"...When those proud farm folk stood in the doorways of humble houses built with their own hands, staring out at acres of waving wheat and corn that t"...When those proud farm folk stood in the doorways of humble houses built with their own hands, staring out at acres of waving wheat and corn that they planted, the land stared back. A pact had been made. An endless exchange. Misery for misery. Blood for blood."
“Whatever is here is exterminating the last of us. Like a god.”
This chilling story opens with a sickly, bedridden man awakening in the middle of the n“Whatever is here is exterminating the last of us. Like a god.”
This chilling story opens with a sickly, bedridden man awakening in the middle of the night to the strange sound of bells. When he glances out his window, feverish and fatigued, he happens to witness all of his neighbors “falling up” into an alarmingly blood red sky. The next morning, he awakens alone, wondering if he’d had a terrible nightmare or if he’d truly seen his entire world raptured away. His small neighborhood in the south of England is silent, the doors to all the houses are left open as if their occupants had fled in a hurry, and there is no signal for his phone to operate. What has happened?
Having been impacted and inspired by H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds as well as real-life catastrophic events throughout our globe’s history—pandemics, world wars, etc.—ALL THE FIENDS OF HELL is about mankind facing extinction in the wake of an unfathomable and unforeseen invasion by an unknown entity. We as readers along with the characters in the book aren't sure of what these invaders truly are. (Aliens? Angels? Gods?) They are simply an unknown threat to humanity. What’s brilliant about the apocalyptic terror Nevill has created is that he doesn’t dwell on the “how” and “why” of the horrors taking place, but instead wants readers to focus on human relationships when civilization has collapsed, the desperate need to survive, and the shattering of one’s sanity when our familiar, comfortable reality is no more. It taps into the very real fear of human beings’ irrelevance within the void of our illimitable universe. We, the readers, are reminded that while we might all feel safe in our homes for now, none of us are exempt from our worlds falling apart. Our sustained existence is not guaranteed.
This is Nevill’s best work yet. I tend to say this after every book of his that I read, but this truly is a new favorite for me. Readers who love aliens, apocalyptic narratives, existential dread, and cosmic horror will devour this book and can look forward to purchasing it anywhere books are sold on April 2nd! The special edition hardcover copy can be pre-ordered now through the author's website!
(A very special thank you to author Adam Nevill and Ritual Limited Publishing for my gorgeous early review copy!)...more
“The world is full of rattlesnakes. Sometimes you step on them and they don’t bite. Sometimes you step over them, and they bite anyway.”
I can’t stress“The world is full of rattlesnakes. Sometimes you step on them and they don’t bite. Sometimes you step over them, and they bite anyway.”
I can’t stress enough how much I adore Stephen King’s storytelling. The stories in this collection will make you want to settle into them at the end of each day. And I do mean "settle in" because many of the so-called “short” stories in this book actually could’ve been novellas. But that’s because King takes his time developing worlds that feel familiar and characters that feel real, be they the protagonist, the monster, or the one-scene side character.
Throughout my experience reading this book, the stories simultaneously felt like a warm sunset and an ominous storm on the horizon. Yes, these stories are dark as the title of the book suggests, but they also carry themes of grief, obsession, human relationships, unanswered questions, mystery, and grappling with the unknown.
In Danny Coughlin’s Bad Dream, a man whose nightmare featuring a murdered woman turns out to be a psychic premonition, one that gets him in a world of trouble. (I was over-the-moon thrilled to discover this story was set in my home state of Kansas!) The Fifth Step opens with a man approached by an addict who claims he must share a story with a stranger as part of an AA recovery assignment (loved this one)! Two Talented Bastids begs the question of whether talent is something humankind naturally possesses or if the lucky ones are simply chosen by a supernatural fate. In Red Screen, a conspiracy theory leaves the protagonist and the reader uneasy about what to believe (this one was a personal favorite of mine). And we even get a sequel to Cujo in the story Rattlesnakes!
Whether you end up loving every single story in this collection or simply find some of them to be lacking, what I know for certain is that there will be something in YOU LIKE IT DARKER that will stick with you and leave a lasting and haunting impression as King’s writing always does....more
Having previously read Italian author Luigi Musolino’s short story Uironda in Valancourt Press’ Book of Worl“Fear feeds on fear, in a vicious circle.”
Having previously read Italian author Luigi Musolino’s short story Uironda in Valancourt Press’ Book of World Horror Stories Vol. 1, I was thrilled to learn an entire collection of Musolino’s stories had been published.
A Different Darkness and Other Abominations is a mix of both folk horror and cosmic horror, each story delving into strange phenomena, myths, legends of Italian lore, bad omens, abominations of nature, and madness.
In Les Abominations des Altitudes, scientists find themselves immersed in the journal of a deceased climber who had journeyed up treacherous mountains and discovered a cursed object. Queen of the Sewers follows a young pregnant couple bothered by a nauseating smell they assume requires a plumbing fix, but are then faced with a creepy lore that’s hiding in their pipes. The Last Box blends unimaginable grief with circus contortionism, and in Black Hills of Torment, a town descends into madness after being imprisoned in a circle of dark mountains that appeared seemingly from nowhere.
This collection also includes two novellas: Pupils in which the children of a small town start acting strange after they are told a dark story at school, and A Different Darkness in which parents grieving the disappearance of their child find solace and obsession in a bottomless hole found in their basement, a black void where they think they hear the sound of their child’s sweet laughter. Chills, chills, chills! Every word is filled with mystery and darkness and terror.
I have read many short story collections in my lifetime and I can honestly say there wasn’t a single story in this book I did not like. I loved all of them and am now a huge fan of author Luigi Musolino ! I truly hope the U.S. gets more translated editions of his work! Also bravo to James D. Jenkins for his brilliant translation work!...more
“Rot starts from within. You’ve got to clean it out, all of it. Or things will never get better.”
I love that I am gradually accumulating a small colle“Rot starts from within. You’ve got to clean it out, all of it. Or things will never get better.”
I love that I am gradually accumulating a small collection of horror anthologies from the HOWL Society. And now I’ve been graced with a brand new one: Howls from the Wreckage: An Anthology of Disaster Horror!
In this collection, horror authors both seasoned and new-to-me provide readers with stories ripe with chaos of apocalyptic proportions. This anthology is about the massive disasters brought on by the unforeseen and uncontrollable as well as disasters birthed from inner destruction both mental and emotional. Some of my favorites included P.L. McMillan’s Execute Release–about a glitch in a delivery drone service that goes fatally wrong–and Solomon Forse’s Crickets–an epistolary story told through blog posts about Tamagotchi-type toys that hold a strong grip on the youth.
Some stories surprised me such as Caleb Stephen’s Son of Yokozuro–a kaiju story which was simultaneously humorous and sad–while other stories were absolutely horrifying–the climax in Michelle Tang’s Systemic Infection is sure to induce chills and vomiting. It’s quite graphic and you will absolutely squirm.
Oh! And did I mention this anthology is illustrated?--A bonus feature I always look forward to in the anthologies from HOWL. For fans of short stories ranging from cosmic horror to sci-fi horror to supernatural suspense, or simply for lovers of the HOWL anthologies, definitely pick this book up to add to your macabre bookish collection.
(Thank you to HOWL Society Press for this review copy!)...more
“Knock knock, open wide! Take us to the other side!”
Having appropriately finished this on St. Patrick's Day, Knock Knock, Open Wide is hands down my f“Knock knock, open wide! Take us to the other side!”
Having appropriately finished this on St. Patrick's Day, Knock Knock, Open Wide is hands down my favorite read of the year so far, and so underrated seeing as I’ve yet to see much hype about this book!
Our compelling story starts in 1979 with a young woman named Etain Larkin encountering a corpse in the road on a dark, rainy drive through the Irish countryside. Not sure what to do, she hauls the body into her car and drives it to the nearest farmhouse where she is hoping to find help. What happens from there is where the nightmare truly begins. Decades later, a college freshman named Betty joins the university drama club after falling instantly in love with Ashling Mallen— whom readers eventually learn to be Etain’s daughter. Betty notices that Ashling has bitter feelings towards her mother and is secretive about her family history, a history with a connection to an unsettling Irish children’s TV program that features a mysterious black box with a secret.
Equal parts horror story, murder mystery, and Sapphic romance, this book had me hooked on the multi-perspective storytelling and Irish folklore. The author's writing flows in such a way that is digestible and addictive. I was captivated by a Celtic lore that was completely new to me and I would be lying if I said I didn't stop every few pages to look up Irish terminology here and there. But oh this book was beautiful, creepy, mystifying, suspenseful, heart wrenching--there are a number of adjectives and feelings I could throw at this book to express my love for it.
Promise me you'll give it a read before the year's end! For me, it's officially a favorite and I will certainly be reading more from author Neil Sharpson!...more
Um...wow! I loved this! My only wish is that it were longer!!! what a bizarre, visceral, cosmic, wild ride this was! Bravo, Lucy Snyder! Will hopefullUm...wow! I loved this! My only wish is that it were longer!!! what a bizarre, visceral, cosmic, wild ride this was! Bravo, Lucy Snyder! Will hopefully write a more detailed review soon!...more
A strange apocalypse brought on by honey bees, the rapid spread of a cosmic cult, strange rashes as deadly as they are infectious. If you perked up atA strange apocalypse brought on by honey bees, the rapid spread of a cosmic cult, strange rashes as deadly as they are infectious. If you perked up at the mention of any of those things, that is just a small taste of what’s waiting for you inside P.L. McMillan’s sci-fi/cosmic horror short story collection WHAT REMAINS WHEN THE STARS BURN OUT.
I first fell in love with McMillan’s storytelling when I was introduced to her writing in HOWL Society’s horror anthology HOWLS FROM HELL. The way she builds worlds, develops characters, and harnesses reader interest in just a few pages of each short story are many reasons why I’ve become a fan of hers. You can bet I was over the moon when given this ARC by the author and, without even blinking, dove in eagerly.
Not only was I not disappointed, but by the first story's end--Sanatize, a very disturbing and somewhat triggering tale of infection that will leave you wanting to obsessively wash your hands-- I was equally horrified and enamored. In fact, I thought I could narrow down my favorites in this collection, but I ended up loving every single story! Each one is compelling and disturbing and filled to the brim with all the things I personally love about both sci-fi and cosmic horror!
Should you get your hands on this collection, prepare for worlds to fall and monsters to rise, for dangerous unknowns and the loss of time, space, and sanity, for grotesqueries that will make you squeamish. Prepare for a fantastic 257 pages of horror and wonder.
(Special thank you to P.L. McMillan and Salt Heart Press for this stellar review copy!)...more
There was no way in hell I was going to pass up on reading DIRTY HEADS by Aaron Dries after seeing the cover art (and yes I AM the type to judge a booThere was no way in hell I was going to pass up on reading DIRTY HEADS by Aaron Dries after seeing the cover art (and yes I AM the type to judge a book by its cover. Look at it!!!)
If you haven’t read it yet, lemme paint you a picture without giving too much away. This book is a throwback to the 90’s and follows Heath, an adolescent trying to figure himself out and learn what it means to grow into a man while his world starts to crumble around him and a monster birthed from the unknown is let loose. A lot of things in Heath’s life are frightening and confusing— as growing-up for young teens tends to be—and many readers will be taken on a heartbreaking if not relatable journey. This is a coming-of-age cosmic horror novella with short chapters that start from twenty and count down to zero, giving the reader a sense of urgency.
Definitely give this book a read if you love unconventional monster stories!...more
“Sometimes I think we’re ants that got hold of a fresh pie. Most of us go through life, we walk on the crust of this earth, we take a piece of it, and“Sometimes I think we’re ants that got hold of a fresh pie. Most of us go through life, we walk on the crust of this earth, we take a piece of it, and then we go back home. But for the few of us that are willing to put the work in, there’s so much more to this world. There’s so much more that lies below the surface if we look for it.”
I don’t get enough monsters in my life. And by that I mean my horror tastes tend to lean towards hauntings, possessions, and psycho killers. So it was refreshing to take a little break and dive into something a little more cosmic. Enter SENTINEL by Drew Starling, the perfect end of summer read.
This was a creature feature that felt heavily like a supernatural mystery / police procedural. The peaceful life of a small family is thrown into chaos when their little boy disappears. Did he wander off? Was it a kidnapping? Or does it have anything to do with a mysterious and menacing monster seen every night shambling through the meadow? The same monster that is suspected of brutally murdering their next door neighbor?
Starling gave his audience a story from multiple perspectives, adding depth and making it more immersive. The small town of Bensalem, with it’s centuries-old secrets, reaffirmed my hesitation to move into any small towns EVER. I loved how nothing was as it seemed as I continued to read. If you’re looking for ancient evils, family strength, and Lovecraftian vibes, definitely pick this book up!
(Thank you so much Drew Starling for this wonderful review copy!)...more
Nina The Wandering Reader
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