drakaina16's Reviews (2.21k)

I had so much fun with Arcranium! I'm usually not huge on techno horror, but this was done really well. I don't need endless descriptions of how the technology works, just give me the good stuff! The concept is super cool, the pacing was great, and I liked the ending a lot. 4 stars

It's just not very well-written and there's enough racism that it made me uncomfortable enough to DNF

Thank you to Blood Bound Books for providing a review copy. 

Well. Consider my puny mind blown. The Claw of Craving is extremely Clive Barker-esque, and I mean that as the highest compliment. The world-building has the same sense of sensuality, but also whimsy. The characters are complex and multi-layered. If you like your fantasy black as pitch, you'll love this book as much as I did. Strong 5 stars. 

Thank you to the author for providing a review copy. 

Whew, what a wild ride that was! Mine is so tense, just steeped in dread. This is what happens when maladaptive daydreaming goes really, really wrong. I loved the pacing and how realistic everything felt. The horrors next door are always some of the scariest. I had a great time with it. 4.25 stars 

I'm going to be honest. I finished this book last night, I've mulled it over, and I still don't know how I feel about it. I was vaguely confused the whole time, as you're thrust headlong into the story with very little backstory. Then you get some backstory, then the book ends so abruptly it made my head spin. The writing is very, very good (almost leaning to purple prose at times) and the cosmic dystopian premise sounded intriguing, but it ultimately missed the mark for me. 2.75 stars 

Thank you to the author for providing a review copy. 

This book is a tough, tough read. I knew it would be going into it, but I just want to reiterate it. The most disturbing thing is that the book feels completely real. We know there are people out there who think and do these things, and that always makes it hit a little harder. Incel is very well-written, but I am very glad to be out of the mind of Wayne. 4 stars 

Thank you to Speculation Publications for providing a review copy. 

If you're in the mood for some excellent feminist horror, look no further than Incubation. I loved thinking "good for her" after reading every story. Very satisfying. 4 stars

The New Wife by A.R.C. Mitra ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Aggrieved by Hope Madden ⭐⭐⭐
The Dogs by Maureen O’Leary ⭐⭐⭐.5
The Town Bike by LCW Allingham ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Motherhood Changes You by Dale W. Glaser ⭐⭐⭐⭐
A Hole Where Your Back Should Be by Sofia Tantono ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Perfect Immortality by River Eno ⭐⭐⭐.25
Famine by Sydney Hodges ⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to Cemetery Dance for providing a review copy. 

I really like the concept of this anthology - stories from older authors, authors working now, and stories from exciting new voices. As always, it's a mixed bag, with the first two stories being outstanding. The final story was a DNF, as I was bored to tears. Overall a solid collection and a cool concept, so I hope there will be more Bloodlines. 3.5 stars 

The Invention of Ghosts by Gwendolyn Kiste ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Paint Box, Puzzle Box by D.T. Friedman ⭐⭐⭐⭐.75
Buckeye Jim in Egypt by Mort Castle ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Night Wire by H.F. Arnold ⭐⭐⭐.5
The Night We Buried Road Dog by Jack Cady DNF

Thank you to the author for providing a review copy. 

Color me surprised that this intense novel is a debut! There are some fantastically creepy moments and jump scares. The author keeps the tension high throughout the book and man, that ending was pretty satisfying. There are some heavy triggers here, so be aware of that. I also enjoyed the short story at the end by Niko, age 9. Well done, Niko! 4 stars