drakaina16's Reviews (2.21k)

Thank you to the author for providing a review copy. 

I would have happily read Inevitability at three times the length. The world Micah Castle built is so interesting. We're not given a ton of backstory, and I would have liked to have gotten more. But there is only so much room in a chapbook, and this one is immensely entertaining with a banger of an ending. 4 stars

Thank you to the editor for providing a review copy. 

As soon as Ruth Anna Evans announced this anthology, I knew I was all the way in. Childbirth is rife with horrors anyway, and it was cool to see how the different authors interpreted the theme. 4 stars

Just Like a Certain Chocolate Egg Toy by Antonija Meznaric ⭐⭐⭐.25
Dystocia by Nuno Gonçalves ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Nesting by Marie Lestrange ⭐⭐⭐.5
Engorged by Rebecca Burgess ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Take the Baby by Peter J. Larrivee ⭐⭐⭐.25
The Animus of Agnes Grishom by Deborah Coldiron ⭐⭐⭐⭐
There Was a Number Seven by Patricia Lameida ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Don't Say a Word by Autumn Weese ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Not Like the Seahorses by S.E. Howard ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
The Quickening by Emma Rose Darcy ⭐⭐⭐
A Piece of My Heart by Ruth Anna Evans ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 
Proud to Be a Mother by C.J. Subko ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Mother Earth and the Terrestrial Birth by Jacy Morris ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Dry Earth Giveth by Amanda DeBord ⭐⭐⭐.5
Little Fox by Tory Favro ⭐⭐⭐
The Baby Stopped Crying by Paul Avery Tindol ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Stillborn by Sheri White ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a review copy. 

The Staircase in the Woods is based on both a real phenomenon and a nightmarish concept. It's also a love letter to enduring friendships. Although I can't say I loved any of the characters, they all felt like people you might know, flaws and all. Without spoilers, this book has one of the most unique plot points I've encountered. At times the book dragged a bit and felt overly long, but it is a very solid read. 4.25 stars

Thank you to the author for providing a review copy. 

The Keeper is a very cool book, best described as a supernatural historical mystery. I found the lore in the story fascinating and very unique. There is plenty of horror to be found here, however quiet. There are some truly chilling moments. The book does end on somewhat of a cliffhanger, but that doesn't bother me, and I had planned to continue with the series by then anyway. 4 stars 

Thank you to BookSirens for providing a review copy. 

The Vines was an emotional gut punch I was somewhat unprepared for. I just loved Madison, because I was that angry teen losing myself in grunge and art. Although I lost my dad to old age and not cancer, the experience of seeing someone whose presence once loomed so large in your life become frail and diminished was painfully relatable. I really loved this one, and read it in a sitting. I would have happily read this story at three times the length. 5 stars

Thank you to the author for providing a review copy. 

I am a huge sucker for any kind of paranormal investigation horror and Paul Avery Tindol does not disappoint with Last Tour at Sulphur Creek. There are some truly spine-chilling moments and I found myself thinking, "oh, that is CREEPY" several times. The writing makes it very easy to picture the story in your head, which can be an unsettling experience. 4.5 stars

Thank you to Crystal Lake Publishing for providing a review copy. 

I love a good themed anthology, and Crystal Lake consistently provides some of the best. Here we have three vastly different novellas by three of the best indie authors working today. John Durgin's offering is a tense, action packed thriller with aliens on the loose in an office building. Gage Greenwood's story is haunting, with some terrifically creepy moments. Andrew Van Wey gives us one of the most unique alien stories I've ever read - it's truly an accomplishment. 4.75 stars

Suffocating Skies by John Durgin ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
We Were Who We Were by Gage Greenwood ⭐⭐⭐⭐.75
Dark Matter Dreams by Andrew Van Wey ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to the author for providing a review copy. 

Well. Blood Cypress was an unexpected punch to the gut, from so many angles. I was absolutely riveted by the story, and would have happily read a longer version of it. Perhaps, though, a longer version wouldn't be quite as effective. This book manages to accomplish a whole lot in a very short space, and I ran through a whole slew of emotions reading it. There are some heavy triggers here, so check them if you need to. 4.5 stars

Thank you to the author for providing a review copy. 

Blood Covenant is one of the best supernatural thrillers I've read in a long time. I frequently found myself letting out a breath I didn't know I was holding. 😅 There are threats from all sides to our truly lovely family. It was nice to see a family that truly loved each other depicted - that definitely ratcheted the tension up. I found myself wanting to race ahead to find out what was going to happen next. 4.75 stars

Thank you to the author for providing a review copy. 

What a fun ride! Nunsploitation is kinda my thing, so I had much interest in Scissor Me Timbers right off the bat. Phrique's writing is so good - he's hilarious and whoo boy can he paint a picture. My only complaint is that it seemed a little long, but I loved the ending and the butch rep. I don't encounter that much, and that's kind of sad. Definitely give this one a whirl if you enjoy over-the-top hilarity, sexy nuns, and gore. 4.25 stars