C. J. Daley
I grabbed one of the numbered and signed editions, and the art of the alt-cover is great.
A novella that was previously released in segments to the author’s patreon, this ended up being a pretty well done and tight-knit story given the fact that it was done without a full write and edit first.
Mav’s thirteenth birthday is tomorrow. He’s excited for a night of pizza, cake, and horror VHS movies with his best friends Max and Blake. Unfortunately, it ends up being anything but a normal birthday. They do say the change from child to true teenager can be rocky, but I don’t think this is what they had in mind. When Max suggests a late night ride to the local gas station for some right-of-passage beer and smokes, the crew is thrust into a supernatural, decades spanning spiral as not all of them make it through their town’s creepy tunnel.
I feel like this read like experience. I hope for Roberts sake that experience doesn’t include a presence in a tunnel obviously, but the minute details of the story carried weight. Summer 1999, the teen boys with their bikes and riding the night away, mentions of the Y2K scare, the VHS movies, as well as the films of choice, all felt like a snapshot bordering on the personal. And that of course made it all the more believable. While for me in 1999 I was probably still on Disney VHS movies, I feel like I was the true last generation of biking and disappearing into the neighborhood with friends, so there were nostalgic notes to this for me as well.
I really enjoyed the choice of integrating the story with the future. Mav is not only still stuck on the event decades later, but he’s actually recalling the story for us now. That tells the reader right from the jump that things are serious, and that that night wasn’t just some freak event. After burying it for years, it has resurfaced in his dreams like some demonic PTSD. The chapter’s starting with this sort of bleak future for Mav, as well as the first person POV, really sold it for me.
I recall at one point having to put the book down while getting toward the build up and thinking “man, this guy really knows how to write a story.” I handled my business for the day and made sure to finish it that night. It builds to the reader finally discovering the entirety of what happened in 1999, which is quite a climax in itself, however the reader knows that Mav is telling the story from years later. What you get is almost two full back-to-back finales, both with different things happening, and I thought they were equally as thrilling.
Quick, intense violence, and a wicked twist ending.
I grabbed one of the numbered and signed editions, and the art of the alt-cover is great.
A novella that was previously released in segments to the author’s patreon, this ended up being a pretty well done and tight-knit story given the fact that it was done without a full write and edit first.
Mav’s thirteenth birthday is tomorrow. He’s excited for a night of pizza, cake, and horror VHS movies with his best friends Max and Blake. Unfortunately, it ends up being anything but a normal birthday. They do say the change from child to true teenager can be rocky, but I don’t think this is what they had in mind. When Max suggests a late night ride to the local gas station for some right-of-passage beer and smokes, the crew is thrust into a supernatural, decades spanning spiral as not all of them make it through their town’s creepy tunnel.
I feel like this read like experience. I hope for Roberts sake that experience doesn’t include a presence in a tunnel obviously, but the minute details of the story carried weight. Summer 1999, the teen boys with their bikes and riding the night away, mentions of the Y2K scare, the VHS movies, as well as the films of choice, all felt like a snapshot bordering on the personal. And that of course made it all the more believable. While for me in 1999 I was probably still on Disney VHS movies, I feel like I was the true last generation of biking and disappearing into the neighborhood with friends, so there were nostalgic notes to this for me as well.
I really enjoyed the choice of integrating the story with the future. Mav is not only still stuck on the event decades later, but he’s actually recalling the story for us now. That tells the reader right from the jump that things are serious, and that that night wasn’t just some freak event. After burying it for years, it has resurfaced in his dreams like some demonic PTSD. The chapter’s starting with this sort of bleak future for Mav, as well as the first person POV, really sold it for me.
I recall at one point having to put the book down while getting toward the build up and thinking “man, this guy really knows how to write a story.” I handled my business for the day and made sure to finish it that night. It builds to the reader finally discovering the entirety of what happened in 1999, which is quite a climax in itself, however the reader knows that Mav is telling the story from years later. What you get is almost two full back-to-back finales, both with different things happening, and I thought they were equally as thrilling.
Quick, intense violence, and a wicked twist ending.
Thanks so much to Netgalley and Tantor audio for the ARC.
Man, this was just delightful…and I actually thought that several times while listening. Now I’ve heard of short stories, novellas, and even novels being written for author’s sites or patreons, but this is (or would have been at the time) an amalgamation of one of those with a crowd-style choose your own adventure. One that lasted for a decade! As the story inevitably built up to a decision, the author would offer up choices, and the readers would choose what or where or when or how. And while this is a collection of that decade’s long project, I really enjoyed that the audio still had the polls and then told you the decision people made. It felt unique and also allowed new readers to live a little vicariously through readers of the past.
Best friend (of the consistently drunk and high variety) Jim and magical member of an old family of All Hallow’s Eve Victoria, must help you on your journey to…well help them, or, help Victoria out most often actually. I loved the author’s use of the term/word “you” as it broke a lot of the normal constructs I think of for writing. And while most of those lessons pertained to essay writing in school, I still would never refer to a character as just you. It heightened the old school, it’s really YOU, choose-your-own path feel and I enjoyed how the author eventually tied it into the story’s lore. Jim, although I realize he must have appeared much younger as a college roommate, really brought to mind Doc from Z Nation. The cadence, the drug and alcohol use, the comedic timing, all felt reminiscent of that character, and he worked perfectly for a decade! Victoria, while introduced truly toward the end of year one, is actually the impetus that allowed the author to grow outward and continue on. She’s strong, snappy, and deep down kind of a really loyal person, all her power included.
I think year one is my favorite. As the original, I think it is also the longest. The best halloween party of the year, one so serious that if your costume sucks, you don’t get in. A bit of witchy dust and your wizard costume is not only way better than before, but totally and absolutely awesomely real. Like what are the chances you are now a freaking wizard real. From there, can’t you see the options are limitless? And not only that, those original readers actually got to decide for themselves.
Unique, refreshing, and filled with adventure, laughs, and a solid amount of heart. I really enjoyed that whenever a choice was made that felt out of character the author would literally start with something snarky, or the scene would ultimately lead to a dead end. I can’t imagine the amount of time and effort this must have taken, I’m truly impressed. Sorry to say though, I’d like a sequel decade…
Thanks so much to Netgalley and Tantor audio for the ARC.
Man, this was just delightful…and I actually thought that several times while listening. Now I’ve heard of short stories, novellas, and even novels being written for author’s sites or patreons, but this is (or would have been at the time) an amalgamation of one of those with a crowd-style choose your own adventure. One that lasted for a decade! As the story inevitably built up to a decision, the author would offer up choices, and the readers would choose what or where or when or how. And while this is a collection of that decade’s long project, I really enjoyed that the audio still had the polls and then told you the decision people made. It felt unique and also allowed new readers to live a little vicariously through readers of the past.
Best friend (of the consistently drunk and high variety) Jim and magical member of an old family of All Hallow’s Eve Victoria, must help you on your journey to…well help them, or, help Victoria out most often actually. I loved the author’s use of the term/word “you” as it broke a lot of the normal constructs I think of for writing. And while most of those lessons pertained to essay writing in school, I still would never refer to a character as just you. It heightened the old school, it’s really YOU, choose-your-own path feel and I enjoyed how the author eventually tied it into the story’s lore. Jim, although I realize he must have appeared much younger as a college roommate, really brought to mind Doc from Z Nation. The cadence, the drug and alcohol use, the comedic timing, all felt reminiscent of that character, and he worked perfectly for a decade! Victoria, while introduced truly toward the end of year one, is actually the impetus that allowed the author to grow outward and continue on. She’s strong, snappy, and deep down kind of a really loyal person, all her power included.
I think year one is my favorite. As the original, I think it is also the longest. The best halloween party of the year, one so serious that if your costume sucks, you don’t get in. A bit of witchy dust and your wizard costume is not only way better than before, but totally and absolutely awesomely real. Like what are the chances you are now a freaking wizard real. From there, can’t you see the options are limitless? And not only that, those original readers actually got to decide for themselves.
Unique, refreshing, and filled with adventure, laughs, and a solid amount of heart. I really enjoyed that whenever a choice was made that felt out of character the author would literally start with something snarky, or the scene would ultimately lead to a dead end. I can’t imagine the amount of time and effort this must have taken, I’m truly impressed. Sorry to say though, I’d like a sequel decade…
Loved the idea of an illustration per story, so grabbed this one on preorder.
This collection is a unique blend of topics or sub-genres that I found incredibly enjoyable. I daresay this is up there as one of the best collections I’ve ever read. I loved that each larger work was followed by a drabble or poem, and it was no surprise to me at all at how many of these had been previously published.
For me the standout in the collection is the author’s openings. I feel like Alley could take one single idea, and through the way the stories begin, make an entire collection out of how many things he comes up with. There were stories that had you guessing the time period, stories that made you feel calm and safe, stories with created worlds, and even many that didn’t feel quite like horror. I found that to be a mark of how well written these were.
Story wise, there is a nuclear apocalypse (well the beginning of one) story that will simultaneously get your blood pumping and rip your heart out entirely. And as one of the shorter stories, that sticks out as a fave. Then there’s one titled, The Lost Treasure of Jocelyn Alameda, that stood out above the rest. It is a dystopian future that is dark, gritty, and far too close to our own. It struck me as deftly crafted in its believability and scope, and I was fully sucked into this one. I would love to see the world return in something…be it a sequel or something only loosely related.
Sharply written, this collection made me feel the entire gamut of emotions. And while there are so many different stories, I did feel a kind of through-line with the author’s voice that I really enjoyed. I have not been so pleasantly surprised and happy with a collection in a long time. I feel like it wasn’t so long ago when I avoided these entirely, and this is a shining example of why I got into them. AND a first read from the author?! I need more, stat.
Loved the idea of an illustration per story, so grabbed this one on preorder.
This collection is a unique blend of topics or sub-genres that I found incredibly enjoyable. I daresay this is up there as one of the best collections I’ve ever read. I loved that each larger work was followed by a drabble or poem, and it was no surprise to me at all at how many of these had been previously published.
For me the standout in the collection is the author’s openings. I feel like Alley could take one single idea, and through the way the stories begin, make an entire collection out of how many things he comes up with. There were stories that had you guessing the time period, stories that made you feel calm and safe, stories with created worlds, and even many that didn’t feel quite like horror. I found that to be a mark of how well written these were.
Story wise, there is a nuclear apocalypse (well the beginning of one) story that will simultaneously get your blood pumping and rip your heart out entirely. And as one of the shorter stories, that sticks out as a fave. Then there’s one titled, The Lost Treasure of Jocelyn Alameda, that stood out above the rest. It is a dystopian future that is dark, gritty, and far too close to our own. It struck me as deftly crafted in its believability and scope, and I was fully sucked into this one. I would love to see the world return in something…be it a sequel or something only loosely related.
Sharply written, this collection made me feel the entire gamut of emotions. And while there are so many different stories, I did feel a kind of through-line with the author’s voice that I really enjoyed. I have not been so pleasantly surprised and happy with a collection in a long time. I feel like it wasn’t so long ago when I avoided these entirely, and this is a shining example of why I got into them. AND a first read from the author?! I need more, stat.
As always, a huge thanks to Shortwave Media for the physical arc. I love the Killer VHS series! And believe it or not, this was a first for me with this author.
This one starts with a hell of an opening. A group of school kids waiting for the bus. What began as a normal morning. Then, the long low whistle, a sound that would reshape their mining town and their entire lives. Patricia, Trish, refused to get on the bus, something telling her her life would never be the same. I imagined that whistle like a klaxon, driving all normalcy, as well as warmth, from their bones. An accident was what it was called. Then as bodies were recovered, all except her father’s, blame started to be placed.
The jump to adulthood kind of took me by surprise, but I really enjoyed the fact that her loss was still the center of her attention. I mean, that is certainly unhealthy, but there is a strength and determination to that too. Perseverance. I just knew that readers were going to get to enter the mine shaft. I just knew it. And hated it, and read it in page-turning fervor. This felt like The Descent mixed with Anaconda and notes of The Chamber of Secrets in this claustrophobic caving story. I also enjoyed that it’s not just a creature feature, it’s urban legend and cryptid and found footage-y investigation with an emotional undertone to the story. I wanted to help Trish find answers, but I really didn’t want to go spelunking to do it. The underwater scenes reminded me a bit of The Cavern by Alister Hodge. Caves, darkness, tight spaces, and water or going beneath water are NOT for me, so this was a perfect horror to get under my skin.
There is a fair bit of brutality here. Dark, bloody, gross descriptions and intense injuries. Venomous, leaking, necrotic tissue. The author wrote some incredibly vivid things into this release. I’m here for it, but my lunch is not. Everything you’d want in a horror.
There’s some great found friendship too, even if it is through trauma bonding. But don’t misunderstand, this is certainly a novel with a body count. Hard fought answers, long kept secrets, and interesting beings too. And I really enjoyed how things tied together.
As always, a huge thanks to Shortwave Media for the physical arc. I love the Killer VHS series! And believe it or not, this was a first for me with this author.
This one starts with a hell of an opening. A group of school kids waiting for the bus. What began as a normal morning. Then, the long low whistle, a sound that would reshape their mining town and their entire lives. Patricia, Trish, refused to get on the bus, something telling her her life would never be the same. I imagined that whistle like a klaxon, driving all normalcy, as well as warmth, from their bones. An accident was what it was called. Then as bodies were recovered, all except her father’s, blame started to be placed.
The jump to adulthood kind of took me by surprise, but I really enjoyed the fact that her loss was still the center of her attention. I mean, that is certainly unhealthy, but there is a strength and determination to that too. Perseverance. I just knew that readers were going to get to enter the mine shaft. I just knew it. And hated it, and read it in page-turning fervor. This felt like The Descent mixed with Anaconda and notes of The Chamber of Secrets in this claustrophobic caving story. I also enjoyed that it’s not just a creature feature, it’s urban legend and cryptid and found footage-y investigation with an emotional undertone to the story. I wanted to help Trish find answers, but I really didn’t want to go spelunking to do it. The underwater scenes reminded me a bit of The Cavern by Alister Hodge. Caves, darkness, tight spaces, and water or going beneath water are NOT for me, so this was a perfect horror to get under my skin.
There is a fair bit of brutality here. Dark, bloody, gross descriptions and intense injuries. Venomous, leaking, necrotic tissue. The author wrote some incredibly vivid things into this release. I’m here for it, but my lunch is not. Everything you’d want in a horror.
There’s some great found friendship too, even if it is through trauma bonding. But don’t misunderstand, this is certainly a novel with a body count. Hard fought answers, long kept secrets, and interesting beings too. And I really enjoyed how things tied together.
Thanks to netgalley and macmillan audio for the arc! This one differed from the series approach with three novellas instead of 10 short stories. The king of middle grade horror, the lord of one-more-chapter cliffhangers, and the master of twist endings.
The Day I Was Discontinued, novella one, was easily my favorite. Tony, a comic nerd, has a great collection and even greater memory for old runs of comic books. But when the comic book shop has an off limits room, it’s just a little too tempting to not sneak in. The blend of real comics and their Stine-made counterparts was really cool to see. And although it was brief, the author did a really good job displaying powers like superspeed.
The second novella was also enjoyable. A summer job at the local pet store should be easy for a pet lover…even if some of the pets are a little unconventional (as is the shop owner). But when the basement is off limits and is labeled as a laboratory, how could Kylie avoid a peek when the photography contest is going on? Quite a similar set up to the first, however this delivered a sort of Little Shop of Horrors with a mad scientist vibe.
The third novella, while perhaps my least favorite, was still a solid read (especially for young readers). Mr. Howell is the new substitute teacher. Other teachers go missing, he loves to howl and make the class participate, and he’s slowly taking over the school. I mean this guy is clearly a werewolf, so why does only Teddy seem to notice? Fun, and of course made me think of the author’s The Werewolf of Fever Swamp. The ending’s twist kind of didn’t make sense when lined up with the other stories, but it’s Stine’s world and we’re just reading in it.
I loved how there were interconnecting characters and friends popping up from each. How the town of Hollow Hills is also a character in this one. Creepy, weird things just seem to happen there. And of course, Stine’s signature twist endings are in place.
Thanks to netgalley and macmillan audio for the arc! This one differed from the series approach with three novellas instead of 10 short stories. The king of middle grade horror, the lord of one-more-chapter cliffhangers, and the master of twist endings.
The Day I Was Discontinued, novella one, was easily my favorite. Tony, a comic nerd, has a great collection and even greater memory for old runs of comic books. But when the comic book shop has an off limits room, it’s just a little too tempting to not sneak in. The blend of real comics and their Stine-made counterparts was really cool to see. And although it was brief, the author did a really good job displaying powers like superspeed.
The second novella was also enjoyable. A summer job at the local pet store should be easy for a pet lover…even if some of the pets are a little unconventional (as is the shop owner). But when the basement is off limits and is labeled as a laboratory, how could Kylie avoid a peek when the photography contest is going on? Quite a similar set up to the first, however this delivered a sort of Little Shop of Horrors with a mad scientist vibe.
The third novella, while perhaps my least favorite, was still a solid read (especially for young readers). Mr. Howell is the new substitute teacher. Other teachers go missing, he loves to howl and make the class participate, and he’s slowly taking over the school. I mean this guy is clearly a werewolf, so why does only Teddy seem to notice? Fun, and of course made me think of the author’s The Werewolf of Fever Swamp. The ending’s twist kind of didn’t make sense when lined up with the other stories, but it’s Stine’s world and we’re just reading in it.
I loved how there were interconnecting characters and friends popping up from each. How the town of Hollow Hills is also a character in this one. Creepy, weird things just seem to happen there. And of course, Stine’s signature twist endings are in place.
Really unsure of this one.
From the title on, this is strange, unfiltered, unfettered, and somewhat uncanny, horniness.
A group of scientists in the desert—DESERT! this isn’t The Thing (they really want you to know)—find something buried beneath the sand. It is both alive and decomposing. It is animal, fungus, virus—it is something new.
While I liked the mostly single location story, and I do love a good research station novel, this one was just miles above the typical weirdness I’d be looking for. In ways it reminded me of Symbiote by Michael Nayak with its cesspool of interconnected relationships…and hey, a research station can be lonely, but this one was weird because of the main character.
Kinsey has the ultra-weird and perhaps 1 of 1 sexual attraction to viruses. And while I’m not here to kink shame, the entire plot of this novel is, “strange person wants to bang virus then gets the chance to bang a super big one.”
It just doesn’t work, and did nothing for me.
I’m sure this novel will have an audience, I apologize that it isn’t me.
Really unsure of this one.
From the title on, this is strange, unfiltered, unfettered, and somewhat uncanny, horniness.
A group of scientists in the desert—DESERT! this isn’t The Thing (they really want you to know)—find something buried beneath the sand. It is both alive and decomposing. It is animal, fungus, virus—it is something new.
While I liked the mostly single location story, and I do love a good research station novel, this one was just miles above the typical weirdness I’d be looking for. In ways it reminded me of Symbiote by Michael Nayak with its cesspool of interconnected relationships…and hey, a research station can be lonely, but this one was weird because of the main character.
Kinsey has the ultra-weird and perhaps 1 of 1 sexual attraction to viruses. And while I’m not here to kink shame, the entire plot of this novel is, “strange person wants to bang virus then gets the chance to bang a super big one.”
It just doesn’t work, and did nothing for me.
I’m sure this novel will have an audience, I apologize that it isn’t me.
This one kept popping up on instagram and I gotta say…they got me. I absolutely love the cover, it gives me Hex by Thomas Olde Heuvelt vibes, which is one of my favorite covers.
The town of Eastport is filled with legends of curses and dark pasts. Mallory, 12, and a recent transplant there, can’t seem to wrap her head around the town’s “every day is Halloween” vibe…and what’s worse is, her parents are entirely bought it. They run a diner and go 110% with the spooky vibe. Mallory does her best to help out in between all the school work, but she can’t take it seriously. The only curse she finds even remotely creepy is the tale of the girl in white—thankfully it’s just a legend, right? And why do her dreams seem to be getting realer and realer?
This had some really dark descriptions that felt almost somewhere between Goosebumps and Fear Street, although with the ages chosen, it’s decidedly middle grade. Regardless, this gripped me pretty much throughout and I think the length worked in its favor. As someone that loves Stine and nostalgia, but also isn’t a child anymore, this at least felt like a fully paced novel. Not exactly creepy at my age, but most definitely up there for young readers.
This does fall into the realm of most things for kids, where we know they have to have parents, but we also don’t exactly want them heavily involved. There’s some nice beats involving them, and they are described as almost out-of-their-depths busy, so it’s not like they are bad as characters or anything—I just know I’d be way more locked in to where my child was if I had a 12 year old. Otherwise, the cast of characters was very solid. Mallory makes mistakes and owns them, trying to do right, even while being haunted. And I enjoyed that they went to an art school, giving them backstory that also functioned as their differences…photography, acting, painting.
I was afraid the ending would lose me, but I’m glad it reeled itself back in and worked for me overall. The lore of the girl being the only one to see the danger as they sent her brother, a sailor, into a storm, and then supposedly cursing the town for it, was dark but worked. The town then making money year round on the curse, and holding her on a sort of pedestal, would be enough to bring anyone back from the dead! Perfect for young readers looking to try horror.
This one kept popping up on instagram and I gotta say…they got me. I absolutely love the cover, it gives me Hex by Thomas Olde Heuvelt vibes, which is one of my favorite covers.
The town of Eastport is filled with legends of curses and dark pasts. Mallory, 12, and a recent transplant there, can’t seem to wrap her head around the town’s “every day is Halloween” vibe…and what’s worse is, her parents are entirely bought it. They run a diner and go 110% with the spooky vibe. Mallory does her best to help out in between all the school work, but she can’t take it seriously. The only curse she finds even remotely creepy is the tale of the girl in white—thankfully it’s just a legend, right? And why do her dreams seem to be getting realer and realer?
This had some really dark descriptions that felt almost somewhere between Goosebumps and Fear Street, although with the ages chosen, it’s decidedly middle grade. Regardless, this gripped me pretty much throughout and I think the length worked in its favor. As someone that loves Stine and nostalgia, but also isn’t a child anymore, this at least felt like a fully paced novel. Not exactly creepy at my age, but most definitely up there for young readers.
This does fall into the realm of most things for kids, where we know they have to have parents, but we also don’t exactly want them heavily involved. There’s some nice beats involving them, and they are described as almost out-of-their-depths busy, so it’s not like they are bad as characters or anything—I just know I’d be way more locked in to where my child was if I had a 12 year old. Otherwise, the cast of characters was very solid. Mallory makes mistakes and owns them, trying to do right, even while being haunted. And I enjoyed that they went to an art school, giving them backstory that also functioned as their differences…photography, acting, painting.
I was afraid the ending would lose me, but I’m glad it reeled itself back in and worked for me overall. The lore of the girl being the only one to see the danger as they sent her brother, a sailor, into a storm, and then supposedly cursing the town for it, was dark but worked. The town then making money year round on the curse, and holding her on a sort of pedestal, would be enough to bring anyone back from the dead! Perfect for young readers looking to try horror.
Thanks to Tantor for the audio of this one. I’m not sure if I missed this one for super long or if it came back around to be honest, but I enjoyed my experience with it.
Five novellas, all of pretty similar length, are featured in this collection and it marks my first read from the author. The narration by Joe Hempel was solid, and I enjoyed the voice work he did. The same can be said for Amy McFadden, I just get shook up when the production changes people, but this was for a separate novella, so it worked.
Skullbelly, the first novella, was a great introduction to the author with a narrative voice that felt reminiscent of King. A private investigator is hired to look into the disappearances of multiple teens. A group of friends went hiking and only one returned, covered in the other’s blood. It turns into this sort of no-where-to-turn boogeyman search when many of the townsfolk won’t help—or at least, won’t help as much as they should. I thought it was well written and paced.
The Separation, the second novella, features a therapist and friend visiting Germany to see how their prizefighting friend, Charlie, is holding up. He claims to feel unmoored, that things are happening that he’s not in control of, that he’s not doing at all. His ex claims that he is bothering her in the night. This felt like an atmospheric, multiversal Inception twist and I enjoyed the ending allowing some interpretation.
The Stranger, novella three, is a single location story that features a couple on two different wavelengths. The man, is not quite sure what he’s still doing with her, and the woman, is hopelessly interested. When a creepy stranger locks himself in their car, things get a little strange…or more like insane. I wasn’t married to this story, mirroring the couples own struggles, but one things that sold me was how uncomfortable it made me. Weird, random, and out there, that is where this was succeeded.
After the Fade, the fourth novella, was spectacular. The standout for me for sure. A precursor of sorts to a zombie(-ish) apocalypse. Another couple on the fritz, a musician and his girlfriend agree to meet at the local bar to talk. Although she does arrive, they never get to have that normal talk. That’s because things get awfully strange. A woman arrives at the bar before collapsing, some sort of insect attached to the back of her head. What followed was another single location story as the bar patrons attempt to make it through the night. I thought this was great, pulse pounding, and as a survival story, the author thought out a lot of the things that seem mundane in everyday life. Windows, doors, heating vents, fireplaces and chimneys, how many other entry points do we ignore every day?
The fifth novella is left off the blurb, so I will not go into any detail on it. But I did enjoy it. It was perhaps my least favorite, but we’re still talking an enjoyable read. As a collection, this offered readers quite a good variety. As a snapshot into the author’s writing style, I think that variety was key too, especially as the collection features longer stories. Enjoyable and different.
Thanks to Tantor for the audio of this one. I’m not sure if I missed this one for super long or if it came back around to be honest, but I enjoyed my experience with it.
Five novellas, all of pretty similar length, are featured in this collection and it marks my first read from the author. The narration by Joe Hempel was solid, and I enjoyed the voice work he did. The same can be said for Amy McFadden, I just get shook up when the production changes people, but this was for a separate novella, so it worked.
Skullbelly, the first novella, was a great introduction to the author with a narrative voice that felt reminiscent of King. A private investigator is hired to look into the disappearances of multiple teens. A group of friends went hiking and only one returned, covered in the other’s blood. It turns into this sort of no-where-to-turn boogeyman search when many of the townsfolk won’t help—or at least, won’t help as much as they should. I thought it was well written and paced.
The Separation, the second novella, features a therapist and friend visiting Germany to see how their prizefighting friend, Charlie, is holding up. He claims to feel unmoored, that things are happening that he’s not in control of, that he’s not doing at all. His ex claims that he is bothering her in the night. This felt like an atmospheric, multiversal Inception twist and I enjoyed the ending allowing some interpretation.
The Stranger, novella three, is a single location story that features a couple on two different wavelengths. The man, is not quite sure what he’s still doing with her, and the woman, is hopelessly interested. When a creepy stranger locks himself in their car, things get a little strange…or more like insane. I wasn’t married to this story, mirroring the couples own struggles, but one things that sold me was how uncomfortable it made me. Weird, random, and out there, that is where this was succeeded.
After the Fade, the fourth novella, was spectacular. The standout for me for sure. A precursor of sorts to a zombie(-ish) apocalypse. Another couple on the fritz, a musician and his girlfriend agree to meet at the local bar to talk. Although she does arrive, they never get to have that normal talk. That’s because things get awfully strange. A woman arrives at the bar before collapsing, some sort of insect attached to the back of her head. What followed was another single location story as the bar patrons attempt to make it through the night. I thought this was great, pulse pounding, and as a survival story, the author thought out a lot of the things that seem mundane in everyday life. Windows, doors, heating vents, fireplaces and chimneys, how many other entry points do we ignore every day?
The fifth novella is left off the blurb, so I will not go into any detail on it. But I did enjoy it. It was perhaps my least favorite, but we’re still talking an enjoyable read. As a collection, this offered readers quite a good variety. As a snapshot into the author’s writing style, I think that variety was key too, especially as the collection features longer stories. Enjoyable and different.