Category Archives: Horror

#Promo – She Waits: A Tiny Terrible Tale by Sarah Jules

SHE WAITS is a cosmic, creepy, sleep-with-the-lights-on horror short story.

The New Year’s Eve tradition of ‘first footing’ is supposed to bring luck and prosperity.
For Tamsin, it brings only terror.

Looking for some holiday themed horror?
Want to plummet into a sea of existential dread?
Haven’t quite met your reading goal?
SHE WAITS is the story for you!


TINY TERRIBLE TALES is a series of standalone, one-sitting horror shorts from indie horror author Sarah Jules.
SHE WAITS is the third release.*

These bite-sized horror stories will sink their teeth into you and refuse to let go.

With regular new releases, there’s always something terrible waiting around the corner.

*They can be read in any order and are not interlinked.

PRAISE FOR TINY TERRIBLE TALES:

Masterfully chilling with a gut-wrenching kick. Sarah Jules knows how to take your fears and use them against you.” – Elizabeth J. Brown, author of The Laughing Policeman.

“Sarah Jules has already established herself as one of the top authors for all things creepy! Yet another fantastic story from the Tiny Terrible Tales series… How the author manages to fit so much dread and horror into such a short story is truly amazing!” – Justin Boote, author of Soul Searchers.

“For such a short story, this was richly plotted and full of enough backstory to make it feel incredibly well-rounded and realised. It was also full of some sumptuous and scary writing... had my skin crawling.” – Dave Musson, author of One More Around the Sun, and owner of the ‘Dave Reads King’ YouTube channel.

“Did somebody say NEW HORROR SHORT by the inimitable Sarah Jules?!” – Leigh Kenny, author of Hush, My Darling.

“A gripping little short horror story, I really enjoy Sarah’s writing it has a way of being gripping, vivid and enjoyable while feeling accessible… A fun chilling little read and I will forever recommend Sarah’s writing.” – Wyatt Creed Reads.

This was short and dark but a lot of fun! I was left with wanting to read more.

Tamsin hates the holidays, especially New Years Eve. Her family celebrates the new year with traditions while Tamsin tries not to see her. The other version of her.

This little tale is creepy but I enjoyed it a lot. If you’re looking for bite sized reads, definitely check out this author and this little series.

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

#Review – The Girl Next Door by Jack Ketchum

A teenage girl is held captive and brutally tortured by neighborhood children. Based on a true story, this shocking novel reveals the depravity of which we are all capable.

This novel contains graphic content and is recommended for regular readers of horror novels.

This book. Wow this book. I saw the movie years ago, read up on it once I found out it was based off true events and haven’t had the courage to read the book until now. I have to say that I absolutely devoured this book. I couldn’t put it down and even lost sleep over it. Even though I knew what was going to happen, reading it was a whole other experience.

This book shattered my heart and soul and I was left feeling numb after. Please heed the warnings as while there are books out there that are way more graphic, there is just something about the way this one was written, that made it so much worse. Maybe it’s because it’s based off a true crime. I don’t know. But man. This book now officially owns my entire being.

The book is loosely based off the real murder of Sylvia Likens but Sylvia’s story was so much worse. But this review isn’t about that but I would love to read more about her, as a way to pay homage to her memory. Since she had no one looking out for her like Meg did in this book.

Meg and her sister Susan end up staying with their aunt and cousins after their parents die. Aunt Ruth seems cool at first but after a while, things take a drastic turn for the worse. Meg stands up for herself a little too well and ends up in the basement. Man this basement. When I got to the chapter that says something like and I’m not quoting “They ended up in the basement”. I got chills.

If you’ve seen the movie, you know what happens and I have to say that this is one of the best book to movie adaptations I’ve read since Silence of the Lambs.

Hands down this is by far my favourite book of 2025. Not because the story is great. Because it’s not. Not in the least. But the details, the story telling, hearing the story from the eyes of David, the atmosphere, everything about this book, made for an epic, depraved ride and it’s one I’ll never forget.

But I promise you, I will never read this book again.

Can be read in KU – https://amzn.to/4jjX9PP

#Review -The Sixth Hour by Mique Watson

Erin Shepherd runs away from home, certain she’s escaped the worst kind of monster.

Despite her homelessness, she believes the pain and torment is behind her when a kind stranger offers her food, safety, and a ride out of town.

She is wrong.

Now a prisoner, her life unravels into a waking nightmare of captivity, cruelty, and whispered promises of something waiting beyond pain.

Surrounded by horrifying atrocities and dark mystery, Erin begins to wonder if she is running from her fate or becoming it.

I’m going to start this by saying that I’ve read all of Mique Watson’s books. Even the ones he wrote for anthologies. So I went into this new one completely blind.

We meet Erin who was taken and thrown into a world of debauchery. She ends up down a dangerous path but as she’s learning the ropes of her new lifestyle, she quickly realizes that things aren’t exactly as they seem and she doesn’t know who she can trust.

Just when I thought that this book isn’t as bad as Mique’s other stuff or that it’s not as extreme or gross as I expected…um…yeah I was wrong. The things someone does for survival. I kept thinking to myself, nope, there is no way but at the same time, I’ve never had to deal with this sort of situation. So who actually knows how they’d react or what they would do given the circumstances. I’d like to think I’m strong and would also do anything to survive but I’m not actually sure.

I have to say that as someone with a uterus, one of the last scenes….holy crap on a cracker. What a way to go. It reminded me of Art from the Terrifier movies and what he liked to do to his victims. Wow. Mique, you upped your game with this one. I’m going to think of this scene every time I go for a physical now.

The ending of this book was NOT what I was expecting at all but like I’ve said many times in previous reviews for other books, Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.

Like always, I suggest going into this book completely blind. It’s more fun that way. But I will tell you that if you like cult horror or anything remotely having to do with cults, then this may be for you. While this book isn’t as gory as some of Mique’s other work, it’s definitely just as gruesome.

Can be read in KU – https://amzn.to/4oqH6Rg

#Review – The Bug Collector by Wrath James White

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

#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

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

#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

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