karlakayjenniges's reviews
797 reviews

Bruises on a Butterfly by Chad Lutzke

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

"Last summer, they hadn’t been teens yet, and none of them should have had to deal with what went down. They were supposed to be running through fields with pockets full of dirt, rolling down hills with dizzying heads, riding bikes on trails they’d made by hand, and most of all, sitting in their fort, reading comics and telling stories."

Taylor, Kevin, and Jackie. Three young boys in the prime of their young little lives. Spending time together building their friendship bonds and going on adventures that all young boys should be able to do without a care in the world. 

Taylor's life isn't a life that a child should have to endure. He decides he has had enough and runs away, planning on never returning to the ugliness that he has had to live with throughout his childhood. Kevin and Jackie are aware of what has gone on in Taylor's home, but they are not aware of the extent of it. They promise to be there for Taylor and help in any way they can. 

When a cosmic event occurs, they go exploring to see what has fallen from the sky. When Taylor touches it, an anomalous event begins to occur, one that will alter their lives forever. 

Lutzke is a master at writing coming of age stories that dives us deep into the heart and soul. "Bruises on a Butterfly" is a shining example. The power of friendship bonds, the suffering of trauma, the effects it has, and the grief one carries with them for a lifetime after the loss of life. 

When reading anything by Lutzke, I am well aware of his writing style and I know I am going to get lost in the story that is unfolding. I know I am going to connect to the characters and feel what they are feeling. I also know I better have a box of tissues at the ready. 

This one is going to stick, and I am holding a place for it in one of my top reads for 2024. 

The Lingering: Skulldiggery Book 3 by DM Gritzmacher

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes

4.5

"His chest heaved, and his mouth worked in the dim light of the kerosene lantern. Despite himself, soft moans of pleasure escaped is dripping lips."

1900s, the creature is among them, traveling, wandering, ever watchful as it hunts for its next meal. It must satisfy its hunger. The fear, the taste, the sweet entering causing pure bliss. 

Present Day, Stander and Secrist travel back to the roots of Standers home. Searching for answers from a past that has ever haunted him. Needing the answers to a mystery that has never been solved, buried deep within the history of time. 

1980s, four young boys set out on an adventure. Deep within the woods lies a hidden graveyard from a time that has long past,  forgotten and avoided. Undisturbed until the boys explore and uncover something buried deep underground. They are now running for their lives from an ancient evil that has set itself upon them. Their lives will be forever altered by the darkness that has been visited upon them. 

Three timelines woven together to reveal what has been lurking in the darkness. Not only upon the earth, but in the hearts and souls of all who have been affected. Many questions have been answered in this third installment of the "Skulldiggery" series. Taking us back in time into the life of Stander and what he experienced as a young boy. An adventurous boy with a free spirit that was taken from him and his friends and has lingered within them as the years have passed them by. 

The atmosphere has a foreboding that makes the mind wonder what will come out to play in the darkness. When it does, what occurs is visceral and horrific. It leaves a bloody path behind in our minds, filled with disturbing images with no doubt of what is lying in bloody piles. The lost lives upon our hearts and the lost innocence upon our souls. 

Although these can be read as stand alone novels, I recommend reading them in order as it really adds to the whole experience of a marvelously created series. 

‘It’s a good day as long as your elbows aren’t touching pine,’...

The Pumpkin King and Other Tales of Terror by R. David Fulcher

dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

"Everything retained the silence after the storm; everything retained the silence of the dead."

The best thing about short stories is the diversity of each plot or character. To create both in just a few short pages and engage the reader is to be commended. 

Each story centered on a mix of horror and sub-genres of horror. These are the types of stories that produce the slow creeping dread, the kind that are atmospheric, and have imagery that settles into the imagination. The kind that are thought provoking, creating those moments when one feels the need to stop and think about what was just being read. 

Hauntings in neighborhoods, deep within the woods, and in places where one wouldn't expect them to be. One must always be wary of what walks among them and what may be hidden. Watching and waiting for their time to shine amongst the living. Tempting and coercing into realms of darkness that change the lives of their prey. Much like the minds of us readers tempted into the pages of horror stories. 

"There was a still woman by a stair railing and a still horror floating in her living room and twenty-seven still spirits by the still waters of a silent lake."

The Plastic Priest by Nicole Cushing

dark mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

4.0

"Reverend Ford is not Reverend Ford. At least, not to her parishioners. To them, she's "Mother Kaye."

Kaye is an Episcopalian priest in the small town of Owlingsville. She questions her faith along with the townspeople who continually fail to attend services. She questions why she continues in her role for the people of the town are thinkers of the old fashioned ways, unwilling to accept changes or ways of life. Bigots, gossips, unaccepting, and judgemental. Kaye doesn't dare integrate new ideas for fear of more rejection. She feels stuck in a situation she can't remove herself from. 

As she moves forward with her plan to try prayers in the park, she is confronted by what is seemingly a man, but turns out that was clearly not. The things she is told have settled into her mind and she becomes "The Plastic Priest." 

I can't tell you what the plastic priest is because that would be a huge spoiler. But this novella will take you on a journey of how one loses their mind, going into complete psychosis, giving into it. 

Pay close attention because this is a mind bender. Makes you think and wonder, ponder and contemplate. 

The imagery and writing style is captivating. Bizarre, surreal, but entirely unique, nothing like anything I have ever read. There is something very special about this that I just can't quite explain because it has to be experienced. 

That is exactly what this novella is, a complete experience often times causing me to reread a phrase or take pause and really think about what I just read. 

Demon's Wrath: Death in Caguas: A Michael Moretti Novel by Patrick James Ryan

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

4.0

"The rain continued to pour outside, foreshadowing additional gloom in a town gripped in unspeakable evil."

Something very evil has entered into the small villages of Caguas, Puerto Rico. The deaths continue to rise as the monstrosity shows no mercy and devours everyone in its wake. 

The Vatican is the villages only hope for survival. They must defeat the evil or risk losing many more lives. They call for the help of Specialist Michael Moretti and Demonologist Robert Giametti. They know that they are their only hope at defeating the evil. Many lives will come together to fight and many lives will be lost. The sacrifices must be made or be lost to the evil for all eternity. 

Michael must stay strong and fight far more than just the evil, he must fight for his soul, and for the souls that are threatened. He must not lose hope nor faith or lose the battle between life and death, good and evil. 

Read the synopsis and you will see much of what this story is about. But it is so much more. A high impact adventure with brutal death scenes. Evil itself reeking havoc upon the world is scary to even think about, it's chilling. Michaels character has strengths and weaknesses that opens a doorway of connecting and rooting for him throughout his plight. Friendship, honor, faith, and even love adds to the characters making them come to life and feel for them, especially during their times of loss. 

There were some scenes that had me reeling in disgust at the thought of what was occurring, but those are just my thoughts alone, as we all as readers take from stories our own thoughts and opinions. 

Religious/Occult horror, dark fantasy, and supernatural suspense.

This is a planned series, so more of Michael Moretti will be coming our way. He's an interesting character worth investing your time in and will hopefully want to follow as his adventures continue.

"Time for you to die."

Madness IN Tandem by R.J. Powell

dark emotional tense fast-paced

4.0

"Do you think we'll always be like this?" he asked, looking down into the green eyes of his beautiful wife."

"I sure hope so," whispered Tilly, pressing her hips into his and kissing him hard once again."

Imagine yourself at a peaceful cabin, along side your love, just hoping to relax and enjoy each other. That is the goal for Tilly and Adam. Things start out fantastic, erotic sex, relaxation, and serenity. Seems perfect. Until something is just not right. Little things start happening that don't make sense and it all quickly turns into a confusing mess for this poor couple. 

Things turn up missing, creatures start dying, and it's as hot as hades.

What was a hopeful lovefest becomes "Madness in Tandem." 

The author really dives into her character development and swiftly takes the story into madness between the couple. Things are open to interpretation as it's hard to figure out what the hell is going on. Clearly they are losing their minds, but we don't know why, and the abhorrent things they do to each other is absolutely repulsive.

For fans of the extreme, I think you will really like this one. It's a novella done well and packs a punch. It's a nasty, tasty little morsel, and the ending is sinister and surprising. 

Conjuring the Witch by Jessica Leonard

dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

"There is a house in the woods, covered in moss and time. It is a cursed place, and it hurries. There is a house in the woods where not even crickets will chirp. It is hurrying."

Deep in the woods, there is a lingering. It is ever watching and waiting. It calls to those who listen and see. It waits for the moment it can exact its revenge, but it will forever live within the darkness. Lost to the pain and suffering it has had to endure for a lifetime. There are witches in the woods and there they will forever stay. 

Religious horror can be very complex and disturbing. Not only are we experiencing the foreboding of the woods, not knowing what is exactly haunting within, but we are also experiencing the control of the church and the involvement of the men in the community. Submission of the women is their main desire and they have done evil upon evil deeds to obtain their status as the ones who must be in control. 

There is guilt that is layed upon the women that has them believing they are not godly enough and that they must work harder at being submissive to their husbands. But when the women discover what is truly happening, they do what must be done to punish the men. 

There is an atmospheric darkness that comes to life with the descriptive prose and setting. There is a melancholy that is unsettling as the story unfolds, it takes us deeper into the reasons behind all the strange occurrences. 

There is an eeriness and some moments that are chilling, not only by what lingers in the woods, but by the priest who demands submissive wives. 

Witches for the win!

The Sleepy Hollow Gang: Shivers #1 by Robert P. Ottone

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

"To turn and fly was now too late; and besides, what chance was there of escaping ghost or goblin, if such it was, which could ride upon wings of the wind?"

When Derek Houseman moved to Tarrytown, the Sleepy Hollow region of New York, he never expected to make new friends that loved spooky horrors as much as he does. As Halloween approaches he is invited to a night of trick or treating and shenanigans. They perform a ritual to awaken the dead not expecting it to be an infamous ghost. Now they must figure out how to stop him as the town is now at the mercy of the "Headless Horseman."

This is such a great spooky tale. Kids who love dark spooky reads will surely enjoy this. Halloween night, ghosts, and a  mystery to solve right along with the gang. They may also get those shivery spine tingles, and will also learn about acceptance, what it means to be a good friend, working together as a team, helping each other be strong and brave, and caring for each other. 

I really enjoyed reading this and I am looking forward to the next book in the series. 

I highly recommend this for any age, but especially for those looking for books for young spooky readers. 

*This is the first book in a planned series. The Sleepy Hollow Gang will be returning this year. "The Sleepy Hollow Gang 2: Invasion of the Purple People Eaters". 

What Happened at the Abbey by Isobel Blackthorn, Isobel Blackthorn

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

4.0

"Oh, to be a bat. To fly off when most of the rest of the world sleeps, and feast on other, lesser, creatures of the night. The freedom. The quiet. Away from the clamors of the day. Away from judgements and condemnations, and so many inquisitive eyes."

When Ingrid flees with her daughter from an abusive life, her hope is to start a new life. Going back to her homeland of Scotland, taking a position as housekeeper for a prominent family, she must protect herself and her daughter. Little does she know that she has stepped into a family that holds many dark and disturbing secrets. As the secrets are slowly revealed, each one becomes more disturbing and Ingrid realizes how dysfunctional this family truly is. 

Putting her trust in another has proven to be a mistake, but in doing so has also provided her with an unexpected freedom. 

This story has so much mystery and intrigue that it is quite surprising as each one comes to light. Ingrid and her daughter Sarah are the light of the story that shines in the darkness that is deeply seated within the walls of Strathbairn. The McClead family are so filled with dark hearts and disturbed souls, such unlikable characters, and yet one could not help but feel some pity for their plight. A past that forever haunts them. So much dissention and mistrust abound between them that leads them on a continuous dark path of doom. The past forever has a gripping hold, shattering their lives throughout their many years. 

The atmosphere is foreboding as the setting is in an isolated area in the highlands of Scotland. An old farm not far from an abandoned Abbey. A mire that holds a dark secret. Gloomy days and dark misty moonlit nights with seemingly voices on the wind. Haunting in the gloaming of the night.

A very captivating gothic story sure to entertain fans of the genre. 

Between Days: A collection of Dreams by Nick DeWolf

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

5.0

I have been following Nick's writing for many years. I have read all of his books and I have found a uniqueness in his writing that in my opinion is like no others. I chuckled through "Frightfully Ever After",  was chilled by "Pulling Strings", and entertained by his reverse superhero story "Villains Never Die." His debut collection is based on his dreams and his author's voice shines through each story. Prose that had me stopping and pondering my thoughts at the beauty that lies within the words. 

16 short stories that will take you into a mind of dreaming in the night, written onto a page that include a mixture of genres.

Dream a Little Dream: 

"Your love, stranger, still exists. Your story is not gone. The joy you felt in the moment of walking into that room, seeing your love unpacking, asking them where the books should go and watching them smile as they think about how to arrange the things of your life together, is not lost."

In a world of dreams, anything can happen. One can try to change the path, but it always creates its own and we are taken where it wants us to go.

Silent Sky:

"Walking the streets is like strolling between shelves in a library. This road here? Science fiction. There's Self-Help Avenue. The alleyways, cut with shadows and jagged light, soaked with scents of cooked meat and garbage, are horror stories. I only dare enjoy them during the day."

Nothing is as it seems and everything is a test of time and belief. Everyone has their own stories as they navigate life and eventually those stories come to an end.

"If the city is a collection of human stories, everyone here is an author in their own tale, and a character is someone else's."

What the Mountain Has to Offer:

"He told them he knew they spoke with stolen tongues, that the stories of his people still lived within him."

Ancient folklore, shapeshifters deep within the forest, native hunters, and the destruction of an ancient pact of peace and the broken promise of untouched lands. 

My Favorite Little Spot in the Middle of Nowhen:

"Right now is now, but it's the same now for everyone who comes here. It is current, past, and present, all at once. It is all of time, and none of time, at the same time."

Dreams often take us to our favorite places. Places that linger in our memories. Places that provide comfort and happiness. But there are times when one misses what they are looking for as if life has already been written for them.

"Sometimes people just exist on different hands of the clock."

Along New Lines:

"This was a new station. She'd never ridden this line."

Just rolling along, trying to get where one needs to go. Trying to figure out the best way possible to get there in the least amount of time. But does it ever go as planned?

Rusty's Run:

"Strawberries and apples and dirt."

Pets are amazing, aren't they? This is Rusty's story, the undying loyalty and love she has for her owner. Her journey to find her owner after being separated during a disastrous event. 

Harsh Lessons:

"We are who we are because our lives are hard. Our seas are rough and our land is unforgiving."

A harsh lesson learned by a hard hearted general. Not careful enough to keep his mouth shut, he learns quickly of betrayal.

Trouve:

"International company looking for able-bodied students willing to perform grueling manual labor in exchange for meager lodging and a pittance of a stipend. Come spend your summer in the cultural capital of the world, working hours which will leave you virtually no time to enjoy it. Work yourself to the bone in order to appease our stuck-up employees moving across the sea to work at the company's new France headquarters. Apply today, not because spots are limited, but because we’re desperate!"

A bone chilling ghost story. Memories held onto from the harsh life of a child, longing for release.

The Vine:

"He didn't usually feel anger, yet it lived with him all the time. A tiny, smoldering pile at the back of his heart. It was always lit, but little in his life made it burn. Not other people. Not the world around him. Only himself. His own mistakes. His flaws. That was the fuel his anger needed."

An allegory. The unrelenting vines in the garden of life that grow and grow and never want to let go. It takes root and burns there for many years until one day... let's go.

Between the Ropes: 

An homage to a beloved coach. Cherished memories of boxing days gone by. 

The Wheresit:

"Coins which tasted like need. Paperclips, rich with the hint of useful. Bits of paper, green and white, warm from their pockets, sweetened with greed."

I am not even sure how to describe this little creature. It's an interesting character with an interesting concept of all that is gathered in a home full of life. But also, lost items left behind to be gathered within the walls of a home that is lived in by different families and left behind, leaving emptiness and loneliness, only to be filled once again. Some things only have value for short periods of time and other things are cherished for life.

Goddess of the Forest:

A Kamiho, a character in Korean Folklore: A goddess of the forest and the night. A devourer of souls.

Called upon by one who has come to ask for help to rid her life of the man who is among the worst of men. One who takes and takes but never gives back. "You are a collection of stolen dreams."  His evil deeds are now being visited upon him and he will now give back everything he has taken. 

Threshold Intergalactic Cruise Services:

"Threshold Intergalactic Services is proud to present their latest venture; a voyage greater and grander than ever attempted. Join us...for the trip of a lifetime."

A highly exciting and anticipated trip through the universe does not go as planned and now everything hangs onto survival. (The ending of this one was chilling, I loved it!)

The Witch's Eye:

"That is because I am a member of Her Majesty's Navy, and not a flea-ridden, jolly rogering pirate who don't know his aft from his stern."

Pirates are among ye, aye they are, but there is more than meets the eye. Deep secrets threatened to be revealed that would change the loyalty of the sailors beholden to their captain. Some secrets are best kept as they are.

Behind the Hidden Door:

Things that go bump in the night. Creepy closets where monsters dwell. From childhood to adulthood, some things are best left alone.

Death at the Table:

If Death came knocking at your door, would you invite it in ? Knowing that it may be the end or a change in the course of your life. No bargaining can make a difference. It has been invited in and now it will be answered to. 

Everything has a consequence in the end.