drakaina16's Reviews (2.21k)

Thank you to Encyclopocalypse and Book Sirens for providing a review copy. 
I'm a big fan of both Wesley Southard and Lucas Mangum and a huge fan of Italian horror, so I jumped at the chance to read an ARC of The Final Gate. I don't think you need to be a big fan of giallo to enjoy the story, but at least passing familiarity with Fulci films adds a great bonus to the story. I loved everything about it and I could really picture the story as it unfolded. This one was a ton of fun and I would love to read a prequel or sequel. 

Normally, I would rate each story in a book of short stories. Since each of these stories intertwine and lead up to the first Into Vermillion book, I feel it's more fair to rate the book as a whole. I picked this up as a freebie and I'm so glad I did! I actually bought the first book after reading just 3 or 4 of the stories. I'm very intrigued by the world the author has created and I can't wait to read more.

Thank you to DarkLit Press for providing a review copy. 
This is one of those rare books that I loved so much, that meant so much to me, that I can barely be articulate about it. It's a book about a vampire, yes, but it's so much more. A meditation on the nature of grief and finding meaning in a life that seems neverending. In the last year, I have suffered some tremendous losses and Our Own Unique Affliction helped me put some things in perspective. It's a book that I wish younger me had been able to read. This is one of my favorite reads of the year. A strong 5 stars. 

Thank you to Book Sirens for providing a review copy. 
The Dead Woods surprised me with how much I enjoyed it. The premise is pretty creepy, and the author does a great job creating an atmosphere of dread. This is a YA novel, with zero spice factor and one curse word in the entire book, so I would definitely say it could be enjoyed by late middle schoolers. There are some fairly gruesome deaths, though. Overall this was a fun story with some genuinely creepy moments and a very original ending. 

I absolutely devoured this novella in one sitting. It's one of those books that, as I was reading it, I just kept thinking, "damn this book is really good." I loved the cast of characters, and the author really manages to pack quite a lot into a story with such a low page count. I definitely plan to check out more of Margaret Killjoy's books. 

Thank you to the author for providing a review copy.
What a ride this book is! It is a pretty slow burn, and I admit I almost DNF'd around the middle of the book. I'm glad I pushed through, though, because ultimately I enjoyed it quite a lot. Some of my favorite horror tropes are ancient evil, evil in a small town, cults, and cosmic horror. Deep combines those themes and manages to weave them into quite a unique story. Despite some stilted dialogue, this is a very impressive debut and I look forward to reading more from the author in the future. 

Thank you to Cemetery Dance for providing a review copy. 
This is a book I would never have picked up on my own, had I not been given a copy to review. I absolutely would have been missing out, though. Westerns aren't my thing, but it turns out that vampire Westerns with cosmic horror undertones definitely are. Wonderfully written with fully realized characters, this book was an absolute treat to read. I will be picking up the second book immediately. 

Thank you to the author for providing a review copy. 
How far would you go to get what you want? Gaige Penrod is willing to go really, really far in this book about a deal with a demon for fame. I've definitely read other books with this concept, but Jay Bower manages to keep the story pretty fresh, and it's a lot of fun. I'm a metalhead myself and I loved all of the band references and the way the author was able to capture the feeling of being at a live show. 

 got a lot more than I bargained for with this book. It is beautifully written, exciting, and genuinely creepy. Space both fascinates and terrifies me, and there is a very claustrophobic feel to the whole book that adds another dimension. This is extremely good sci-fi horror. Also, props to the author for including a sex-repulsed asexual character. This is the first such character I've encountered in fiction, and representation matters.

Thank you to the author for providing a review copy. 
I just can't get enough of the Pagham-On-Sea books! The third installment sees the return of Ricky, Katy, Wes, and Carrie, hopeful that they'll be able to prevent the end of the world. I just love these characters. Part of me wishes they were real, and most of me is really, really glad they aren't. But we could still hang out. I'm definitely hoping that this isn't the last book!