drakaina16's Reviews (2.21k)

The cross section of music (especially black metal, it's just so suited to the genre) and horror is one of my very favorite things. The love of metal definitely comes through in this creature feature. I felt so much for the characters. They're all basically good people who you want to root for. I love a book that tugs at your heartstrings. Bonus points for the playlist at the end, too! 4.25 stars. 

Thank you to the author for providing a review copy. 

What a cool and unique book this was! It's fast-paced, frantic almost. I found myself wanting to skip ahead just to find out what happens next. It even gave me a bit of real-world anxiety. If gore isn't your thing, this would be a good choice. It's there, just not prevalent. The ending was fantastic. The whole book was absolutely compelling. 

Thank you to the author for providing a review copy. 

I'm not big on fan fiction, but I am big on Batman and horror. I'm so glad I gave Dark Knightmares a try. It's so well-written and cinematic, so much that I could hear Mark Hamill's voice as the Joker in my head. After reading the author's note at the end, I'm sad this story never got picked up as a graphic novel. I'd love to see it. 4.5 stars, rounded up. 

Coming of age horror is one of my favorite subgenres, and Chad Lutzke always gets it right. I love his books, but I also know that they're going to hurt me a little. His characters always feel so real, like people you could or have known. While not my favorite book of his, Of Foster Homes and Flies really worked for me. 

Thank you to the author for providing a review copy. 

What a strange book this was. Part horror novel, part thesis, it's utterly unlike anything I've read before. The most disturbing part of the book is how clinically everything is presented. I may not have understood it all, but it was definitely thought provoking. 

It wasn't particularly well-written and the story didn't grab me

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a review copy. 

This book, while beautifully written, didn't quite do it for me. I figured out what was going on almost immediately. The romance and fantasy aspect definitely outweigh the horror. The only real horror happens in the last 10% of the book, so I'm unsure why it's marketed that way. Supernatural YA fantasy romance would be a better fit. As such, I'm definitely not it's intended audience. 3.25 stars

Thank you to Cemetery Dance for providing a review copy. 

I'm a huge fan of Chad Lutzke's writing. The stories are so good, beautifully written - but I also know they're going to stomp on my heart a little. Bruises on a Butterfly is his best book yet. It's heart-breaking because these boys feel so real. I read it in a single sitting. Definitely check your triggers on this one, because it is not an easy book. Strong 5 stars

Thank you to the author for providing a review copy. 

I did not love this book as much as I wanted to. I never cared about the characters, as we're never given much to go on as to who they are. They also make some supremely stupid decisions - the literary equivalent of yelling at the movie screen. Even so, McNulty does a great job of keeping things tense and action-packed. I also enjoyed the ending. 3 stars

Thank you to the author for providing a review copy. 

Bullet Tooth is a short but nasty story with a truly nasty villain. Part urban legend, part ancient evil, this story really worked for me. I had a ton of fun with it. My only complaint is that I wanted it to be longer, as the ending felt a bit abrupt. 4.25 stars