All posts by Jo-Anna W

Extreme Horror, Horror, Novella

#Review – The Bug Collector by Wrath James White

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Joey has a very unique paraphilia that has ruined his health, destroyed his once handsome looks, and made him an outcast, a pariah. Now, this horrifying fetish threatens his very life, placing him in the hands of a profoundly disturbed and angry woman with a serious grudge.

From the twisted imagination of Wrath James White comes a tale of extreme horror, extreme violence, and revenge taken well beyond the extreme.

I’m not sure what it says about me exactly but I really liked this book. Even though for most of it, I read with my eyes wide.

We meet Joey who likes to collect things. Diseases in fact. But not just any diseases. Sexually transmitted ones.

As we get further into the book, you kind of feel sorry for him. We also meet Tina who has her own agenda when it comes to our beloved Joey.

I don’t want to give too much away but this book is gross, disgusting, super detailed and beyond vile but I liked it a lot.

Also, like my husband always says, Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.

One-click – https://amzn.to/43fRWSk

Horror, Kindle Unlimited, Novella, Uncategorized

#Review – MIRROR: A short horror story of how desire can become deadly… by Pawan Singh

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Mia always blended into the background… until a mysterious potion transforms her into someone irresistible. Suddenly, Ryan notices her. So does the rest of the campus. She has beauty, charm, and power. Everything she ever wanted.

But the potion comes with a horrifying secret: every week, she needs it… and she must take a soul to feed the creator of the potion.

Desire turns into obsession, charm into danger.

Mia is unstoppable. And the darkness will not release her.

I really liked this book. It was my first time reading this author and she did not disappoint. It also had me wondering what I would do in this situation. I was like Mia back when I was in high school. Unpopular, craving attention, insecure and so on.

Mia is lonely, craves attention but is completely invisible to everyone around her. Even to her parents.

She comes across a site that offers her a potion that would change her life completely. She thinks it’s a scam but tries it out anyway. But the potion works. It works way more than she ever thought it would. The power it has over her is unyielding and it will stop at nothing to get what it wants. That includes Mia herself.

There was just something about this little story that captured me right away. Maybe it’s because I can put myself in Mia’s shoes. The writing pulled me in, the story was engaging and if you’re new to horror but not sure what to read, give this one a try. It’s not scary but it definitely makes you think, what would I do?

Can be read in KU – https://amzn.to/43OJklN

Extreme Horror, Horror, Kindle Unlimited, Novella

#Review – Puppet (The Dollhouse Book 2) by R.J. Powell

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Miss Teacher hates children, but loves them all the same. Especially boys. Especially Charlie.
Until Puppet is ready to play.

***
Other works by the Author include Madness in Tandem, Thrice the Madness, Dollface, Puppet, Eight Cases of Jane, Vasectomy, and her newest palate cleanser, Feeler Deep.

These books are so much fun. They’re gross, nasty and absolutely vile and disgusting but dolls come to life and take out predators.

Miss Teacher is a pedophile and one kid, Charlie, has a doll that comes to life. They take out their revenge on Miss Teacher together in an absolutely gruesome way. The things they do had me wincing.

If you like quick reads that leaves nothing to the imagination, this may just be for you.

Can be read in KU – https://amzn.to/4nx4HPv

Bully, Dark Romance, Fantasy, Fantasy Romance, Kindle Unlimited, Part of a Series

#Review – Vicious Fae (Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac Book 3) by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti

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The King will fall.

While I continue my hunt for the Fae who killed my brother, I have to try to keep my heart away from the vicious boys who could be responsible for his death.

But as my investigation leads me down a dangerous road and answers seem closer than ever before, I’m whisked away to the elite school, Zodiac Academy, with the four Kings, and my heart becomes more vulnerable than ever.

There are so many secrets left to uncover, and I sense something terrible is about to come to light.

But I’m in so deep to this dangerous labyrinth, what if this road only ends in blood?

The series continues with Elise trying to find her brother’s killer. Lots of excitement, drama and tension between her and her guys.

BUT we finally get a scene between Ryder, Dante and Elise and holy crap on a cracker. It was what I had been waiting for. I loved every bit of it.

I am sad how the book ended and I hope things change. There’s still two more books, so who knows what’s going to happen. I can’t really say without giving some major spoilers but wow, what a ride.

Can be read in Kindle Unlimited – https://amzn.to/4lU3HVN

Horror, Kindle Unlimited, Standalone

#Review – The 31st Trick-or-Treater by Ben Farthing

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Thirty-one nights. Thirty-one chapters. One final nightmare.

Last Halloween, thirty trick-or-treaters vanished into the night.

This October, they’re coming back—one by one, each day of the month. But every child carries the same chilling warning: something is returning on the 31st.

Bob has never stopped searching for his daughter. Now, as the shadows of Halloween grow longer, he must face the darkness that stole her—before it takes everything again.

The 31st Trick-or-Treater is a Halloween advent novel: thirty-one nights, thirty-one chapters, and one final nightmare waiting on Halloween.

This book was a lot of fun! This is my second time reading an advent calendar type book and I really enjoy them. Sometimes we can only get a chapter read a day, so these books are perfect for that.

31 kids go missing last year and no one knows why or how.

Bob does his own investigations, especially since one of his daughters are one of the missing kids.

When the missing kids start returning thinking only a few hours passed and not a whole year, things start taking a turn for the worse.

With the help of Bob’s wife and their son, Sam, they figure out what happened and who took the kids. But they end up getting the wrong information, so before it’s too late, they have to make quick decisions.

But who knows if they can make these decisions before the 31st Trick-or-Treater makes an appearance.

Read in KU – https://amzn.to/3JBeh66

Anthology, Horror

#Review – Scary Stories You Can’t Un-Read by BJ Rawls

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A bone-chilling collection of nightmarish tales that will haunt your dreams.

“Brutal, unforgiving, and masterfully crafted, these stories strip away all hope and leave only terror.” — Writing Axis

Enter the world of SCARY STORIES YOU CAN’T UN-READ, where salvation is a distant memory and every page delivers a fresh nightmare. From scientific horrors beyond comprehension to ancient terrors wearing familiar faces, this anthology plunges into humanity’s darkest fears with surgical precision and relentless brutality.

This collection features six unforgettable tales of terror, madness, and cosmic dread, including:

THE LABORATORY A medical assistant’s routine shift becomes a descent into biological hell when he witnesses something that should never have been born.

CATS The beloved pets humanity has cherished for millennia reveal their true nature in a global nightmare that redefines the meaning of predator and prey.

THE TOILET A simple plumbing problem unleashes something ancient and hungry from the depths beneath the city.

THE LAST TRANSMISSION Mars holds secrets that mankind was never meant to discover, and one survivor learns that some knowledge comes with a price too horrible to pay.

THE NECRONOMICON PROTOCOL An archaeological discovery triggers a chain of events that threatens not just humanity, but the very fabric of reality itself.

THE RIGHT MATE Loneliness drives a woman to try online dating, where she discovers that some matches are literally out of this world—and hungry for more than love.

Perfect for fans of Lovecraftian horror, body horror, alien terror, The Thing, Event Horizon, Dead Space, and Clive Barker, this book is a merciless exploration of humanity’s insignificance in a universe that doesn’t care if we survive. Each story is a masterclass in mounting dread, featuring detailed scientific horror, impossible creatures, and protagonists who discover too late that some doors should never be opened.

Warning: This collection contains graphic content, disturbing imagery, and themes that may not be suitable for all readers. Proceed with caution—these nightmares are designed to linger.

Read it if you dare. Sleep peacefully if you can.

I kept seeing this book on TikTok and I caved and finally read it. Man oh man am I glad I did. I stayed up way later than I intended and read this in one sitting. It was a lot of fun but I have to say, I am very glad my husband was home. Horror books just hit differently and this one left me feeling a little uneasy.

Each story in this book is very different than the one before it. There are a few short ones and a couple longer novella sized stories.

I have to say that the one about cats, is my favourite. It definitely made me look at my own cats and go “Don’t you even think about it.”

I looked to see if this author had more books but it doesn’t look like they have a lot published, so hopefully they get more out there because I would love to read more.

I enjoyed the writing and it pulled me into each story.

I definitely suggest reading this one if you like anything horror related!

Good luck sleeping.

One-Click – https://amzn.to/472ZE3f

Horror, Kindle Unlimited, short story

#Review #ShortStory – Hell Hath No Fury : Short Horror Stories For Adults: Vengeful Spirits Unleashed: A Haunting Tale of Secrets, Survival, and Ghostly Revenge in a Victorian Home by J.K. Russell

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Dive into “Hell Hath No Fury,” a chilling ghost story set in a decrepit Victorian house that promises a fresh start for a father and his daughter but quickly turns into a nightmare. As they settle into their new home, eerie occurrences and violent hauntings escalate, revealing the vengeful spirit of a woman wronged. Bound by blood and desperation, they must uncover the dark secrets of the house and confront the spectral fury. Will they find peace or will the ghost’s wrath consume them? Unearth the mysteries within these pages and experience a spine-tingling journey you won’t forget.

Dare to turn the page—your next favorite ghost story awaits!

This is another short story by J.K. Russell and while it was similar to the first in this collection of stories, it was able to hold it’s own as well.

Mia and her dad move into a old house in a new city and after a few nights of peace, things start going sideways.

This little story is about a parent who refuses to stop at nothing to save their daughter. Even if a vengeful spirit is involved.

Can be read in KU – https://amzn.to/46OLH8V

Horror, Kindle Unlimited, short story

#Review #ShortStory – Damn Your Eyes : Short Horror Stories For Adults: Victorian Haunting: A Lawyer’s Battle with a Vengeful Ghost and His Own Darkness by J.K. Russell

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Chilling Descent into Madness and Hauntings in “Damn Your Eyes”

When a young lawyer moves into a picturesque but aging Victorian house, he is drawn into a terrifying world of the supernatural. What begins as slight disturbances escalates into full-blown hauntings as the house’s sinister past comes to light. Haunted by Jeremiah Holt, a vengeful spirit from the late 1800s, the lawyer finds himself fighting not just for his sanity, but for his life. This gripping tale of psychological horror and spectral threats will keep you on the edge of your seat as the boundaries between the past and present blur. Can he make peace with the ghost, or will he be consumed by the fires of vengeance?

Discover if he survives the haunting in “Damn Your Eyes”. A must-read for fans of chilling, ghostly horror!

This was a fun little read! It’s a single short story about someone who lives in a haunted house. He tries getting rid of the vengeful spirit only to make things worse. The spirit becomes even angrier and violent, so the home owner does the only thing he thinks will work. But of course, things don’t happen the way he hoped.

I’m trying to get my Goodreads books up for the yearly challenge, so if you’re doing the same, definitely grab this one. It’s short and fun!

Can be read in KU – https://amzn.to/3KpGtZQ

Kindle Unlimited, Psychological Thriller, Standalone, Thriller

#Review – Breakneck Bay by Faith Gardner

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A dangerous waterpark. A missing girl. A wife trapped in a nightmare.

At Breakneck Bay, the rides are fast, the injuries frequent, and the lawsuits endless. But when a teenage employee vanishes after closing, leaving behind a blood-soaked crime scene, it’s clear this summer will be the deadliest yet.

Suspicion falls on park manager Mitch Blue, forcing his newlywed wife Kit to confront the cracks in their marriage—and the unsettling secrets he’s been keeping.

But Kit and the police aren’t the only ones looking for answers. Someone is watching from the shadows, waiting to finish what they started years ago. As Kit uncovers chilling ties between Mitch and the waterpark’s dark past, she’s left questioning everything she thought she knew—including whether she’s sleeping beside a killer.

Because at Breakneck Bay, the only thing deadlier than the rides is the truth.

So I had absolutely no idea what was going on through the majority of this book. I tried predicting and while I thought who was the killer did end up being the killer, I kept second guessing myself. I watch too many horror movies because I thought something really bad was going to happen when all was said and done. If you watch horror movies, you know that most of them don’t end on a happy note.

This book is written in Katherine “Kit’s” point of view for most of it, while some chapters are written in Hawk’s point of view. He’s the bad guy but Hawk is just a nickname he gave himself, so we really have no idea who he is until the end of the book.

Life is going well for Kit. She has a loving husband, a relatively decent job, not as many friends as she wants but life is satisfactory.

Someone goes missing, some odd things start happening at the park they work at and Kit is left questioning things between her and her husband Mitch and the park’s history. Although, I don’t think Kit was ready for the truth when she discovered it.

I liked this book and it was a fun read. All of the characters held their own and Kit’s feelings and emotions definitely made me wonder how I would react in her situation.

Can be read in KU – https://amzn.to/3UN8TPo