies… until it wasn’t. Then it was sick and twisted and disturbed. And not in that fun, make you think kind of way… in that… what did I just read kind of way.

If you want a story that shows that not all ghost stories have a happy ending… then this is definitely the tale for you. If you want a feel-good easy read, don’t pick this up. You’ll be as disturbed by it as I was.

 <- A Very Special Girl ReviewI Know Who You Ate Last Summer Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

A Very Special Girl by Mike Resnick

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Blood Lite

Title: A Very Special Girl
Author: Mike Resnick
In: Blood Lite (Kevin J. Anderson)
Rating Out of 5: 3.5 (Liked this)
My Bookshelves: Comedy, Horror, Urban fantasy
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Edge
Year: 2008
5th sentence, 74th page: He also is an occasional employee that I use when some goniff does not wish to honor his marker, and indeed he has just returned from Longshot Lamont’s, where I had sent him to collect the three large that Longshot Lamont bet on Auntie’s Panties to com ein first, and indeed the filly does come in first by seven lengths, but she comes in first in the eighth race after she goes to the post in the seventh race thirty minutes earlier.

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Synopsis

When a zombie debt collector decides to give his boss’ money away to his new beau, you know that things are about to go a little pear shaped. When his new girl is a little more twisted than expected… well, that’s a whole new story.

Thoughts

What happens when your not-so-smart muscle gives away the money he was supposed to be collecting for you? Well, in this comedy of errors, you find out one way to deal with it. And meet a very unique couple that is just feeling the first blossoms of love…

Throughout this entire short story things just steadily kept getting worse and worse. More and more incorrect and confusing… and I loved how it just steadily went downhill. Although this isn’t the most memorable of stories, the fact atht it is just a calamity of errors and poor judgement completely bespelled me. And even though I probably won’t be reading it again anytime soon, I certainly enjoyed my time in this world.

 <- Where Angels Fear to Tread ReviewLove Seat Solitaire Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

Where Angels Fear to Tread by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Blood Lite

Title: Where Angels Fear to Tread
Author: Sherrilyn Kenyon
Series: Hellchaser #1
In: Blood Lite (Kevin J. Anderson)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Angels, Horror
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Edge
Year: 2008
5th sentence, 74th page: You didn’t hear that?

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Synopsis

Zeke wants something more in life, but what he’s about to get might be a bit more than he bargained for…

Thoughts

It took me a little while to really get into the swing of this story, but once I did… oooh, I can see the potential for the rest of the series. There is such thing as getting more than you bargained for, and Zeke certainly got that when his life changed forever and finally gained meaning.

This short story had the typical, kind of required, mysterious great relative (in this case the uncle) bequeathing all of his belongings to someone missing their purpose in life. It had the eccentric estate left behind, and the sudden urging to follow a life’s path that was previously unexpected. All that is kind of expected and typical (a lot of stories I’ve read have followed this line of legacy giving, it’s a classic for a reason…). But that’s where it stops. After having his new legacy forced upon him, Zeke suddenly finds himself with no income, a shortened life span, and just generally a gift that he really really didn’t want…

 <- PR Problems ReviewA Very Special Girl Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

A Good Psycho is Hard to Find by Will Ludwigsen

Book Review, , ,
Overview
Blood Lite

Title: A Good Psycho is Hard to Find
Author: Will Ludwigsen
In: Blood Lite (Kevin J. Anderson)
Rating Out of 5: 3.5 (Liked this)
My Bookshelves: Comedy, Horror
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Pocket Books
Year: 2008
5th sentence, 74th page: We wiped down the chainsaw and tossed it in the Dumpster.

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Synopsis

It can be hard to find the right amount of passion in a relationship… but for this young couple, things are about to take a sinister turn.

Thoughts

Well. This took an unexpected turn. Like really unexpected. And more than a little creepy. And just… yeah, not really quite right there.

It can be difficult to be passionate with your significant other when life gets in the way. And for the couple in this tale, they are certainly finding it hard to rekindle their first flames. That is, until they realise that they just need a good dose of adrenaline to throw them into each others’ arms. It’s more so where they get this adrenaline from that is unexpected. And in so many ways, not okay…

 <- Dear Prudence ReviewHigh Kicks and Misdemeanors Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

Dear Prudence by Steven Savile

Book Review, ,
Overview
Blood Lite

Title: Dear Prudence
Author: Steven Savile
In: Blood Lite (Kevin J. Anderson)
Rating Out of 5: 3 (On the fence about this one)
My Bookshelves: Horror
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Pocket Books
Year: 2008
5th sentence, 74th page: Sunlight and a crucifix.

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Synopsis

Miller needs to leave a note for his wife Prudence. But it takes him a little while to figure out exactly what he wants to say.

Thoughts

This story is just damned uncomfortable. To the point that I don’t even know how to shelf it – it was kind of funny, but mostly just… well…. Uncomfortable.

As the title suggests, this short story is effectively a letter to Prudence. Actually, it’s a series of different drafts that go into very graphic details about how and what Mike wants to do to Prudence (hence the uncomfortable part). There is a lot of background and reflection that has been shoved into a few pages. Which makes it both better and intensely more not-okay.

 <- An Evening with Al Gore ReviewA Good Psycho is Hard to Find Review ->
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Elvis Presley and the Bloodsucker Blues by Matt Venne

Book Review, , , ,

Overview

Blood LiteTitle: Elvis Presley and the Bloodsucker Blues
Author: Matt Venne
In: Blood Lite (Kevin J. Anderson)
Rating Out of 5: 3.5 (Liked this)
My Bookshelves: Comedy, Horror, Vampires
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Pocket Books
Year: 2008
5th sentence, 74th page: I followed his gaze over my shoulder, discovered that the dude was staring at the risin’ sun on the horizon.

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Synopsis

The true, hollywood version of Elvis Presley’s death…

Thoughts

I have a mother who is obsessed with Elvis Presley. Actually, everytime I hear him I think of Christmas because that is the only time of year my dad can tolerate listening to it anymore. Somehow, Elvis Presley has become our Christmas music. Which is weird to say the least. So reading this gave me a weird feeling of Christmas. Even though it had ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with that time of year…

I thoroughly enjoyed this unique take on what truly happened to Elvis in his last years of life. The why and how of his death and the fact that he didn’t really go off of his rocker in his final days. It was very clever and unique. But, as much as I enjoyed it, something about the prose just wasn’t as enjoyable as usual…

 <- The Eldritch Pastiche from Beyond the Shadow of Horror Review No Problem Review ->
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The Eldritch Pastiche from Beyond the Shadow of Horror by Christopher Welch

Book Review, , ,

Overview

Blood LiteTitle: The Eldritch Pastiche from Beyond the Shadow of Horror
Author: Christopher Welch
In: Blood Lite (Kevin J. Anderson)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Comedy, Horror
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Pocket Books
Year: 2008
5th sentence, 74th page: If you finished Foucault’s Pendulum, you must really have a problem, Chris,” Tom said.

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Synopsis

Chris is an addict and just when he thinks he’s about to break the habit, a spectre from his dreams (or is it nightmares) appears in the hopes that he’ll continue…

Thoughts

I laughed at this. So much. And so hard. Maybe a little harder than I needed to. It was late at night, so sue me…

Chris is an addict, and a writer and just when he thinks he’s about to beat the habit, he’s told not to. In the most condescending, patronising way possible. Which was incredibly fun to read. Mostly, I just love the patronising tone of the story and the way in which Welch is able to layer his twisted fantasy world on top of our real one.

There is no message behind this story. It isn’t horrifying or intriguing. But it’s funny. And easy. And just a really enjoyable tale to read late at night before going to bed, with a smile plastered across your lips.

 <- Hell in a Handbasket Review Elvis Presley and the Bloodsucker Blues Review ->
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