drakaina16's Reviews (2.21k)

Thank you to Cemetery Dance for providing a review copy. 
I'm so sad that this trilogy has come to an end. I care so much about the characters, it's a bit hard to let them go. Buy oh man, what a thrilling ride it was! I can't recommend these books enough. I was leery of horror westerns before reading The Massacre at Yellow Hill, but now I'm hooked. I am also begging C.S. Humble to write more stories set in this world. 

Thank you to BookSirens for providing a review copy. 

For fans of: coming of age stories, The Craft
I had a great time with this book. It took me a little while to really get into it, but when I did, I ended up reading 2/3 of it in a day. Courtney's parts of the book definitely gave me The Craft vibes, which I really enjoyed. This appears to be book one; I'd happily read more about these characters. 3.75 stars, rounded up. 

For fans of: found footage and paranormal investigators, people who hate House of Leaves

Okay, let me explain that last part a bit more. This is the book that House of Leaves wishes it was. The writing is so much better and the core story is way more terrifying. I also much prefer this epistolary style. The ending was absolutely incredible. Craig DiLouie has just made it onto my "must-read everything" author list. 

Thank you to DarkLit Press for providing a review copy. 

I wanted to love this book. It had so many things I love going for it - deals with an entity, a rad cover and, most especially, heavy metal. The author has excellent taste in music (and the playlist is a very nice touch). I ended up liking the book, but I thought it was way longer than it had to be. There were some very nice kills along the way, though. The main characters were all stereotypical band dudes, with little in the way of redeeming qualities. I'm not sure you're meant to like them, though. Overall, it was a pretty fun, if long-winded, ride. 

Thank you to the author for providing a review copy. 

I really love found footage-style books. This book is a look back at one terrible night in a small town. It's told through interviews with survivors and townspeople. This is a great, fast-paced slasher. I really enjoyed reading it, and the author is definitely on my radar now. 4.25 stars

Thank you to BookSirens for providing a review copy. 

This graphic novel is a lot of fun, with an interesting plot and solid writing. It's quite funny. However, the interior art just doesn't do it for me. I'd be interested in picking up the second volume based on the writing alone, but since the art is so off-putting to me, I may not bother. The cover art is fantastic, though. 3.25 stars

Thank you to BookSirens for providing a review copy. 

This book is just as ridiculous as it sounds. If you're already a Richard Elfman fan, it's not quite as insane as Forbidden Zone, but there's still plenty of ridiculousness and cleverness in the narrative. I had a great time with the book and thought it was hilarious. 3.5 stars, rounded up. 

Thank you to BookSirens for providing a review copy. 

I love a themed anthology and apocalyptic horror is my jam, so this book delivered on multiple levels. I liked every story, which is rare in an anthology of this size. It also introduced me to some new authors to check out. 4.25 stars

Coming Earthside by Taryn Martinez ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A Eulogy for the Fifth World by Carson Winter ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Estrangements by D. Matthew Urban ⭐⭐⭐.5
The Viridescent Dark by Sara Tantlinger ⭐⭐⭐.75
The Hunt by Alex Fox ⭐⭐⭐.5
Red Rover, Red Rover by Tiffany Michelle Brown ⭐⭐⭐
No More Meatloaf Monday by Angela Sylvaine ⭐⭐⭐
Bonnie's Ablution by M. Lopez de Silva ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
The Scream by Andrew Cull ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Door in the Basement by Ruth Anna Evans ⭐⭐⭐.5
Silver Alert by Wendy N. Wagner ⭐⭐⭐
A Sweet Soiree on the Last Night of the World by Gwendolyn Kiste ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
The Boy Who Prayed for the End of the World by Olen Crowe ⭐⭐⭐
Tuesday by Brittany Johnston ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Dirt and Blood and Silence by Elou Carroll ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Ten Totally Free Places to Watch the End of the World by Nick Bouchard ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Anymore by L. Marie Wood ⭐⭐⭐
The End of the World is Very Fucking Nigh by W. Dale Jordan ⭐⭐⭐⭐.75
When the Horizon Burns by Elford Alley ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Alice by Chris Mason ⭐⭐⭐.5
Smash Hit by Matthew M. Bartlett ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
I Am the Vanity Mirror Shaped Like A Skull by Madison McSweeney ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Eyes Open, Knees Apart for the End of the World by Rae Knowles ⭐⭐⭐.5
Endless Possibilities by RJ Joseph ⭐⭐⭐.25
The Smell of Summer by Emma E. Murray ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Muerte Luna by V. Castro ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Lost Time by Eóin Murphy ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
All the Dead Astronauts by J.A.W. McCarthy ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I just love Carlton Mellick III. There is just something about his books. No matter how bizarre and gory they might be, there is an inherent heart and sweetness about them. This book is no exception. 3.5 stars, rounded up.