C. J. Daley

So not only was I offered an E-book for an honest review, I then won a giveaway for a signed paperback before the official release!
Let me start by saying that this is one of the most original fantasies I've ever read. Like I said for ‘Pyres in the Long Night' and ‘A Pale Box on the Distant Shore', with this story being a fantasy mixed with mystery, it definitely had the feeling of Morgan Rice's ‘Shadowseer: London', however Nwosu's features an entirely created fantasy world, while the former is urban fantasy. That for me stood out as singularly unique, at least in my reading experience thus far. 
It is a murder mystery set in this incredibly gritty, visceral, dark fantasy world. Death City is a far off island in the Red Kingdom. A kingdom in which a political party known as Purge House has incredible sway and commands the kingdom's people and fear. Those found guilty are literally burned alive publicly on pyres. They're feared in such a way that even innocent people avoid even looking at them. 
The main characters, Thora and Diem, are incredible. Emotional, stoic, real, and ever-changing. They don't miss a beat in this winding, twisty mystery. 
Honestly the description of the found bodies will haunt my dreams, so please prepare for a dose of horror in there as well. 
Incredible and professional level of world building, story weaving and editing. I will certainly continue to read anything this author has to offer. I will say for anyone thinking of getting a physical copy (if I had to pick one single small gripe) that the book is long and so tightly pressed that I really wish some of the outer margin had been sacrificed, as I found it practically impossible to read through it without cracking the spine—and I hate doing that. Beautiful quality though! 
Personally a 5/5*! This just released!! Get it and support. Right now!

I saw this on audible marked under horror and saw that it was free so I added it to my library. When I read the blurb it seemed like a post apocalyptic, scifi horror, which was checking quite a few boxes for me. Then I saw it was only free till 11/30 and made a break for it. 
This novel features multiple perspectives, but for the most part the main is Xavier ‘X' Rodriguez, a Hell Diver team commander. In the novel's post apocalyptic world, humanity is surviving by living in the sky in giant airships. Hell Divers are an elite group of people who dive to the surface for supplies that help keep the airship in the air. After a near world ending WWIII, the earth's surface is plagued with radiation and electrical storms. Hell Divers aren't expected to live past 15 dives. 
“They dive so humanity survives.” 
Really enjoyed this one. Realistic science without diving too far into the specifics on the more out there stuff. A great mix of horror and scifi as well with some creepy, horrific creatures and a vivid PA earth. Absolutely action packed to the gills with back to back blood pounding close calls. 
Personally a 5/5* for me. I had a lot of fun. I would like to continue on with the series, but I didn't realize how many there were when I started (10). 

I was sent an e-ARC for my reading enjoyment and to review. 
This is an new indie scifi/fantasy on a very epic scale. It involves two beings alive before the existence of space and time. They form the old universe and absolutely everything in it. One fashions themself a god and a ruler, the other merely a protector of time. There's rich worlds and lore and things to build upon. This is like a fantasy novel with X-Men superhero powers of all kinds. 
One thing this novel does very well is the representation. Not just with aliens and beings in the universe, but with strong and differing women represented throughout. From strong protectors and mothers, to entire women warrior clans. 
A few things stood out to me at odds with the overall flow though. The story itself is so huge and so grand, that it does still feel like it's missing detail. For the most part the novel glances over action in large brushstrokes, but I felt like it was missing some of the more vital information needed. The pacing is fast and heavy hitting, but I found that I didn't understand or agree with a lot of the character motivations. I just feel like this novel had so many threads to pull that the sparse details left me wanting. Or many it would have just read better if it was twice as long. 
Maybe this just didn't hit as well for me! Personally still enjoyed, giving it a 3/5*, I hope it's release goes well!

I was gifted a copy of the audiobook narrated by Kim Bretton to judge for the Indie Ink Awards for Best Audio Narration. Sad I don't own it now because the cover is too damn good. 

This was amazing. You get sucked right into a world utterly different from ours. It makes you want to know more and more. It's transformative with action that lights up visually. The world is very Asian inspired. Kind of like ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon'-esque with the action styling. But with vengeful reanimated spirits throughout! 

The author does a great job with a group of completely different characters. They do learn and grow, but they are also so definitely themselves through the story. My favorite is ‘The Whispering Blade', Itami Cho. Her character has personality and purpose and she was such a cool fighter. 

The narration is absolutely top notch. The narrator's accent and voices are perfect for the distinct characters she's bringing to life. You can tell who's talking right by the voice she's doing and that's pretty unique. I would 10/10 recommend going the audio route.

Personally a 5/5*. I need more. And again, I'm really loving this new age run of short fantasy books!

I knew as soon as this book opened with an exorcist putting bullets in a mason jar of holy water, it was going to be a good one. 
I'll start with the height of this book...this book spooked me legitimately! Which hasn't happened since I read Home Before Dark by Riley Sager. Again, just a good mixture a things going on and the book got me. Was I looking over my shoulder in the dark? Yes, I was. Damn basement laundry rooms... 
When the Hill family moves into their recently renovated country home, they expected some peaceful time off before flipping the house for a profit. What they got instead, was demonic presences, evil spirits, and possession. Oh and evil fog, humidity, and funky smells. Body horror and disfigurement. 
The author does some cool references/Easter eggs. For the new family he kept saying the Hill's house, which I took as a possible ‘The Haunting of Hill House' nod.  There's also the obvious name for the exorcist, Merle Blatty, which is a nod to the author of ‘The Exorcist' William Peter Blatty. 
My favorite part of the novel was the way it was narrated. The production did some really cool things the narrators voice. They changed the octaves lower and higher for some of the demonic stuff and it was really good. 
Personally a 5/5*. 

This is a short story introduction of the author's two main characters that appear in book 1 of the Red Kingdom series. This is available for FREE via the author's newsletter, so I expect to see some more reviews of it real soon, right?? The author very kindly offered me an eARC of book 1, Dream of Death City, but I love to read chronologically, so here I am. 
This short story introduces readers to Diem and Thora, the main characters of book 1. This is their first meeting, and I'm sure it most definitely weighs heavily into what we will get into for the full novel. The intro is intriguing and had me wanting more, so this is definitely a cool starter! Zero spoilers here.  
If you recall my review earlier this year for Shadowseer: London by Morgan Rice, I basically flip of mixed genres. Specifically fantasy mixed with genres you don't typically see. The world Nwosu creates here is lush, huge, and seemingly endless. I love the element of mystery laid over this dark fantasy world. Two of my favorite genres, mixed in a really cool way. 
The writing is great with a distinct voice, and dialogue that reads as it's own place, otherworldly. If I had to nitpick, I'd just say that I'm left really curious about what some of the terms and things are/mean! Which isn't even bad, because I already know they'll appear in the novel. 

Another collection I grabbed for my Spooky Season based off the cover alone. So eerie and weird. 
My favorite story is ‘The Halloween Store'. It reads kind of like a more horrific ‘Goosebumps: The Haunted Mask'. A group of friends save up for these vintage boxed Halloween costumes. Needless to say, they get them, and things go a little sideways. A witch, a vampire, a werewolf, and a mummy. What's the worst that could happen? 
The runner up is definitely ‘Pretty Little Lanterns‘. A string of heads-turned jack-o-lanterns turn this town's holiday season upside down. I found this one to be particularly gruesome. The description of how the heads are carved out was definitely a terrifying read. And the twist identity reveal?? This was a fun one. 
The other stories range from silly, spooky, and downright scary. This was a fun collection, I would read more by this author for sure. 

I had gone through the authors books some time ago and added Nightflyers and Other Stories to my wishlist without even reading the bio. I then recently saw someone review it on Readerly under this Illustrated edition and had to grab it. A true scifi horror? And by Martin no less? Hot damn. 
For me this stands out as something that would immediately be linked to Event Horizon, but also this year's Dead Silence by S.A. Barnes as well. I found multiple articles asking if Nightflyers (due to the latest adaption) was based on EH entirely. Which struck me as super odd because no one pointed out that NF actually predates it. Apparently EH is based on an older movie that's based on an even older novel, but is uncredited. Dead Silence is kind of a spiritual retelling of both in a way. Regardless, Martin's ran so these other two had to walk, sadly. 
D'Branin and his team have hired the Nightflyer to take them after an elusive (and heavily debated) alien race. The ship is almost fully autonomous, being controlled by only a single man. Yet he refuses to show himself. Is he a ghost? An AI computer? Something even more dangerous and nefarious? And when things go wrong, just because he's the easiest to blame, is he the villain? 
This was atmospheric, engaging, creepy and overall a blast. Claustrophobic and evil, you can feel the cabin fever growing. 
Personally a 5/5* for me, can't believe I've never read before. David Palumbo's art is amazing and so worth it. Lots of use of the word ‘sexed'.

I really liked this cover, and of course it's considered a Halloween classic, so I felt like I had to read it. If this is a favorite of yours, I'm glad you enjoy it, this is my opinion and it isn't meant to battle or diminish yours!
Honestly, I'm not sure if it's me, or my mindset when I picked this up, but with this being a classic Halloween story I really expected something else. This kind of boils down to a group of children getting a haunted history lesson all while their best friend might actually die at the outcome? And then with the ending?! I'll keep it spoiler free, but I could see this easily in adult horror, but for kids???
Even with this being for children I kind of felt myself lost and confused for a vast majority of this book. The closer and closer it got to the end, the less and less I wanted to keep reading honestly. That doesn't happen to me often. 
Personally a 2/5*, just wasn't for me. 

This is an Amazon Publishing short story, so it is available to read for free under Prime reading. It's been a while, but I am an Atwood stan, so I had to read immediately after stumbling upon it. 
To me, the title is based on the generic views of a teenage girl—arguably, any teenager (typically) feels the same at some point in their lives. Her mother claims to be anything but normal, or rather the neighborhood claims it for he...be it a potionist, or looney, or even a witch if you will. I loved the way Atwood handled this in such a short amount of time. Could her mother have actually been all of these things? Sure. Is any of it definite? No. 
If you have some time, I implore you to read this. This is all kinds of witty, funny, and loving. So many little tiny things will resonate with you from your parents. How they behave, talk, what they will do to protect you, how they'll allow themselves to be perceived. It made me miss my own mother, even with the title like ‘My Evil Mother'...mine is anything but “evil” FYI. 
A great, lyrical, poetic short story. Exactly what you should expect from Margaret Atwood. Personally a 5/5*

My fiancé suggesting I listen to this because we are both from The Hudson River Valley, which is this novel's setting. I was a bit surprised by this choice, as this novel is the author's English language debut, and the setting is pretty damn accurate. I wonder if he lives there now? 

I listened to this on my way home to see my parents. Highland Mills, Central Valley, and Harriman we're mentioned by name more than once, and all three are directly connected to my home town of 22 years, Monroe. West Point Military Academy, as well as 9W through Cornwall, Bear Mountain, and the novel's featured hospital, St. Luke's in Newburgh, are all places I've frequented as well. It was super cool and kind of eerie to read a novel like this about where I'm from. 

The town of Black Spring has a problem, what kind of old town doesn't? This town's problem just happens to be a 17th century immortal witch named Katherine. Since they were able to sew her eyes and mouth shut she hasn't been too much of a problem, just creepy. And luckily she never breaks from her current schedule... 

So because I always listen to an audio and read a physical book at the same time, I had this really unique experience of reading these two very similar scenes in two drastically different novels within like an hour of each other. Both this novel and C.V. Hunt's ‘Halloween Fiend' feature a fall festival that isn't really dedicated to their town's (I'll say) affliction, but at the same time kind of is. It was cool to see how each framed how their town responded to what they had been forced to accept as normal over time. 

The climax of this novel does some really interesting things in its depiction of the degradation of humanity. Is it the witch causing it, or the town itself? Either way, they so easily are lead to depravity. Brothers, sisters, mothers, husbands...no one is safe and everyone is guilty. 

Personally a 4/5*. Spooky, atmospheric, dark. It looks like there's a sequel to this but it's only available in Dutch? I'm confused. 

The author very kindly sent me a review copy for my Spooky Season reads. I'm glad to have received it! Although this is the second, you don't necessarily have to read them together, or in order, but it does help. This released on September 21, 2022, brand new! Show some indie support this Halloween!

This is an 8 story horror anthology collection. Right off the bat I liked that they are a little lengthly, it reminded me of being in the same vein as Josh Malerman's ‘Goblin'. The stories are all interconnected through the 8th story (no spoilers) and the fact that they all take place in Devil's Hill, Arizona. They all have various classic horror nods, such as: Christine, Scream, Friday the 13th, Halloween, and I'm sure a bunch of others my horror newbie self just happened to miss. Some are overt references, and some are through the content, which I liked a lot. The pumpkin head gent from the cover makes me think Goosebumps: Attack of the Jack-O-Lanterns big time, especially with both featuring flame lit ones, even though they're being worn, but this is definitely for adults! 

My personal favorite story was ‘The Seance'. I liked the way the author set it up, the execution, and the climax of it all. The author has this way of capturing dialogue in the exact way it's spoken, which is unique to me, because I feel like mentally people have an accepted version of “normal” talking for reading...this is talking as people actually talk. 

Personally a 4.5/5* for me. My first with this author. 

Grabbed this recently with my fiancé in our quest to secure all of the GB books. As I was headed to my parents for my day off, I wanted to grab a quick read, and this cover fit right into the ‘almost halloween' atmosphere. 
I really enjoyed that the entire plot is just a group of friends plotting a revenge-scare. As this is a real short one, the singular desire worked out perfectly. Drew and her friends really can't just let it lie, they need revenge...something to wipe the smugness away from their meaner friends' faces. The plan may or may not work...I won't spoil it. 
In typical goosebumps fashion, the ending of this one is entirely out of left field, totally unforeseen and unguessable. Not necessarily my favorite, but still a silly, fun read. A 3.5/5* for me. 

This was on my Spooky Season TBR for a while because I LOVE the cover. This year I finally was able to get it and give it a read. 

The town of Strang is visited nightly by a deadly creature. If they leave out a live offering nightly (usually a Guinea pig, cat, rabbit...) the creature leaves them alone. No one remembers why or how this agreement was struck, but if it works, it works, right? In a perfect world at least... 

So because I always listen to an audio and read a physical book at the same time, I had this really unique experience of reading these two very similar scenes in two drastically different novels within like an hour of each other. Both this novella and Thomas Olde Heuvelt's ‘Hex' feature a fall festival that isn't really dedicated to their town's (I'll say) affliction, but at the same time kind of is. It was cool to see how each framed how their town responded to what they had been forced to accept as normal over time. 

A liked how this author used the short length to really drive home how many bad things were happening to the main character, Barry. Typically writing includes things befalling the main, it adds tension, but just because this one was short, didn't mean the author cut down on the amount their main had to deal with, they used it to reinforce just how bad he really had it. (Really bad). 

Personally a 4/5* for me. Enjoyable, spooky, I'm glad I read it. 

Full disclosure for this one, the movie is my grandfather and father's favorite movie, I grew up on it, so the movie and its plot line have a very nostalgic pull for me. We used to rent the same house in Lavallette, New Jersey every summer, and watching Jaws on the first night we arrived was always the tradition. 

With that being said, the opening of the novel felt like a very straight forward and true adaptation. The shark descriptors and kills were perhaps more gruesome, but the general feel was the same. I was very into it at this point. It was around a quarter in or so, where the differences started to show themselves, where I started to pull away. 

To me, it feels like the author said...'well, how do you make a novel about a shark interesting??? You could simply stay out of the water right?' This is where I feel like the movie simply made them enter the ocean sooner to do away with that point. Instead, the author added strange somewhat mafia-fueled political intrigue. The author also includes a subplot including main characters and adultery, toxic masculinity, and a REAL weird conversation about rape fantasies...seriously wtf. 

Part of me still really enjoyed the shark stuff and the nostalgic feels they brought with them. Although they don't get on the boat until literally 75% through the story, I feel like the Orca, Quint, and the climax salvage the novel somewhat. Sharks are scary. Personally a 3/5* for me still, a very rare ‘the movie is better' here. 

I'm really happy I found this author's account as this spooky novella is brand new this month, so what a better book to add to my reading list? This released 10/9/22, so please add it to your lists or get yourself a copy and read before Halloween! 

This is a story of desire, loss, grief, guilt, obsession, and sacrifice. This was a bit bone chilling honestly. It's short and to the point, but manages to be elegant and eerie at the same time? The writing is great and pulled me right in. 

A daughter lost too soon and a mother that can't let go. A loving husband that has a viewing window installed so that his grieving wife can visit their daughter...but what if that isn't enough? Shouldn't a mother be able to do more? 

Honestly this novella has a story thread that deals with adultery. That's something I think is seen in horror all too often and I most often absolutely hate it. It is often overdone and overused as a sexual basis for the scenes. This author did not do this. It's handled deftly and they expertly handle the behavioral pulls behind why someone would do that, not the act themselves. I am impressed and thankful as it really added to me enjoying. 

Twists and turns abound. I was surprised more than once reading this! 

 Last Spooky Season I gave Sour Candy and Dead Leaves a read, so this year a bought two more. I feel like this author just gets me. I like horror, but I do prefer it short, so his collection of novellas is superb. 
This is a unique tale of loss, grief, and coming to grips with what's real. It's even more uniquely interlinked within almost Baba Yaga-esque nightmare-scapes. I don't usually like dreams in stories—the what is, and what is not real undertones—as they don't often work for me, but the author uses a deft hand to integrate them in ways that compliment the main characters detachment while he's awake. 
I also enjoyed how the author gives us a supernatural/paranormal story, but with the stages of grief on display, the level of alcohol being consumed, and the character being in the bowels of despair, it could also be entirely imagined...maybe even personally caused? 
Enjoyable and quick. 

This new short is available through the author's newsletter, so get to it! 
Zack yet again proves his ability to write emotion. Just gut-punching, heartbreaking loss. You will feel everything this main character does, in such few pages. I'm again so impressed with the author's ability to pack such a punch. 
This fantasy/horror short story is about love, sacrifice, and loss. This feels like such an interesting and impressive world, with next to no world building in it. I would read a million short stories by him. 

This is another awesome find that I got for free in e-book for a newsletter sign up. Super glad I did and I'm still on a roll. If you are not checking out free e-book lists, or joining newsletters, you are missing out! And missing out on an easy way to support indies too.

This one centers around two army veterans and their semi-shaky marriage. Samantha, now a teacher, and the house-maker, struggles with her husband's lack of communication and traveling for work. Richard, having a harder time reentering civilian life, has taken a job as a governmental artifact-procurer, which is otherwise classified. When one night in particular, he gets home hours late with no call, and a totally new demeanor, their marriage takes a plummet. And what's with the artifact around his neck?

This novella does some interesting stuff with what it means to be a monster. If someone's a heavy drinker, distant in a marriage, never home, has raised a hand in anger, does a demonic visage really change them into a monster—or does it show what they really are? Or, the reader can absolutely take the story at face value, because that option is also presented on a platter just in case you're not feeling all deep. I really enjoyed that about it. It's not not there, but if you just want a horror novella and nothing more, that's just fine with the author too. And that's super cool.

Somewhat gruesome, gross, and violent. The writing was good too!

Peel

I had been following the author for some time, and seeing his covers everywhere, so naturally for this Spooky Season I had to grab some of his work! (I got Nana and Hope Wharf)

This novella has virtually ruined my view of elderly people for the rest of my life, irrevocably. It is gross, gruesome, horrifying. The worse part being that my grandmother goes by Nana too. Now I'm not sure if I can ever view her the same...what has this world become. 

To me, this really had the feeling of an adult version of The Witches by Dahl. Maybe because of the venue for the climax, or because all the boil-covered, drooping, seeping elderly people made me think of the exposed witches. Maybe because of the disregard for children. It had a good effect for me, especially because the are certainly wicked!

The writing was great, the story is balanced nicely, and the pacing is awesome. Nana loves you, she knows what's best...just don't trust her. 

I've kind of been on a roll because this is another that I actually got through a free e-book from joining a newsletter. Even better that I keep enjoying them. 

Quickies, while innuendo, also means...you guessed it, the stories are all quick! I really enjoyed the range and style of this short story collection. Most of the stories start with a small description as they are all first person POV as they recount the incidents that befell them. It is not outwardly disgusting or violent, and a great deal of the stories end in a paranormal did-it-really-happen way. And I also enjoyed that a lot of them were cliffhangers! Like you decide if it's true or not. 

My personal favorites were the House Sitting stories, I could tell where they were going, but I enjoyed the journey nevertheless. Spooky, creepy, crawly. 

Perfect for Halloween season. 

I got this in a free e-book listing I believe. I signed up for the newsletter, and got this awesome little horror short. 
A new couple just won the Galston house at auction and can't wait to move in! Even though they know the history of the place, houses—bricks and mortar—don't hold histories, they can't remember...right?
The author gives us a new, creepy boogeyman in just 48 pages. And he truly is creepy, I could just imagine him on screen. I liked that this story isn't really subverting the genre, it's just telling it's own tale. I feel like it's hard to subvert and do it justice, so I'm glad the author didn't attempt to as a short story. Creepy, eerie, spooky fun. Written well too!

This was on a list for spooky reads, and because of this stellar cover, I instantly added it to my list. The back cover marks this a pitch-dark, witty fantasy, and I wonder if it's tagged that because Tor picked it up? It's not that that isn't accurate, just anywhere else would have probably gone with horror, supernatural, paranormal...

The story follows an exorcist, not known for being delicate, but undeniably effective. The novella flies through some background—never genuinely getting to the level of world-building—and we get shown how good the exorcist really is. His main target is Prosper of Schanz, or more specifically, Prosper's Demon. 

This was an enjoyable read. My favorite part is the author's chosen voice, it really leads the story's tone, and I feel like it's purposefully heavy handed. I loved that the story is pretty obviously time-period specific, however the author's exorcist kind of sits and speaks outside of it. 

Overall not really a spooky one though!

I happened across this on Amazon while ordering my Spooky Season reads and I'm so glad I did. A zombie-apocalypse survival horror novella? Yes, yes please. This actually won in a poll for my next read, so I can thank my friends/followers for this awesome 1 day read. 
I picked this up and started it right after finishing Prosper's Demon by K. J. Parker, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I kind of expected to have that kind of in between, oh I have to learn the setting and characters again feeling, but I was so so wrong and pleasantly surprised. I was sucked in from the first page. To put it simply, this book is so riveting, a whirlwind of anxiety and adrenaline and edge-of-your-seat scares. When I called it riveting my fiancé said I hadn't said that about a book in a good while...so let that stand for something. 
To me, this novella is exactly what I loved about the early The Walking Dead, the anxiety of learning the world and understanding that it only takes one single zombie to end your life. That the more comfortable and adept you get, it still only takes one mistake, one slip up, just a little panic, and it's all over. That human reaction is the most realistic feeling to me about the genre. 
I also really liked how the author subverted the usual genre trope of the deterioration of humanity, instead giving us a bad character that was bad prior. That doesn't mean that humanity doesn't deteriorate with the constant zombie killing, just that in this case the bad had hit their depths before it started. 
Revenge was oh so sweet, an absolute banger 5/5*, please read this. As the back cover states, if there isn't a sequel, it'd be a damn shame. 

This was on my Spooky Season TBR last year, so I knew I had to get it done this time. So glad I did!
This middle grade fantasy/horror is like if somebody mixed Toy Story, Roverandom by J.R.R. Tolkien, the Alchemy of The Wizarding World, the imagination of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, and the spooky-feels of R. L. Stine. This book was straight nostalgia for me. An absolute blast. 
Lucy and her brother, Oliver, read as great and true siblings. After the passing of their mother, they are brought to Watch Hollow as their father works to repair a mysterious man's grand clock. The adventure has them curious and anxious, and the house and area has all the spooky feels you'd expect. 
The fantasy aspect of this novel, as it so often is, is the battle of good and evil, light and dark. In this case, fear vs. love. It was a refreshing take honestly, and it was still what you'd expect, just done really nicely. 
There's a sequel that I most definitely need to grab soon!