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ericarobyn
Aiden Merchant was asked for something bloodier and boy did he deliver in Horrific Holidays Volume 1! After I finished each tale, I immediately thought “HO-LY!”
Full disclosure: I was given a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my rating in any way. I also purchased a copy.
Per usual with short story collections, here are my notes about each tale.
Fresh Start, Fresh Blood – 5/5
Holiday: New Years Eve
While a man is set on ringing in the new year going on quite the bender, he’s soon about to realize that his girl has other much darker ideas. Phew, this tale was BRUTAL! Oh my god, the passage about this man’s cheek and then the “carving”… what a tale to kick this collection off with! And that last paragraph of the authors note for this story… I love this so much.
Love You Like Hell – 5/5
Holiday: Valentines Day
In this tale our main character is jumping back and forth to one, talk about his story in the present while he’s in jail, and two, retelling a story from the past that lead him to where he is today. As the reader you clearly knew something bad happened and with his controlling nature I was already fearing the worst. This one was nuts!! Another tale with so much horror and quite the dash of brutality! The controlling and paranoia really spooked me as I had a boyfriend that was super toxic in a stalker-like controlling way. Seeing the tale play out was super eerie for me, but I still loved it!
House Of Eggs – 5/5
Holiday: Easter
There’s nothing more exciting than participating in an Easter egg hunt! That is… unless you wake up naked, painted pastel colors, in a setting straight out of Honey I Shrunk The Kids, and realize you’re being hunted… This was ABSOLUTELY TERRIFYING! This is certainly an original tale! I love that this story left the readers just as shocked and confused as the characters were. And the gore… it was shocking with each occurrence!
Nummy Fingers – 5/5
Holiday: Halloween
The story is about a man who does some thing a bit more… creative this year for Halloween. It’s a thousand times more dark than his norm. But after all, it’s Halloween and no one‘s gonna second-guess what you’re doing. Phew! And other absolutely brutal one but very real world horror! I could never guess what was going to happen next. This one will make your stomach cramp up!
Stuff The Turkey – 5/5
Holiday: Thanksgiving
This character is prepping for Thanksgiving, but rather than a turkey in the center of the feast, this man provides a human. But just how does he find his dinner? We’re about to find out! Brutal! And my gosh, that last line!!
Awful Gifts – 5/5
Holiday: Christmas
Hooooooly. This tale!!! I don’t want to even hint at what this one is about. I’m just say two things. One, the level of nonchalance that the narrator brings to this by telling the readers what happened while jumping ahead to bluntly explain the end results was unsettling. And two, the level of joy that is included in the video diaries was such a great element to add in! It was SO creepy!
My Final Thoughts
I’m obsessed with holiday horror. Each of these stories were incredibly captivating and I loved every single one. I’m so pumped for a second volume!!
Full disclosure: I was given a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my rating in any way. I also purchased a copy.
Per usual with short story collections, here are my notes about each tale.
Fresh Start, Fresh Blood – 5/5
Holiday: New Years Eve
While a man is set on ringing in the new year going on quite the bender, he’s soon about to realize that his girl has other much darker ideas. Phew, this tale was BRUTAL! Oh my god, the passage about this man’s cheek and then the “carving”… what a tale to kick this collection off with! And that last paragraph of the authors note for this story… I love this so much.
Love You Like Hell – 5/5
Holiday: Valentines Day
In this tale our main character is jumping back and forth to one, talk about his story in the present while he’s in jail, and two, retelling a story from the past that lead him to where he is today. As the reader you clearly knew something bad happened and with his controlling nature I was already fearing the worst. This one was nuts!! Another tale with so much horror and quite the dash of brutality! The controlling and paranoia really spooked me as I had a boyfriend that was super toxic in a stalker-like controlling way. Seeing the tale play out was super eerie for me, but I still loved it!
House Of Eggs – 5/5
Holiday: Easter
There’s nothing more exciting than participating in an Easter egg hunt! That is… unless you wake up naked, painted pastel colors, in a setting straight out of Honey I Shrunk The Kids, and realize you’re being hunted… This was ABSOLUTELY TERRIFYING! This is certainly an original tale! I love that this story left the readers just as shocked and confused as the characters were. And the gore… it was shocking with each occurrence!
Nummy Fingers – 5/5
Holiday: Halloween
The story is about a man who does some thing a bit more… creative this year for Halloween. It’s a thousand times more dark than his norm. But after all, it’s Halloween and no one‘s gonna second-guess what you’re doing. Phew! And other absolutely brutal one but very real world horror! I could never guess what was going to happen next. This one will make your stomach cramp up!
Stuff The Turkey – 5/5
Holiday: Thanksgiving
This character is prepping for Thanksgiving, but rather than a turkey in the center of the feast, this man provides a human. But just how does he find his dinner? We’re about to find out! Brutal! And my gosh, that last line!!
Awful Gifts – 5/5
Holiday: Christmas
Hooooooly. This tale!!! I don’t want to even hint at what this one is about. I’m just say two things. One, the level of nonchalance that the narrator brings to this by telling the readers what happened while jumping ahead to bluntly explain the end results was unsettling. And two, the level of joy that is included in the video diaries was such a great element to add in! It was SO creepy!
My Final Thoughts
I’m obsessed with holiday horror. Each of these stories were incredibly captivating and I loved every single one. I’m so pumped for a second volume!!
The Roo by Alan Baxter was an absolute blast to read! I mean, this is a book about a kangaroo gone rogue, viciously taking out the people of a small town. Of course it was a wild ride!
I was so excited to recognize quite a few of the names included in this book! To be fair, I’m HORRIBLE with names, so I had to look a few up on Twitter that I thought looked familiar. Sure enough, I did “know” them and I was following them already!
I started really freaking out when I got to the following:
Patrick McDonough
Tracy Robinson
Brennan LaFaro
Cassie Daley
My husband laughed at me when I said that reading this book was like reading a story where all my friends were either dying or very close to dying as they were being taking out by a killer roo.
I was panicked and didn’t want to see anyone hurt, but I also couldn’t stop reading as I was very curious to see see how my friends may meet their fictional end.
Overall, the death scenes included in this book were absolutely insane and brutal. There are SO many that had me sitting with my mouth literally hanging open. I mean, poor Cassie!
But I have to say, Brennan’s death… Jeeze. That was one of the most vivid and insane book deaths I have ever read!
My Favorite Passages
The roos mouth opened with a soft grunt. Its eyes glowed a fiery orange. John startled, realised it wasn’t reflected streetlight, but the beast’s eyes seemed to ignite with a kind of internal flame, bathing its face in a glow like a campfire.
The land out here had a way of breaking people.
He hit the dirt, bloods splattering it like rain, and rolled in time to see with his remaining eye the roo stretch up, then drop with both front legs outstretched, aiming for his head.
My Final Thoughts
The Roo is just a treat to read. It had me on the edge of my seat and I couldn’t stop reading.
If you enjoy horror stories about creatures gone wild with a LOT of gore, go snag this immediately!
I was so excited to recognize quite a few of the names included in this book! To be fair, I’m HORRIBLE with names, so I had to look a few up on Twitter that I thought looked familiar. Sure enough, I did “know” them and I was following them already!
I started really freaking out when I got to the following:
Patrick McDonough
Tracy Robinson
Brennan LaFaro
Cassie Daley
My husband laughed at me when I said that reading this book was like reading a story where all my friends were either dying or very close to dying as they were being taking out by a killer roo.
I was panicked and didn’t want to see anyone hurt, but I also couldn’t stop reading as I was very curious to see see how my friends may meet their fictional end.
Overall, the death scenes included in this book were absolutely insane and brutal. There are SO many that had me sitting with my mouth literally hanging open. I mean, poor Cassie!
But I have to say, Brennan’s death… Jeeze. That was one of the most vivid and insane book deaths I have ever read!
My Favorite Passages
The roos mouth opened with a soft grunt. Its eyes glowed a fiery orange. John startled, realised it wasn’t reflected streetlight, but the beast’s eyes seemed to ignite with a kind of internal flame, bathing its face in a glow like a campfire.
The land out here had a way of breaking people.
He hit the dirt, bloods splattering it like rain, and rolled in time to see with his remaining eye the roo stretch up, then drop with both front legs outstretched, aiming for his head.
My Final Thoughts
The Roo is just a treat to read. It had me on the edge of my seat and I couldn’t stop reading.
If you enjoy horror stories about creatures gone wild with a LOT of gore, go snag this immediately!
The Ethereal Transit Society by Thomas Vaughn is a suspenseful cosmic horror tale that drops the readers right into a stressful situation and doesn’t let up until the final page!
Full disclosure: I was given a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my rating in any way.
[BOOK REVIEW] THE ETHEREAL TRANSIT SOCIETY BY THOMAS VAUGHN
NOVEMBER 13, 2020
The Ethereal Transit Society by Thomas Vaughn book photo by Erica Robyn Reads
The Ethereal Transit Society by Thomas Vaughn is a suspenseful cosmic horror tale that drops the readers right into a stressful situation and doesn’t let up until the final page!
Full disclosure: I was given a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my rating in any way.
Let’s dive in!
My Thoughts on The Ethereal Transit Society by Thomas Vaughn
I love stories that you’re just dropped in to and then you slowly figure out what’s going on. That was exactly the case here. We knew the crew of characters were on a mission, but we didn’t yet know why.
As the story goes on, we see our main characters coping with a stressful trip through a small town out in the middle of nowhere. In this town, it’s clear that they’re not exactly welcome… and something has everyone on edge.
When they come across one townie who is curious about their story and wants to help, we begin to learn a lot more about who they are and what their mission is.
From there, the tale becomes even more stressful as they enter a cemetery and are visited by other town folk. But will they complete their mission in time?
My goodness this was a fun and interesting read! I loved each of the characters and couldn’t put the book down as I needed to make sure it all turned out alright.
My Favorite Passages
If the end of the world happened, I’m not sure anyone around here would notice much of a difference.
Everything in this place is either dead or dying. It’s a hungry land. Even the vines seem determined to strangle the life from the spindly trees.
It’s interesting how we can spend our lives blowing our own problems out of proportion when nature is out there, waiting. It doesn’t care how you’re feeling today. It’s full of creatures that want to drink your blood or feast on your dead flesh.
My Final Thoughts
If you enjoy cosmic horror and doomsday cults, you should definitely check this one out! I’m still pretty new to cosmic horror, and I think this was an awesome book to help me branch out into that genre more. This is definitely a story that I can see myself returning to again down the road.
Full disclosure: I was given a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my rating in any way.
[BOOK REVIEW] THE ETHEREAL TRANSIT SOCIETY BY THOMAS VAUGHN
NOVEMBER 13, 2020
The Ethereal Transit Society by Thomas Vaughn book photo by Erica Robyn Reads
The Ethereal Transit Society by Thomas Vaughn is a suspenseful cosmic horror tale that drops the readers right into a stressful situation and doesn’t let up until the final page!
Full disclosure: I was given a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my rating in any way.
Let’s dive in!
My Thoughts on The Ethereal Transit Society by Thomas Vaughn
I love stories that you’re just dropped in to and then you slowly figure out what’s going on. That was exactly the case here. We knew the crew of characters were on a mission, but we didn’t yet know why.
As the story goes on, we see our main characters coping with a stressful trip through a small town out in the middle of nowhere. In this town, it’s clear that they’re not exactly welcome… and something has everyone on edge.
When they come across one townie who is curious about their story and wants to help, we begin to learn a lot more about who they are and what their mission is.
From there, the tale becomes even more stressful as they enter a cemetery and are visited by other town folk. But will they complete their mission in time?
My goodness this was a fun and interesting read! I loved each of the characters and couldn’t put the book down as I needed to make sure it all turned out alright.
My Favorite Passages
If the end of the world happened, I’m not sure anyone around here would notice much of a difference.
Everything in this place is either dead or dying. It’s a hungry land. Even the vines seem determined to strangle the life from the spindly trees.
It’s interesting how we can spend our lives blowing our own problems out of proportion when nature is out there, waiting. It doesn’t care how you’re feeling today. It’s full of creatures that want to drink your blood or feast on your dead flesh.
My Final Thoughts
If you enjoy cosmic horror and doomsday cults, you should definitely check this one out! I’m still pretty new to cosmic horror, and I think this was an awesome book to help me branch out into that genre more. This is definitely a story that I can see myself returning to again down the road.
Phew, this trilogy...
I have to say right off the bat, I absolutely despised almost every single character in this series. There was just one I liked and respected. However, I also found them all incredibly intriguing! It was like watching a suspenseful day-time soap; I just couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next.
My only slight complaint, and it's my common complaint, was that a lot of this seemed very repetitive to me. Unfortunately, that may just be because I read the three back to back, I'm not totally sure. Where there are so many characters and moving pieces, this could help remind readers of certain things, but for me it really bogged the stories down.
Book Three: Life For Life
Holy, the first chapter had me panicking!! I love when books can make me have a physical response.
I really enjoyed that in this book, we started seeing the downfall occur. In this book, I finally found a character I liked, the judge!
This was my favorite passage from this book:
You scream. The sound is muffled by the box. The only one who can hear it is you, and you know it.
I have to say right off the bat, I absolutely despised almost every single character in this series. There was just one I liked and respected. However, I also found them all incredibly intriguing! It was like watching a suspenseful day-time soap; I just couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next.
My only slight complaint, and it's my common complaint, was that a lot of this seemed very repetitive to me. Unfortunately, that may just be because I read the three back to back, I'm not totally sure. Where there are so many characters and moving pieces, this could help remind readers of certain things, but for me it really bogged the stories down.
Book Three: Life For Life
Holy, the first chapter had me panicking!! I love when books can make me have a physical response.
I really enjoyed that in this book, we started seeing the downfall occur. In this book, I finally found a character I liked, the judge!
This was my favorite passage from this book:
You scream. The sound is muffled by the box. The only one who can hear it is you, and you know it.
Phew, this trilogy...
I have to say right off the bat, I absolutely despised almost every single character in this series. There was just one I liked and respected.However, I also found them all incredibly intriguing! It was like watching a suspenseful day-time soap; I just couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next.
My only slight complaint, and it's my common complaint, was that a lot of this seemed very repetitive to me. Unfortunately, that may just be because I read the three back to back, I'm not totally sure. Where there are so many characters and moving pieces, this could help remind readers of certain things, but for me it really bogged the stories down.
Book Two: Tooth For Tooth
In book two, I really enjoyed getting to know more characters that were tangled up in this crazy web!
Just like the first book, revenge is planned, murder occurs, but the story also gets even more complicated! Roy and Susie are certainly more confident in this one than they were in book one.
I enjoyed the mystery element of this book as we watched Kristy on her quest to find out what was going on as well as how a new player in this twisted puzzle was going to fit in...
The same case here with the epilogue. It tied up a few loose ends wonderfully but also made me want to shout, what's next?!
This was my favorite passage from this book:
The funny thing about nostalgia is, we only tend to remember the good things about the good ol’ days. It’s only when we stop, and actually walk back into that old high school building, that all the bad shit comes rushing back.
I have to say right off the bat, I absolutely despised almost every single character in this series. There was just one I liked and respected.However, I also found them all incredibly intriguing! It was like watching a suspenseful day-time soap; I just couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next.
My only slight complaint, and it's my common complaint, was that a lot of this seemed very repetitive to me. Unfortunately, that may just be because I read the three back to back, I'm not totally sure. Where there are so many characters and moving pieces, this could help remind readers of certain things, but for me it really bogged the stories down.
Book Two: Tooth For Tooth
In book two, I really enjoyed getting to know more characters that were tangled up in this crazy web!
Just like the first book, revenge is planned, murder occurs, but the story also gets even more complicated! Roy and Susie are certainly more confident in this one than they were in book one.
I enjoyed the mystery element of this book as we watched Kristy on her quest to find out what was going on as well as how a new player in this twisted puzzle was going to fit in...
The same case here with the epilogue. It tied up a few loose ends wonderfully but also made me want to shout, what's next?!
This was my favorite passage from this book:
The funny thing about nostalgia is, we only tend to remember the good things about the good ol’ days. It’s only when we stop, and actually walk back into that old high school building, that all the bad shit comes rushing back.
Phew, this trilogy...
I have to say right off the bat, I absolutely despised almost every single character in this series. There was just one I liked and respected. However, I also found them all incredibly intriguing! It was like watching a suspenseful day-time soap; I just couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next.
My only slight complaint, and it's my common complaint, was that a lot of this seemed very repetitive to me. Unfortunately, that may just be because I read the three back to back, I'm not totally sure. Where there are so many characters and moving pieces, this could help remind readers of certain things, but for me it really bogged the stories down.
Book One: Eye For Eye
One of my favorite elements of book one, Eye For Eye, was how well our two main characters, Roy and Susie, planed things out. I was equally shocked and awed (readers of this trilogy will understand this comment- I just couldn't help myself!) by how they kept justifying what they were doing to themselves, even when their sense of right and wrong kicked in...
I also loved how the narrator broke in every now and again to make statements that reminded the reader that this didn’t all go as planned and that were really recounting their story at a later date.
My last note about book one is that it took me until page 272 to make a connection that had been there all along... and phew what a sudden realization that was! I can't believe I hadn't put it together sooner. It's not like it was even slightly hidden. Everything fell into place for me at that point.
And oh my god that epilogue... Talk about things falling into place! This really threw me for a loop, but it all made so much more sense!
I have to say right off the bat, I absolutely despised almost every single character in this series. There was just one I liked and respected. However, I also found them all incredibly intriguing! It was like watching a suspenseful day-time soap; I just couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next.
My only slight complaint, and it's my common complaint, was that a lot of this seemed very repetitive to me. Unfortunately, that may just be because I read the three back to back, I'm not totally sure. Where there are so many characters and moving pieces, this could help remind readers of certain things, but for me it really bogged the stories down.
Book One: Eye For Eye
One of my favorite elements of book one, Eye For Eye, was how well our two main characters, Roy and Susie, planed things out. I was equally shocked and awed (readers of this trilogy will understand this comment- I just couldn't help myself!) by how they kept justifying what they were doing to themselves, even when their sense of right and wrong kicked in...
I also loved how the narrator broke in every now and again to make statements that reminded the reader that this didn’t all go as planned and that were really recounting their story at a later date.
My last note about book one is that it took me until page 272 to make a connection that had been there all along... and phew what a sudden realization that was! I can't believe I hadn't put it together sooner. It's not like it was even slightly hidden. Everything fell into place for me at that point.
And oh my god that epilogue... Talk about things falling into place! This really threw me for a loop, but it all made so much more sense!
The Stairwell by Dean Bryant is a terrifying tale of horrific visions, violence, murder, and manipulation. As this story is organized around two main perspectives, this is one that is sure to keep you guessing!
Full disclosure: I was given a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review, but I also purchased a copy. This did not affect my rating in any way.
What would you do if you suddenly began having visions that showed you horrific things that, at the time, you believed were really happening? What if those visions were then discussed by a real person, no longer allowing you to just brush them aside? The two characters in this tale are haunted by exactly that.
From one perspective we meet a man that has found out that his wife had been cheating on him. But was she just straying, or was there something more sinister at play there?
In the second perspective we meet a young girl who has just met a man that has totally flipped her world upside down. While she is absolutely smitten, is this too good to be true?
As the story continues on, it just gets darker and darker…
I absolutely loved this read. It’s wonderfully written and I really enjoyed how the organization of the chapters in varying perspectives were put together in a way that really amplified the tension and terror.
The plot was so interesting and absolutely chilling. This read had me on the edge of my seat throughout and while I couldn’t wait to see what happened next, I also dreaded finding out what would happen next.
I also really enjoyed the two main characters and felt horrible for them when things started to go downhill. I kept wishing for a happy ending and I couldn’t wait to see if the two characters were going to cross paths at some point before the conclusion of the tale.
My Favorite Passages
I parked in the driveway and approached the front door, but even before inserting my key into the lock, I knew something was wrong.
My mood was still much darker than any of the clouds handing overhead ready to reclaim the sky…
The sweet innocence of my daughter almost made me forget everything else that had happened. It was as if her love for me allowed me to build a wall in my mind, though how long until it inevitably came crashing down, I wasn’t sure.
My Final Thoughts
If you enjoy dark and twisted reads centered around characters with a lot of heart and bravery, then this is a book for you! This is also a tale that will make readers question what they would do if they found themselves in the shoes of the two main characters…
This is a story that I will definitely be returning to in the future.
Full disclosure: I was given a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review, but I also purchased a copy. This did not affect my rating in any way.
What would you do if you suddenly began having visions that showed you horrific things that, at the time, you believed were really happening? What if those visions were then discussed by a real person, no longer allowing you to just brush them aside? The two characters in this tale are haunted by exactly that.
From one perspective we meet a man that has found out that his wife had been cheating on him. But was she just straying, or was there something more sinister at play there?
In the second perspective we meet a young girl who has just met a man that has totally flipped her world upside down. While she is absolutely smitten, is this too good to be true?
As the story continues on, it just gets darker and darker…
I absolutely loved this read. It’s wonderfully written and I really enjoyed how the organization of the chapters in varying perspectives were put together in a way that really amplified the tension and terror.
The plot was so interesting and absolutely chilling. This read had me on the edge of my seat throughout and while I couldn’t wait to see what happened next, I also dreaded finding out what would happen next.
I also really enjoyed the two main characters and felt horrible for them when things started to go downhill. I kept wishing for a happy ending and I couldn’t wait to see if the two characters were going to cross paths at some point before the conclusion of the tale.
My Favorite Passages
I parked in the driveway and approached the front door, but even before inserting my key into the lock, I knew something was wrong.
My mood was still much darker than any of the clouds handing overhead ready to reclaim the sky…
The sweet innocence of my daughter almost made me forget everything else that had happened. It was as if her love for me allowed me to build a wall in my mind, though how long until it inevitably came crashing down, I wasn’t sure.
My Final Thoughts
If you enjoy dark and twisted reads centered around characters with a lot of heart and bravery, then this is a book for you! This is also a tale that will make readers question what they would do if they found themselves in the shoes of the two main characters…
This is a story that I will definitely be returning to in the future.
Girl on Fire by Gemma Amor is a fiery tale about a girl that just wants to get away and start her life on a fresh chapter. But as she navigates the very beginning of this next chapter, she crosses paths with more toxic people that are just as bad as the one she had been running from.
Will she be able to rise above, or will she let herself become a monster?
When this story begins, we meet a teenaged girl named Ruby who has finally broken free of a toxic family life. But just as she’s feeling that she is finally able to celebrate, her car hits a pothole, veers off the road, flips over, and ends up bursting into flame.
But Ruby isn’t at the end of the line here… Her fresh start is about to truly begin as she rises from the ashes.
From there, we’re off and running on a path following Ruby, who is no longer allowing anyone to treat her poorly. If they do, they will find themselves in the hot seat.
I absolutely loved Ruby. My heart went out to her learning some of her backstory and then seeing how much she struggled with the line between finally being herself and giving in to the evil thoughts. This poor girl didn’t stand a chance with her upbringing and the messages that were drilled into her.
The author certainly played with the pull between being good and being evil here. I really enjoyed seeing this teenager struggle with both that and the new feeling of finally having some power for the very first time. She was clearly in a negative headspace, and some of the people she ran into during her journey certainly didn’t help that as it just made her more and more angry. But when some of the characters she came across showed her kindness, I had hope that they were getting through to her.
While the story centered around Ruby, I loved that we got chapters from the perspectives of others that played a part here. I especially loved Cat and how strong-willed she was. One of my favorite scenes, even though I was cringing the whole time, was seeing how Cat gave it right back to the people that were interrogating her.
My Favorite Passages
Hate, I realise, can be a useful survival mechanism.
I could weep, but I will not, because I have shit to do, and crying is a waste of my time.
Maybe I want to see if I really am evil, all the way through, or maybe I’m wondering if my evil comes in spots, like rotten patches on a dropped apple. You can cut the bad bits away, and still have a half-way decent apple left behind.
We can’t expect life to make sense. We just make our own truths, and there is something liberating in that.
“… You’re entitled to your anger. You’re not entitled to take it out on the world at large. Do that, and you’re just… I dunno, a fucking patron saint for everything toxic and bad. Tyler Durden. Thanos. The fucking Joker. With tits.”
Guilt is a slow-growing flower.
My Final Thoughts
This was such an intense read. Ruby certainly makes a great villain, but I absolutely cannot wait to see if she returns and takes another path.
I highly recommend checking this one out asap!
Will she be able to rise above, or will she let herself become a monster?
When this story begins, we meet a teenaged girl named Ruby who has finally broken free of a toxic family life. But just as she’s feeling that she is finally able to celebrate, her car hits a pothole, veers off the road, flips over, and ends up bursting into flame.
But Ruby isn’t at the end of the line here… Her fresh start is about to truly begin as she rises from the ashes.
From there, we’re off and running on a path following Ruby, who is no longer allowing anyone to treat her poorly. If they do, they will find themselves in the hot seat.
I absolutely loved Ruby. My heart went out to her learning some of her backstory and then seeing how much she struggled with the line between finally being herself and giving in to the evil thoughts. This poor girl didn’t stand a chance with her upbringing and the messages that were drilled into her.
The author certainly played with the pull between being good and being evil here. I really enjoyed seeing this teenager struggle with both that and the new feeling of finally having some power for the very first time. She was clearly in a negative headspace, and some of the people she ran into during her journey certainly didn’t help that as it just made her more and more angry. But when some of the characters she came across showed her kindness, I had hope that they were getting through to her.
While the story centered around Ruby, I loved that we got chapters from the perspectives of others that played a part here. I especially loved Cat and how strong-willed she was. One of my favorite scenes, even though I was cringing the whole time, was seeing how Cat gave it right back to the people that were interrogating her.
My Favorite Passages
Hate, I realise, can be a useful survival mechanism.
I could weep, but I will not, because I have shit to do, and crying is a waste of my time.
Maybe I want to see if I really am evil, all the way through, or maybe I’m wondering if my evil comes in spots, like rotten patches on a dropped apple. You can cut the bad bits away, and still have a half-way decent apple left behind.
We can’t expect life to make sense. We just make our own truths, and there is something liberating in that.
“… You’re entitled to your anger. You’re not entitled to take it out on the world at large. Do that, and you’re just… I dunno, a fucking patron saint for everything toxic and bad. Tyler Durden. Thanos. The fucking Joker. With tits.”
Guilt is a slow-growing flower.
My Final Thoughts
This was such an intense read. Ruby certainly makes a great villain, but I absolutely cannot wait to see if she returns and takes another path.
I highly recommend checking this one out asap!
After Sundown Edited by Mark Morris is a collection of tales that have a great range! From bizarre, to mildly unsettling, all the way to full blown terror, this collection has it all!
Full disclosure: I was given a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my rating in any way.
Overall, this was a fun collection! I loved the variety of the stories.
Like most collections, there were tales in there that I loved while a couple weren’t for me.
Here are my quick notes on each tale.
Introduction by Mark Morris –
I loved learning a bit about how this anthology came about!
Butterfly Island by C.J. Tudor – 5/5
Oh my gosh, this one was just filled with twists! In a world that has been ravaged by a virus, a group of people head to Butterfly Island to hole up. But when they near the island they learn it’s protected by underwater mines… but that’s not the only threat they’ll face. This story is a great short story but I would also love to see what happens next!
What an opening paragraph:
Almost every bad plan is hatched over a few beers in a bar. The end of the world won’t finally arrive with a bang or a whimper. It will start with the words: ‘Hey – y’know what would be a really great idea?’ slurred over a bottle of Estrella.
Research by Tim Lebbon – 4/5
In this story, a writer has been kidnapped and is locked in a basement while his kidnappers say they’re doing “research”… My how the tables turned in this one! I loved the ending!
Swanskin by Alison Littlewood – 3/5
In a town where the women are robbed of their original forms, the men believe they are saving them but the fact that they have to destroy or hide their skins proves their drive to control. What a unique premise this story had! I don’t think I’ve read anything like this one when it came to the skins!
That’s the Spirit by Sarah Lotz – 4/5
Eek! This one was so stressful to read! I kept hoping that everything was going to work out and for this “psychic” to really get in contact with the other side and help. He and his partner had quite the setup!
Gave by Michael Bailey – 3/5
Oh boy this one made me feel so queasy. I can’t do anything related to drawing blood. But the underlying plot point here of the worlds population decreasing was terrifying. I loved how this one was formatted as well with the sections of story in different ages.
Wherever You Look by Ramsey Campbell – 3/5
Phew! What a quest this man was on. I enjoyed his determination to retract down answers.
Same Time Next Year by Angela Slatter – 4/5
What a fun premise this one had! As we follow a ghost that is alone in a cemetery, I loved the draw toward violence that she had and I was even more intrigued by it because we weren’t given a clear why.
Mine Seven by Elana Gonel – 4/5
Oofh! What a trip gone wrong! The thought of traveling somewhere that is in full dark terrifies me. I kept worrying about what these people would do if the lights went out, but what happened was so much worse.
It Doesn’t Feel Right by Michael Marshall Smith – 4/5
Oh no, in this tale there’s something not quite right about the socks that these parents are trying to get their child to wear. But it’s not just one pair, it’s most socks. But is it psychosomatic or is there something else going on? Phew what a tale!
Creeping Ivy by Laura Purcell – 5/5
When a man loses his wife, the reader very quickly realizes that he isn’t exactly broken up about it… What a tale! I loved the desperation felt in this one, and of course, I also loved the slow build of creepiness!
Last Rites for the Fourth World by Rick Cross – 5/5
Woah, I loved this one! The overall plot was interesting and I enjoyed seeing each creature pop up, even if it was in a very devastating way.
We All Come Home by Simon Bestwick – 5/5
Absolutely terrifying! As this man is on a quest to unlock a suppressed memory, we see him entering the woods where the traumatic event occurred. From start to finish, this one had me feeling so unsettled and nervous!
The Importance of Oral Hygiene by Robert Shearman –
This unfortunately wasn’t one for me.
Bokeh by Thana Niveau – 5/5
What is it about stories with creepy children?! My goodness this one was unsettling, then flat out horrific. What a tale!
Murder Board by Grady Hendrix – 5/5
Does using an Ouija Board ever go right?! Phew, what a dark and intense tale. I was hooked!
Alice’s Rebellion by John Langan – 3/5
If you’re an Alice in Wonderland fan, this story will be a hit for you! I loved a lot of the messages here that were related to current times, and boy they were timely.
The Mirror House by Jonathan Robbins Leon – 4/5
So unsettling! What would you do if you suddenly found a door that lead to a house just like your own, but mirrored? The ending of this certainly threw me for a loop. Was it a sad ending or a happy one?! I can’t decide!
The Naughty Step by Stephen Volk – 4/5
My gosh this one was heartbreaking! This poor kid…
A Hotel in Germany by Catriona Ward – 3/5
Phew! This one was kind of like a fever dream for me. I wasn’t sure exactly what was happening, but I enjoyed the trip!
Branch Line by Paul Finch – 5/5
What a story to end the collection on! This one was equally terrifying and heartbreaking!
My Final Thoughts
Overall, this is definitely a collection I’d recommend to fans of short stories! This would be great to either pick up and breeze through the tales back to back, or take your time only reading one story here and there to spread them out.
Full disclosure: I was given a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my rating in any way.
Overall, this was a fun collection! I loved the variety of the stories.
Like most collections, there were tales in there that I loved while a couple weren’t for me.
Here are my quick notes on each tale.
Introduction by Mark Morris –
I loved learning a bit about how this anthology came about!
Butterfly Island by C.J. Tudor – 5/5
Oh my gosh, this one was just filled with twists! In a world that has been ravaged by a virus, a group of people head to Butterfly Island to hole up. But when they near the island they learn it’s protected by underwater mines… but that’s not the only threat they’ll face. This story is a great short story but I would also love to see what happens next!
What an opening paragraph:
Almost every bad plan is hatched over a few beers in a bar. The end of the world won’t finally arrive with a bang or a whimper. It will start with the words: ‘Hey – y’know what would be a really great idea?’ slurred over a bottle of Estrella.
Research by Tim Lebbon – 4/5
In this story, a writer has been kidnapped and is locked in a basement while his kidnappers say they’re doing “research”… My how the tables turned in this one! I loved the ending!
Swanskin by Alison Littlewood – 3/5
In a town where the women are robbed of their original forms, the men believe they are saving them but the fact that they have to destroy or hide their skins proves their drive to control. What a unique premise this story had! I don’t think I’ve read anything like this one when it came to the skins!
That’s the Spirit by Sarah Lotz – 4/5
Eek! This one was so stressful to read! I kept hoping that everything was going to work out and for this “psychic” to really get in contact with the other side and help. He and his partner had quite the setup!
Gave by Michael Bailey – 3/5
Oh boy this one made me feel so queasy. I can’t do anything related to drawing blood. But the underlying plot point here of the worlds population decreasing was terrifying. I loved how this one was formatted as well with the sections of story in different ages.
Wherever You Look by Ramsey Campbell – 3/5
Phew! What a quest this man was on. I enjoyed his determination to retract down answers.
Same Time Next Year by Angela Slatter – 4/5
What a fun premise this one had! As we follow a ghost that is alone in a cemetery, I loved the draw toward violence that she had and I was even more intrigued by it because we weren’t given a clear why.
Mine Seven by Elana Gonel – 4/5
Oofh! What a trip gone wrong! The thought of traveling somewhere that is in full dark terrifies me. I kept worrying about what these people would do if the lights went out, but what happened was so much worse.
It Doesn’t Feel Right by Michael Marshall Smith – 4/5
Oh no, in this tale there’s something not quite right about the socks that these parents are trying to get their child to wear. But it’s not just one pair, it’s most socks. But is it psychosomatic or is there something else going on? Phew what a tale!
Creeping Ivy by Laura Purcell – 5/5
When a man loses his wife, the reader very quickly realizes that he isn’t exactly broken up about it… What a tale! I loved the desperation felt in this one, and of course, I also loved the slow build of creepiness!
Last Rites for the Fourth World by Rick Cross – 5/5
Woah, I loved this one! The overall plot was interesting and I enjoyed seeing each creature pop up, even if it was in a very devastating way.
We All Come Home by Simon Bestwick – 5/5
Absolutely terrifying! As this man is on a quest to unlock a suppressed memory, we see him entering the woods where the traumatic event occurred. From start to finish, this one had me feeling so unsettled and nervous!
The Importance of Oral Hygiene by Robert Shearman –
This unfortunately wasn’t one for me.
Bokeh by Thana Niveau – 5/5
What is it about stories with creepy children?! My goodness this one was unsettling, then flat out horrific. What a tale!
Murder Board by Grady Hendrix – 5/5
Does using an Ouija Board ever go right?! Phew, what a dark and intense tale. I was hooked!
Alice’s Rebellion by John Langan – 3/5
If you’re an Alice in Wonderland fan, this story will be a hit for you! I loved a lot of the messages here that were related to current times, and boy they were timely.
The Mirror House by Jonathan Robbins Leon – 4/5
So unsettling! What would you do if you suddenly found a door that lead to a house just like your own, but mirrored? The ending of this certainly threw me for a loop. Was it a sad ending or a happy one?! I can’t decide!
The Naughty Step by Stephen Volk – 4/5
My gosh this one was heartbreaking! This poor kid…
A Hotel in Germany by Catriona Ward – 3/5
Phew! This one was kind of like a fever dream for me. I wasn’t sure exactly what was happening, but I enjoyed the trip!
Branch Line by Paul Finch – 5/5
What a story to end the collection on! This one was equally terrifying and heartbreaking!
My Final Thoughts
Overall, this is definitely a collection I’d recommend to fans of short stories! This would be great to either pick up and breeze through the tales back to back, or take your time only reading one story here and there to spread them out.
Shadow Ridge by M.E. Browning is a police procedural, heavy on the mystery, that is centered around a video game that changed everything.
When a young man is found dead, the police are quick to label it as a suicide, but one detective isn’t convinced. She is about to find herself rushing down a twisted path to find the truth.
Full disclosure: I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review during this book tour via Partners In Crime Virtual Book Tours. This did not affect my rating in any way.
Boy were the two main characters here similar! They were both incredibly stubborn, quick-witted, and unapologetically blunt. While I wasn’t a huge fan of either of them at first, they grew on me as the story unfolded and we got to learn more about them.
Overall, I thought that the plot was interesting! I loved that it centered around video games and cyberspace. I also really appreciated how determined Detective Jo Wyatt was, and how she refused to let go, even when everyone else was ready to close the case. And the banter between Wyatt and Squint was hilarious! Their dialogue had me chuckling a few times.
We also got to see a few glimpses into Jo’s personal life here and there. I’d be curious to see what happens in a future book as a few plot elements were just sprinkled in here.
I loved the bit of foreshadowing that occurred very briefly in one scene. Sorry to be wicked brief here, but I’ll let you discover that on your own if you pick this one up!
One last thing I wanted to mention was how well this author handled the sexism that the main character faced. It was clear that the author added this in with a lot of care, but also wasn’t afraid to show how bad it can get. Many scenes had my blood boiling.
My Favorite Passages
Squint peered over his computer. “Any luck?”“Does bad count?”“Wasn’t exactly what I was hoping to hear.”
She turned to her email. The Denver agent had sent her a series of messages containing several links and numerous PDFs. The sheer number of attachments meant one thing: she needed more coffee.
Sully pulled a Guinness behind the bar. He was a bear of a man, but whether that was a grizzly or a teddy bear depended on how a person held his liquor.
Rogue snowflakes blown from the trees entered the apartment when Alice left. They twirled like drunken butterflies and then fell to the ground, spent.
My Final Thoughts
I enjoyed this read! I loved how everything came together at the end as the tangled path of mystery was finally mapped out.
If you enjoy mysteries featuring headstrong characters with a lot of heart, this is one that I would recommend!
When a young man is found dead, the police are quick to label it as a suicide, but one detective isn’t convinced. She is about to find herself rushing down a twisted path to find the truth.
Full disclosure: I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review during this book tour via Partners In Crime Virtual Book Tours. This did not affect my rating in any way.
Boy were the two main characters here similar! They were both incredibly stubborn, quick-witted, and unapologetically blunt. While I wasn’t a huge fan of either of them at first, they grew on me as the story unfolded and we got to learn more about them.
Overall, I thought that the plot was interesting! I loved that it centered around video games and cyberspace. I also really appreciated how determined Detective Jo Wyatt was, and how she refused to let go, even when everyone else was ready to close the case. And the banter between Wyatt and Squint was hilarious! Their dialogue had me chuckling a few times.
We also got to see a few glimpses into Jo’s personal life here and there. I’d be curious to see what happens in a future book as a few plot elements were just sprinkled in here.
I loved the bit of foreshadowing that occurred very briefly in one scene. Sorry to be wicked brief here, but I’ll let you discover that on your own if you pick this one up!
One last thing I wanted to mention was how well this author handled the sexism that the main character faced. It was clear that the author added this in with a lot of care, but also wasn’t afraid to show how bad it can get. Many scenes had my blood boiling.
My Favorite Passages
Squint peered over his computer. “Any luck?”“Does bad count?”“Wasn’t exactly what I was hoping to hear.”
She turned to her email. The Denver agent had sent her a series of messages containing several links and numerous PDFs. The sheer number of attachments meant one thing: she needed more coffee.
Sully pulled a Guinness behind the bar. He was a bear of a man, but whether that was a grizzly or a teddy bear depended on how a person held his liquor.
Rogue snowflakes blown from the trees entered the apartment when Alice left. They twirled like drunken butterflies and then fell to the ground, spent.
My Final Thoughts
I enjoyed this read! I loved how everything came together at the end as the tangled path of mystery was finally mapped out.
If you enjoy mysteries featuring headstrong characters with a lot of heart, this is one that I would recommend!