Welcome to My 31 Days Of Thrills And Chills 2018! I did this last year and so excited to do it again. I’ll be sharing reviews and lots of extra spooky stuff every day leading up to Halloween. I hope you’ll join me!
I’m sharing all kinds of books, movies, and other spooky stuff for every day in October. Gots to get those scares on for the 31st!
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Predators
by Michaelbrent Collings
Genre: Horror / Thriller
My Review
When I was a young girl, I dreamed of going on safari in Africa. Then, I got older, read some books and saw some movies, and changed my mind. They say the odds are low you’ll get attacked by a shark while swimming in the ocean. I live on the Gulf Coast and have seen what lurks under the water and I don’t swim in open water anymore. I figure the same goes for trekking around Africa, especially after dark, when things come out to hunt. A diverse group of people do just that and get more than they bargained for.
I’m big on character driven stories and that’s what this was all about for me. Sure, something hunts them. But it’s how they react, who steps up and who turns tail that feeds this horror fan.
So, the characters. A father, along with his blind little girl and her grandmother. A washed up movie mogul and his aging trophy wife actress. A bully and his timid wife. The Maasai brother and sister tour guides. There’s more to them than meets the eye.
The author puts his characters into the worst possible situation and strips them down to the bare bones. As they try to get back to safety, they’re tracked, hunted by something that taunts them. Just out of sight, but always there. Then the attacks begin. It’s raw, brutal, and almost beautiful to see these character’s true colors come out.
Who survives? It’s anyone’s guess.
Did I enjoy this book? Most definitely. From the opening page to the final face off. Would I recommend it? Sure enough. And I’m already reading The Haunted, another thrilling book by the author.
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Synopsis
SHE IS ONE OF THE ONLY ANIMALS
WHO CAN CHASE A LION FROM HIS KILL…
Evie Childs hoped the all-expense-paid trip to Africa would give her a chance at adventure. Maybe it would even let her forget a past that haunts her, and find safety from a husband who abuses her.
HER JAWS CAN CRUSH BONE TO POWDER…
But when a group of “freedom fighters” kidnaps her safari tour group, intent on holding them for ransom, the adventure turns to nightmare.
SHE KNOWS NO MERCY, ONLY HUNGER…
Now, Evie and the rest of the survivors must travel across miles of the harshest, most dangerous environment on Earth. No food. No water. No communications.
And they’re being hunted.
SHE IS THE ONLY ANIMAL ALIVE
WHO LAUGHS AS SHE HUNTS…
A pack of Africa’s top predators have smelled the blood of the survivors, and will not stop until they have fed. Because in this place, you can be either one of the prey, or one of the…
As a horror fan I feel rather
fortunate that so many of my favorite thrillers released on the year of my
birth. A quick Google re-search will reveal a VHS candy store of goody gore and
lovable murderers, from The Thing to Poltergeist to Halloween III (the one
without Myers) to Amityville II: The Possession (the one that was like The
Exorcist but with incest) to The New York Ripper to Pieces, Parasite, The
Slumber Party Massacre, and… Friday the 13th…PART 3D (cue groovy disco music).
And among the other entries in the franchise, PART 3D is I would say my second
favorite. There are many factors that play into my rating but unless you’ve
seen it you probably won’t understand. So, do me a solid and go pop in that
flayed VHS cause this review will be chopped full of SPOILERS. Readers…you
have been warned!
Directed by: Steve Miner
Writing Credits: Martin Kitrosser, Carol Watson, and Sean S. Cunningham.
Music by: Harry Manfredini
Special effects: Martin Becker
Release Date: 13 August 1982 (USA)
“Having revived from his
wound, Jason Voorhees takes refuge at a cabin near Crystal Lake. As a group of
co-eds arrive for their vacation, Jason continues his killing spree.”
Among many reasons why I love
Friday the 13th part III, one would be that it is the first true Jason Voorhees
slasher. Yup. Obviously part 1 was really about mommy Voorhees, a character who
wasn’t even given a first name until…what, part 2? And while fantastic in its
own right, it was not a “Jason” movie, not yet anyway. Now some would
say, “But hey, Tommy, what about part 2? Isn’t that considered a Jason
Voorhees movie, it does have Jason in it after all?” And I would of course
nod my head knowledgeably. Yes, part 2 does have Jason…but not the Jason. What
we got was a backwoods deranged potato sack wearing weirdo who at times
certainly had classic Jason mannerisms, but in the end still just an inbred
acting mongoloid. Now that said, part 2 has its charm and some really excellent
kills, but if you want Jason as we love him today (hockey mask and all), you
gotta start with part 3.
Part 3 is also really awesome
because it has what every good indie horror movie should, a cast a
unrecognizable actors and actresses. While still young, parts 1 and 2 had some
fairly recognizable cast members, including Kevin Bacon, John Furey (a known TV
actor), Harry Crosby (son if Bing Crosby), and not to mention the late great
Betsy Palmer who was one of the most veteran and highly respected actors on
set. Part 3? Nadda. They didn’t even have Chong, of the Cheech and Chong
variety, star as the lead stoner, instead they dressed some dude named Chuck in
a blue bandanna, green button down, and red pants with not quite as much weed
as Up In Smoke.
I’d be amiss not to comment on
what PART 3 has no other addition does. Shelly. Shelly is the best part of this
movie. From humble awkward to cartoonish to a astonishingly flamboyant runner,
Shelly is still by far my favorite character in the film. Sure, he fails to get
the girl Vera and he’s socially immature, who isn’t?!? Shelly does have a few
things going for him. Sweet yo-yo skills and a magic box that is literally
“his entire world” full of tricks and gags to annoy the entire gang
of friends, and the largest white-boy fro ever shot on a 3D film. On a low par, I wasn’t all that thrilled with
leading lady Chris Higgins (Dana Kimmell).
She seemed too annoyed at times. Bored. And too drawl. The best part
about her, I thought, was her really strange back story of a previous
“unfilmed” encounter with Jason Voorhees. An encounter that sounded
almost as if it were some kind of sexual assault. Going back to the amazing
documentary
Crystal Lake Memories, actress
Dana Kimmell confirms this backstory, but she says that producers did not want
to pursue it in any kind of depth. This revelation is kinda dark for a Friday
the 13th film as they typically follow a blood, guts, and gags methodology.
So, we’ve covered the more manly
killing machine Jason. We got the actors. Next is the music. Harry Manfredini,
who scored most of the Friday the 13’s, including the original, crafted one
hell of a soundtrack for this third installment. Part disco, part horror, 100%
awesomeness. It is also one of the few, if not only, horror sound track to
garner its own cover band by the name of Nilbog. Check them out on YouTube.
Link provided below.
But like any horror slasher
flick, there’s gotta be a seemingly solid foundational plot. In PART 3, Chris
Higgins invites a gang of friends to include a pregnant bestie (who gets
slaughtered later btw…also a very dark moment for a Friday the 13th movie),
two stoners, a Mexican chick, and Shelly. They met up later with lurch looking
boytoy Rick (Paul Kratka). Events escalate into a series of weed smoking, beer
drinking, skinny dipping, practical jokes, and heartfelt life lessons until
Shelly and Vera end up pissing off a low-level biker gang. After Shelly runs
over some of their motorcycles, the b-squad gang vows revenge that never really
materializes. Instead, after following Shelly and Vera back to the cabin, they
are quickly dispatched by Jason.
After Chris goes off with Rick to
blow off some steam, the night consummates in more weed smoking and beer
drinking, a sexual encounter, and Shelly in a wet suit. I know, sounds amazing
doesn’t it? Where does all this debauchery go? To one of the coolest kills.
Once Shelly is dispatched, Jason finally obtains his moniker look by putting on
the hockey mask that Shelly was so kind enough to bring along. Jeez, imagine if
he brought a faded Captain Kirk mask? Talk about a lawsuit! Anyways, with Jason
now complete, he causally strolls out on to the deck where a waiting Vera is
fishing for Shelly’s dropped wallet on the edge of the lake. He aims at her,
much to her confusion, as she thinks he’s Shelly. Just as she says,
“Wait…who are you?” Jason pulls the trigger on the speargun popping
her eye out the back of her head. Simply amazing. Its the small things folks.
More killings ensue until finally
Rick and Morty…oops, Rick and Chris arrive back at the cabin. With everyone
gone and blood everywhere, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to put two and
two together. During the attack, ole handsome lurch Rick gets his eyeball
popped out his socket, which must have been a real thrill for kids who matched
this back in 1982 in 3D. And finally, Chris and Jason go toe to toe. During the
struggle, one of the surviving bikers revives just to be killed again, but
distracting Jason long enough for Chris to throw a noose around Jason’s neck
and shove him out the barn. When that proves useless, she plants an ax deep in
his skull. That seems to have done the trick and as the credits roll, the cabin
is surrounded by police and paramedics.
For me, my horror appetites are
not hard to please. And PART 3D, given some of its flaws, is a groovy good time
for a slasher flick, and especially a Friday the 13th slasher flick.
.
The Last Hellfighter
Thomas S. Flowers
Genre: Historical Fiction/Horror
Publisher: Darker Worlds Publishing
Date of Publication: Aug 10, 2018
ISBN: 1724369202 / ASIN: B07FFND86J
Number of pages: 277 (Kindle)
410 (paperback)
Word Count: 78K
Cover Artist: Michael Bray
.
Tagline: They thought vampires were fantasy. They were wrong.
.
Book Description:
.
In the year 2044, reporters from the Public Relations Ministry gather at the home of Benjamin Harker, the last surviving member of the Harlem Hellfighters. At the age of 144, he is the oldest recorded man alive. Hidden among them, Clyde Bruner is looking for a different kind of story. Across the United States, despite the Great Walls and patrol drones built to keep America secure, something has found its way in. And now towns are vanishing during the night. Entire populations, gone. Only to return after the sun sets, changed, unholy, and lethal. And whatever this evil is, its spreading west.
According to a bedtime story Bruner’s grandfather told him when he was a boy, Benjamin Harker has seen this before. He’s faced this scourge. Fought this evil. Survived them. Killed them. From the trenches of the Great War to the jungles of Vietnam to the sands of Iraq, Harker will search his past to save our future.
But as each city light extinguishes across the country, is there no time left to stop what’s coming?
“Huh?” the older man grunted, his full attention glued to the small box television set. Family
Feud was on and Silas never missed an episode. As long as Julius had worked
with him at least, in these past four months on the night shift, the seasoned
longshoreman who acted very content with his life—who moved slow and never
liked causing “trouble,” as he called it, to his superiors, could recite the
most complex trivia questions.
Julius looked back to his monitor. Part of his job was to watch for ships that may have
wandered off course, or even scheduled docks on the quay. The program displayed
on his monitor was linked to AIS Marine database that monitored all vessel
traffic around the world. He kept the screen displaying his assigned port—which
showed a few red, which meant docked and inactive. The one that concerned him
was another ship, inbound and blinking green.
“Mr. Green?” Julius pressed.
The older black man sighed loudly, turning away from his small TV screen. “What? Why the hell
would—listen son, you can’t let this job spook you. Working nights on the dock,
I know, the long hours can get to you. But trust me, this sure beats working
days out in that sun all day offloading ships.”
“But look,” the younger longshoreman pointed his screen.
Frowning, Silas rolled his chair over to the computer monitor. The green blinking ship
reflected off his thick glasses. He pushed them back up on his nose, “That
ain’t nothing, probably just a glitch in the system.”
Julius looked at the screen and then out the large window that overlooked the Port of Jerusalem.
He’d just moved to town not more than six months prior from Bangor and he
wanted to make a good impression.
“Okay,” the younger man said.
Silas nodded in quiet victory and rolled back over to watch his show.
Julius continued glaring at the blinking green ship as it approached the port on the screen. He
swallowed hard as it inched closer and closer. He glanced at the old man as he
howled at some man on the TV having missed a question that Silas thought was a
“no brainer.” On the monitor, the green
blinking ship was upon them. Beads of sweat dripped down his forehead.
Closer.
And closer.
“Mr. Green, I don’t think is a glitch,” Julius protested.
Exhaling loudly, Silas stood and turned. “Listen, young blood, I’ve been doing this job for
twenty years and I’ve never heard of no ship coming in that wasn’t on the
manifest.”
Julius shrugged. “Yeah, but…” he gestured to the screen.
“There is no ship coming—”
Just outside, a large wave crashed against the port levee walls. A thunderous metallic screech
vibrated off the walls of the little trailer office on the wharf. Manuals and
notebooks and ship logs fell from the shelves as the ground itself felt as if
it was opening. The small TV still playing Family Feud rattled off the table
and crashed to the floor, sizzling out. The florescent bulbs above them burst
raining shards of glass and casting the room into a yellow gloom. The
horrendous grinding seemed to go on forever, shaking and shuddering the world.
And then it was over.
Silas Green was the first to prop himself off the floor. Looking around cautiously, as if any
wrong move would send the world into chaos again.
Julius propped himself up, moving into a crouch. He peeked through the blinds. “What the heck
was that?”
“Shit!” the older man hissed.
Julius glanced over his shoulder at him. “What? You okay?”
Silas held up what remained of his TV. “No, damn tube is busted.”
Shaking his head, Julius peered back out the blinds. “I think we should go check the dock.”
He stood, not waiting for approval and went through the door of the office.
“Hold on, young blood.” Silas gave the TV a final kiss—he’d had the device for more years than
he cared to confess, and then set it down on the floor as gently as he could.
Standing, he opened the bottom drawer of his desk and retrieved a flashlight.
Outside, Silas trotted to catch up with Julius who was standing at the edge of the wharf
looking up into the gloom.
“Somethings out there,” the young man said.
Silas wafted the fog around his head. “Can’t see shit out here.”
“Use the flashlight,” Julius suggested without taking his gaze from in front of him.
“Oh,” Silas grunted, flicking on the switch. A beam of bright white broke apart the misty
smoke like haze. He shined out toward the wharf and at first still could not
see anything. And then the fog parted as if controlled by some unknown force,
separating and unfolding around a large cargo ship.
Silas traced the hull to the edge of the ship deck. “Mother of God,” he whispered, taken back by
the sudden massive size of the ship. He’d never been this close to one. The
larger vessels normally dock at Freeport.
Julius stepped toward him, asking, “What do we do?”
The older man couldn’t think—this wasn’t on the schedule, the ship manifest, nothing. This
ship shouldn’t be here. The harbourmaster would have said something. Hell, his
superintendent would have damn sure said something. It would have been on the
log. Silas moved the beam of light to the wharf itself, noting the broken
shards of rock in the thick cement and the thick crack in the hull of the ship.
It was taking on water for sure—it hadn’t even bothered slowing down. It
ploughed into the quay. But why? Wasn’t there someone steering this damn thing?
This wasn’t right. Something about this—everything about this wasn’t right.
“Mr. Green?” Julius pressed, whispering hotly.
Silas looked at him, the kid was rattled; he was rattled. He took a deep breath. “Okay, listen,
I’m going to call this in—pray the lines in the office are still operating.
Here, take the flashlight.” He handed it to Julius. “Stay put, yell out if you
see anyone. Some dumbass is going to pay bigtime for this screwup and it ain’t
going to be you or me.”
He gave one final glance at the monstrous freighter and started off for the office. Inside,
he could use the phone on the floor. He scooped it up and dialed his
supervisor.
“Green, there better be a good fucking reason why you’re calling me at—” Silas’s
superintendent started through the speaker of the phone.
“A ship crashed into the port,” Silas blurted.
“What?”
“A ship, some damn cargo ship. Large motherfucker.”
“Are you fucking with me?”
“No, I ain’t fucking with you, sir. A cargo ship crashed into the port, took a good-sized
chunk out of our wharf too.”
“Was it on the manifest?”
“No—that’s what I’m saying. This ship ain’t supposed to be—”
A scream from outside on the dock jarred Silas from the phone.
“Julius, what the hell was that?”
“Green, what’s going on?” his superintendent asked, sounding more and more irritated.
Silence.
“Green?”
“Hold on, sir.”
Silas set down the phone, ignoring the muffled protest from his superintendent
on the line. He glared at the open door and crept toward it. There were no
other sounds, and he didn’t like that one bit.
Stepping outside he called, “Julius?”
It was hard to see through the fog as it rolled across the walkway.
Silas squinted, peering through the gloom turned yellow by the glow of the dock lights.
“Julius, what’s going on?” he called to the dark shape in front of him.
And then he heard it.
A sucking sound.
He stopped.
The dark shape unfolded.
The fog parted slightly, revealing a tall, bald woman with pale skin. Her eyes burned red. She
was looking at him with an expression of mild satisfaction, the look of a
thirsty soul finally getting a cup of water. She was holding Julius, cradling
him almost as if they were dancing.
“Who are—” Silas started, until he saw her teeth, her large fanged front teeth, salivating in
blood. He took a step back as she let Julius go. His body crumbled to the wet
dock.
“No,” Silas managed to say, like a child refusing to go to bed.
And then she was upon him.
.
About the Author Thomas S. Flowers:
.
Who doesn’t love a good story? Thomas’s favorite books include All Quiet on the Western Front, Salem’s Lot, and Hell House.
In his own writings, he aspires to create fantastic worlds with memorable characters and haunted places. His stories range from Shakespearean gore, classic monster tales, and even stories that hurt him the most to write about, haunted soldiers and PTSD. Residing in the swamps of Houston, Texas, with his wife and daughter, Thomas’s debut novel, Reinheit, was eventually published with Shadow Work Publishing, along with Lanmò, The Hobbsburg Horror, FEAST, Beautiful Ugly, and Planet of the Dead.
His veteran focused paranormal thriller series, The Subdue Series, filled with werewolves, Frankenstein-inspired monsters, cults, alter-dimensional insects, witches, and the undead are published with Limitless Publishing.
In 2008, Thomas was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army where he served three tours in Operation Iraqi Freedom. In 2014, Thomas graduated from University of Houston-Clear Lake with a Bachelors in History. He is the senior editor at Machine Mean, a site that reviews horribly awesome and vintage horror movies and books from guest contributors who obsess over a wide range of strange yet oddly related topics.
Welcome to My 31 Days Of Thrills And Chills 2018! I did this last year and so excited to do it again. I’ll be sharing reviews and lots of extra spooky stuff every day leading up to Halloween. I hope you’ll join me!
I’m sharing all kinds of books, movies, and other spooky stuff for every day in October. Gots to get those scares on for the 31st!
~~~~~
Little Black Spots
by John F.D. Taff
Genre: Horror
My Review
When I took a gander at the cover art for this, I had a bit of an idea what was waiting inside for me. Well….I thought I did.
This collection took me all over the pace. Most of these stories really cranked my tractor. Really hit the horror radar. Purple Soda Hand, The Depravity Of Inanimate Things and The Bunny Suit, for instance. A few started to go right over my head. I almost missed the point. Probably not the author’s fault as I stayed up way too late reading these, so I set these aside and started up again the next day. And some were almost poetic, surreal in the best way. The sense of wrongness was palpable. However you like your horror, it’s in here.
I’m really glad I got my hands on these. There’s nothing like a little horror with a reality check included to make me a happy camper.
Did I enjoy this book? Certainly. Any fan of horror will find something to like in these pages. Would I read this author again? You know it. Whether more short stories or a full length novel, I’d dive right in.
Thanks so much to Author John F.D. Taff and Grey Matter Press for a complimentary review copy.
~~~~~
Synopsis
First he gave us LITTLE DEATHS: THE DEFINITIVE EDITION. Then he unleashed his unique brand of pain in THE END IN ALL BEGINNINGS.
Now Bram Stoker Award-nominated John F.D. Taff – modern horror’s King of Pain – returns with LITTLE BLACK SPOTS. Sixteen stories of dark horror fiction gathered together for the first time, exposing the delicate blemishes and sinister blots that tarnish the human condition.
From a man who stumbles on a cult that glorifies spontaneous human combustion, to a disgraced nature photographer who applies his skills for a vile outcome.
Where a darkened city parking structure seems malevolently alive, and a Halloween costume has a husband seeing his wife in a disturbing new light.
When a ruined man sees far too much of himself in his broken family, and a mysterious bottle of liquid arrives with a deadly secret inside.
Little Black Spots is a beacon shining its light into some of life’s most shadowy corners, revealing the dark stains that spatter all mankind.
The next collection of horror from Bram Stoker Award-nominated John F.D. Taff, LITTLE BLACK SPOTS will be published worldwide on September 18, 2018.
Welcome to the Goddess Fish Promotions Tenth Anniversary Month Long Celebration!
Who is Goddess Fish Promotions? And what do we do? We’re glad you asked!
We didn’t want your visit here to be dry and boring, so we decided to have a poetry competition and put what we do into verse. Here are the initial entries:
Marianne:
Roses are Red.
Violets are Blue.
I’m awful at poetry.
Coffee.
Judy:
Twitter and Facebook got you down?
Come see us, we’re the best around.
We’ll get your book out so people can see
What a wonderful author you happen to be.
We hope you enjoyed getting to know us a little (more information is below) and we’d like to do the same. We’d LOVE to see a little poem that tells us a bit about you in the comments. We’ll be awarding random book giveaways and $5 Amazon GCs to some of the best poetry we find. It might not be at every stop, but when something really makes us smile, we’ll reward it! Come on, be daring…
And now, more about us:
About Goddess Fish Promotions
Goddess Fish Promotions was established October 14, 2008. Why? Well, when Marianne became a published author and got her the first taste of trying to promote a book on a budget, there was only one other virtual book tour company in place at the time, and their fees were simply too high for a small press author. After coordinating and running her own tour, she knew other authors could use the same service for a reasonable price. Thus, Goddess Fish Promotions was born.
Because both Judy and Marianne were authors and editors prior to running Goddess Fish Promotions, they approach the business with a unique point of view, and treat their clients how they would expect to be treated.
The people behind the fish
Judy Thomas — The Goddess
Judy has a college degree in English and she’s worked in retail, education, at her local library as well as an editor for a small press and for the now defunct ShadowKeep Ezine. She’s also a published author so can see things from both sides of the fence. In 2013, she “retired” and now spends her days helping authors make their dream come true—as well as working as much as she can with her local theater group.
Marianne Arkins – Fish
Grammar freak and coffee lover, Marianne wrote her first novel at ten years old, built her first commercial website in 2000, and published for the first time in 2006. She worked as a professional editor for just over a year, and knows what it’s like to write, edit and promote a book on a budget.
One of our interviews during the tour explains our nicknames … keep visiting daily to find out!
Welcome to My 31 Days Of Thrills And Chills 2018! I did this last year and so excited to do it again. I’ll be sharing reviews and lots of extra spooky stuff every day leading up to Halloween. I hope you’ll join me!
I’m sharing all kinds of books, movies, and other spooky stuff for every day in October. Gots to get those scares on for the 31st!
~~~~~
The Curse Of The Zombie Zoo
by Erik Masterson
Genre: Children’s Book / Horror
My Review
I confess, the cover and title got me to grab this without even reading the blurb to see what it was about.
It’s a rather wondering story with a group of kids trying to find some adventure. One thing leads to another and they stumble upon a long abandoned zoo. Imagine their shock when they discover the animals are still there, along with their caretakers, but they are undead. Okay, this had me perking up since the beginning of the book was a bit slow. Things picked up quickly and I became very curious where the author would take the story from here on out.
While tagged as horror, it was more of an adventure and mystery as someone is keeping the zoo’s inhabitants trapped. I liked the characters and the story brought back memories of when I was young and also looking for an adventure. Never stumbled on a zombie zoo though.
Did I enjoy this book? Yes. Though it was a bit slow at the start. Would I read this author again? Yes. I would be willing to try another story.
~~~~~
Synopsis
Abby Pruitt and her brothers, Philip and Sam, discover an abandoned zoo in the woods. A zoo where the dead find no rest and myth and magic mingle with the real world.
The Pruitt children are drawn to the forgotten zoo of Forest Heights that is host to the undead animals and people that died there so long ago. An ancient curse holds them all to this place.
They make friends among the undead at the zoo, and they discover that old grudges and mysteries linger long after death. Disarray and upheaval quickly follow the children to the abandoned zoo and things go horribly wrong before the curse is broken.
From summer vacation to the snow days of Christmas Philip, Sam, and Abby do their best to help their undead friends at the zoo…even if it means letting them go forever.
Welcome to My 31 Days Of Thrills And Chills 2018! I did this last year and so excited to do it again. I’ll be sharing reviews and lots of extra spooky stuff every day leading up to Halloween. I hope you’ll join me!
I’m sharing all kinds of books, movies, and other spooky stuff for every day in October. Gots to get those scares on for the 31st!
~~~~~
The Melting
They Came With The Snow #2
by Christopher Coleman
Genre: Horror / Post Apocalyptic / Sci Fi
My Review
The first book was shorter and super creepy. I had hopes this one would be creepy too. And it was. It was also filled with new characters. Some were meat for the crab thingies. And some were more central to the story. Of those, many didn’t make it. A few hung in there for a while. And some had surprises for me.
I shouldn’t have been that surprised. The weird winter weather and crab like things that used the snow to hide in while they hunted had to come from somewhere. Outerspace? Something escaped from a lab? Something unleashed to remake the world? Or, what? I can’t spoil it for you. Would I say the cause of these things surprised me? Nope. Read too many books and seen too many movies for it to do that. I did like how the author twisted it. Especially on how the creatures behaved and reacted to outside stimulus.
The author gives a good ending. Some of you might not like it as much as I did. I feel he left it open to interpretation and a possible third book, but he did give this an ending.
Did I enjoy this book? Yes. I especially liked the character dynamics, and the scenes with the creatures really made my hair stand up. Would I recommend this book? Sure enough. Especially to those who enjoy an apocalyptic scenario with their horror and monsters.
~~~~~
Synopsis
The snow is melting, and the crabs are growing more violent.
At the base of a blocked-off bridge spanning the South River, Dominic and his friends plan a daunting journey to flee Warren County and the monsters that came when the snow fell.
But the crabs aren’t the only danger they face.
There are other forces at work, forces with a secret as inhuman and terrifying as the crabs themselves.
And these forces are determined to never let the group leave.
The quest is no longer just to survive, it’s to escape.
This is a short one. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty to like.
When an explosion cuts off the residents of a small town and plunges them into an apocalyptic winter, they have no one to call for help and must rely on their own ingenuity. Do they stay where they are? Or do they brave trying to go for help and risk coming up against the strange things that wait in the snow?
I love stories set in wintry landscapes. There’s something about having to battle the elements as well as the horrors prowling in it that makes for an edgy read.
The creepy, crab things that hide in the snow, only detectable by their cold black eyes peering out of the drifts, were this horror lovers delight. Always looking for new, creative monsters to scare the crap out of me. I think they stole the show from the characters, who didn’t really win me over. Good thing, as there’s no guarantees any will survive.
While this didn’t terrify me, it sure got the endorphins pumping. I’ll gladly read more by this author.
~~~~~
Synopsis
When a mysterious blast goes off in a small college town, triggering a blizzard, the few survivors must decide whether to stay or leave and face the monsters who came with the snow.
Rising Tide will sink its fangs into you, keeping you awake into the wee
hours of the night
Could Maura’s life get any worse? …turns out it most certainly can.
Isolated and sheltered by her lonely mother, Maura’s never been able to make
friends. She seems to drive her classmates away—except for the odd
times they pay enough attention to torture her—but she doesn’t
understand why. Maura considers herself to be a freak of nature, with
her unusually pale skin and an aversion to the sun that renders her
violently nauseous. Her belief is only worsened by the fact that
almost everyone around her keeps their distance.
Even her own father deserted her before she was born, leaving Maura alone
with her emotionally distant mother, Caelyn. Even though Maura is
desperate for answers about her unknown parent, Caelyn remains
heartbroken and her daughter can’t bring herself to reopen her
mother’s wounds. Or is there a more sinister reason Caelyn refuses
to utter a word about her long-lost love?
When a cruel prank nearly claims Maura’s life, one of her classmates,
Ron, rushes to her rescue. Darkly handsome & mysteriously
accepting, Ron doesn’t seem to want to stay away, but Maura is
reluctant to get too close, since her mother has announced she’s
moving the two of them to Vancouver…nearly 3,000 miles away from
their hometown of Indiana, Pennsylvania.
If life wasn’t already challenging enough, Maura begins to experience
bizarre, physical changes her mother seems hell bent on ignoring,
compelling Maura to fear for her own life. Vicious nightmares, blood
cravings, failing health and the heart-shattering loss of Ron—as
well as the discovery of a tangled web of her own mother’s
lies—become obstacles in Maura’s desperate quest for the
unfathomable truth she was never prepared to uncover.
2015 Readers’ Favorite Gold Medal Winner for YA Mystery
2015 RONE Award Finalist for YA Paranormal
2015 New Apple Top Medalist for Young Adult Ebook
Chosen as one of 400 for the second round of the Amazon Breakthrough Novel
Award for 2014!!!
.
Praise for Rising Tide:
“This captivating and commendable work had me immersed from the beginning.
The story flows from scene to scene with ease, and the author shows
exceptional skill when it comes to storytelling.”
“Mrs. Melanson’s writing is so descriptive and talented. Throughout the
entire story, I felt like I was watching a movie.”
“Melanson grabs you from page 1 and doesn’t let you go until the very bitter
end, only bitter because the book is finished.”
“I found pure delight in this book and will recommend it to other
readers.”
“The writing by Claudette Melanson in this novel is top notch and I can
see the movie rights for this being grabbed in no time.”
˃˃˃ Sure to become one of the Books to Read of the year, Rising
Tide: Dark Innocence isn’t the usual YA tale of vampires.
Full of Mystery and Suspense, this Vampire Mystery Thriller packs
just enough Romance & Humor, while delivering plenty of Dark
Fantasy served with a side of the Supernatural. Maura, in the midst
of her vampire awakenings is unarguably a vampire in denial. It is a
novel that is certain to become one of the classic paranormal and
fantasy books of its time–the series is not only for Teen &
Young Adult readers, but has been well-received by many adult
readers, as well. Maura doesn’t live in Castle Dracula in
Transylvania, but she must still discover the bloodlines constructing
the creature she is destined to become, while overcoming social
issues, such as bullying, that rock her world while coming of age.
She is an strong Urban Scienece Fiction & Fantasy female
protagonist readers love.
Maura finally found the truth she was always seeking…or has she?
After being left in the dark for all of her life, Maura’s father,
Maxwell, has finally returned to reveal sinister family secrets Maura
could never have dreamed possible—including his revelation that she
is one of The Born. But his daughter soon discovers both he and her
mother are keeping pieces of her reality hidden, still. As Maura
struggles to unravel the mysteries surrounding her new existence and
discover every piece of the cryptic puzzle, life appears intent on
casting stumbling blocks across her path with every step forward.
Tragedy seems to stalk Maura, and those around her, as she stumbles along,
altering the young changeling’s family, just when they have all
come back together. The changes left in its wake could be for the
better, or may threaten their existence, entirely.
With the arrival of Christmas comes the opportunity for Maura to draw
close to everyone she loves—and finally reunite with Ron, the man
she loves. But permanence has always eluded her, and in her current
state of flux this pattern endures, as fate seems intent on snapping
the threads that bind her to those she holds most dear. Maxwell’s
good intentions pave a road for Maura, littered with misery, while
her mother, Caelyn’s, desire to shield her family from pain may
tear her away from them, altogether. The perfect happiness in the
young vampire’s grasp is so easily swept away and dragged under,
out of reach. Can Maura erupt from the darkness and confusion to
break the surface and find the life she’s always dreamed of?
In the midst of chaos, assistance materializes in the form of another of
her kind—ephemerally beautiful, yet explosively volatile, this new
vampire may prove capable of unlocking the puzzle-box Maxwell seems
intent on securing from her sight. Maura will discover the darkest
parts of herself in her quest to understand the being she is destined
to become. Her newfound friend has some shady intentions of his
own—such as thwarting the love that has grown between Maura and
Ron. Following in the wake of the impulsive vampire’s misguided
instruction may further pull a naive Maura down into the depths of
ultimate despair, heartbreak…and even destruction.
2015 Readers’ Favorite Honorable Mention for YA Horror
2016 New Apple Summer eBook Solo Medalist for YA Horror
Praise for Undertow:
“This series offers so much: the heartwarming family moments, the comedic
back and forth banter between characters, life lessons tragically
instilled.”
“I actually cried during a few parts of the story.”
“The story is well written and gripping until the very end.”
“If it’s written by Claudette Melanson, you’re guaranteed to have an
amazing piece of literature that anyone can enjoy.”
Maura has never felt so alone in her life…nor has her existence ever been
so overshadowed by peril…
Not only do both her parents—her distant but loving mother and
recently- returned father—remain absent from her life, but due to
the hideous error in judgement executed in collusion with her best
friend, Valdamir, and adoptive sister, Susie, Maura has been cut off
from the pair’s friendship and support, forbidden by both her
father and the fallout from the dire outcome to see either of them.
The heartbreak she suffers, brought on by the weight of these
estrangements, is only intensified by the continued mysterious
absence of her supernaturally-destined mate, Ron…whose
disappearance delivers grave consequences Maura would have never
dreamed possible…
Despised by her vampire cousin, Aldiva, for reasons Maura cannot yet
comprehend, the young changeling will be forced to guard her back
with every step, as she comes to realize this member of her vampire
family would love nothing more than to bring about her demise.
Aldiva’s wrath calls forth other members from both Vancouver
covens, forcing them to rush to Maura’s aid—even though her
father, their king, has expressly forbidden the other vampires to
initiate contact with his daughter. Will her extended family on
Vancouver Island obey, abandoning Maura to her doom, or will they
instead rebel against Maxwell’s wishes in order to save her life?
In addition to the menace personified in her unsolicited enemy, the
unlikely vampire princess will find herself drowning as she is pulled
down into the depths of a far more devastating crisis…one which may
condemn her to a fate she considers much more undesirable than death.
But in order to tear herself free from the deadly pull which is
drawing her under, Maura must enlist the help of her preternatural
family, exposing her newfound friends to a danger none of them have
ever had the misfortune to face before. Can she be saved or will the
riptide drag Maura under…along with those she loves the most…
2017 New Apple Solo Medalist for Summer eBook – Young Adult General Fiction
.
,
.
Praise for Riptide:
“I will scream it from the rooftops how much I love this series.”
“I can only say that Riptide is one of the best modern vampire stories I
have ever read, and I read them all from Stephen King to Ann Rice to
Stephenie Meyer.”
“Riptide was action packed and the fight scenes were well written but more
than that it was the story of family and love, of taking
responsibility, and dealing with hate when all sane avenues fail.”
“The lore is superb, as is the writing. I can’t wait to catch up with
Maura again!”
Claudette Melanson writes dark fantasy, horror and children’s books in
Kitchener, Ontario with seven bun babies at her side: Tegan, Pepper,
Butters, Beckett, Sansa, Daenerys & Caramel. She graduated from
Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a BA in English, BS in
English Education and an MA in Literature. Harboring a deep
admiration of vampires since the age of five left her with the desire
to eventually become one, and now fuels the creation of her favorite
paranormal characters. She hopes to one day work full time as an
author, since there are many, many stories playing out inside her head.
In her very scant spare time, she enjoys watching Japanese Anime and
reading vampire stories…along with other genres of great fiction,
as well as riding every roller coaster she encounters in both her
hometown and away at signings. An advocate for good health and
ketogenic eating, her favorite foods are bulletproof coffee,
cashew-flour crust pizza and treats made with xylitol and almond,
coconut or cashew flours.
Future dreams include a cabin boasting a roaring fire, isolated inside a
snow-filled wood in the Yukon—the perfect writing spot—and the
completion of dozens of future novels and stories. A Rabbit Rescue
fanatic and loving bunmom, she also hopes to help rescues all over
the world save many innocent lives.
Welcome to My 31 Days Of Thrills And Chills 2018! I did this last year and so excited to do it again. I’ll be sharing reviews and lots of extra spooky stuff every day leading up to Halloween. I hope you’ll join me!
I’m sharing all kinds of books, movies, and other spooky stuff for every day in October. Gots to get those scares on for the 31st!
~~~~~
Gretel
Gretel #1
by Christopher Coleman
Genre: Horror / Retelling
My Review
I enjoyed Christopher Coleman’s They Came With The Snow horror series and when I discovered he’d written a modern retelling of Hansel and Gretel, I was intrigued.
It started out creepy enough and the author created some eerie atmosphere while also changing up the original story quite a bit. I was expecting some brutal scenes. The original tale was quite dark. I certainly got those. However, I did feel this book could have been shorter or the author could have done more to liven it up. The pacing in the middle slowed down quite a bit. I was intrigued enough to continue and got a good ending.
Did I enjoy this book? Yes. It had me rethinking driving at night in isolated areas, for sure.Would I read this author again? I already have the second book and I’m told the series gets better.
~~~~~
Synopsis
There is an ancient evil in the Back Country, dormant for centuries but now hungry and lurking. When it sets its sights on an unsuspecting mother one routine morning along an isolated stretch of highway, a quiet farming family is suddenly thrust into a world of unspeakable terror, and a young girl must learn to be a hero.
In the epic tradition of
Stephen King, Dean Koontz, and Jonathan Maberry, a chilling new
masterwork of small-town evil, centuries-old traditions, and
newly-risen terror…
Red Harvest
Every year at harvest
time, something strange and wonderful happens in the sleepy farm
community of Ember Hollow. It comes alive. Truckloads
of pumpkins are sent off to be carved into lanterns. Children
scramble to create the creepiest, scariest costumes. Parents stock up
on candy and prepare for the town’s celebrated Pumpkin Parade. And
then there is Devil’s Night . . .
But this year, something
is different. Some of the citizens are experiencing dark, disturbing
visions. Others are beginning to wonder if they’re losing their
minds, or maybe their souls. One newly sober singer with the voice of
a fallen angel is tempted to make a deal that will seal his fate. And
one very odd boy is kept locked in a shed by his family—for reasons
too horrible to imagine . . .
Whatever is happening to
this town, they’re going to make it through this Halloween.
“Trick or treat! Rotten meat! That is what we want to eat!” One of the troupe of tweens was out of harmony.
“Hm.” Lola, costumed in a short leather nun’s habit, smiled and saluted the kids with her wine glass.
She was decidedly not mortified by this variation of the traditional rhyme, and only mildly amused, more interested in the TV party a few rooms away. “Well, no rotten meat I’m afraid, but I think I still have a few…”
She twisted almost sideways and presented a near-empty candy bowl from just inside, dumping the last of the treats into the bags and buckets. “Here you go, kiddies!”
Lola ignored the disappointed expressions the kids cast at her and at one another, her bleary gaze drawn to the figure standing across the street, just outside a vague circle of street light.
The figure, wearing an odd costume of rainbow fright wig, Lone Ranger–style eye mask, and an oversized brown raincoat, wasn’t moving, except for his shoulders, which rose and fell as if from suppressed laughter. He hunched over and covered his mouth with both hands, like a toddler who had just stolen a cookie. Did he think she couldn’t see him? How silly.
“Is this all you got, lady?” asked the kid in the…whichever superhero wore black tights with green trim. She had stopped trying to keep up.
“Um, well…” She looked inside again. “No more candy,” she said. “But how about this for your chaperone?”
From the four canisters of silly string beside the candy bowl—in the event of a prank war—she held one over the heads of the children, to offer it to the man on the street. But he was gone.
“Where’s your grown-up?” she asked.
The kids turned to see what she meant. “What grown-up? We’re old enough to be without,” explained a rubber-worm-infested zombie, quite indignantly.
Her wine glass was empty. She didn’t care about the funny skulker anymore.
“Okeydoke, then,” she said. “Have at it!” She tossed the silly string at the group, then half waved, half shooed, until they shuffled away. Before closing the door, she decided to blow out the jack-o’-lantern.
Lola re-wined her glass and started back to the den to rejoin her friends in giving old horror movies the MST3K treatment. She was stopped by the doorbell.
She stepped to the door, unsteady on her spike heels. “Sorry! All out! Happy Halloween!”
She moved to walk away but stopped upon hearing a giggle—silly yet eerie—just outside the door. “Hey!” she shouted. “You better not be TPing our lawn out there!”
The doorbell rang again.
“Okay!” Lola grabbed a can of silly string. “I warned you!”
She yanked open the door and poised the canister, finding only blowing leaves, on and all around the front stoop.
She listened for the sound of giggling or leaves crunching under running feet, bracing for a good hearty “Boo!” as well.
“Ding dong ditch,” she muttered. “Not even a flaming bag of doggy doo. Kids these days…”
She closed the door—and felt the icy tingle of intuition. Something was very, very wrong.
She turned fast.
It was the man from across the street, now less than two feet away.
He had entered through the rear kitchen door.
The fright wig he was wearing, vaguely haloed by the hallway, did its job. From there down, it only got worse.
His Lone Ranger–style mask framed eyes filled with something like joy—but more like hopeless insanity. His face was white, as if bleached.
Then there was the blood.
Streams of it ran down gaunt cheeks to cracked smiling lips from the staples that held the mask on.
The figure raised a meat cleaver with a blade the size of a notebook.
Lola’s heart skipped a beat, until she saw that the weapon was mere plastic—a toy. Lola smiled, issuing a relieved, “Whew!”
“So funny, Greg.” She leaned forward to look more closely at him. “Where’s the ol’ ball and chain?”
As she reached for his mask, the figure stepped back from her grasp. He lowered the cleaver and slid the toy plastic blade—merely an improvised sheath—off of a very shiny, very real butcher knife blade.
The oversized trick-or-treater displayed the implement.
“Oh, my God, Greg.” Lola rolled her eyes and raised both middle fingers.
The trickster slashed the knife in a sideways arc, severing the fingers.
She was too breathless to scream, trying to reconcile the sight of her shortened digits and angry that Greg had taken his little joke this far.
Not-Greg squatted to gather the fingers and drop them into his treat bag.
Trying to back away from her own ruined hand, Lola fell like a toddler onto her rump, sucking breath for a scream she would never have time to release.
.
~~~~~
Patrick C. Greene is
a lifelong horror fan who lives in the mountains of western North
Carolina. He is the author of the novels Progeny and The
Crimson Calling, as well as numerous short stories featured in
collections and anthologies.
It’s been one of those same old, same old weeks. Nothing much new happening. Probably a good thing as I’m writing reviews like crazy for my 31 Days Of Thrills And Chills feature in October.
The weather is still hot with a few rainy days to cool it down a bit. Still enjoying the pool. Remember my giant spider? He’s moved back up in the trees. A sure sign fall isn’t far away. And the leaves are falling from the pecan trees. I can sweep the deck, come back out in a couple of hours, and it looks like I never swept. Sure wish I had a leaf blower. LOL
Have a fabulous Sunday and brand new week!
~~~~~
My new books this week.
And this box of sweet pups arrived in the mail.
I’ll be reviewing all of them for Cozy November.
~~~~~
And here are some FREEBIES for ya.
Click on the covers to get your copies. Remember to make sure they’re still free before you hit that buy button.
~~~~~
Click on the covers to check out this weeks reviews.
![One For Sorrow (Isabel Fielding Series Book 1) by [Denzil, Sarah A.]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51zMGZAWoVL._SY346_.jpg)
![Past Life Strife (Rise of the Discordant Book 1) by [McMullen, Christina]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51cDgB-jlHL.jpg)
![Death by Chocolate by [Berneathy, Sally]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/5129eECRtZL._SY346_.jpg)
![Petticoat Ranch (Lassoed in Texas Book 1) by [Connealy, Mary]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/517w6L3pbZL.jpg)
![Chasing Charlie: A Romantic Comedy (The Texas Two-Step Series Book 2) by [Carmichael, Kathy]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61UtGC5ANML._SY346_.jpg)
![One Way or Another: A Friends to Lovers Contemporary Romance (The Sisters Quartet Book 1) by [Williams, Mary J.]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51geBSCKQzL.jpg)
