Reviews by ericarobyn | The StoryGraph

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ericarobyn

Depart, Depart!

5.0

challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

Depart, Depart by Sim Kern is a heartbreaking story of natural disasters, survivors’ guilt, generational trauma, and fear. And yet, it’s also a tale about finding yourself and your family, even in the darkest of times.

This novella is packed with very real terrors that many are faced with every day. From racism, transphobia, and homophobia, to things like natural disasters, poor gun control, and lack of food.

My heart broke for all of these characters. It was clear they had all been through trauma thanks to the natural disaster, but our core group had been through much more. Watching them navigate the situation and be met with so much hatred was terribly blood-boiling. Through these situations, the author does an amazing job of putting readers right in the shoes of the characters.

The author also has a lot of love and uplifting elements here. It made me so happy to see how quickly these characters were drawn to one another. And mixed into the darkness, there were little bursts of things that help readers restore faith in humanity for at least a minute. The scene where our main character asked for help to gather supplies was one that really stood out.

I’m in awe of this author. Not only did they balance the light and dark, but they also didn’t shy away from really laying into the horrors of the darkness.

This book is one that will have you switching from smiling to scowling constantly while reading. You’ll want to jump right into the pages of the book to help support the group as well.

My Favorite Passages from Depart, Depart

“But it just takes one hateful person to ruin everything, doesn’t it?”

Noah is stunned and hurting, like he’d bent to smell a rose and gotten stung by a wasp.

My Final Thoughts on Depart, Depart

A must-read for all!

This story is one I would especially recommend to horror fans that enjoy the terror of natural disasters and can read about the horrible hatred that some people hold.

But please do tread lightly. If you’re not in a good place to read the dark parts, I would hold off on this. The author handles it with care, but it could definitely be triggering.

Content Warnings

American Cannibal

Maenad Press, Rebecca Rowland

4.0

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

American Cannibal edited by Rebecca Rowland is an anthology of gag-inducing horror centered around the darkness of humankind and cannibalism.

It took me a very long time to get through this one. I had some health stuff going on where nausea was a constant, and picking up this book to see what new tale would make me gag was as dread-inducing as it was intriguing to see what was next.

My favorites from the collection include:

The Lost Diary by Candace Nola
Wendigo Dreams by Owl Goingback
The Hungry Wives Of Bleak Street by Gwendolyn Kiste
When A Stranger Bites by L. Stephenson

Per usual, here are my notes on each tale.

Foreword by Wrath James White –

What an opening by Wrath! My goodness, the focus on humans being terrible humans totally spooked me. I mean, this line summarizes it nicely:

“There is no more terrifying a creature than mankind, the apex predator.”

The Lost Diary by Candace Nola –

A collection of diary entries shows the slow and painful winter that this group of people tries to survive. When the hunters of the group, which doubles as the burial group, suddenly start coming back with strange meat, one man is determined to learn what they are up to. But will he be able to live with what he learns?

This story of desperation and survival left me absolutely chilled. The description of the settlement and the horrible conditions was chilling enough, but then when their people start dying off, that only added to it.

Carnivore by Jeremy Megargee –

When this mother-daughter duo loses their group after wandering off the Oregon Trail, they are left to fend for themselves. Luckily, this mother is willing to do whatever it takes to keep her daughter alive.

I was so anxious reading this one. I definitely thought there was going to be another character that came in, but I was so very wrong. The path this story took was heartbreakingly awful.

Gold Rush by V. Castro –

When a man wanders into town, a woman with an intense role in the town is immediately drawn to him. Soon, the two realize they’re a perfect pair.

I was so nervous this one was going to go sideways. But I loved this story path!

Ozark Devil Cult Blues by Jon Steffens –

Traveling back to apologize to an old friend, this man is shocked to see how well his old friend is getting on. Eating the best steak of his life, the two seem to be getting along nicely. But then his friend shows him the kitchens…

The change in atmosphere here was so intense! As a reader, you can feel the chill.

Wendigo Dreams by Owl Goingback –

Out in the woods looking for game to bring back to his family, this man returns empty-handed, but with something much more dangerous.

I’m a big fan of stories set in the woods. Add in a wendigo and all the extra bloodshed?! I was hooked.

Mastication Station by Clint Smith –

After a dam breaks, leaving the town in disaster, a man learns about another rescue mission. Intrigued by the woman’s beauty, he takes off. But will his quest to save the girl work out?

The description of the poor town after the incident was heartbreaking. Then in the other setting, I was on edge.

And The Window Was Boarded Shut by Elizabeth Maddie –

After being arrested after a protest to gain the right to vote, these two sisters are separated from the others and kept in a room. One man oversees their corridor and he’s not happy with their “attitudes.”

What a dark and heartbreaking tale! So much unfairness all bundled into one.

The Flannigan Cure by EV Knight –

When a man forced to dry out is put under extreme pressure, he realizes he needs a little something to take the edge off. That something leads to something else, and before he knows it, he’s stuck trying to get more.

What a wild tale of addiction! This had so many tense moments. This is a main character that is sure easy to hate.

Papa’s Night (Or The Short, Happy Life Of Elena De Hoyos) by Douglas Ford –

Approached after a night of drinking, this man goes with another man back to a house where a story is promised. The main character ignores all the red flags but certainly gets a story.

So glad the writer chose a man for this main character. Way too many red flags as a woman!

The Hungry Wives Of Bleak Street by Gwendolyn Kiste –

Forced to give bits of their flesh every day, some of these women are beginning to tire of this way of living.

What a horribly unsettling premise. These poor women. But a great reflection on what women go through for appearances and family.

Texas Is The Reason by Brain Asman –

A man determined to get answers travels a risky road, not seeing the danger until he was in too deep. Will he be able to save himself?

The tension and gritty feel to this one, my goodness!

Tender Farm by C.V. Hunt –

I was warned by a close friend, who was also reading this book at the same time, to skip this one for now based on some things I have going on in my personal life. I will be back sometime next year hopefully!

When A Stranger Bites by L. Stephenson –

While waiting for her daughter to return from the movies to watch the moon landing together, this mother goes about her evening chores. Suddenly faced with a strange man in her yard, she’s forced to confront him when her daughter finally arrives home.

My goodness, the TENSION in this one! The entire time the woman was in her backyard, I kept thinking; hurry up, hurry up, hurry up! This one was terrifying!

All Ears by Clay McLeod Chapman –

A boy who just wants to make his father happy is drawn into the darkness after his father returns from the war, broken.

What a heartbreaking tale! And that ending!

Seasons Out Of Time by Jeffrey Ford –

Following a man determined to get people to his home to eat them, we watch as things build slowly.

This was terrifying. How nonchalant this main character was is so unnerving.

Let’s Hear It For The Boy by Bridgett Nelson –

Dying of aids, when a man loses his partner and has nothing else to look forward to except his dying breath, he agrees to sign up for clinical trials of a drug that may help. But he has no idea what he’s walking in to.

A heartbreaking tale from start to finish. Just when you think it can’t get any worse, it does.

Go At Throttle Up by Ronald Malfi –

While watching tv live and seeing the explosion of the Challenger, this school teacher’s senses are rocked. But that’s not the only intense thing that is going to happen that day…

This was such a quiet horror tale with so many awful elements hiding just below the surface.

Tiki Bar At The Edge Of Forever by Daniel Braum –

Following a group of friends who are looking forward to graduation and spending time hanging out at the beach, we learn that our main character is battling demons.

A strange and spooky tale that will make you think twice about being at a beach in the dark.

Flesh Communion by Holly Rae Garcia –

Stuck in an interrogation room, this woman is forced to retell her tale of being in Waco.

My goodness. What a dark twist to an already dark story…

Y2K Feast by Jeff Strand –

Gearing up for the big technology crash, this father had been prepping his family. But when he asks them if they would be prepared to eat humans, things go sideways.

What a wild ride this one was!

My Favorite Passages from American Cannibal

As beautiful as it was, John’s wrinkled brow let it be known he was troubled, though there was likely no one for miles to see the unease etched on his weathered face.
— Ozark Devil Cult Blues by Jon Steffens

Outside, the yard was darker than she realized. She could feel it cover her with its heavy curtain.
— When A Stranger Bites by L. Stephenson

Sure, I wanted to serve my country, but most of all, I just wanted to serve my dad. Damn right I’d been ready to enlist right alongside him, following in my father’s footsteps with my plastic rifle pressed firmly against my chest. All the way to Quang Ngai. All six years of myself.
— All Ears by Clay McLeod Chapman

Physical pain faded over time; that other shit left scars.
— Go At Throttle Up by Ronald Malfi

I squint and all the colors of the night-time sea appear in the blackness: an infinite amount of grays all muted in shadow.
— Tiki Bar At The Edge Of Forever by Daniel Braum

My Final Thoughts on American Cannibal

Wrath James White said it best in the foreword, “There is no more terrifying a creature than mankind, the apex predator.” This anthology certainly proved that.

This whole collection is an amazingly difficult read, each author brings the terror and highlights the darkest elements of humans.

Prepare your stomach before diving into this one.

Content Warnings

Magnum Opus

Caitlin Marceau

4.5

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Magnum Opus by Caitlin Marceau is a tale of jealousy gone very, very wrong when a night of celebrating turns into a murder mystery!

When celebrating the news that Charlotte’s book is going to be coming out from a big publisher, her friend, Kim, arrives with champagne and cupcakes. What should have been a night of fun and celebration suddenly turns sour when Kim announces that her latest book will also be released on the same day.

Furious, but trying not to let it show, Charlotte brings out more alcohol, knowing Kim won’t say no. And of course, things only get darker from there.

The focus on alcohol and jealousy at the beginning of this story was such a terrifying mix. The amount of drink that Charlotte seemed to be pushing on Kim was sickening, especially considering her thought that Kim had an issue with drinking early on. Charlotte knew what she was doing. Even in the heat of the moment that changed everything, it felt like Charlotte had wanted that all along. And that level of jealousy? That gave me a pit in my stomach right away.

However, the single most terrifying element of the story to me was seeing the fake facade that Charlotte put forth with Kim, not letting her in on the fact that something was wrong. These two were supposed to be friends, but Charlotte had clearly been harboring some nasty thoughts.

With the setup of all these negative feelings at the start, I couldn’t help but root for Charlotte to get what was coming to her. And the rest of the story was certainly entertaining from that standpoint!

I picked this up and read it in one quick sitting, super curious to see how things would play out. What a tale!

My Favorite Passage from Magnum Opus

The cushions where Kim had fallen asleep looked perpetually weighed down. No matter how much she fluffed them, no matter how much she rearranged the couch covers, and no matter how many blankets she piled under the cushions to lift them higher, they constantly looked flat.
Like Kim was still lying down on them.

My Final Thoughts on Magnum Opus

Magnum Opus is certainly a story that makes you question how well you actually know your friends. Are the friends you have truly celebrating your wins, or are they secretly hoping that you’ll fail?

A Blackness Absolute

Caitlin Marceau

4.0

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

A Blackness Absolute by Caitlin Marceau is a collection of chilling short horror tales that will have you experiencing a wide range of emotions while reading.

Kicking off with a terrifying and claustrophobia-inducing tale, I knew I was in for a ride with this collection. Sure enough, I also had second-hand rage, terror, loneliness, desire, and more.

My favorites from the collection include:

A Blackness Absolute
In Obeisance Park
Gordon

Here are my notes on each tale:

A Blackness Absolute –
Visiting an old abandoned mine that his father used to work in, this young man is so excited to try to explore. His girlfriend doesn’t want to be there but doesn’t tell him that. When things go sideways because in an old mine of course they do, the two get split up.

My goodness. This setting is absolutely terrifying. So claustrophobia-inducing. Just thinking about Caitlin’s description of the air inside the mine has me feeling light-headed.

Sarah –
All Sarah wants is to fit in with the other kids. But her cleft lip sets her apart, as does being the reverend’s daughter. But this year, she is allowed a small birthday party. But the party only gets worse and worse.

My goodness, this poor girl. I can relate to finding out people only hung out with you because their parents made them. Oofh. But that ending was wicked!

The Broomway –
When a selfish man crosses the broomway, his past comes back for him.

A tale told in two timelines, this one steadily grew in horror. What an ending! The last two sentences. Phew.

In Obeisance Park –
Discovering a boat sunken in the muck of a pond within a park, this boy is determined to get it out. He’s successful, but there’s something stuck inside.

I was so expecting a jump scare here with the bug. What we got was much more unsettling.

Gordon –
After losing her husband, a woman’s son surprises her with a cat named Gordon. But once the cat arrives, things start to go downhill.

This just kept getting worse and worse! This poor woman!

The Blue –
Setting out to kayak down a river into a lake, this man asks his friend not to worry and to just meet him back at that spot in three hours. But will he make it back?

Like he’s stuck under a siren’s call, this poor man could never have guessed what was coming.

Barmbrack –
Determined to complete rituals to find out if a boy likes her, this girl pushes herself to her limit.

Oofh, the asthma focus had me itching for my inhaler with sympathy symptoms.

Doireann –
When a long, cold winter has everyone on the edge of starvation, this woman is determined to pay her respects to her lost friend.

The desperation here was chilling.

My Final Thoughts on A Blackness Absolute

The way that Caitlin writes really sucks you into each story, spitting you out at the end gasping for air.

This collection covered such a great range. Horror fans of all types are sure to love this.

FEMINA: A Collection Of Dark Fiction

Caitlin Marceau

5.0

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Femina by Caitlin Marceau is a collection of short stories about the darkness of womanhood that are sure to get under your skin.

Caitlin does such a great job here. You can tell that each story was handled with care, but she certainly does not shy away from going as far as she needs to go to really reflect each situation in the light it needs.

My favorites were:

Llanwey Point
In Utero
Blood and Coffee
23 McCormick Road

Here are my notes on each story:

Tabula Rasa –
Waking up feeling extremely cold, Cassie is concerned. Thinking she is alone on a ship, she is shocked to find another being that is identical to her. And worse, she’s missing memories.

This was such a tense tale! The setting along was enough to scare me. But then the author hits on one of my all time biggest fears – forgetting major life events. My heart broke for Cassie. What a powerful story of doing anything for a child.

Gastric –
Pressured to have surgery for weightloss, this poor woman knows that it was a bad idea. She had no idea how bad until she has complications.

My god, the fatphobia and gaslighting here from the male characters is absolutely blood boiling. I wanted to rage on behalf of this poor woman. No one should ever be dismissed when they bring up symptoms.

Teeth –
What an unsettling poem!

The Only Thing To Fear –
Attending a lecture on what to do if you know someone who shifts into a loups-garous, a teenage girl tries to put off the advances of her boyfriend of three months. Later, when an evening doesn’t go as the boyfriend had hoped, he decides to act out like a typical terrible teenage boy…

Most of this one had me fuming, but that ending was glorious!

Llanwey Point –
When her boyfriend suddenly wants to go camping overnight, this young girl is confused but goes along with the plan. During the hike, as she tries to talk with him, she gets nothing but snarky and rude comments. Before long, she wishes she had never agreed to the trip.

My gosh the red flags in this one! I yet again wanted to rage on this poor girls behalf. But that ending was absolute gold!

Raw Footage From The Cushing’s Mall –
When three teens break into an abandoned mall to film for their YouTube channel, things get weird very quickly.

Set up as a transcription of the video, this nightmare reads terrifyingly well. This one covered so much in a short burst; teenage drama, heartbreak, betrayal, fear, and more.

Splinter –
When this couple goes shopping for plants and flowers for their home, one of them is struck by a suffering plant. After a discussion, one reluctantly agrees to let the other buy it. But when picking it up, the reluctant one gets a splinter. Of course, this isn’t just any normal splinter…

Phew! Splinters are scary as is. I mean, how many of us were told that if we didn’t get splinters out that they could go to our hearts and kill us? But this splinter was really something of nightmares!

Sticky Sweet –
Yikes! Another unsettling poem! What a vivid picture this one paints!

Broken –
When an agreement between two kings leads to an arranged marriage, the marriage is doomed from the start as the future king is in love with the second daughter, not the first that he must wed. The two can’t stay apart. When the wife discovers the betrayal, she cooks up a plan.

What a sad story! Knowing these arrangements never work out, I should have anticipated where this was going, but it still broke my heart anyway for everyone involved.

In Utero –
The way my eyes bugged out at the last sentence of this one! My goodness!

Everything She’s Looking For –
Drawn together in love, these two realize they also have magic between them. But one wants more from the relationship than the other.

Ugh, I was so happy reading the first half of this one. A tale about the risks of love taking everything from you.

Loop –
What a short and anxiety-inducing tale and what a cool format!

Blood and Coffee –
Frustrated in both her work life and personal life, this woman has finally had enough.

My god this story captures the dismissive behavior of men so perfectly. This made me so angry on the characters’ behalf.

The Amphitrite –
Spending time in an underwater observation area, this researcher is counting down the time until the ship will arrive to bring her back home. But something isn’t right…

Oofh. When I finally had a guess at what was going on here, I was so sad. What a tale!

23 McCormick Road –
Moving into a new home, one of the women settles in nicely. But the other woman is having trouble. What starts as a feeling that she’s not alone, grows into seeing a young boy, she doesn’t know what to do. But soon, with a little help from a neighbor, she knows exactly what must be done.

This one was so chilling, incredibly heartbreaking, but also so hopeful and full of love.

My Favorite Passages from Femina

She follows him reluctantly, checking over her shoulder as she climbs the narrow path, branches scratching at her face and catching in her hair. It feels like the forest is trying to grab her, like the very trees are trying to hook themselves into her skin and stop her from making her ascent. Something moves behind her in the dark it’s the same thing that’s been following her all day, appearing at the edges of her vision and disappearing before she can register what it is and she forces herself to move faster.
— Llanwey Point

“Hoping is like the lazy man’s version of looking. It’s searching for something greater than one’s self and assuming you’ll come up empty-handed, but that maybe you’ll find something eventually…”
— Everything She’s Looking For

My Final Thoughts on Femina

Every single one of the stories in Femina gave me an extreme emotional reaction. More often than not, I wanted to absolutely rage on behalf of the characters for what they were going through. A few times, I found myself clutching the edges of my book, about to hulk out and rip it up out of anger for the characters.

What a powerful collection. This is a must-read!

Hell on High

Michael Clark

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Hell On High by Michael Clark is a tale of adventure and determination that forces a deep chill into your bones that will linger long after the final page.

From the forests of Brazil to the top of Mount Everest, the main character of this story faces many horrors. Her sheer determination to survive and help her sister keeps her on her path during this suspenseful and nerve-wracking tale!

CW: This book contains content warnings at the back that details a full list. The one element I would like to point out is rape. This is a case where I personally feel that the author handled it extremely well. Michael captured the horror and brutality of the event perfectly without going overboard and getting too graphic. The disgust and despair that came afterward was pretty spot on. If that is a trigger, please tread lightly and perhaps skip that chapter if you’re nervous.

Michael Clark has done it again! I should have learned my lesson with his first three books… but here we are again, I started reading an early version of this book on a weekday night after work and got totally sucked in, staying up WAY too late… The same held true when I read the latest version when it was ready for publication. But it’s totally worth it every single time!

What an incredible opening. Mike talks about his love and respect for Brazil and why he focused his story there in an unflinchingly honest way that will leave readers both heartbroken and ready to rage at the unfairness of it all…

The first chapter certainly set the tone of the book! It’s very dark and terrifying, and it gives readers a glimpse into one of the horrors that you will see come to light later on.

While the first few chapters jumped between different characters in different situations, I couldn’t wait to see how they were all connected. Soon, the story focuses on Juliana and her family. From there, we learn that all is not well under the roof of their home. But what’s actually going on is much worse than just having a harsh stepmother and a tricky family dynamic.

Juliana learns information that forces her to flee from her home country and embark on an extremely dangerous trek to cross multiple borders to get into the US. But from there, her adventure is only halfway over, she still needs to accomplish a huge task in order to save her sister from their home.

Meanwhile, her father begins a new journey when he moves to the US and finds The Book of Shadows.

I adored Juliana. I loved that she was not there for anyone’s nonsense and wasn’t afraid to speak her mind, though, at the same time, she could recognize when to bring something up and when to wait. She knew she could do anything it took to reach her goals. She had such an intense character arc and while I loved the suspense, I felt so nervous for her every step of the way. She is a character that is very easy to root for and you will keep your fingers crossed that everything turns out well.

Per usual with Michael Clark’s writing style, this book has much more than just an amazing main character. It also has a very creepy atmosphere that will leave readers feeling anxious, while the settings and events that occur throughout are written so vividly that you can really picture everything in your mind, whether you want to or not.

There were so many times that my chest felt tight while reading this. There were passages that had me terrified, while others were unsettling and brought out some major feelings of claustrophobia. I mean, just check out this passage:

What would it be like to be entombed under the ice and snow, immobilized, broken, upside down, and backward? The claustrophobia alone chilled her. Could I hear them searching for me? Would I be able to cry out? Will I die in the dark, or does the light make its way down through?

And with that, let’s jump into my favorite passages!

My Favorite Passages from Hell On High

Before Luiz realized what was happening, the man hip-checked him into the room, sending him to the floor, and the door slammed shut, the sound of the locking bolt confirming his living nightmare.

Her gut told her to leave, but her head demanded answers; she tried the fourth key, and the lock popped open. The door creaked as she pulled, allowing a cluster of flies to escape. As they passed, she brushed wildly at her face, sickened by the filthy tickle. The room smelled of bleach disguising something… what was it? Blood?

Whatever fragment of Juliana’s childhood remained ended then and there…

It wasn’t the fire, and it wasn’t the house perhaps it wasn’t even what started the fire; she couldn’t be sure. Something close radiated power. Dark power. Scary energy. Watching. It wasn’t something she could see, but a feeling – a presence.

What would it be like to be entombed under the ice and snow, immobilized, broken, upside down, and backward? The claustrophobia alone chilled her. Could I hear them searching for me? Would I be able to cry out? Will I die in the dark, or does the light make its way down through?

Nestled in a tiny yard sat another small farmhouse and a barn with a collapsed roof, and both buildings were dark. The barn was like hundreds across New England; a good gust of wind could blow it over. Whoever owned it didn’t have the time or money to tear it down.

The frozen dead came to mind. Renata wondered how many were stuck up there; dismal souvenirs taken by the murderous mountain.

He managed two stumbling steps before the mountain ended and the sky began. With nothing beneath him, the Tibetan winds roared to life, whipping him like a discarded candy wrapper.

Before he stood, however, a fly landed on his arm, and though he waved it away, it wouldn’t quit. A second buzzed around his head, followed by a third and a fourth.

My Final Thoughts on Hell On High

If you’re looking for a book with real-world horrors and a splash of the paranormal that will keep you on the edge of your seat, incredibly nervous for the wellbeing of the amazing main character… Then this is a book for you!

If possible, I recommend picking this one up over the weekend so you can read it straight through. This story is one that will haunt your dreams.

One last note, if you have read The Patience of A Dead Man trilogy, you’re in for a special treat here. If you haven’t, you’re going to want to have those three books ready to roll next!

Content Warnings

The Backrooms

Matt Wildasin

5.0

adventurous challenging mysterious tense medium-paced

The Backrooms by Matt Wildasin is a terrifying, claustrophobia-inducing, hair-raising story of the world not being what we think it is, and what lengths people will go to to try to escape.

Set up as a series of letters, we get glimpses into The Backrooms where a man named Greg has ended up. He explains that there was something that happened during Y2K. Everyone thought we were safe, but we were all just asleep… once Greg caught on to the situation, he quickly became frustrated and needed answers. But will he find them in The Backrooms?

This premise is so terrifying! My goodness. Being alone in a labyrinth of rooms that are constantly changing, lighted with fluorescents, and smell of damp carpet? What a nightmare! Then add to it everything else that occurs during this book? Yikes!

The letter format was SO powerful. I loved that we really got in these characters’ heads throughout the story. You could really feel what they were going through just by living through their written words. And yet, you could tell that while they were unraveling, they were also trying to stay strong for the reader of the letters to keep someone else’s spirits up if they were to find the letters.

I was so anxious for this entire read. At any second, I was convinced something really bad was going to happen. Even so, I kept my hopes up for a happy ending…

When I got to the final page, I set my kindle down, stood up, placed my hands on my head and took a lap around my house. WHAT AN ENDING!

My Favorite Passages from The Backrooms

I believe that this place is meant to break you. The low hum of the fluorescent lighting echoes against the surrounding dead silence. Every square inch permeates the smell of old musty carpet. I had hoped that over time my senses would become accustomed to the sights, smells, and sounds of The Backrooms, but so far everything is just as notable as the day I set foot in this place.
If that isn’t enough, know that as you turn your back on your surroundings, they change on you.

Do you remember when you were a kid and played cops and robbers? You’d have nothing but your imagination, but the gun and uniform would feel real, as was the heist or shootout you were acting out. In those moments you’d forget about all your worries; the bully at school, bad grades, or anything that weighed heavy on your mind.

Even in utter darkness there is light. Each moment can bring a breakthrough. Each thought can breed a theory worth trying. Impossibilities are the foundation of possibilities. I will not be held back by thinking anything is impossible.

In that case, we can deduce that the vessel is not what’s important–it is our soul, our free will, and our curiosity that make us who we are.

You know what I miss the most? I miss the sun. You don’t realize how much of a comfort it is until it’s gone. There are so many simplicities it provides: the promise of a new day, natural light, time.

Whatever happened here occurred around Valentine’s Day. It was eerie seeing such vibrant colors and notions of love juxtaposed against the dreary and filthy backdrop of a withering store.

My Final Thoughts on The Backrooms

A killer mix of sci-fi and horror, this is a must-read for fans of either genre!

Prepare yourselves before entering The Backrooms though, as you won’t be able to bring yourself back out until you’ve reached the final page.

Taboo in Four Colors

Tim McGregor

5.0

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Taboo in Four Colors by Tim McGregor is a tale of comic books, hidden love, and doing whatever needs to be done to keep secrets safe.

With the threat of losing market share and going out of business looming overhead, this comic book company is under some serious pressure. There’s really only one writer that is making them money; A man, named Salazar, who nobody sees, but his work is dropped off consistently. But when there’s a gap in work sent in, the illustrator, Carson, that has been working with this mysterious writer for two years is sent to Salazar’s home to see what is going on.

When he arrives, he meets Salazar’s wife. She seems kind but nervous. Determined to figure out what is going on, Carson presses until he gets answers. The two are soon tied together and must protect their secrets at all costs. But can they keep this all under wraps?

I’ve said it before, but I’ll keep saying it; the way that Tim’s writing style hooks readers right in is incredible. These characters are some that I (yet again) felt protective of immediately. As the story went on, I kept hoping for the best and for them to both get what they want.

The focus on real-world horror mixed with a bit of spookiness is totally captivating. Each day that passed in the storyline made me so nervous that everything was going to crumble down and that one of the secrets would be found out. I was gearing myself up for the downfall so much, but I still wasn’t prepared for where this tale took me!

That ending is one that is both totally satisfying and one that makes you crave more as you just want to see what happens next, never allowing the book to end!

My Favorite Passages from Taboo in Four Colors

She blows a plume of smoke toward the ceiling and then looks at me. “Can I trust you?”
“I don’t know. Nothing good ever comes after that question.”

This city is becoming a dung heap. Seen through the scratched glass of a subway car window, the trash builds up every day and each morning there’s another building leveled to rubble or burnt to a hollowed-out shell. Kids play among the abandoned cars and the open manholes that wait to snatch them away. It’s an awful thing to witness every morning on my way to work, but I can’t seem to look away from the sordid carnage of the Big worm-eaten Apple.

My Final Thoughts on Taboo in Four Colors

This is such an amazing tale. I would recommend it to fans of horror. I blew right through this one! Tim’s work is just unputdownable.

I need Tim to create spin-offs here of the comics that were discussed within the story so I can read those as well!

Bishop

Candace Nola

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Bishop by Candace Nola is a chilling and tense story of being lost in the forest during winter, where the cold isn’t the biggest threat that the characters are facing.

When Erin Rogers and her daughter, Casey, venture out into the woods of Alaska to hike and test out new equipment, they end up missing their return date. Fearing that there has been an accident or that they wandered off the path and got lost, a search party forms. The brother, Troy, not one to sit around and wait, comes out to join the search, calling upon a local legend of a man that he is told will be his best option for help.

This entire story is so tense. It is clear from the start that the situation is dire and the clock is ticking. We follow Troy’s perspective for a while, and the emotions readers will feel are right in line with his. The nervous and anxious atmosphere is thick. A few times, I found myself jiggling my leg like I was right next to Troy, sitting in the truck waiting to get out there. But when the storyline jumps to Erin and Casey, we go from anxious, to absolutely terrified.

There wasn’t a single page of this that I read that I wasn’t a ball of anxiety.

My Favorite Passages from Bishop

Couple of the men shrugged but Tony stepped forward.
“I’ve seen him once, big beast of a man. Quiet, moves like a predator, you don’t see him until he wants you to. Never smiles, barely comes near the town. I’ve never even heard him speak. He moves through these parts like a phantom, and he’s made it clear that he likes it that way. If you want a guide, I’ll do it. I’ve got a family and I would hate to be wasting time if it was them.”

Oddly shaped tracks, almost like a human foot with giant claws at the end, but much larger than a human. The sight of them made her heart drop into her stomach. Icy fingers of fear settled on her spine and slowly began to spread, the hairs on the back of her neck stood up as she looked at them.

Twilight was quickly vanishing as the sky began to grow darker. Shadows lengthened and deepened around them and soon the forest had transformed once more into an ominous presence, living and breathing around them, harboring more secrets beneath its canopy than most people would ever know.

My Final Thoughts on Bishop

Bishop is a book that I picked up and could not put down; devouring it just as quickly as the beast that dwells within these pages takes down a victim. This is a must-read for fans of horror set in isolated places where there are many things to fear.

I cannot recommend this one highly enough. Go pick this up today!

Illusions of Isolation

Brennan LaFaro

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny lighthearted mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Illusions of Isolation by Brennan LaFaro is a collection of fantastic short stories that are a mix of perfect horrifying nightmare fuel and lighter entertaining terror.

It was a blast not knowing what tone the next story would take! Even for a handful that started out deceptively calm, they soon took a turn that got me every time! And the range here is wild! From cosmic horror to real-world horror, from creature stories to slashers, and so much more, this collection covered a lot of ground!

The way Brennan writes just makes every single thing pop right off the page. It was so easy to get lost in each tale.

I absolutely loved every entry in this collection. But if I had to choose a top five, I’d pick:

Then You Smiled for a Second
Piece By Piece
Year of the Black Rainbow
Shine
Red Sands

Here are my thoughts on each story:

Introduction | Step into the Spinning Tunnel –
This intro from Jonathan Janz was so much fun! What an awesome way to kick off this collection!

Dressed for Success –
When a young boy starts school at a new place, he is already terrified enough. Learning how strict the principal is only added to his fear. But had the principal finally pushed them too far?

This one took such a violent and bloody turn! This was so intense! At the start, I had some major secondhand anxiety from the situation, later I was ready to go for the jugular just like these kids.

Piece by Piece –
When a boy out looking for treasure finds a human toe, the pull to look for more is strong. But one day, he’s going to find the source of these body parts.

Gosh, I love this tale! The opening sentence is so good:
Mac was only seven-years-old when he found the toe; the first toe, anyway.

I read this previously in Blackberry Blood, and I love it more each time I read it! It’s so unsettling and a bit gross!

Snap –
Two men sit in a conference room discussing numbers. But when readers find out what these numbers are, things take a dark turn.

This one made my stomach hurt. We’re all replaceable in our jobs, and this one really drove that point home.

Year of the Black Rainbow –
Kicked out of their home at just fifteen, this teen winds up at an abandoned hospital that has become a place homeless people post up. They hear rumors of the basement being haunted, but when they go check it out and nothing happens, they make their place. Everything’s fine until two teenagers break in looking for trouble.

My goodness, the heartbreak in this one. I was so happy that Alex found care that was much better than what was found in their previous home.

The Last Little Piece of Civilization –
When a family is shocked to find that grass is growing in their living room, they don’t rush to clean it up. In just a short time, the patch grows…

This is eco-horror at its finest! My goodness was this a fun and unsettling one. And it all happened so quickly! I’m going to be keeping an eye out for any odd flooring patches now.

Then You Smiled for a Second –
While on the edge of sleep, this father jolts awake and realizes he’s hearing a lot of footsteps outside. Going to look, he sees that it’s a mob, and they’re headed to his house. The family has nowhere to go and can only try to hide and then fight when the mob gets in.

Home invasion terrifies me. This story for under my skin and is sure to haunt my nightmares!

A Shine in the Woods –
When a family goes to a cabin in New Hampshire to spend their winter vacation, their caretaker warns them of animals getting into the trash bins. Thinking it’s just bears, the family says they will be careful. But there’s something much more terrifying than bears waiting outside.

The goosebumps I had while reading this. I was terrified from the start of the noises and lack of tracks. When I found out what the creatures were, I could have screamed. No thank you! I have never been so happy about how close our neighbors are here in New Hampshire! Though I can’t say I’m looking forward to taking the trash out next…

The Irreversible Flow of Time –
Waking up alone in a room where a security camera watches, this young man realizes he is in a game that he must win. Armed with only a rusty machete, he runs.

My gosh, you didn’t know what to expect with each step of this one! Brennan nailed the video game feel here!

Just a Note –
Set up as a collection of notes between mother and son who have resorted to this as the mom’s new job has her out late. What starts as them connecting over thinking the father who had passed is with them suddenly takes a dark turn.

This collection of notes is so unsettling to read! What perfect nightmare fuel!

The Attic –
While his wife was out of town, this man hears strange noises in his attic. Of course, against his better judgment, he goes to investigate.

I was cracking up at the start of this one. I used to have to travel two weeks out of the year, and the notes I left for my husband were so silly. Notes such as when to water the plants and how much water to give them, how I like to do loads of laundry, what I set the heat or AC to during the day vs at night, and so on. All things I keep in my brain that Alex would be just fine doing on his own, but here we are.

This tale took a very eerie path and I was so nervous!

I Will Meet You There –
Beginning with a five-person crew on this space mission, something has gone very wrong. We bounce back and forth between the present day and when things started going sideways.

This one had me a bit claustrophobic thinking about being stuck in a situation like this. But what was actually happening was terrifying!

The Lights –
When a man known for his routine suddenly stops, the neighbors get nervous. Visiting one day, they find out what their neighbors’ current state is, but only he knows why he’s in that situation.

Having something happen to Alex and not knowing what or why is one of my biggest fears. While more sci-fi than horror, this one still has some horror woven in. This one certainly got to me!

Red Sands –
When cleaning up after creatures had attacked, this man and young girl discover one of the creatures was left behind. Quickly getting it into a cage, the man makes a plan to use the creature to find their nest so the town can attack. Of course, nothing goes to plan…

This story is so intense! I was really hoping for a How To Train Your Dragon story here, but I got the exact opposite. Oofh. The gore was brutal. The characters here were incredible! Their relationship was wonderful and felt very real.

My Favorite Passages from Illusions of Isolation

The door opens to reveal a giant of a man. If one of your friends from the last school stood on your shoulders, they might be able to look him in the eye. His mouth pulls back in a permanent snarl, as though he’s never thought to use it to smile.
— Dressed for Success

Mac was only seven-years-old when he found the toe; the first toe anyway.
— Piece by Piece

Thousands of rebuttals raced through Alex’s head, but no matter which they picked, it would make no more difference than a wave crashing against a seaside cliff. No ground to be gained fighting such illogical behavior with logic.
— Year of the Black Rainbow

But when life gives you lemons, one must hack them to death with a rusty machete.
— The Irreversible Flow of Time

Sometimes a step back is all one needs to make time flow forward once again.
— The Irreversible Flow of Time

The clacking of Matt’s booth against the metal walkway echoed though the empty vessel; a minor-key symphony played to a crowd that couldn’t be bothered to attend.
— I Will Meet You There

My Final Thoughts on Illusions of Isolation

Brennan is one of my favorite authors and someone I get to call a friend. I am so in love with this entire collection! I can’t wait for more readers to get their hands on it! Go pick up your copy today!

And two last notes; the joke on the copyright page is perfect! My goodness, I love that this press does that! I can’t wait for readers to see this before they dive into the collection. And how awesome is that cover wrap by Matt Wildasin?!

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