THE UNQUIET GRAVE by Joshua D. Maley is a suspenseful, quick paced novella that can be easily devoured in one sitting.
MY TEASE…
Lily should be dead.
ATHE UNQUIET GRAVE by Joshua D. Maley is a suspenseful, quick paced novella that can be easily devoured in one sitting.
MY TEASE…
Lily should be dead.
At least, most people buried beneath the ground are. But Lily is no corpse.
When she claws her way out of a shallow grave, even more problems are unearthed. The worst is Lily’s memory. Her mind is void of everything prior to her unnatural interment. Not to mention the strange voice in her head and the ringing in her ears.
Thankfully, Lily finds a clue in the satchel buried with her: a note from someone named Rose asking Lily to meet in Covenant on All Hallows’ Eve.
In search of answers, Lily follows road signs to the town. There, she sees countless posters of a missing girl. One, who looks vaguely familiar—as if she and the girl share some sort of connection.
With all the mental fog, one thing is crystal clear: Lily had better solve the mystery quickly because the person who buried her is undoubtedly still on the loose…
THOUGHTS…
THE UNQUIET GRAVE packs a lot of punch for a 55-page read! The story launches immediately and raises so many compelling questions right from the start. The plot also includes two interesting twists!
Descriptions in the book paint a complete picture which activated my senses. Here’s a sample:
“Outside, the wind raged and howled against the crumbling lighthouse. Its fury slipped through cracks in the wall and the shattered window frame, where it turned into an awful, ghostly cry.”
At the end of the novella, not all is resolved. In fact, it ends with a cliffhanger which I’m generally not a fan of. In this case, the author does include a preview to the next installment, THE UNQUIET GIFT, which assures me that a full understanding of who Lily is will be fully developed as the saga continues.
About the cover: It perfectly matches the story and its tone!
QUICKFIRE RATINGS from 1 (ugh) to 5 (woo-hoo)…
Plot (the story): 5 Main character’s likability: 5 Development of supporting character(s): 3.5 Settings/Atmosphere: 5 Pacing (how fast did I turn the pages): 5 Believability (in the context of the story): 4 Satisfying ending: 3 Tension of the story: 5
OVERALL…
I was so impressed that all the elements of a novel were packed tightly into this brief read! THE UNQUIET GRAVE has it all!...more
DAUGHTERS OF THE LAKE by Wendy Webb is a wonderfully crafted, 5-star read which I'm shelving in my favorites collection.
MY TEASE…
Kate Granger is droDAUGHTERS OF THE LAKE by Wendy Webb is a wonderfully crafted, 5-star read which I'm shelving in my favorites collection.
MY TEASE…
Kate Granger is drowning in her troubles.
Humiliated and betrayed, Kate leaves her job and her husband (a fellow co-worker) when she learns he is cheating on her with someone at the office.
Not even sleep brings her relief. Curiously, Kate keeps dreaming about a beautiful, mysterious woman—seeing through her eyes, feeling the love the woman shares with her husband.
As if that isn’t enough to deal with, the unthinkable happens.
While staying at her parents’ waterfront home, the woman Kate dreams about washes onto Lake Superior’s shore. She’s been murdered and a baby is tucked in the folds of her nightgown.
Kate can’t hold back her shock and despair when authorities arrive. Worse, except for the corpse’s name, Kate knows more about the woman than any innocent person should know about a deceased stranger.
Lonely, unemployed, confused, and now a person of interest in the case, Kate seeks refuge at her cousin’s bed and breakfast: Harrison’s House, a mansion which has been passed down through the family ever since Kate’s great-grandfather built it.
Will the house’s hidden secrets and Kate’s dreams help solve the mystery before she unravels?
THOUGHTS…
DAUGHTERS OF THE LAKE creatively brings together two generations of a family, separated by 100 years, through dreams, ghosts, legends, and artifacts, in order to correct history by bringing the truth to light.
The writing is eloquent. (And may I add, Wendy Webb knows how to do fog!) The toggles between the past and present are flawless. And I’m typically not a fan of an omniscient point of view, but I immediately found the all-knowing narrator endearing. Here’s a sample of the narrator’s voice:
“Kate’s wail finally found its voice and pierced the morning calm with a sound so fierce that all the animals within earshot fell silent to listen. There, nestled in the folds of the dead woman’s gown, was a baby. The tiny body was serene and still, as though it were sleeping, cradled in its mother’s arms.”
Every now and then, the book shared more information than I needed so I found myself skimming over those paragraphs. I also felt that the last 10% of the book had lost the narrator’s voice; however, the plot was still strong which is why this didn’t affect the book’s high marks!
QUICKFIRE RATINGS from 1 (ugh) to 5 (woo-hoo)…
Plot (the story): 5+ Main character’s likability: 5 Development of supporting character(s): 5 Settings/Atmosphere: 5+ Pacing (how fast did I turn the pages): 4 Believability (in the context of the story): 4 Satisfying ending: 5 Tension of the story: 4 Stirs the heart (romantic elements): 3.5 Did I solve the mystery/guess the ending before the reveal? There’s a unique twist that keeps me from answering!
OVERALL…
DAUGHTERS OF THE LAKE is an engaging story with exceptional character development and outstanding atmosphere. I highly recommend it!...more
THE HAUNTING OF ASHBURN HOUSE by Darcy Coates is a 4-star mix of brilliance and implausibility.
MY TEASE…
At 22 years old, Adrienne is one heartbeat frTHE HAUNTING OF ASHBURN HOUSE by Darcy Coates is a 4-star mix of brilliance and implausibility.
MY TEASE…
At 22 years old, Adrienne is one heartbeat from destitute. She has no money. No car. No cellphone. No surviving relatives. No longstanding friends. And sporadic freelance employment.
Her possessions are meager. Just three changes of clothing, a dying laptop, and her beloved tabby cat, Wolfgang.
Turns out, all is not hopeless. A deceased great aunt, whom Adrienne never knew existed, bequeaths Ashburn House to her: a dilapidated mansion sitting on top of a steep hill overlooking the tiny, rural town of Ipson.
After Adrienne moves in, she quickly learns that Ashburn House isn’t the refuge she had hoped for. Strange carvings on the furniture and walls hint that the mansion harbors a horrifying past. One that wasn’t put to rest with Great Aunt Edith’s passing.
Quite the opposite, in fact. Without the proper rituals, the past is reawakening. And Adrienne is now its quarry.
THOUGHTS…
Hauntingly Brilliant…
There is a scene in this book when Adrienne is being chased through the woods by a terrifying entity. I kid you not: I actually screamed out loud! My heart was racing along with the main character’s. I was running beside her, stumbling, fighting to survive, and completely immersed in the action as if I was the one being chased.
I’ve been known to scream at the movie theatre…lol. Yeah, I’m that person! But I can’t remember ever screaming out loud when reading a book! I think Darcy Coates deserves a lot of kudos for bringing me into the story like that. WOW!
Hauntingly Implausible…
If only this book hadn’t veered into unbelievable territory. Granted, my preferences aren’t just to be shocked and scared. I want/need a story to be credible within its context. (That might just be me.)
Let me give you an example of the implausibility that I found frustrating.
One of the former house rituals was to light a candle in the attic every Friday (I have no clue why this wasn’t required every night). Consequently, there are boxes and boxes of candles and matches in the attic. Turns out, the light from one lit wick can keep the evil entity at bay.
Adrienne becomes trapped in the house with one oil lamp, a flashlight with weak batteries, and a diminishing supply of firewood for the fireplace. Darkness is the entity’s friend. You get the picture.
I kept urging Adrienne (lol) to bring down all those candles from the attic to the first floor. To light those suckers and be safe at night! Duh, right?
Not to mention… (view spoiler)[if the entity can be kept at bay by a smidgen of light from one candle, why oh why can the entity survive the daylight on the roof? (The sun is nothing more than a round wick engulfed with burning flames!) That was a head-scratcher for me. (hide spoiler)]
Nevertheless, there were bright spots in this book, and I never considered putting it down. In fact, overall, I gave it 4 stars. My screaming in that near perfect scene had to significantly count!
QUICKFIRE RATINGS from 1 (ugh) to 5 (woo-hoo)…
Plot (the story): 4 Main character’s likability: 4 Development of supporting character(s): 3 Settings/Atmosphere: 5 Pacing (how fast did I turn the pages): 4 Believability (in the context of the story): 2.0 - 2.5 Satisfying ending: 4 Tension of the story: 4.5 Stirs the heart (romantic elements): N/A Did I solve the mystery/guess the ending before the reveal? Yes, but I didn’t find that disappointing.
OVERALL:
THE HAUNTING OF ASHBURN HOUSE was a nicely paced read that included some brilliant moments, as well as some unbelievable ones....more
MALORIE by Josh Malerman is the sequel to my favorite read of 2021: BIRD BOX. Thankfully, birds of a feather flock together. Both books soared in the MALORIE by Josh Malerman is the sequel to my favorite read of 2021: BIRD BOX. Thankfully, birds of a feather flock together. Both books soared in the right direction: as heart pounding, five-star reads!
MY TEASE…
For Malorie Walsh and her two teens, Tom and Olympia, “life by the fold” (the blindfold) has become routine and one dimensional. The family’s purpose? To never forget that the creatures exist. To never “get lazy” because the creatures are waiting—every second, every minute, every hour of every day—to turn those who look upon them…violently mad.
The family has existed for 10 years at Camp Yadin. And because of their singular focus (to never look), Malorie finds herself light years away from the risktaker she once was in the old world.
Until…
Until someone in the new world knocks on their cabin door. A man conducting a census. A man who has literature. Literature that speaks of an operational Blind Train located just 30 miles away. Literature, in fact, that includes names of those who’ve survived.
And when Malorie recognizes the name of someone whom she thought long dead, her desire to maintain the status quo is beyond ruffled.
Look for hope…or stay blind to the world? Face danger among the living…or keep hiding to merely exist? Regardless of her decisions, Malorie senses that imminent danger awaits.
As usual, her instincts are rarely blurred.
THOUGHTS…
Josh Malerman is a master of tension building. His talent jumped off the pages, grabbed me, and wouldn’t let me go!
Here is one sample below. The scene: With a flashlight, Malorie is under a blanket so she can read the literature left by the census man. Her blindfolded teens have been sleeping. The text reads…
She [Malorie] feels a tap on her back. She falls flat to the floor, heart thudding. “Mom.” It’s Olympia, whispering, her lips pressed to Malorie’s ear through the fabric of the blanket. “What?” Malorie whispers back. “We’re not alone in here.” Malorie goes cold. “Someone is standing in the doorway,” Olympia says. “I can hear them breathing.”
Like I said…TENSION in all caps! Now multiply that by almost every page.
QUICKFIRE RATINGS from 1 (ugh) to 5 (woo-hoo)…
Plot (the story): 5 Main character’s likability: 5 Development of supporting character(s): 5 Settings/Atmosphere: 5+(Crushed it!) Pacing (how fast did I turn the pages): 5 Believability (in the context of the story): 3 Satisfying ending: 5 Tension of the story: 5+(Crushed it!) Stirs the heart (romantic elements): N/A
OVERALL:
MALORIE stayed on track for a tension filled, five-star ride! I highly recommend this duology! I LOVED both books :)...more
I could pinch myself! This year is proving to be one of my favorites in terms of reading, based on the quality of books stacked on my 2021 completed sI could pinch myself! This year is proving to be one of my favorites in terms of reading, based on the quality of books stacked on my 2021 completed shelf (thus far). Usually, I’m thrilled by one or two. This year, I’ve been over-the-moon on almost all of them!!! In fact, I’ve added MEXICAN GOTHIC, COME WITH ME, and now BIRD BOX to my all-time favorites list! And SHARP OBJECTS, THE DROWNING KIND, and LAYLA were so close as well!
So let’s get to the most recent gem…
BIRD BOX by Josh Malerman is an amazing eye-opener…both disturbing and heart pounding. Add these effects to an against-all-odds apocalyptic survival story that’s told with a simplistic yet riveting style, and you’ll understand why BIRD BOX is my favorite book of 2021. Bottomline, I could not look away from its pages. I was completely mesmerized by this book.
MY TEASE…
The outside world can no longer be seen. Creatures have arrived—those which have never been described because if visibly seen, the eyewitness will go mad. Insane. Berserk; as in, violently killing those in close proximity before committing suicide.
In order to survive while outdoors, people need to be blindfolded from the indiscernible evil. Inside, they must take precautions by covering windows and becoming shut-ins. But let’s face it: Survivors can only last so long in isolation, with limited food. (Think…birds confined inside a box.)
Pregnant and tragically alone, Malorie finds her way to a safe house (a home whose owner had advertised in the newspaper as a “sanctuary” before civilization had completely shut down). “A place for strangers to meet, to pool their resources, gather in numbers, to face the impossible, changing world outside.”
Strangers, of course, can harbor their own evils. But Malorie has no plans of cowering to danger. Her unborn baby depends on her. Come Hell or high water, she will survive…
Right?
THOUGHTS…
Tension…BIRD BOX is stuffed with it. Every single page is basted with tension. The intensity, in fact, slices through each chapter like a knife. (See what I did there? LOL!)
In my opinion, the level of tension achieved is phenomenal. It isn’t captured in a few sentences or within several scenes. Tension drips from every page while not seeming forced or over baked. It just wafts in the air like aromas ahead of Thanksgiving dinner.
What I found interesting was that the first line of the book stands in opposition to everything authors are warned not to do when starting a book: Don’t begin your book with your main character…thinking (or dreaming). Here’s the first line:
“Malorie stands in the kitchen, thinking.”
This is literally what I thought about the beginning: Wow. BIRD BOX must really be good for Josh Malerman to start his novel this way. Talk about confidence...
And BIRD BOX delivered!
If I was to look closely for a criticism, I would say that I found one scene unbelievable. The one where Malorie drives “blind” for 4-miles to a bar she remembered (in search of food), albeit driving slooooowly. Then she drives blind to return to the house. Walking? Possible. Driving? Noooooo. However, the hook in this book was so deep for me, that no way was I going to take a detour!!! I rolled with it ;)
I've moved on to the sequel: MALORIE. And I hope to see the movie BIRD BOX soon!
QUICKFIRE RATINGS from 1 (ugh) to 5 (woo-hoo)…
Plot (the story): 5 Main character’s likability: 5 Development of supporting character(s): 5 Settings/Atmosphere: 5+ (Crushed it!) Pacing (how fast did I turn the pages): 5+ (Crushed it!) Believability (in the context of the story): 4 Satisfying ending: 5 Tension of the story: 5+ (Crushed it!) Stirs the heart (romantic elements): N/A Did I solve the mystery/guess the ending before the reveal? Yes
OVERALL:
BIRD BOX is my favorite, BEST read for 2021 thus far! The book is outstanding....more
HOUSE WITH ONE HUNDRED DOORS by Travis Brown is an anthology of short stories that aims to unhinge its readers. The book earned 5 goose-bumpy stars frHOUSE WITH ONE HUNDRED DOORS by Travis Brown is an anthology of short stories that aims to unhinge its readers. The book earned 5 goose-bumpy stars from me!
MY TEASE…
This collection of stories is like opening a door into the Twilight Zone where the disturbing, eccentric, and ghastly are hungry to ensnare you. And no matter what your tastes are within the dimension of terror, Brown’s anthology offers a little of everything on its eclectic menu.
After partaking, the question is: Will you be full, or will you be…filling?
THOUGHTS…
This is a great book to nibble on. Meaning, that depending on your time restraints, you can select a longer story to read or choose one that’s only a page-and-a-half. Better still, you can devour the entire book in one sitting!
My favorite story is, in fact, the longest: HOUSE WITH 100 DOORS. This is a story about Aaron who, along with three other people, is invited to tour a house that is constantly shifting its floorplan, as well as its rules for visitors who wish to advance from room to room. Is the tour merely an adventure of mind games or is there a sinister purpose aimed at the unsuspecting players?
Thoughts about this read: I wish the author would develop this short story into a novel or novella! This story has so much to offer! In fact, HOUSE WITH 100 DOORS weighed heavily on my 5 star rating. I loved it!!!
In terms of writing, I really appreciated when I came across the many fresh figures-of-speech. Here are a few samples (I’ve made bold the figures-of-speech that made me say…wow!):
“All of the noise stopped at the same instant. We were left in the clearing, ears still aching, in a hangover of silence.”
Or how about…
“It was like painting a portrait in reverse. Every time I hit him, his features lost a little detail, began to blur and smudge.”
Then there’s…
“Her words were like little wasps crawling into my ears. Too distracting. Too much pain on the way.”
OVERALL:
HOUSE WITH ONE HUNDRED DOORS is a highly creative anthology that is both entertaining and eerie! Enter through its doors and see where it leads!!!...more
THE RAVEN AND THE EYE by Jeffrey Caston earned 4.5 wide-eyed stars from me!
My Tease…
Many words describe Kurt Giffords: brilliant, eccentric, illusive,THE RAVEN AND THE EYE by Jeffrey Caston earned 4.5 wide-eyed stars from me!
My Tease…
Many words describe Kurt Giffords: brilliant, eccentric, illusive, and unhinged. However, he calls himself the Raven, Seattle’s vigilante whose life mission is to violently execute “an eye for an eye” in the name of justice.
The people of Seattle desperately need the Raven’s unique talents.
An unsightly monster has focused on the Raven’s airspace. In a blink of an eye, the streets of Seattle are dripping with blood and the Raven has no intentions of looking the other way.
Does the Raven possess the strategic vision to outwit his bizarre opponent? Or will the vigilante see his last daylight?
Thoughts…
STORY:
This is a brief, entertaining story showcasing the author’s great imagination. I’m thinking few authors could pull off having a three dimensional (view spoiler)[car-sized eyeball (hide spoiler)] as a monster! I think Caston did an awesome job. The uniqueness of the monster actually reminded me of one that could’ve been found in James Dashner’s The Maze Runner.
WRITING:
Wow! This author has a real gift for description, creativity, and action scenes. I thoroughly enjoyed his writing!!!
Here’s a sample:
“The attack only managed to make a superficial gash, but the effort yielded a rewarding sickly yellow seepage tinged with tendrils of purple.”
This short story is filled with vivid details!!!
I also enjoyed the Raven’s inner monologue…
“Lacking any better information, the press attributed the deaths to a vicious gang of thugs. The Raven knew better. Thugs didn’t partially consume their victims.”
Overall…
Vivid, gory, and entertaining, this short story is a great imaginative read! I’m keeping my eye on what’s next for this author ;)...more
LONELY IS THE NIGHT by David Brian earned 4.5 gothic, stake-worthy stars from me!
My tease…
Peter, a 120-year-old vampire, never hunts with a companion.LONELY IS THE NIGHT by David Brian earned 4.5 gothic, stake-worthy stars from me!
My tease…
Peter, a 120-year-old vampire, never hunts with a companion. Unless, of course, someone counts his other.
If gothic-fashioned Peter is the hunter—the human-looking side of him who scouts for prey, then his other is the beastly predator—the 7-foot Voldemort-looking side who attacks for blood. But whether Peter is considered alone and as one….or as a hybrid of two forms, his reality is without ambiguity: Peter is lonely.
Truth be told, humans are of little interest to Peter, outside of providing sustenance. They whimper; they beg. At least, this had always been the case until he decides to return to his old stomping grounds in Northampton, England. There, he meets Melissa who captivates him physically and emotionally.
Which side of Peter will dominate his interactions with Melissa? Will he spare her, feed on her, kill her, or turn her?
Thoughts…
WRITING:
The writing was my favorite part of this short read. The author created outstanding atmospheric tension in his descriptions, like in this paragraph:
"As I turned right into College Street I shivered just slightly, neither because of the coolness of the snow underfoot or the biting chill of the north wind that was now beginning to blow. Rather, it was a shiver in anticipation of what was to come. My jackboots scrunched as they trampled down into the soft virgin snow; the sound making me smile as I appreciated the beauty and solitude offered by a perfect winter’s night.”
Awesome writing!
I also appreciated how the author revealed that Peter was a vampire, though the book cover made it obvious, so no spoiler here. Still, I thought it was very skillful:
"Maybe it would turn out to be a mistake returning here; perhaps I should have just moved on and hunted elsewhere?”
While the writing was quite memorable, I did have two minor hiccups that took a bit away from a perfect 5 star rating.
I was slightly distracted in the beginning of this short read with the toggle between past and presence tenses, but it either worked itself out or I stopped attending to it :) Both good results!
Sex scenes can be challenging to write, in my opinion, and this author boldly bedded the action without holding back! LOL! There were a couple of descriptive phrases that didn’t work for me as a woman, but that’s just me!
HUMOR:
There was subtle humor which I enjoy, like the name of the bar that Peter goes to called Stake House. The floor is covered with “smatterings of sawdust.”
Most people might think of a “steak house” for a bar, but in a book featuring a vampire, Stake House is quite clever and the sawdust drove-in the point quite sharply, bringing a smile to my face ;)
OVERALL:
This short read was very enjoyable and I appreciated the excellent writing so much! I rarely read eBooks and I’m thrilled I made an exception for this quick read! I highly recommend LONELY IS THE NIGHT....more
I’ve had the privilege of reading the ARC for VAMPIRE NIGHT, which has earned 5-deliciously tasty stars! (The book’s release on Amazon is anticipated I’ve had the privilege of reading the ARC for VAMPIRE NIGHT, which has earned 5-deliciously tasty stars! (The book’s release on Amazon is anticipated in April 2020.)
If you enjoyed the camaraderie of the Night’s Watch on the Game of Thrones; the horror of GOT’s White Walkers and their Night King; and the clever humor of A Knight’s Tale (the 2001 movie with Heath Ledger), you’ll love VAMPIRE NIGHT by David N. Humphrey.
MY TEASE…
The planet of Umbria has two sides—one basked in perpetual sunlight and the other blanketed in eternal darkness. Both sides had coexisted peacefully until the necromancer Kalibar, driven by revenge, started killing the living to raise the dead in order to build an army of zombies and vampires.
The only barrier that’s been separating the light side of Umbria from the dark is The Wall.
But not for long…
Earth could steer clear of Umbria’s troubles, if only there wasn’t a travel portal connecting the two planets. What’s to stop Kalibar and his army from making the leap?
That’s why a group of religious leaders, each serving different belief systems, have joined together to travel to Umbria, determined to defeat the all-powerful Kalibar. The warriors are Roqual the Sentinel Monk, Phoebe the Druid, Eleanor the Paladin, and Wilton the Cleric. Joining them—unwillingly—is Shade, a vampire.
Mercenary Valguard wants nothing to do with the conflict or the mission. Then again, the gifted fighter—in possession of a powerful sorcerer’s teleport ring that he knows little about—doesn’t always get what he wants. This time is no exception.
To complicate their mission to Umbria, the dark side of the planet is laden with more monsters than just the undead. Add to that, some members of the team carry sinister secrets with them.
Will the team survive their own demons? Will Kalibar even be found before it’s too late? Will Umbria and Earth be saved or overtaken by evil?
BLOODY GOOD:
Plot:
A unique cast of characters must travel to a wild and scary frontier to defeat an ominous threat in order to save Earth. Talk about a huge hook for me! I was all-in and stayed engaged in the quest the entire time :)
Cast of Characters:
I love the mix of characters! Each has a different religious belief and personality, as well as wields a different weapon. But all have come together for a common mission. (At least, at the onset!) Valguard, Phoebe, and Shade are my favorites, though each character plays an important role and brings a unique talent/gift to the table.
Humor:
Amid the tension and excitement, I found myself chuckling at the subtly infused humor. Like when Eleanor the Paladin thinks: “That was the great thing about raising the dead, you never had to dig a bloody grave.”
Wisdom:
Every now and then the author interjects some wisdom (though not heavy handed) about the need for religious tolerance and the realization that power can corrupt. As an example of the latter, Valguard says, “People in charge forget they are to look after their people and not just look after themselves.” I enjoyed reading the tasty tidbits of wisdom!
Writing:
Visually, I could picture the story vividly playing in my mind.
Here’s a sample: “The cracked and broken stone floor was uneven with fissures allowing smoky red light to shine up into the room from the tumbling lava underneath.”
I can see VAMPIRE NIGHT as an action-packed movie! I’d buy the first ticket :)
Horror:
“As body parts built up on the floor, guards stepped on the wretched corpses, cracking ribs and bones, bursting dirty lung sacs with the footwork of the sword melee.”
Or how about…“…moldy heads cracking open on the stones like decayed goose eggs, covering their boots with putrid brain mush.”
That’s visual!!!
Bottomline: VAMPIRE NIGHT has something for almost every kind of reader: horror, action adventure, fantasy, science fiction, and dark fantasy! I highly recommend this 5-star read! Look for it on Amazon next month (April 2020)!...more
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