With Who's There, author Dimas Rio delivers an engaging collection of horror stories, full of entrancing settings, eerie scenes, and protagonists haunted by both guilt and ghosts. Rio has a clear and descriptive writing voice and I really like his style. I enjoy the way he draws the reader into the story and holds the full reveal until the end.

I wouldn't necessarily say all of these stories are outright scary, but they do run the spectrum of horror from startling scenes to forlorn atmospheres and frightening folklore to chilling domestic violence, so I appreciated the variety in that regard. The monsters presented are also all terrifying in their own way, be they human or otherwise.

Here's a brief rundown of the stories in this collection:

"Who's There" - An unreliable narrator, drunk on an island vacation with friends and fiance, has done something unforgivable. The story slowly reveals more about this tortured soul and the crimes committed as it goes on. I liked the pacing and the creepy ghost, but I felt like there were still elements of the narrator's background and motivations that I didn't understand (4 stars).

"At Dusk" - A high school student is sent to interview a local author, who tells of a creepy song that summons the Kelinting (spirit dweller of the woods that kidnaps children and sucks their blood). Then the old man tells another story of growing up in a remote village and what happened when he ran into the woods one day...This creepy story is short and sweet with a couple of twists right at the end (5 stars).

"The Wandering" - A night security guard, alone in the upper story of an office building, begins to notice strange letters appearing out of nowhere. He reads the letters and gets drawn into their tale as they reveal shocking secrets to both him and the reader. I liked the set up and the ending of the story, but I felt like the middle dragged on for far too long (3 stars).

"The Voice Canal" - A short story about a boy at university talking to his deceased father on the phone. There's not too much to it plot wise, but it is emotional and bittersweet nonetheless (3.5 stars).

"The Forest Protector" - A woman and her son both find escape from their unfortunate circumstances in their own ways. I really like how the story switches narration back and forth between the mother and her son, revealing insight into their own perspectives and relation to one another. Also, that last line hits real hard, in a good way. Content warning for self-harm and domestic abuse (5 stars).

Undone by Blood is a dual story of revenge, alternating between 1970's Arizona and a fictional version of the old Wild West. No-nonsense teenage Ethel is returning to her hometown to find out who killed her family years ago, and famed gunslinger Sol is on a mission to recover his stolen son. Ethel is actually reading about Sol's adventures in a book she carries everywhere she goes, and the comic jumps back and forth between the two story lines. It's neat to see how the compliment and echo each other. Ethel and Sol may be worlds apart, but they actually have a lot in common (and more that's uncovered with each issue).

I loved both of these characters. Ethel, with her shaved head and punk rock attitude, is unstoppable in her quest to find the man who killed her family. We follow along with her story in real time, but there are also flashbacks interspersed throughout of that fateful night, which become more frequent the closer she gets to uncovering the truth. She's tough as nails, but there are also moments in the story that remind you she's still just a kid in many ways. And Sol might be more of gunslinger archetype, but it's done so well I don't mind the cliches. We get most of his story in comic form, but then each issue also ends with a chapter written in prose from Ethel's book. It's probably the most reading I've ever done in a graphic novel, but I quite enjoyed it and it adds a little more nuance to Sol's character.

The art is also fantastic, and I want to give a special shout out to Jason Wordie who did the colors. His use of different color palettes for the three time periods (1970s, flashbacks, and Wild West) blends together really well while also helping each story line stand out. I especially like the way he did Ethel's flashbacks as mostly black and white loose lines punctuated by carefully placed colors. It really helps add to the violence and tension of those particular scenes.

Undone by Blood is a revenge story told on two levels, part western and part crime noir. It's violent, well-paced, frightening at times, and completely engaging. While switching back and forth between stories it manages to build momentum in each simultaneously, a suspenseful journey leading up to a tense climax in both. I think I preferred Ethel's story line more, though both were fun to read. The ending is also bittersweet and not exactly what I expected. Interested to see where the next issues will take us!

Thistlebone is a bewitching and disquieting exercise in folk horror storytelling. Though the narrative may occasionally go in predictable directions, reading it is still a rewarding and satisfying experience. The cult, despite their bizarre and deadly proclivities, has some interesting philosophies on life, and I’m glad we learn more about their traditions and beliefs. Instead of taking the crime thriller route, the comic leans into its supernatural and psychological elements, crafting a disturbing tale where reality is an ever-shifting experience. The ending resolves with an intense twist, but it also leaves the door open to future encounters with the occult side of Harrowvale.

To read my full review, go here: https://gobeyondtheveil.co.uk/comics/thistlebone-review

If you love character driven quiet horror then THIS is the book for you!

David is a great protagonist; nuanced, complex, with relatable dreams and fears. The youngest in a large family of mostly boys, he is constantly overlooked, ignored, and neglected. So when he opens a doorway to multiple dimensions and accidentally alerts the monsters within, he finally feels like he has a purpose: defending his family against an evil that very well may swallow him up in the process. It's a story filled with sincerity, genuine laughs, contemplative moments, and lots of underlying dread punctuated by scenes of outright fear.

Seriously, I've never found a locked door so scary, never been filled with such tension at what might happen if it were found open in the middle of the night. This is certainly a slow burn story, but it's perfectly paced and full of great character-building. I really enjoyed the scenes on the "other side" of the door, and the ways David begins to disappear (physically and metaphorically) in the real world the more he crosses back and forth. At first some of the scenes where David's family overlooks him felt exaggerated and unrealistic, but then I began to realize the tragic beauty in emphasizing these moments from David's perspective.

I also loved the author's writing style, and her ability to authentically articulate the mind of teenage boys is fantastic (if not disturbing in a few scenes haha). David certainly steals the show as our protagonist, but we learn enough about the other characters, typically through his relationships with them, to even out a mostly dynamic cast.

I cried, I laughed, I gripped the pages in terror - basically I got exactly what I want from reading this type of book. Highly recommend!

Seemed like a really interesting premise (serial killers attempt to save FBI agent from deadly cult), but just drops you into the plot with zero backstory for characters. Things were happening in the moment, but I didn’t much care about any of it because of the lack of context. Lots of blood and guts, which is fun, but a lot of the action was confusing as well. Read it in one sitting, but really wanted it to be better.

It’s a very straightforward plot that doesn’t offer much in the way of twists or innovation, but it’s still a solid story. Very moody and Neil Gaiman, which is a huge plus for me. And I loved the art, especially of the “me in the dark”. Overall I enjoyed it, even if it doesn’t bring anything new to the table.

**Review originally published in SCREAM Magazine**

Sister Mary believes she has found the perfect job when she comes to work at St. Teresa’s Joyous Youths Orphanage. She loves her work and the children, who have affectionately nicknamed her Sister Funtime. Though the headmistress is unreasonably rigid, earning her the whispered title of Sister Killjoy, Mary isn’t going to let that stifle her happy labor. But then, an alarming incident prompts Mary to examine her surroundings more closely, and she begins to unravel one horrifying secret after another. What was once a dream job quickly becomes a realm of nightmares.

Sister Funtime packs a lot into what was a fairly quick read. I enjoyed the mystery aspect as well as the supernatural elements, and it took many twists and turns that I did not expect. Indeed, it became clear early on that this was a book that would defy easy explanation, so I just released the reins and enjoyed the ride. I wouldn’t exactly call this a violent story, but there were more than a few moments of shocking brutality that had me wincing as I read.

Following Sister Mary’s descent from exuberant innocence to maniacal madness is an unsettling and fascinating experience. She’s someone you’re rooting for, but you also worry about her fragile mental state and what she’s slowly becoming. The transformative process she undergoes through the story is incredibly disturbing, but you can’t look away. You just wish she would see the crucifix she believes harbors God for what it really is; that its smile is too wide, that the glint in its eye is unnatural, that the tasks it demands and penance it requires are a far cry from holy.

Author Spencer Hamilton has crafted an intriguing tale of religious horror that works as both a standalone novella and an entry into his burgeoning Smilyland mythos. A playful linguistic style, a captivating, conflicted protagonist, and an enjoyable balance of supernatural, psychological, and body horror all make this an easy must-read recommendation. So come on in, smile wide, and don’t forget to say your prayers!

**Review originally published in SCREAM Magazine**

Medieval literature has always had its fair share of fantastical horror, going all the way back to the monstrous Grendel in Beowulf and the beheading game in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Howls from the Dark Ages, the latest anthology from the HOWL Society, features eighteen stories of medieval horror. As proclaimed on the book jacket, all the staples of the genre are there: cursed castles, wild woodlands, haunted hamlets, and mysterious monasteries. There are several tales of monks: some dabble in otherworldly magic, others discover dangerous secrets in catacombs, a few find prophetic drawings and ingest glowing mushrooms, and one becomes obsessed with solving an unnatural codex. There are stories about knights battling strange creatures, bounty hunters seeking their fortune, and one about a woman whose face is falling apart. In short, there’s a nice mix of ideas with a little something for everyone.

I enjoyed a number of stories from the anthology, but these are a few of my favorites. “Deus Vult” is about a weary knight who comes across a strange town and the castle that overshadows it, and his quest inside will reveal untold horrors. It’s a dread-filled story that builds to a wonderfully bizarre climax. In “The Last Book of Sante Foy’s Miracles” a man recounts his experiences with the a murdered child turned maryred saint. It’s told in multiple parts and it’s fun to witness the twists in the narrative as they unfold. And finally, “The Mouth of Hell” is about a page who journeys into hell to save his master. Its mix of occult and uncanny is wonderfully Clive Barker-esque.

As with most anthologies, this one is a scattershot of hits and misses. While some of the stories worked for me, others felt lacking; not bad, just not worth writing home about. One oddity that stood out was the inclusion of stories that are clearly not composed in the correct setting. Stories like “In Every Drop” and “A Dowry for Your Hand,” set in ancient South America and China respectively, just feel wrong mixed in with stories clearly set in medieval Europe. I’m conflicted because they’re some of my favorites, but in a collection that calls itself “historical horror from the medieval period” they seem glaringly out of place.

Howls from the Dark Ages might be a mixed bag, but for lovers of medieval horror such as myself, it was still an enjoyable read. It has a nice variety of stories, it touches on various types of terror, and it introduced me to several emerging indie authors that I will definitely be reading more from!