Sallow Bend is a pretty spooky novel with killer character who lives up to the horror hype. Her page presence is unsettling and supernatural in natureSallow Bend is a pretty spooky novel with killer character who lives up to the horror hype. Her page presence is unsettling and supernatural in nature which bodes well for a good horror story. The only thing which let the book down was the repetitive nature of storytelling in parts with conversations rehashing events multiple times; this felt like it detracted the progressive narrative, putting a stop to a very good plot. Still well worth a read though.
Merged review:
Sallow Bend is a pretty spooky novel with killer character who lives up to the horror hype. Her page presence is unsettling and supernatural in nature which bodes well for a good horror story. The only thing which let the book down was the repetitive nature of storytelling in parts with conversations rehashing events multiple times; this felt like it detracted the progressive narrative, putting a stop to a very good plot. Still well worth a read though....more
Body dysmorphia and omnipresent hallucinatory monsters make #thighgap by Chandler Morrison a damn scary read. Not only does the body horror take centrBody dysmorphia and omnipresent hallucinatory monsters make #thighgap by Chandler Morrison a damn scary read. Not only does the body horror take centre stage but the real-world likeness of the character's struggle make this a truly memorable read....more
STARGAZERS by LP Hernandez oozes CELL vibes, taking me back to how I felt when I read the grandmaster Stephen King's take on a different kind of zombiSTARGAZERS by LP Hernandez oozes CELL vibes, taking me back to how I felt when I read the grandmaster Stephen King's take on a different kind of zombie-like being. Add in a father daughter combo to contend with Cormac McCarthy's THE ROAD father/son dynamic and you know you're in for a real treat. ...more
TOXIC LOVE is unlike any other book I've read, though the bizarro fiction of Carlton Mellick III comes close.
Mike Ashbrook is a crime scene cleaner. TOXIC LOVE is unlike any other book I've read, though the bizarro fiction of Carlton Mellick III comes close.
Mike Ashbrook is a crime scene cleaner. After the murder, suicide, or death by natural causes, once the police and crime scene investigators have left, after the body (or bodies as is generally the case here) have been taken to the morgue, all that's left behind is body fluid, stains, and small remains. That's where Mike's talents are put to use - sure it's not a great job but it pays the rent and when you've got little by way of job prospects on the horizon and an estranged family needing cash for various expenses, you gotta do what you gotta do.
Little did Mike know, that, in his mid forties, working a dead end job would lead to a whole new life (both in terms of sex and money). Maybe mopping up blood and collecting skull fragments off the floor ain't so bad after all?
Naturally the cleaning business doesn't lend itself to long term employees, so when newcomer Sage (a twenty something sexpot) joins Mike on the job as the latest hire, he's thinking he'll be up for a new partner before the end of their first clean-up job together. Instead, he ends up banging Sage on the floor in a pool of the deceased blood...yeah gross...
That's pretty much how the bulk of the story plays out. Sage is a freak who loves to screw in the fluid the cleaning crew are hired to mop up. Sadly, not all the guys Sage meets are up for this kind of action...good thing Mike's short of morals (though there is some inner turmoil (which largely evaporates are the sight of Sage's bare breasts)) and lacks will power.
Once the shock value wears off, (which takes some time, believe me), the story clicks over at a steady pace with Sage's desires becoming increasingly taboo - from self harm, to necrophilia to murder, with Mike coming along for the ride - literally. Despite the graphic nature of the content, both Mike and Sage are enjoyable characters who bring life to the tale focused on death.
I was pleasantly surprised at the depth to TOXIC LOVE, in particular the criminal elements which complemented the main story nicely. The introduction of Sage's cousin into the mix was a nice touch and provided a different lens to the horror-erotica.
TOXIC LOVE is a niche read. If you dig Bizarro/horror-erotica/splatter-punk etc. then this one is perfect for you. As a reader who is relatively new to this style of book, I wasn't sure if I'd be able to get into it, however I found myself unable to put it down until I'd consumed all there was to offer.
PARADISE CLUB is not for the feint of heart. It you're a reader who shies away from copiousWow! That was brutal!
I could end the review there really...
PARADISE CLUB is not for the feint of heart. It you're a reader who shies away from copious amounts of blood and gore, or scenes which teeter on the edge of bizzaro-fiction / extreme-horror then PARADISE CLUB isn't for you. If, on the other other hand, you like your horror to be a full immersive experience, viscera and all - then step right up because author Time Meyer sure has served a feast!
Elliot Harper, an FBI agent, and his family win a vacation to a secluded island (along with some 600 other guests) where they'll be pampered, enjoy crystal clear water and be treated some exotic cuisine. What the pamphlet neglected to mention was that the guests would also be treated to a very exclusive and dangerous game - the Skirmish. More on that later.
Pretty early on in the piece, Elliot knows something isn't right...accidentally stumbling upon a man being tortured and killed in the basement of the hotel you're staying will give you those 'feel bad vibes'. In no time at all the resort is overrun by killer clowns, chainsaw wielding lumberjacks and samurai's to name a few, hellbent on murdering the guests in the most macabre way. Good stuff.
Horror fans will immediately think of The Purge, which is apt - after all, a select few get free reign on mass murder, but there's a difference. Rather than 'purging America', this group of costumed killers is contributing to a Lovercraftian cause to raise an ancient race! Didn't see that coming did you? The Skirmish is a bloody means to an end which threatens all participants (killers included - there's no discrimination here with some pretty gory murderer-on-murderer violence).
I had a blast reading PARADISE CLUB which just happened to be my first read by author Tim Meyer and I can tell you, it won't be the last!
Started promising then lost its way. The concept of a multiple timelines being intertwined is interesting, along with the element of reincarnation yetStarted promising then lost its way. The concept of a multiple timelines being intertwined is interesting, along with the element of reincarnation yet the execution lacked, leading to confusion. ...more
THE CHARNEL CAVES sees a small resurgence of the long thought extinct monster crabs following a spate of gruesome human deaths off the Welsh coast. HoTHE CHARNEL CAVES sees a small resurgence of the long thought extinct monster crabs following a spate of gruesome human deaths off the Welsh coast. However, whilst the crabs would prove to be the culprits, author Guy N Smith does his best to impress upon the reader a new threat! One more menacing than those pesky overgrown crabs (read the book to find out what)!
While the smoke and mirrors added a little something extra to the sea food broth, ultimately, THE CHARNEL CAVES is about those famous monster crabs and their never ending thirst for human flesh.
Kept largely to a small cave, the group of crabs manage to cause a lot of chaos. Enter Pat, a character from a previous installment (I think...) who had faced these monsters previously and lived to tell the tale. He's on the coast to conquer his fears, much to the chagrin of his partner. What was meant to be a form of therapy for Pat turns into warfare, as once, again, man verses beast in a final battle to determine who is the dominant species once and for all!
Spoiler - it's the humans.
THE CHARNEL CAVES is all killer, no filler. On the surface this seems like a good deal for readers, however both plot and character development suffer. Even the threat of world war three doesn't add much depth. It's almost as if THE CHARNEL CAVES was written for a graphic novel, in which case, the scrip and pace would've been perfect.
Overall, I still enjoyed popping my Crabs cherry with THE CHARNEL CAVES.
Reminded me of a Ruby Jean Jensen novel; a heady mix of family drama and horror which spills over into a bloody reality of pain and suffering. A greatReminded me of a Ruby Jean Jensen novel; a heady mix of family drama and horror which spills over into a bloody reality of pain and suffering. A great read. ...more
Has a little something for every horror enthusiast; gothic horror, Frankenstein themes, a little of Saw (the title kinda gives that away doesn't it), Has a little something for every horror enthusiast; gothic horror, Frankenstein themes, a little of Saw (the title kinda gives that away doesn't it), I also couldn't help but be reminded of The Keep by Paul F Wilson with the castle setting and cells in the dungeon-like lower levels. Very enjoyable read....more
Right from the outset, you know what sort of book this is.
Originally published in 1959, the sleaze racket of the time could be considered moderate byRight from the outset, you know what sort of book this is.
Originally published in 1959, the sleaze racket of the time could be considered moderate by today's standards, however, for Cherry, the buxom beauty at the centre of the plot, 1959 was a time when nudity and posing for pictures was near one of the worst professions a girl on the make could have. The only problem was - she needed money and was prepared to put her morals aside to get that green - to an extent that is.
Singing in cafe's, undertaking menial work in factories and working as a receptionist/bookkeeper didn't provide enough dough to make way for the big smoke, that, coupled with a deadbeat boyfriend with an equally dead end job, lead Cherry down a path she never thought she'd walk; posing for nudes pictures.
Seems a little tame, however when accosted to ramp things up and move into filming R-rated acts with strangers, the line she'd not cross was firmly drawn and oddly enough - her firm 'no' resulted in better long term life prospects. Enter Tom, her photographer who happened to be madly in love with her, whispering sweet nothings and promising her a wedding ring and to keep the nude pictures he took of her to himself - damn the money! Cherry seems pleased with this, however, life has a way of complicating things...if only she didn't have these other urges...
Sin Doll is pure sleaze pulp; from big city dreaming Cherry down to Millie, a stripper/sex worker who tries and succeeds in helping Cherry discover her sexual orientation, the pages drip with lust.
Yet there's more to the story which makes Orrie Hitt's style so easily readable and enjoyable. True, sexploitation is the name of the game, however Cherry's character is as well rounded as her curvaceous wares with Hitt writing her as a fully independent woman with sass and charisma to burn with a sense of self worth which puts her head and shoulders above the males who try (and fail) to take advantage of her. I wouldn't go as far as calling this a 'coming of age story', however there are some themes akin to that style of narrative. ...more
Interesting concept; members of a cult who took experimental drugs which bonded them together with a dark entity in a shared conscience continue to feInteresting concept; members of a cult who took experimental drugs which bonded them together with a dark entity in a shared conscience continue to feel the effects years later.
Read like a sequel rather than a standalone story which dimmed the experience for me (this wasn’t a sequel, however, so more backstory would’ve been a good).
A bit of a snooze fest for the most part, however the story was salvaged in the last couple of chapters. The ‘horror’ is on the peripheral for the most part. ...more
Night of the Ghoul is a long lost horror film, recently found (at least some if it) by Forest Innman, a former filmmaker who spends him time digitisinNight of the Ghoul is a long lost horror film, recently found (at least some if it) by Forest Innman, a former filmmaker who spends him time digitising old film. When Innman, and his son Orson, manage to track down the film's creator in an old hospital seemingly on his last days, Innman can't wait to find out where the remaining pieces of the film are and promptly sneaks in for an interview under the guise of being an insurance officer. Little did Innman know, that that the film's creator, T. F. Merrit would spread a dark and horrifying tale, bridging the line between fact and fiction which would end neither of them leaving the hospital alive.
Night of the Ghoul #1 is immersive; not only does Scott Snyder's multi-layered horror have depth, it reads like a traditional horror with the requisite scares and ghoulish figures lurking in the night, completed by a mystery element involving Orson and his mother (separated from Innman) which was only teased in #1.
With so many threads written into this first issue, I was surprised to find that, on first read, the story itself feels 'complete', there's no cliffhanger ending, rather the opening stanza leaves the threads in a nice place, ready to be picked up in the second installment.
In terms of the art, Franceso Francailla does a great job. There's a healthy dose of black and shades of grey in the present-day pages while the Night of the Ghoul film pages are in sepia which helps to clearly distinguish between to the timelines.
Frank Drake, (a descendant of Dracula himself! Minus fangs and without the ability to morph into a bat), his fiance Jeanie (a young woman who plays thFrank Drake, (a descendant of Dracula himself! Minus fangs and without the ability to morph into a bat), his fiance Jeanie (a young woman who plays the damsel in distress role to perfection), and third wheel Clifton (a shady character if ever there was one! Think of the typecast movie villain) awaken the long slumbering beast that is Dracula when they crash his castle, claiming it for their own - well, it's Drake's since he inherited it - the details of said inheritance are a little sketchy, but nevertheless the story takes us to Dracula's castle where the bloodthirst man-bat lays waiting...
It's great to see Tomb of Dracula #1 get another physical printing. Whilst the story itself is pretty simple; young all American male inherits Dracula's castles and awakens him which leads to more vampires being created and the townsfolk living near the castle terrorised once more, it's still entertaining and reads as a nice complete story with some added character depth thrown in for good measure. The underlying love triangle between Frank, Jeanie, and Clifton was a nice touch as was Clifton's shady manner.
The art works on so many levels, bringing back that comic reading nostalgia and completing the story proper. The only downfall was the lack of darkness; for a story primarily set at the night, the backdrop looked to be set during midday. Nevertheless, this was a minor gripe in what was a decent read. ...more
Issue #1 of Creepshow is a bit of a mixed bag. TAKE ONE, the first of two stories is an ode to the supernatural horrors of Freddy, Michael Myers and JIssue #1 of Creepshow is a bit of a mixed bag. TAKE ONE, the first of two stories is an ode to the supernatural horrors of Freddy, Michael Myers and Jason; a nightmarish being who just won't stay dead. The Halloween backdrop fits this story really well and the art is great - albeit stomach churning, especially the last couple of frame with Phil and the candy bar...gross. TAKE ONE was the highlight of #1.
The second story, SHINGO, could've been a lot of fun but for some reason I just didn't connect with the alien clown/telly tubby posing as a kids birthday party entertainer. Felt more campy than horror. Perhaps if Shingo looked more like a creepy clown (Pennywise, anyone?) rather than an overstuffed kids toy I would've liked it more. That said, I did enjoy the domestic qualities of the story with the separated parents fighting for their child's love, it added a little bit of realism to the surreal. ...more
Decent set-up which crams a lot of story into a short timeframe. The characters are surprisingly fleshed out and the plot is gripping. The artwork is Decent set-up which crams a lot of story into a short timeframe. The characters are surprisingly fleshed out and the plot is gripping. The artwork is fantastic and complements the nighttime/moody tone of the narrative; the use of green and red as the predominant colours is a nice touch. Couldn't want much more from a first issue. ...more
Scudder, minus booze, is still a tainted protagonist. Despite the licence to carry and investigate, his hardman ways persist. In this, someone dies atScudder, minus booze, is still a tainted protagonist. Despite the licence to carry and investigate, his hardman ways persist. In this, someone dies at the hands of Scudder and he couldn't give a damn. There's no moral compass for revenge in the worst way. I enjoyed the dark narrative. ...more
I know little of Warhammer but love Adrian Tchaikovsky’s Shadows of the Apt series and this reads just like one of those. Solid characters and well baI know little of Warhammer but love Adrian Tchaikovsky’s Shadows of the Apt series and this reads just like one of those. Solid characters and well balanced story set amongst a backdrop of never ending war. ...more
Ferocious predators, which should have long been extinct, break free from their confines and go on the hunt in search of prey. No human, caged chickenFerocious predators, which should have long been extinct, break free from their confines and go on the hunt in search of prey. No human, caged chicken, or family pet is safe! No, this isn’t a Jurassic Park inspired spin-off, Carnosaur (1984) by Aussie author John Brosnan (writing as Harry Adam Knight), is on a different level of pulp-tastic horror.
Published some six years prior to Michael Crichton’s well known Dino-blood splatter romp, Carnosaur explores the test tube dino element much like Jurassic Park did, however the science is generally left to the footnotes as this story is all about killing off characters in the most gruesome way possible with little care for plausibility – it’s all part of the fun.
David Pascal, a journalist at a small town rag is the lead character who sniffs a good story from the smell permeating from the massacred chicken inside their demolished coup and smushed human bodies. He comes across as a bit of a wimp and has a tendency to whinge about everything in life, namely his ex with whom he ended the relationship with because she was destined to be more successful than him and he couldn’t possible stand that! Not to let his whinging ways deter him, David can sense that there’s something not right about the death and destruction and uses his powers of deduction to weasel his way into the secure compound of the resident bad guy, thanks mostly to catching the eye of the cougar nympho wife of said bay guy.
From that point forward, it’s all about survival of the fittest (or survival of those with the biggest guns) as the inevitable dinosaur escape ensures rendered then modern dominant species a little less dominant…
Carnosaur is a blast, chock block full of fun and inventive scenes of destruction which leave nothing to the imagination and with just enough tension to make you think for a split second the characters actually stand a chance against the supposedly extinct reptiles. The only downside to Carnosaur is that a sequel wasn’t published – there’s certainly more room for mayhem; sadly with the author having passed away sometime, the story starts and ends here....more
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