Category Archives: Horror

Horror, Novella, Promo

#Promo #Horror – In Bloom by Paul Tremblay

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There’s something in the water in this hallucinatory short story by Paul Tremblay, bestselling author of The Cabin at the End of the World and The Beast You Are.

Journalist Heidi Cohen is in Cape Cod investigating the sources of recurring toxic algae blooms along the coast. A local named Jimmy has his own theory for her. Every year the fetid growth gets worse—but it’s been going on longer than anyone knows. Decades ago, something happened to Jimmy that he’s never forgotten. Is Heidi ready for the real story?

Paul Tremblay’s In Bloom is part of Creature Feature, a collection of devilishly creepy stories that tingle the spine and twist the mind. They can be read or listened to in one petrifying sitting.

Available in Kindle Unlimited – https://amzn.to/48lGBQo

Horror, Standalone

#Review #Horror – It Waits In The Woods by Josh Malerman

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Some chilling campfire tales ring too true to ignore. For one young woman, an urban legend calls her into the woods in a spine-tingling short story by the bestselling author of Bird Box.

The dense Michigan forest. Haunting wails. The clip-clop of demon hooves on a bridge to nowhere. It’s more than a tall tale to Brenda Jennings, whose sister disappeared in those woods one fateful night. Three years later, on a solo stakeout in the dark, Brenda goes in after her. She’s desperate for answers, and terrified to find what lies waiting on the other side of that bridge.

Josh Malerman’s It Waits in the Woods is part of Creature Feature, a collection of devilishly creepy stories that tingle the spine and twist the mind. They can be read or listened to in one petrifying sitting.

This one was my favourite so far of the Creature Feature Collection. 

Opso is the thing in the woods but like most legends, you get people who believe it’s real and those who don’t.

Brenda’s sister Amanda went missing years before and Brenda is determined to figure out what happened to her. She doesn’t tell anyone and goes off on her own to try and find her sister but what she finds, goes far beyond her worst nightmare.

While this story is short, it packs a spine tingling punch.

I always enjoy stories with a creature, monster, something that isn’t “normal” and this one is no different. 

Available in Kindle Unlimited – https://amzn.to/4bMhJnR

Extreme Horror, Horror, Novella

#Review #ExtremeHorror #Novella – My Vagina Smells Like Sulfur by Sea Caummisar

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My Vagina Smells Like Sulfur:
Description… The dark web has convinced people that the secret to a happy afterlife isn’t how you lived and whether you lived by the holy word. The secret to the afterlife is how you die. The more creative the death, (preferably suicide) the better your life is in the afterlife. All you have to do is record your death…. One Divinity Counselor claims that they can prove how great life is after death, complete with video of the dead person living their best life after death.

I had no idea what to expect when I started this book. I try not to read blurbs, so I did my best to go into this one blind.

We meet Madam Midnight who begins the book by torturing a woman. The things she does to this poor victim definitely left me wincing.

We end up meeting several other characters along the way and we find out that Madam works for a production company of sorts for the dark web. They do gruesome things themselves or have viewers send in home videos themselves.

The point of what Madam and her counterparts do, is to let viewers know the secret to the afterlife. It’s all in how you die.

This little book is jam packed with gruesome scenes, descriptive torture and more.

If you’re a fan of extreme horror, check this one out!

Available in Kindle Unlimited – https://amzn.to/3vIXoiD

Horror, Kindle Unlimited, Novella

#Review #Horror #Novella – Ankle Snatcher by Grady Hendrix

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Obey the rules. It’s the only way to survive the night in a short story about what hides in the dark by the New York Times bestselling author of The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires.

Marcus grew up believing his father killed his mother—then blamed it on the boogeyman under the bed. Always leave the lights on, his father warned, or the boogeyman will get you. Marcus still heeds the superstition, especially when he invites his new girlfriend over. Is Marcus haunted by a creature or has he just inherited his father’s murderous delusions? The night will tell.

Grady Hendrix’s Ankle Snatcher is part of Creature Feature, a collection of devilishly creepy stories that tingle the spine and twist the mind. They can be read or listened to in one petrifying sitting.

We meet Marcus who is on a date with Tess. When he starts sharing a little bit about his past with her, I found this part creepy. His dad apparently killed his mom and blamed it on the “Ankle Snatcher”. So now when I get out of bed, I’m going to be thinking of this. Thanx, Grady.

This was a fun quick little read and as someone who’s scared of the monster under the bed, this one was definitely creepy for me.

Marcus struggles with the idea that the Ankle Snatcher is all made up in his head or or if it could be an actual thing. He finds out that he’s not alone in believing that the Ankle Snatcher or other forms of boogeymen exist but he still questions those beliefs.

This story is my favourite so far of the Creature Feature series.

Available in Kindle Unlimited – https://amzn.to/41KB9ol

Extreme Horror, Horror, Kindle Unlimited

#Review #Horror – Cows by Matthew Stokoe

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One of the most outrageous, original and insightful books ever written on the subject of alienation and societal decay, Cows is a violent, blood soaked nightmare – a scatological tale of love, self-empowerment and probably the most extreme novel you’ll ever read. Hailed around the world as a cult classic, Matthew Stokoe’s novel set the bar for gritty urban horror.

Mother’s corpse in pieces, dead dog on the roof, girlfriend in a coma, baby nailed to the wall, and a hundred tons of homicidal beef stampeding through the subway system. And Steven thought the slaughterhouse was bad . . .

“If you enjoy the sensation of your jaw dropping to the floor in a combination of stupefaction, hilarity, and shock, Cows is your book. Matthew Stokoe has written a novel like no other I’ve ever read–appalling, funny, and possessed of a sense of outre violence that makes Joris-Karl Huysmans read like Louisa May Alcott.”
–Scott Phillips, author of The Ice Harvest

“Underground literary shock-rocker Stokoe (Empty Mile, 2010, etc.) slaps his readers in the face with this bloody, truly disgusting diatribe against normalcy. On the bright side, there’s absolutely no pretense about what the book is aiming for…”
–Kirkus Review

I have no idea how I’m going to review this book. I don’t even know how to rate it. This will be a book that I’ll think about for a long time. So for that alone, I’ll rate it 5 stars.

Warning: This book is NOT for the faint of heart and if you have a weak stomach, I suggest not reading this.

So I’m new to the horror genre and this year, I’ve found myself reading extreme horror. As a horror movie fan, I figured I’d give horror books a shot and I haven’t been disappointed yet.

Cows by Matthew Stokoe has left my head reeling. I really have no words to describe what I just read but here goes nothing.

This book is highly graphic. Definitely the most graphic book I’ve ever read. So for that alone, I’m giving it a high rating. This was like a train wreck that you can’t look away from. I had to know how it was going to end, so I forced myself to get through the graphic and nauseating scenes.

The writing was so descriptive, I could see the scenes play out in my mind. Lots of reviewers said that the writing was awful, maybe it’s because I’m new to this genre, but I thought the writing was some of the best I’ve ever read. But art is subjective, that’s what makes it exciting.

I am left feeling a little confused but at the same time, I don’t mind that so much. I think maybe the author wrote it that way, so we could all come up with our own theories regarding Stephen and his…um…issues.

After reading this book, a part of me never wants to eat beef ever again.

Available in Kindle Unlimited – https://amzn.to/3RUq4wp

Horror, Novella, short story

#Review #Horror #Novella – The Pram (Creature Feature Collection) by Joe Hill

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A husband’s obsessive desire for a child leads to an unexpected manifestation of his yearning in a nightmarish short story about fatherhood dreams by New York Times bestselling author Joe Hill.

Willy and Marianne’s farmhouse in Maine has acres of meadow and fresh air, and a lonesome bridle path in the forest along which Willy daydreams and ambles. When he’s loaned a decrepit old baby stroller to cart his groceries home, the rickety squeak of the wheels comforts him. So do the sweet coos of a baby Willy knows can’t be real. Can it? In this twisted thicket, wishes come true—with a price.

Joe Hill’s The Pram is part of Creature Feature, a collection of devilishly creepy stories that tingle the spine and twist the mind. They can be read or listened to in one petrifying sitting.

I will be honest and say that I was left feeling a little confused by this story, so I’m not too sure how to review but here goes nothing.

I’m giving this book 5 stars based on the fact that I enjoyed the writing and the description of the scenes helped me immerse myself into the story. So kudos to the author for that!

I also enjoyed that this was a different spin on fertility issues. Usually you see it from the woman’s perspective bit this was from the man’s and I liked that. It definitely made me curious if a lot of men felt the same way. 

I knew instantly that of course there would be an issue with the pram. Willy is given it to cart groceries home and ends up bonding with said pram and the happenings surrounding it.

This novella wasn’t as creepy as I hoped. Maybe I should have read it late at night with the lights off. Or I’m desensitized. But I enjoyed it none the less. This review is a little wishy washy, so check the book out for yourself. You may just enjoy it!

Available in Kindle Unlimited – https://amzn.to/48Wd0hd

Extreme Horror, Horror, Novella

#Review #Horror #Novella – Woom by Duncan Ralston

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“Trust me when I say, this is messed up.” – MATT SHAW, author of Sick B*stards.

“I believe pain lingers,” Angel said. “Do I believe in spirits? In the supernatural? Probably not.”

The Lonely Motel holds many dark secrets… and Room 6 just might possess the worst of them all.

Angel knows all about pain. His mother died in this room. He’s researched its history. Today he’s come back to end it, no matter the cost, once and for all.

Shyla, a plus-sized escort, thinks the stories Angel tells her can’t be true. Secrets so vile, you won’t want to let them inside you.

But the Lonely Motel doesn’t forget. It doesn’t forgive. And it always claims its victim.

“This book is a wet dream of abnormal sexual psychology.” – Mort Stone, My Indie Muse

WARNING: Don’t buy this book if you have a weak stomach, if you’re easily disturbed, or if you’re looking for a light horror read. THIS IS NOT THAT BOOK. Seriously. You’ve been warned.

(For signed copies, please visit my website.)

We meet Angel and who hires Shyla, a prostitute, to come to the motel he’s staying at. The motel is called “The Lonely Motel”, so I wouldn’t even go to that if I was Shyla but what do I know. Add to the fact that when she enters the room, she’s instantly grossed out by the look and smell and even the feeling. That’s a red flag right there. Angel begins by asking her some weird questions and then he starts telling her a story about Johnny and Jenny. That’s when this little story gets really…um…strange, messed up, gross and just…icky.

This book is extreme horror and definitely not for the faint of heart. It continues with Angel telling Shyla more stories, each one horrible in their own sick and depraved ways.

By the time I got to the last chapter, I couldn’t read fast enough. I read it with wide eyes and anxiety. Let’s just say, it made parts of me hurt.

I also feel kind of wrong for saying this but I really enjoyed this story. Not sure what that says about me. As a horror loving fan, this one definitely did its job.

This will also be a little story that I will be thinking about for a while.

Available in Kindle Unlimited – https://amzn.to/4aDGaTL

Horror, Novella

#Review #Novella #Horror – A Brush With The Devil by Yolanda Olson

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All I wanted was a night out alone to try and feel normal again.

Instead, I spent most of my time drowning my sorrows in whiskey and listening to every song that Blondie has ever produced.

I left before the liquor got the best of me, but not before putting the jukebox out of commission, and the self-appointed DJ wasn’t impressed.

I tried to get away, but he followed.

When I decided to confront my newfound demon, I found myself face-to-face with one of the most beautiful men I had ever laid eyes on. But there’s a saying about the Devil appearing as everything you ever wanted, and it’s true.

Because to me, for that one moment, he was everything I needed.

I didn’t want him to come home with me, yet he refused to leave.

He wanted to have some fun.

I was going to be his new game and he was going to play with me until he was bored and went on his merry way again.

See, he doesn’t know that I’m a monster too.

He only sees the outside and not the in.

One night with the devil is what I’ve got and I’ll show him that not everything that’s as equally beautiful as he is, is made of innocence and grace.

He wants to play … and now?

So do I.

A Brush with the Devil brings together Gray Talbot from Death Blooms and Lakyn Meyer from the Malediction Saga for one night of hell that you won’t soon forget.

I completely forgot who this book was about. After reading Death Blooms, which I really loved by the way, I wanted to read more about Gray. Yolanda said she was writing this little story but clearly, I am not on the ball.

As you can see in the blurb, this book is about Gray from Death Blooms and Lakyn from the Malediction series. I haven’t read about Lakyn yet but now I really need to.

This story is about Gray and Lakyn meeting and unfortunately for Gray, Lakyn comes on a little strong. But they’re both entranced by each other. What could happen when 2 evil people meet? Nothing. Nothing at all. 😉

Lakyn ends up going home with Gray, much to Gray’s dismay, but something about him is unnerving to Lakyn and rightfully so. Have you read Death Blooms? 100% suggest doing so if you haven’t already.

Lakyn causes problems for Gray. Gray has issues trying to deal with him and his little friends. It’s a mess all around but one I rather enjoyed reading!

Now I need to read more and find out why Lakyn is the way he is.

Available in Kindle Unlimited – https://amzn.to/48BSaU1

Horror, Part of a Series

#Review – The Asylum Confessions (The Asylum Confessions Files, #1) by Jack Steen

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They arrive alive. They always leave dead.
But first, they give me their confessions.

My name is Jack Steen, and for those who arrive on my ‘death’ ward at the Asylum, I’m the last face many will see before they die. I am the night nurse at an Asylum for the Criminally Insane, and most of my patients know me as their Angel of Death. I know them as mass murderers, rapists, and serial killers – among other things.

Here’s what happens: they come on my floor, they give me their deathbed confession, and I help to make their death less painful. There’s a catch, though: I want the real story, the one they haven’t told anyone else.

The majority of these killers are expert manipulators. They could be playing their final game with me by messing with my head.
Now, maybe they’re messing with yours too.

Inside this book are 4 DeathBed Confessions:

  • Patient 1024 has an interesting ‘appetite’.
  • Patient 974 is the Ken to his Barbie, and he would do anything to keep her happy.
  • Patient 871 is a Nanny, but not one you want watching your kids.
  • Patient 1203 is the sweetest, broken soul you’ll ever meet but her confession is a hard read.

WARNING: There is swearing in this book. And some stories might be a trigger for something you have a hard time handling.

But, these are the confessions of serial killers, mass murderers and such.

Wow. Okay…um…

So I was looking for something quick to read to up my books read for my Goodreads challenge and I came across this series on Amazon. I was in the mood for horror. Figured it would be a good genre to read, seeing as it was October when I was searching for horror reads.

I ended up coming across this series and devoured the first book.

I guess the author is a night nurse at an asylum but some people are saying that that isn’t true. The author said that these books are about the confessions his patients give him before they pass. Again, not sure if that’s true or not. So it kind of messes with your head. I know it did mine.

There are four parts to this book. Each part about a different patient. They’re in the asylum for the criminally insane, so they’re all bad people, right? That I really can’t answer. The one I felt awful for. Another, I was disgusted. One just made me feel like “oh that’s been done before and isn’t anything new” and the last one? Are they a good person or not?

I think I had more questions than answers by the time I was done this book but I instantly one-clicked the next book in the series.

Please be warned though: There ARE triggers. But this is a horror book, so triggers kind of come with the territory. If you decide to grab this book, please read with caution.

I truly have no words for what I just read but of course, I’ll read the rest of the series because I want to know more. Oh and I wonder if the author is truly who he says he is, maybe he writes these books as a way to cope with what he’s dealt with for years. But I also wonder, if he is who he says he is, if he is a good guy or not…

Horror, Paranormal, Review

#Review #Haunting – Maroon by William Joseph

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Don’t Play With Dead Things.
When young Charlotte Hempstead goes to visit her Aunt Victoria who she has not seen in many years, she realizes that her Aunt has not aged one bit. She soon discovers her Aunt’s mansion has many other dark secrets, and that her Aunt may not ultimately be all or who she thinks she is.

Goodreads

Review by Twinsie Kelly

Sooooo creepy! Charlotte goes to visit Aunt Victoria who lives alone in a large, but old, mansion. Charlotte is welcomed with open arms and really takes a liking to Aunt Victoria. However, it doesn’t take long to realize there are secrets here…many dark secrets. The more Charlotte starts to question and investigate, the more she realizes the danger she is in. The worldbuilding and character building does take some time in this one but hold on for a wild ride because once the crazy cranks up you won’t be able to put it down. The terrifying twists throughout the story will keep you engaged until the very end!

Author Logo

William Joseph is an exciting Horror, Paranormal, and Psychological Thriller writer from New Jersey, USA. He loves to draw the reader into believable worlds, creating everyday characters the readers can relate and connect with, and then forcing them to face their deepest and darkest fears. William Joseph’s writing has been detailed as twisted, dark, terrifying, raw, and emotional.