ericarobyn's reviews
1328 reviews

challenging dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

4.0

Mothman Haze by E.C. Hanson is a gut-punch horror tale about a missing kid, a grandfather who swears Mothman took him, and a strained family on the edge of breaking apart.

CW: gun violence, suicide, child death

Returning home to help her parents when her nephew goes missing, this woman has trouble staying focused. Years and years of bottled-up emotions, pushed further away by seeking instant gratification has made her cold and focused only on the next good feeling, even in the most inappropriate of times. Also struggling with her family dynamics, she keeps hoping that things will be different but continues to be let down.

When she meets with the local cop, she learns that even though they’re far from Point Pleasant, West Virginia, her father swears Mothman took the little boy. Unconvinced and determined to find answers, she pushes her way into the investigation.

But will they find the boy or is it already too late?

E.C. Hanson does such an amazing job of giving snippets of information that allow readers to both despise and feel terrible for the main character. While the focus is mainly on her and her struggles, the darkness of the missing child creeps closer and closer until the case is resolved and the horror smacks you right in the face.

My Favorite Passage from Mothman Haze –

It pointed face down and flew so fast that I thought, in a matter of a few seconds, my face would eat the concrete. I quickly imagined my head smashing the black ground, my teeth crunching, and my brown eyes popping out. But it adjusted its vertical position to horizontal at the last moment, leaving me out of breath and without a clue as to what would happen next.

My Final Thoughts on Mothman Haze –

This is another tale that I went into totally dark and phew, I was not expecting this! I made the terrible mistake of finishing this one at 3AM while feeding my kiddo…. Let’s just say I didn’t put him down for quite a while after he finally fell back to sleep.

The blurb on the cover from Mark Towse sums it up nicely;

“This one will haunt you for days after reading.”

Horror fans who enjoy twisted family dynamics and gut-wrenching sadness will love this one!

This Skin Was Once Mine and Other Disturbances by Eric LaRocca

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challenging dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

4.5

This Skin Was Once Mine and Other Disturbances by Eric LaRocca is a collection of horror tales that are sure to make readers squirm in discomfort.

Not shying away from more difficult topics, we see elements of abuse in this collection so please tread lightly if that’s a trigger for you.

As always, Eric has found a way to make each dark element intriguing, leaving readers hanging off of every word even if they’d rather turn away. Eric is just so darn talented with blending beauty and brutal darkness.

Here are my thoughts on each tale –

This Skin Was Once Mine –

Receiving a call to learn her father has died and that her estranged mother wants her to attend the funeral, Jillian (aka Jay) dreads returning home. Once there, she’s met with frustration from her mother’s nurse and surprise from her mother that she actually came back.

Filled with tension and something dark lying just beneath the surface, we get glimpses into what’s going on here. Some of the horrors come to light, but many stay in the shadows.

Seedling –

After receiving a call to learn his mother has died, this man goes to his father to comfort him. Their relationship had always been strained, but this time, they may have finally found a way to understand one another.

Oh, the bit where the father practically forced the son to pay his last respects to his mother had me ready to rage! Telling people what they have to do to process grief will always be one of the most inappropriate things!

Oh oh my gosh, that ending!! Was what was presented to us really happening, or were the events just grief gone sideways?!

All The Parts Of You That Won’t Easily Burn –

When looking for the perfect knife for an upcoming dinner party, this man is shocked when the shopkeeper offers something other than cash for payment. This sparks immediate curiosity and arousal that the man can’t let go.

This made me so feeble. I got a glass splinter in my finger once while working at HomeGoods and I’ll never forget how painful that tiny thing was!

Prickle –

Deciding to play a game they had made up just one last time in case they never see each other again, readers soon learn this isn’t the type of game you would expect from two old men. In this game, they perform little cruelties on strangers. And this time, they go big.

My gosh, this one made me so uncomfortable! The world is such a scary place, the thought of this actually happening isn’t hard to imagine. Reading this while watching our four-month-old sleep made me want to go run into the room and cuddle him! That last scene is something else!

My Favorite Passages from This Skin Was Once Mine and Other Disturbances –

There’s nothing glorious or wonderful about being a survivor. Those that like to hurt other people know this for a fact. Perhaps that’s why they go out of their way to cause heartache, despair. Maybe they get their kicks out of knowing that someone will survive their desecration and will be forever marked by what they’ve done – permanently stained.
— This Skin Was Once Mine

Silence falls over the small room and threatens to undo the invisible tether that had fastened us for most of the evening. I can already see the wire beginning to fray.
— This Skin Was Once Mine

For as long as I could remember, my father and I had spent year after year torturing ourselves on either side of an invisible gate that seemed to eternally separate us.
— Seedling

But I knew full well how there was some unnamable urge rooted in every human being that compelled us to drag others into our suffering, our despair.
— Seedling

He knows full well once he crosses over the threshold, there is no turning back. There are no opportunities to end what he’s started once the dance has finally begun. A sharp pang of agony coils its way up his arm—a sudden reminder that tells him in no uncertain terms that the dance has already started.
— All The Parts Of You That Won’t Easily Burn

My Final Thoughts on This Skin Was Once Mine and Other Disturbances –

Give me all of the short story collections from Eric! Eric’s tales are always such a dark treat to read, and this collection was no exception.

Content Warnings

Werewolves by Tom Deady, Candace Nola, Glenn Rolfe, Edward Lee, Kevin J. Kennedy, Tim Curran, Graham Masterton

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense fast-paced

4.0

Werewolves (Classic Monsters Book 2) presented by KJK Publishing is an anthology that brings dark and fresh takes on the good ol’ werewolf that readers will want to sink their teeth into right away!

Per usual with these collections, I loved not being able to anticipate what would come next even though each tale was tied together with the theme!

My favorites from the collection include:

Rug by Graham Masterton
“Harry’s Inevitable Extinction” by Glenn Rolfe
Almost Never by Edward Lee

Here are my notes on each tale!

Elena by Kevin J. Kennedy –

While traveling around and living out of a camper on a weekend getaway, a couple sees lights coming from a bar that they swore hadn’t been there when they arrived. Going out for a few drinks, they bring a woman back to the camper with them and their fun soon takes a turn.

Erotic horror fans will love this one! I first experienced this tale in Kevin’s book, A to Z of Horror, and revisiting it while knowing how things would turn out was like watching someone walk right into a trap.

Last Dance by Tom Deady –

Constantly harassed by a bully at school, things take a darker step one night at a dance and this boy finally reaches his breaking point.

This was such a fun tale! It had the slow reveal, the cute crush, the nasty bullies, and the bloody terror!

Inherent by Candace Nola –

Clawing at her neck during vivid nightmares has this poor woman on edge during her wakeful hours. When a friend stays the night and witnesses what happens, it’s not difficult to convince her that she needs to go talk to her Nana. But will she like what they learn?

What a dread-fueled slow burn of a tale! And my gosh, that ending really packed a punch of horror!

Beware the Moon by A High Moor Story –

While on a trip to Italy, an afternoon hike goes sideways when Connie injures her ankle. Determined to get help when her boyfriend doesn’t come back, she soon learns why he was delayed.

This was such a quick tale of terror! I loved that we got right to the action and I had to chuckle with Connie’s inner thoughts as they were so spot on for what I would have been thinking!

Rug by Graham Masterton –

When a boy finds a wolf rug in an attic room, he can’t help but investigate more. Later, while in town he hears tales of werewolves, and while he says he’s not interested to the shopkeeper regaling the stories, he is actually very interested and the wolf lurks closer than he thinks.

Oh my gosh, that ending! This one had an extra spooky premise and a fun take on the werewolf!

“Harry’s Inevitable Extinction” by Glenn Rolfe –

Paid to report on the site of a brutal murder, this man thinks he’ll be in and out. But once he’s in the area, he gets caught unawares.

This tale is a prime example of why I’m so obsessed with short stories. There’s a short build-up that sets the scene perfectly and gets the reader curious while also dreading what could be discovered. There’s loads of terror both in the quiet moments and the action. There’s beautiful description mixed in with the darkness. And of course, there’s blood and a monster!

Wetware by Tim Curran –

A wild tale of various characters all trying to take down one werewolf! The action and body horror here is intense!

Almost Never by Edward Lee –

When a little girl tells her grandfather that two men have been following her as she does their grocery shopping, he says she is not to run to the store alone anymore. She knows it will take her grandfather much longer as he is in a wheelchair, so the very next day, she goes alone…

With little Red Riding Hood vibes, this one focuses on the real monsters that are much more dangerous than the wolves.

My Favorite Passages from Werewolves (Classic Monsters Book 2) –

As much as I want to run and hide from this terrible truth, the thought of passing out and having another dream terrifies me. How will I ever sleep again?
— Last Dance by Tom Deady

Connie had become attuned to the noises of the mountain over the last few hours. Her only companions on the painful journey were the steady chirping of cicadas and the distant bleating of mountain goats. Now, however, everything had fallen silent, as if the mountain itself were holding its breath in anticipation. Connie felt the first real stirrings of fear in her stomach. Something was wrong here. Something was very wrong, indeed.
— Beware the Moon by A High Moor Story

Some things are so obvious to children that they blink in disbelief when adults fail to understand.
— Rug by Graham Masterton

Stepping over the imaginary threshold, Harry tried to shake off the ghastly feeling clinging to his spine and started toward the kill zone.
— “Harry’s Inevitable Extinction” by Glenn Rolfe

A bruised sky, cloudy with the chance of death, swallowed what remained of the late September afternoon.
— “Harry’s Inevitable Extinction” by Glenn Rolfe

Are we not all just as capable of evil as we are good? Is it a choice or destiny?
— “Harry’s Inevitable Extinction” by Glenn Rolfe

Blood was splashed over the walls, dripping like a child’s runny fingerpainting.
— Wetware by Tim Curran

My Final Thoughts on Werewolves (Classic Monsters Book 2) –

I had such a blast reading these tales! I love werewolves. The whole idea of the monster itself absolutely terrifies me… the lack of control, the body horror, the speed, the teeth! And phew, this collection only added to that fear!

Shadow of the Hidden by Kev Harrison

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adventurous challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced

5.0

Shadow of the Hidden by Kev Harrison is a tale of friendship and curses, and of darkness and love, all centered around the race to find answers before it’s too late.

Thank you to the publisher for adding a page at the start of the book to note the content warnings that were provided at the back of the book!

Some CW’s I’d like to note:
Animal mutilation and death, possession, child death, injury detail, blood, and suicide.

When a widow makes the rounds begging, a man named Oz refuses her. Things turn ugly and she places a curse on him and his family. Shocked and horrified, Oz’s friend Seb tries to comfort Oz and help him have fun that evening. But Oz is worried and can see the curse for what it is right away. Soon, Seb, who tried to reason the worry away, has to admit that the curse is genuine and that the djinn has settled in to make life miserable for Oz. Determined to reverse the curse, the two talk to a professor, and their duo becomes a trio, each determined to find answers to help stop the curse before anything else can happen.

The journey they embark on next changes them all forever.

This was such a fun and scary read! It starts light and upbeat before the curse is uttered and things take a sharp turn. Throughout the story, there is so much tension as the horrors lurk around every corner, occasionally showing themselves just frequently enough to keep the terror top of mind and the readers on their toes.

However, with that darkness, the time that the author takes to pause the tension with beautiful descriptions of art, architecture, and landscape is such a treat!

The author is skilled at making readers feel immersed in each scene! No matter what type of situation, whether it’s a relaxing pastry brake, a rushed and desperate need for coffee, or running for your life, readers will feel that they’re right there with the characters.

AND THAT ENDING. I cannot wait to read more from this author!

My Favorite Passages from Shadow of the Hidden –

Those words held so much gravity, almost lost my footing.

The late morning air was still fresh and cool in the shady, built-up district around the central station. We decided to grab more coffee and a pastry in a small bakery on the other side of the ornate garden out front.

I edged through the crowd, the people jostling to occupy the space after passed, like sand squeezing through the waist of an hourglass.

My Final Thoughts on Shadow of the Hidden–

This may have been my first Kev Harrison read, but it certainly won’t be my last!

Adventure horror fans, this is a must-read. You’re going to love this action-packed and terrifyingly tense journey!

Preorder your copy of Shadow of the Hidden by Kev Harrison today! This book releases on March 19th, 2024 from Brigids Gate Press.

Content Warnings

The Horror Collection: Turquoise Edition by Steve Stred, Tom Deady, DE McCluskey, Richard Clive, Daemon Manx, Candace Nola, Callum Pearce, Sarah E. England, Ashley Lister, Greg F. Gifune, Mark Towse, Graham Masterton

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

4.5

The Horror Collection: Turquoise Edition presented by KJK Publishing is a collection of tales that will pull on your heartstrings, make you physically ill, and leave you wishing you had a nightlight for your room before you turn in for the night.

My favorites from the collection include:

Snow Angels By Greg F. Gifune
What the Dark Does By Graham Masterton

Per usual, here are my notes on each tale!

On Site by Steve Stred –

When a YouTube personality and her boyfriend arrive to visit the setting of one of her favorite movies, they’re spooked by the creepy woods, but that doesn’t stop their filming.

This one is so quietly unsettling! At each turn, I was so ready for a jump scare, but what we actually get is so much better!

Music Box Dancer By Candace Nola –

After the murder of her mother, this teenage girl is rocked by grief. Finding comfort in a music box her mother had gifted her, she remembers something else her mother said about the music…

This tale is an amazing mix of quiet grief horror mixed with brutal body horror! What a tale! The line about wet laundry gave me the shivers!

A Grim Fairytale By Callum Pearce –

Going camping to try to see a fairy, these three teens are looking to have one more adventure together before they graduate. They have absolutely no idea what terrors lie ahead.

These poor kids were so innocent and so easily lured into a trap. This tale made me unreasonably sad. I so badly wanted them to have a nice time!

The World Turned Red By Daemon Manx –

After a terrifying event, this group is forced to fight for survival. One day, a run to look for medicine goes sideways when they can’t help but fight for what’s right.

This tale will get your blood pressure going!

iBola By DE McCluskey –
CW: Vomit

When testing a new piece of video game tech that goes into the body goes very wrong, the two inventors are left scrambling to try to cover it up. But first, they need to get their devices back…

Holy, body horror! Or “body” horror I should say, as the author pointed out, “It was a push to even call some of them bodies.” This tale made me feel so ill. By far the sickest I’ve ever felt while reading!

3am and Wide Awake By Sarah E. England –

Just a moment into listening to a tale of a hypnosis that this troubled doctor performed, she already regrets asking him what was wrong…

This one had some It Follows vibes! I loved it!!

Definitely Not Haunted By Ashley Lister –

Finding a listing for a doll that’s definitely not haunted, this man buys it for his abusive mother that he is caring for. But was the listing telling the truth?

Oh my gosh. After reading this, I just want to go listen to the Ghosted! by Roz Hernandez podcast for some of the haunted doll segments! What a dark tale. People who are afraid of dolls, beware!

Beans for Supper By Tom Deady –
CW: child abuse

Growing up with a terribly abusive father, this man is trying to come to terms with information he learns about his old man. But knowing more only leads to more darkness.

This tale is so difficult to read, content-wise. I was stuck between cringing out of sympathy pain and wanting to rage at the horribleness of it all.

Snow Angels By Greg F. Gifune –

A man determined to save his daughter from the town she’s living in with her mother will stop at nothing to achieve his goal. Along the way, he knows he’s going to face many obstacles, but he’s ready!

Oh, the gaslighting here was intense! When you start to see the cracks in the facade of the characters, things get wild! There were SO many twists and turns here!

What the Dark Does By Graham Masterton –

Still reeling over his childhood trauma this man is still terrified of the dark many years after his nightmares had come to life. Finally opening up to someone about it, he’s led to a woman who may just understand what had happened. But oh, the dark isn’t finished with him yet.

The premise behind this one is interesting! Playing in everyone’s childhood fears, this one goes very, very dark.

A Sense of Belonging By Mark Towse –
CW: childbirth

A wild blend of memories of childhood, recent traumas, and new hallucinations and nightmares create this horror drama!

Down, Bitch By Richard Clive –

A girl who just wants to be herself is targeted by nasty bullies. Spending the afternoons with stray dogs, she starts calling them her pack. One day, her experience proves once and for all that her pack is better than the humans.

What a horrible and blood-boiling tale of harassment and abuse. My heart broke for her over and over again.

My Favorite Passages from The Horror Collection: Turquoise Edition –

All eyes watching her, whispers filling the tent, crawling across her skin like spiders.
— Music Box Dancer By Candace Nola

The place she intended to call home, until the day she died, was made up of lots of scavenged items as though everything that was ever lost had found its way here to this place. It would now provide shelter for this broken-hearted woman.
— A Grim Fairytale By Callum Pearce

The vision and Bobby’s sullen face blended together as the memories dissolved, like the serene surface of water once disturbed and now rippling back into focus.
— Snow Angels By Greg F. Gifune

“This town has secrets, Bobby.”
“Show me one that don’t.”
—Snow Angels By Greg F. Gifune

In the dark, stories come to life, just like puppets, and dressing-gowns.
— What the Dark Does By Graham Masterton

To feel alone amongst the many was one thing; to be left alone was another thing entirely, something she savoured.
— Down, Bitch By Richard Clive

My Final Thoughts on The Horror Collection: Turquoise Edition –

Just when I thought these collections couldn’t get any more dark! These tales took things into grief horror territory in many creative ways, whether that was the loss of a loved one or the loss of their world as they knew it.

Horror fans, this is yet another collection from KJK Publishing that you need on your shelves!

It Came From The Lake by Glenn Rolfe

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adventurous dark tense fast-paced

5.0

It Came From The Lake by Glenn Rolfe is a tale of murder, teenage angst, and a manmade lake in the woods of Maine housing a dark secret.

The opening paragraph of It Came From The Lake brings the first blood and immediately sets the tone for the rest of the book!

I loved that the author takes a step back after that first chapter and then slowly dials up the terror once again through the perspectives of different characters. In each chapter, we get to watch as they are slowly pulled toward the lake. I had so much fun getting to know each of them and their reasons for being out in the forest, but only one of them truly knows what dangers are present in the area.

Oh my gosh, and when things started to overlap… Once the action picks back up, it’s a full-out sprint for survival up through the end of the book.

My Favorite Passages from It Came From The Lake –

*Please note that these passages are from the ARC and therefore may have changed before the final copy was released.*

Deana couldn’t believe Kevin would kill for her. Fifteen years of marriage and she never would have guessed he had it in him—but the blood and brains spilling from Henry Owens’ skull, sliding like black mud down the edge of the sheer rock, told her otherwise.

She was not prepared in her darkest of nightmares for the sight of it.

He wasn’t a monster, no—vampires and werewolves were for movies. He was a breathing ghost of sorts, unable to be truly free of his past—but here he was, taking in air just the same.

Stepping from the trees, Leilani found the most breathtaking vision she’d seen since a shirtless Thor first crossed her TV screen. It was a lake, resting here in the comfort of complete silence.

“You can choose to believe or not to believe, but that won’t matter if you go out there. Monsters don’t need you to believe in them. You’re just safer if you do.”

My Final Thoughts on It Came From The Lake –

This was FINALLY my first Glenn Rolfe read! I own four of Glenn’s books that have been sitting on my bookshelf, just waiting for me to get to them. Hopefully this year I finally will. Glenn’s writing is SO darn good.

Creature horror fans, make sure this one is on your radar!

The Revenge of the Clowns by Caesar Ruell

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challenging dark sad tense fast-paced

4.5

The Revenge of the Clowns by Caesar Ruell is a tale of twisted carnival horror filled with carnage and the most intense murders you’ll ever witness on the page. Get ready, because wherever these clowns go, terror follows as close as a shadow.

CW: Child death, murder, blood, vomit, gun violence, and suicide.

At the end of The Circus of Hungry Clowns, we thought the humans may have won. While escaping with their lives, one clown who managed to slink away isn’t ready to let the three survivors get away for good.

Gathering up a new band of cronies, Crooks the evil clown has been given a second chance and is headed back to town to get revenge.

But surely the town won’t let the bloodshed happen again… right?

Wrong. Of course.

When Marvin’s psychologist recommends they face their fears and attend the new circus that’s coming, Marvin and his wife are willing to try it while Joe tries to get the event canceled.

We watch the characters walk a tightrope of staying strong and totally falling apart. Once they get to the queue at the event, the anxiety ramps up and it’s very clear that the three are going to regret going anywhere near this circus.

Oh my gosh. I have no idea if the author took this one up a notch or if it’s just hitting me differently now that I have a son, but these kills each made me feel so queasy. The kills themselves from a high level are so creative and terrifying, but where the real terror comes in is in the details the author includes. Playing out like a movie in your mind, readers won’t be able to look away, glued to their seats just like the captive audience in the stands.

At every turn, I wanted things to be stopped and for the children to be saved. But was there anything these characters could do with everything stacked against them?

Prepare yourselves before diving into this one!

My Favorite Passages from The Revenge of the Clowns –

He made an attempt at a satisfied grin, but it came across goofy, like a schoolboy who’d just been told that he’d be sitting next to a girl he secretly liked for the rest of the semester.

The rest of the company remained frozen, as if they were witnessing a scene from a horror film playing out right in front of them. No one knew what to do, as none of them had ever been trained in anything that remotely resembled self-defense.

Even in her compromised state, however, she could see that the booth was very crudely constructed. It was made of long planks of wood that sat at uneven angles, all in a noticeably haphazard fashion. Heads of thick nails stuck out everywhere, as if the builder had been in a rush, or otherwise, was a complete buffoon, lacking even the most basic skills necessary to construct such a simple structure. It seemed to her that it would collapse if someone sneezed too hard near it.

Joe shut his eyes, wanting it to all be some gruesome nightmare that he’d soon wake up from, but knowing all too well that he just wasn’t that lucky of a guy.

The coppery scent of blood, along with both raw and cooked meat, filled their nostrils, making them want nothing more than to get out of there and pretend that they’d never encountered something so grisly.

The policeman thought that his companion was as crazy as a soup sandwich, and had told the man as much.

The smile had left Crooks’ face, replaced with an expression of menace and destruction. At the same time, the black diamonds around his eyes contracted in unison with the frown lines of his brow, forming windows of pure, concentrated hate.

My Final Thoughts on The Revenge of the Clowns –

I wasn’t afraid of clowns before. But now? Let’s just say I’m very glad that I don’t have plans to attend a circus any time soon.

Carnival and gore-filled horror fans, you gotta check this out!

Content Warnings

The Horror Collection: Sci-Fi Edition by Brennan LaFaro, Calvin Demmer, Mark Young, Eric Butler, George Daniel Lea, Micah Casitle, Keyla Damaer, Ash Ericmore, Gord Rollo, J. Rocky Colavito

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

4.0

From mysterious and deadly illnesses to nanobots and lab-modified animals, even mysterious houses and things falling from the sky, The Horror Collection: Sci-Fi Edition presented by KJK Publishing will take readers on a terrifying journey through some killer sci-fi horror tales.

Sci-fi horror never fails to freak me out. Whether it’s the focus on the medical side of things or the unexplainable, I’m always so antsy to learn more about what is going on while I also dread seeing whether or not we’ll get answers.

In these tales, that certainly held true! There’s such a cool variety here. Each tale will leave you with lots of feelings and you can’t help but think about what you would do if you found yourself in each of these settings.

My favorite tales from this collection include:

Timothy Meek by Gord Rollo
The October House by Brennan LaFaro

Per usual, here are my notes on each tale!

Timothy Meek by Gord Rollo –
CW cancer

After an explosion leaves the world reeling with a sickness that soon turns deadly, an organization has miraculously found a way to heal everyone. But with how quickly this solution was made, Timothy Meek has concerns.

A bit in the same vein as Michael Crichton’s novel Prey, this tale is so unsettling! It just begs readers to ask what they would do in the same situation.

Countdown to Extinction by Calvin Demmer –

While working on a project, these doctors who had been experimenting on animals had been finding great success giving them artificial replacements when injured. One day, things go sideways and they find themselves being forced to get into an enclosure and lock it to be safe. They assumed they would be rescued, but eighty-something days later, they’re still there.

A twisted tale of animal testing and what could happen when the animals have had enough!

The First Day by Eric Butler –
CW dog death

When a family attends a tour in Alaska, their tour guide, operating on her first day, is determined to make it a great one. But when something falls from the sky and they hear loud booms, things start to take a turn.

What fun cosmic horror!

Master of Nothing by Ash Ericmore –

When a man’s plaything begins to think for itself rather than being a mindless being that acts on his every wish, he’s looking to take out his anger. But when he sees red and explodes, will it help get him past the anger or make things worse?

What an absolutely wild tale. A couple of scenes made me queasy.

Our Quiet Rapture by George Daniel Lea –

In a place where a man is forced to watch lost souls, one soul catches his eye. She’s not like the others who wander aimlessly. Curious, he gets closer to her. But will he be another that winds up in her trap?

Canis Lupus Orthrus J. Rocky Colavito –

When a test subject escapes, a doctor tries to convince the local police to help bring it back to the lab before it’s too late. But the police don’t believe them until they start seeing things for themselves.

Science like this freaks me out so much! Just one mishap can have such big consequences. The growth of this creature was terrifying.

The October House by Brennan LaFaro –

When a neighborhood cookout is interrupted by the earth shaking and a giant roar sounding, Meg is shocked to see a house appear where there used to be trees. But even more unsettling is the fact that her neighbors say that the house has always been there…

Only getting a quick snapshot of this lovely day in the neighborhood, things very quickly take a turn! The thought of something like this happening from a very high level is terrifying. We’ve all experienced the feeling of being gaslit at some point, and this tale takes that and multiplies it! And of course, Brennan adds in more layers of terror!

Hybrid by Mark Young –

Determined to save the silverback gorillas that she had been working with for years, this woman puts herself directly in front of the poachers. She’s not afraid of death, but what these people have in mind is much worse.

Ugh this tale! My nerves were so high the entire time! Absolutely blood boiling and terrifying! Humans truly are the worst.

It Wasn’t the Rain by Keyla Damaer –

When his girlfriend does something that puts everything at risk, this man can’t stop thinking about it. Will he move on or will he be too paranoid?

What a dark tale of the need for control some have. Yikes.

Beneath her Inner Folds by Micah Casitle –

Discovering an abandoned bunker, this traveler also finds a journal. Unperturbed by the contents within, he decides to stay the night. That quickly turns out to be a terrible choice.

Man, I love a story that includes journal entries that show us what had happened. This was so wild! The descriptions of the tumor and hives were beautiful and horrific at the same time.

My Favorite Quotes from The Horror Collection: Sci-Fi Edition–

Nature, it seems, will find a way to protect herself, even if she must cheat.
— Countdown to Extinction by Calvin Demmer

That’s what kids do. Tinker in forbidden places to try and unlock the secrets of the universe.
— The October House by Brennan LaFaro

The two windows from the top floor beam down. Something gleams in them. If a house could look hungry, this one would.
— The October House by Brennan LaFaro

When they emerged from the tube’s tunnels, the rain still poured down, turning everything around them greyscale. The only tone of colour was inside Hodelia’s scared blue eyes.
— It Wasn’t the Rain by Keyla Damaer

Even without a mouth, I know she’s fucking grinning while shaking her head. Even without seeing it, I know the other one’s watching this from the hall.
— Beneath her Inner Folds by Micah Casitle

My Final Thoughts The Horror Collection: Sci-Fi Edition –

Horror sci-fi fans, this is certainly a no-brainer – you need this book!

What Feasts at Night by T. Kingfisher

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mysterious tense slow-paced

3.0

What Feasts at Night by T. Kingfisher is a tale of mystery, denial, and the desperation one feels when unsure how to help others in the most terrifying of times.

Alex and Angus are back on a new adventure, this time visiting a hunting lodge that Alex had inherited to do a favor for Miss Potter in letting her visit and look for mushrooms. Upon arrival though, they find the place in disarray and are distraught to learn that the caretaker had passed. Not only that, but they soon learn from the man’s family that there are rumors that he was killed by a creature who sits on your chest and steals your breath.

Alex wants to brush it aside when Angus explains more about the creature, but neither of them can deny that something feels off within the lodge. When a young man working for them falls ill with the same thing their previous caretaker died from, Alex is desperate to help heal him.

Alex and Angus are such a fun duo! Right from page one, they were already bickering and I couldn’t help but chuckle. I had so much fun reading their interactions, though there seemed to be fewer of them here than in the first book. Seeing Miss Potter again was a treat; her curiosity and the knowledge she shares with the others is always interesting.

In this new adventure, the woman who came to help them clean and cook while they were at the lodge, referred to as “the widow,” is a hoot! Her grumpy and cold demeanor combined with her dry commentary and total lack of fear of stating what was on her mind was so amusing. I loved that she had a soft spot and wanted to keep everyone safe, even if she would never admit it or show that she cared outwardly.

Per usual, the way this author describes the setting is so brilliant. Especially listening to the audio version, I was transported right into the scenery. I loved how quickly things go from beautiful to haunting, for example, vines draped over a tree looking like “spilled entrails.”

Avi Roque does such an amazing job narrating this audiobook! The pacing and flow are wonderful. This audiobook is so easy to listen to! And my gosh, the voices and accents of each of the characters that Avi creates are such a blast!

The one bummer I have to note regarding this tale is how in denial Alex was about what was going on here and how repetitive that got. I could see the character being in denial if there was some new PTSD from what happened in What Moves the Dead that was acting as a mental block, but that wasn’t noted here. So instead, the denial just felt off… like this book should have come before What Moves the Dead. This line especially had me questioning why Alex was so deep in denial: “I have had a great deal of experience with things that I don’t understand.”

My Favorite Quotes from What Feasts at Night –

*Note: I wrote these up while listening to the audiobook, so there may be discrepancies between what I have here and the actual text.*

If this was a fairy tale, it was the kind where everyone gets eaten as a cautionary tale about straying into the woods, not the sentimental kind that ends with a wedding and the words, “And if they have not since died, they are living there still.”

Death no longer shocks me, but I still prefer that it not visit my friends and acquaintances in my presence.

One of the skulls rolled its eyes at me. I was against the opposite wall, heart pounding and spine digging into the plaster before I quite realized what had happened. I stared up at the skull, the empty eye sockets dark as grief. Had I imagined it? Would it be better or worse if I had? A white moth climbed out of the eye socket. I sagged against the wall and made a noise that could have passed for a laugh if you didn’t examine it closely.

If you have ever dealt with the possessions of the dead, you probably know what I mean. You take things away and leave behind emptiness and everything you remove, every sheet and pillowcase, every lost sock and old razor erases a little bit of the person’s footprint in the world.

Nature creates horrors enough all by itself.

I began to apologize, but she gazed down at me with that slight, sad smile and stroked her hand across my cheek. Then her face tore apart.

My Final Thoughts on What Feasts at Night –

If you enjoyed What Moves the Dead, this follow-up will be a fun read if you can look past the main character’s constant denial! I had fun listening to this one and enjoyed immersing myself in this author’s work. I will certainly be looking forward to more in the future.

Those Who Dwell in Mordenhyrst Hall by Catherine Cavendish

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced

4.5

Those Who Dwell in Mordenhyrst Hall by Catherine Cavendish is an unsettling tale of love, secrets, and monsters set in a sprawling estate that holds power over a small, isolated town.

It’s no secret that everyone but the couple themselves disapprove of their plans to wed. The two are of separate classes, but they focus only on their love rather than social expectations.

Traveling to stay in her husband to bed’s family estate to get to know her future in-laws, Grace finds that her future sister-in-law is openly and calculatedly hostile toward her while her future father-in-law gives her the creeps. That bothers her, but she can put on a smile and cope with it. But what she will not put up with is the way her fiancé begins to treat her. It’s as if the house has a strange influence on him.

She points out how she has been treated one morning when she has had enough and then announces that she will return to London. Her fiancé begs her to stay just a bit longer, showing little glimpses of the version of him she loves. While she agrees to stay through the week, during that time she unlocks a second sight with the help of one of the women staying at the estate for the weekend.

Soon, Grace learns that there is a great darkness that only she can help eliminate in hopes of freeing the townspeople that have been sucked into the toxic influence of Mordenhyrst Hall. But can she do it?

I was so anxious for Grace right from the start. The focus on her new relationship made me nervous that a trick was about to be played with each scene that went by. But oh my gosh, I did not see what was coming next! The little supernatural bits are sprinkled in wonderfully once Grace crosses the property line to Mordenhyrst Hall and it only gets darker and more haunting from there!

My Favorite Passages from Those Who Dwell in Mordenhyrst Hall –

He squeezed my free hand and winked at me. I squeezed back and winked at him. It was as if a chunk of ice fell off the massive iceberg that had come between us.

I stared at her, more in pity than anger. So much physical beauty wasted on such lamentable soul.

“It’s that obvious, is it?’
“Let’s put it this way, don’t audition for any leading roles until you’ve perfected your acting skills a bit more.”

The women’s murmuring became a chant and grew louder, more urgent. I moved my hands to cover my face against their penetrating stares, which stabbed at me, sending daggers of pain through my body.

“We can never know the reason for the riddles the universe presents us with.”

Below us, the river flowed as it had for thousands of years, oblivious to the three pairs of eyes that now gazed down into its dark depths.

My Final Thoughts on Those Who Dwell in Mordenhyrst Hall –

Another amazingly mysterious and thrilling tale from Catherine Cavendish! I had an absolute blast reading this!

Horror fans, this gothic horror story will have you ready to leave an extra light on while reading as you may just hear footsteps when no one else is around or see ghostly figures lurking… And watch out for any birds of prey!

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ericarobyn's reviews 1328 reviews

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