Nothing But Blackened Teeth is a novella about five twenty-somethings who gather for a small wedding in a haunted Heian-era mansion in Japan.
The storyNothing But Blackened Teeth is a novella about five twenty-somethings who gather for a small wedding in a haunted Heian-era mansion in Japan.
The story was interesting. I know very little about Japanese folk lore so I had to keep stopping to look up certain words. That's not a bad thing; I love learning new lore. And the tale of the ohaguro-bettari was fascinating.
The characters, however, were unlikeable. Our protagonist, Cat, told the narrative through a haze of petulant self-pity, and her friends (all who clearly hated each other) were full of childish fury. I found myself hoping they all died in the end just so they'd stop whining.
The writing was beautiful at times, painting the setting and atmosphere vividly in a flurry of both gruesome and flowery prose. But the overabundance of similes did pull me out of the story after a while.
Overall, Nothing But Blackened Teeth was a good folk horror. I liked it but didn't love it. A solid 3.5 stars....more
Dark Across the Bay reminds me of Ahlborn's The Shuddering because they both possessed:
1) Outstanding writing 2) Plots that kept me reading late into Dark Across the Bay reminds me of Ahlborn's The Shuddering because they both possessed:
1) Outstanding writing 2) Plots that kept me reading late into the night 3) Exciting and unpredictable villains 4) Protagonists so painfully annoying that I could NEVER root for them
I like flawed characters, but the Parrish family is not flawed. They are vapid, stereotypical, and moronic. I couldn't help wanting them to all die in the end because that is what they deserved--to buried facedown in a shallow grave where they can never grace another page again.
But somehow, just like with the Shuddering, when I finished the book I could only remember the good parts. The creepy house, the isolated landscape, the incredible visuals Ania Alhborn so talentedly weaves....more
Written in the '70s, The Book of Skulls is about four college roommates on a road trip toward immortality.
The characters started out as interesting yWritten in the '70s, The Book of Skulls is about four college roommates on a road trip toward immortality.
The characters started out as interesting yet flawed young men, but their individual internal monologues shifted around the quarter mark to philosophical diatribes so long-winded and pointless the book should have a trigger warning for existential masturbation.
The Sleep Experiment could be broken down into two parts: The chapters about the actual sleep experiment and the chapters about Dr. Wallis' personal lThe Sleep Experiment could be broken down into two parts: The chapters about the actual sleep experiment and the chapters about Dr. Wallis' personal life.
The sleep experiment passages were fantastic! I loved watched the subject's descent into madness and the megalomaniac scientist's response. We witness confusion, gore, and a ton of creepiness. I WISH the entire book took place inside the lab because it would have been a five star read.
The rest of the book was about the lead researcher's personal life. Now, I love a villainous protagonist so Dr. Wallis should be right up my alley. He is the quintessential scientist who believes all his contributions are brilliant and for the greater good no matter the cost. Not a new archetype but one that always provides chaos and destruction.
However, his chapters were just so chringy. Dr. Wallis didn't do or say anything remotely interesting or charming yet every single character who interacted with him just wanted to bone. It stated over and over... and over... how handsome and fashionable he is with his tailored suits and well-trimmed beard. Women everywhere were dropping their panties on sight. It was a freaking epidemic. Even the men consistently told him how nice he dressed. It honestly felt like a thirteen year boy's fantasy writing--women want to be with him and men want to be him.
But if you can get past all of that dry-heaving awkwardness, you get back to the lab and fun-filled insanity of two Australians being awake in a confined space for weeks.
It really was a good horror that picked up steam all the way through. Loved the end. I'll definitely read more of the World's Scariest Legends series. ...more
Jack Sparks is a journalist, author, skeptic, and all around arrogant tool. When he journeys to Rome for his book debunking the supernatural, he unwitJack Sparks is a journalist, author, skeptic, and all around arrogant tool. When he journeys to Rome for his book debunking the supernatural, he unwittingly sets a series of terrible and tragic events into motion.
When she speaks, her voice is lilting and childlike, in direct contrast to her words. "You cock-cucking prick," she tells the priest,...
This book literally has everything: exorcisms, intrigue, humor, creepiness, twists, turns, and moments of legit darkness. It was everything I wanted and more. I'll definitely be on the look out for other works from this author....more
You can't choose blindness when it suits you. Not anymore.
The Ballad of Black Tom is Victor LaValle's reimagined tale of Lovecraft's The Horror at RedYou can't choose blindness when it suits you. Not anymore.
The Ballad of Black Tom is Victor LaValle's reimagined tale of Lovecraft's The Horror at Red Hook, and damn it really hit the mark. I admit, Red Hook is not a favorite of mine. I found it overly wordy. But how LaValle rewrote it was nothing short of genius.
Tommy Tester is a Harlem hustler who earns the attention of the wrong sort of folk, ie., a sorcerous, bad cops, and a old man trying to awake an even older god.
There were others who would have called him a scammer, a swindler, a con, but he never thought of himself this way. No good charlatan ever did
This is the kind of fantastic story that reminds me why cosmic horror is my favorite genre. ...more
They Rise is a quick creature feature with lots of action and gore and giant man-eating fish.
They weren't sharks and they sure as hell weren't whalesThey Rise is a quick creature feature with lots of action and gore and giant man-eating fish.
They weren't sharks and they sure as hell weren't whales. They looked like something straight from a drive-in horror movie.
This is my fist book by Hunter Shea and I enjoyed the deep-water adventure reminiscent of tales like Jaws and Piranha. The pace was fast and the ancient chimaera's were badass with their armor and toxins and crushing, toothless mouths.
When the first one clamped down on his leg, he felt the muscle and meat explode from his skin like an overfilled sausage casing.
The only downside for me personally was that I didn't connect with the characters as much as I wanted. They felt like antiquated cutouts where the heroic rake, with a drink in one hand and weapon in the other, protects the woman as she watches from safety of a hiding place, falling deeper in love with his manliness.
...watch my lovely ex and make sure she doesn't do anything stupid like follow me outside, okay?
Except for Nestor, of course. He was pure OG; memorable, lovable and brave.
I've already purchased my next Shea book, Creature, and I'm looking forward to more gruesome fun....more
Things have gotten worse is a short psychological horror told in epistolary form.
Set in 2000, Agnes and What have you done today to deserve your eyes
Things have gotten worse is a short psychological horror told in epistolary form.
Set in 2000, Agnes and Zoe meet in an online queer community board and strike up a relationship that rapidly devolves into something deeply dysfunctional.
The writing and premise are great. I found lines and imagery that will stick with me forever.
As decadently red as a severed artery in full bloom
The story actually came across more tragic than insidious. I didn't find it shocking or horrific. Instead, it felt like any other tale of woe that would eventually end up as a popular documentary of the week on Netflix. Maybe it was all the hype surrounding the book, but I guess I was expecting something... more. Something darker. Which is why I gave it 4 stars instead one 5.
Overall, it was solidly f**ked up. And a massive shout out to the most sublime cover art I've seen in a while....more
Naomi's Room has the feel of a modern day classic. The writing and atmosphere are perfectly literary horror, and the plotWow, I loved this dark tale.
Naomi's Room has the feel of a modern day classic. The writing and atmosphere are perfectly literary horror, and the plot is one of the darkest I've ever read. Ten years ago, when my children were young, I probably wouldn't have made it through to the end. Like many parents, brutal tales of children were my Achilles heel. But I seemed to have grown out of that. Lol.
The book club meeting had been a success (by my standards, anyway—we had fun and nobody died)
I think Volume Three may be even bTwisted and hilarious!
The book club meeting had been a success (by my standards, anyway—we had fun and nobody died)
I think Volume Three may be even better than the first two. Jack and Jerry had me laughing out loud so many times, and Mr. Creepypasta deserves a huge shout out for the narration. I can't imagine anyone doing it better.
I'm sad I don't have anymore to read but hopefully there will be a forth book!...more
Father of Lies #1 is a kind of classic demon possession story. Most of the book takes place in an asylum which tends to be a favorite horror trope forFather of Lies #1 is a kind of classic demon possession story. Most of the book takes place in an asylum which tends to be a favorite horror trope for a good reason. Its frightening and claustrophobic. There is lots of darkness, child sex rings, Satanism and filthy demon language.
The 'Christian god being the ultimate good and anyone who doesn't believe in him is screwed' devise is overly heavy-handed. However, this is often the case with a lot possession books so I looked past it.
My only problem was this is the first in a trilogy and it does not stand on its own. The end isn't really an end, so be prepared to invest in all three books. ...more
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