Wednesday 31 December 2014

Review: Dead of Winter


Dead of Winter
Dead of Winter by Brian Moreland

My rating: 4 of 5 stars




I received a copy of Dead of Winter from the publisher in return for an honest review.

I loved the characters in this book, I connected and cared about them very early on and I was right there with them throughout, rooting for them during their struggles. I have a soft spot for anything related to Indian folklore so this book really grabbed my attention and I enjoyed those parts a great deal. The plot wasn't what I was expecting and turned out to be more and better than I originally thought it was going to be on reading the blurb.

The writing style when describing the scenes and the storm was very well done, I could easily picture the cold and the atmosphere the author was projecting. I must be honest and admit that when I first started reading I found myself thinking, oh no this is going to be a zombie story and I am not a fan of most of those. Thankfully it turned out not to be and it went down the path of some of my favourite subjects in horror. Demons, exorcism and Indian lore!

The ending went where I was hoping it would and I was happy with the conclusion of the story. So many books now have cliffhangers or open endings, this one doesn't and I enjoyed it all the more for it. It did take a bit for me to get into the story but I think that's more because I was reading it during the Christmas season than any fault with the story itself.

Dead of Winter is the first of Brian Moreland I have read and I will be reading more from this author. Definitely one I would recommend to fans of horror.

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Monday 29 December 2014

Review: The Martian


The Martian
The Martian by Andy Weir

My rating: 5 of 5 stars




I received a copy of The Martian from the publisher in return for an honest review.

“I’m stranded on Mars. I have no way to communicate with Earth. I’m in a Habitat designed to last 31 days. If the Oxygenator breaks down, I’ll suffocate. If the Water Reclaimer breaks down, I’ll die of thirst. If the Hab breaches, I’ll just kind of explode. If none of those things happen, I’ll eventually run out of food and starve to death. So yeah. I’m screwed.”

Mark Watney is the best male character I have come across during all my years of reading. I love his smarts, sarcasm, wit and pure determination. Watneys dialogue is what made the book for me, he was just so much fun to be in the company of, despite his situation. I believe this has to the be the first time I have said this, not only in a review but ever... I developed a huge book crush on Watney, my first one ever! Seriously, who needs romance for book boyfriends, I'll take Watney over them all any day.

The plot was very well done and the tension and pace held my attention from start to finish. There was a lot of science in the story, some I understood, some I didn't but it honestly didn't matter either way. The writing style is impressive, Watney is in a very serious situation, high stakes, big risks and trying to survive the impossible but it's unique, interesting, hilariously funny, riveting and full of tension. Yet despite all the seriousness of his situation, all the science talk and the danger, it's fun, it's lots of fun and that is all down to the author's writing style. The author has taken a life or death situation, all the highs and lows, injected lots of sarcasm and humour and he's turned it into something unlike anything I have read before.

The Martian is at it's heart a science fiction book but it's more than that. It's got adventure, humour, tension, thrills and chills. It's both character driven and plot driven. Really it has it all. Should you choose to give this one a go, don't be put off by the science. It seems complicated and hard to follow at first but trust me when I say, it doesn't matter. The story will grab you and before you know it you'll have learned and understand a lot of the science. The bits you don't? Well, by that point you are so hooked it doesn't matter!

The Martian has easily shot right up to the top of my favourite reads of 2014, it's well deserving of all the hype that surrounds it and I highly recommend picking this one up.

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Sunday 28 December 2014

Review: The Package


The Package
The Package by Evans Light

My rating: 3 of 5 stars




This story really doesn't paint Santa in a very nice light, infact he's positively glowing under a great big neon asshat sign!

I found myself getting rather pissed off at Santa and the way he kept putting down poor Mrs Claus. I mean cmon he's no hunk of a catch himself and it would take a miracle to find his junk under that belly, especially considering how lacking he is in the trouser department. And as for his new package, lets face it the only way that's going to be even slightly appealing or see any action, is if it's removable, has a bow wrapped round it and put it under someones tree!

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Review: Servant of the Red Quill: A Baker Johnson Tale


Servant of the Red Quill: A Baker Johnson Tale
Servant of the Red Quill: A Baker Johnson Tale by Terry M. West

My rating: 4 of 5 stars




I received a copy of Servant of the Red Quill: A Baker Johnson Tale from the author in return for an honest review.

Baker Johnson is a parapsychologist and is called to help a family who is being tormented by an evil spirit that is linked to a tome titled Servant of the Red Quill. Before reading Servant of the Red Quill I would advise you to first read the prequel: The Giving of Things Cold & Cursed.

At just 53 pages this is a quick read and it held my attention throughout. The pacing is perfect and although the plot is a short one, it's done well. The writing style very much suits the time period the story takes place in and the dialogue also fitting for the time. It was nice to see the character of Baker Johnson in action, I read the prequel a while back and got to know Baker but didn't get to see him in action in this way previously.

Terry M West has many short stories published but Servant of the Red Quill is my favourite so far. The plot covers one of my favourite topics in horror but I'm not going to spoil the story by saying what that is, you'll just have to read it to find out!

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Wednesday 24 December 2014

Review: The Donor


The Donor
The Donor by Nikki Rae

My rating: 3 of 5 stars




I received a copy of The Donor (The Full Novella) via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I'm not sure how I feel about this one, I read it pretty fast and it held my attention but there was something missing. Don't get me wrong it was a good plot and had twists to it but it just felt like it needed more. It's a short read but I think it needed expanding, I felt like I was filling in missing parts myself a little. I wanted to know who the characters were previously, who they were as themselves before the situation they found themselves in. I feel it would have made a huge improvement to the story and how I felt about the characters to have gotten to know them a bit better outside of their intertwined story.

The topic in this novella isn't an easy one to write about and it's done well. The way the story is written jumping back and forth portrays the upheaval, fear and confusion of Casey nicely. It gives the impression of scattered thoughts and her mind being a bit all over the place which really works. I don't feel like I got to know Jonah very well at all, there were hints to his background but not enough, he didn't feel real. It felt a little like he was thrown in just to make Casey's character work rather than sharing the story with her, he needed more substance. The romance felt a little rushed, I get that they didn't have much time and it's only 115 pages but I found the chemistry lacking somewhat.

In summary, it was a decent, tragic and unique read with with an underlying message, but I would have loved a little more background to make the characters more substantial.

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Monday 22 December 2014

Review: The Egg


The Egg
The Egg by Andy Weir

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



For such a short story it really says so much more than you could ever imagine would fit into 4 pages. It also gives you quite a lot to contemplate on, kinda mind blowing really. It takes real talent to say so much with such few words.


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Review: No Such Thing as Werewolves


No Such Thing as Werewolves
No Such Thing as Werewolves by Chris Fox

My rating: 5 of 5 stars




I received a free copy of No Such Thing as Werewolves via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

No Such Thing as Werewolves is an extremely clever novel with a very unique and impressive plot, delivered at a gripping pace that will have you hooked from start to finish.

I found myself thinking many times while reading how impressed I was with how the plot was progressing and the way everything was tying together. This novel totally grabbed me and didn't let go, I didn't want it to finish and upon finishing I immediately wanted more. So much happens between the pages of this book and I honestly had no idea where the story was going to go, it wasn't even slightly predictable. It's a very mixed genre with everything from horror, to thriller, to sci fi, to mystery, really it's got it all and it works, boy does it work. It's non stop action right from the start and it doesn't let up right till the last page.

The character development was great, the back story and the progression of the characters really fleshed them out and made them all stand out. The dialogue was well done and I enjoyed the interaction between the characters. The writing style, well lets just say that I'm not a huge fan of stories with military and gun talk etc but I was totally hooked in this case, that says a lot about how well the author told the story and kept me turning those pages. The mythology, history, back story, plot, everything really, was fascinating and really made the book one that stood out for me. I honestly don't think I could write a review that would do this book justice.

That cliffhanger though, it killed me. I hate cliffhangers, I really do but in this case I get it, it's a long book and you can't put everything in and believe me there's a lot in this book but it's not complicated, it's cleverly done and easy to follow.

I believe this is the authors first full length novel and wow, just wow. For someone to turn out a book as unique, well paced and with such a well developed, researched and thought out plot, I'm impressed. I kept pausing while reading and finding myself actually in awe of how well everything linked together.

No Such Thing as Werewolves will appeal to fans of almost every genre and I highly recommend giving this one a read. I have said I'm impressed and enjoyed it but I can't say it enough, really I'm impressed and loved every minute of it! I need more, I'm dying to know what happens next.

An easy 5 stars, I would give more if I could.

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Thursday 18 December 2014

Review: Above


Above
Above by Isla Morley

My rating: 2 of 5 stars




I received a copy of Above from the publisher in return for an honest review.

After reading the blurb for Above I was really intrigued and looking forwards to reading and although I enjoyed it to start with, it lost me just after the half way mark.

The first half of the book held my attention. The story of the abduction and the scenes and events in captivity were done well. The author did a nice job of projecting the fear, loneliness and hopelessness of the main character Blythe Hallowell and her situation.

The middle of the book where the first half blends into the second half is where everything went wrong for me, it wasn't smooth and totally disrupted the flow of the story and started to drag.

The second half actually felt like another book, the pace, tension and atmosphere totally changed and was nowhere near as good as the first half. It lacked the world building needed to hold my attention and make the situation believable. The ending kind of picked up a little but not enough, it was still a bit of a slog to get through and was lacking too much for me.

It took me a bit to get into the story to start with because I couldn't connect with the character as soon as I would have liked to and I don't feel like I really connected and felt for Blythe like I should have in a book that covers a topic like this. There are times when it felt a bit jumpy, I would be reading and start the next line only to realise it had moved onto something else or a little further on in the timeline all of a sudden and I found that confusing and off putting.

It wasn't an awful read but it wasn't a great read either. I think perhaps it would have worked better if each half was expanded and was it's own book rather than feeling like two books squeezed into one as it does now.

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Tuesday 16 December 2014

Review: Escape from Witchwood Hollow


Escape from Witchwood Hollow
Escape from Witchwood Hollow by Jordan Elizabeth

My rating: 3 of 5 stars




I received a copy of Escape from Witchwood Hollow from the publisher in return for an honest review.

Escape from Witchwood Hollow was a light and fast read, I flew through this one in no time at all. I enjoyed the perspectives of the different time periods, it worked well and gave the plot and what was happening more depth. The way the characters from the different time periods came together in the end was a pleasant surprise and despite the back and forth between the different times it was easily followed.

There was quite a few characters and they weren't as developed as I would have liked and it gave the feeling of parts being missing but to be honest it didn't really matter much. The characters all worked well together and there was just enough of a background to each for the story to work. There was the odd factual mistake but not anything major that ruined the story.

One thing I did find irritating and kind of out of place was all the fashion brand naming, I felt it wasn't really needed. I found myself getting annoyed that almost every outfit the main character wore kind of felt like an advert. It was too much information, too often. At times I thought it felt like the author was being sponsored by different brands to give them a mention.

In summary this was a light and easy read that you can pick up and just enjoy for what it is. No heavy thinking involved and a simple plot that doesn't require your complete attention to try and follow or decipher. It has a few issues that are easily forgiven and was an enjoyable story.

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Monday 15 December 2014

Review: Orphans of Wonderland


Orphans of Wonderland
Orphans of Wonderland by Greg F. Gifune

My rating: 3 of 5 stars




I received a copy of Orphans of Wonderland from the publisher in return for an honest review.

Orphans of Wonderland was a little slow for me, I felt like I was waiting for something to happen for most of the book. The characters were well done, the main character very well developed and likeable. The plot was OK although it felt drawn out a lot for me, it wasn't till the last third of the book that I felt like it was actually getting to the nitty gritty of what was really going on and the tension started picking up.

During the first two thirds of the book I found the book easy to put down and I wasn't overly drawn to pick it up again. On getting to the last section though I was really drawn in and enjoying it a lot more and I was keen to turn those pages to see what was happening next. I prefer books that have a bit of a faster pace but it was well written and had some nice twists in it towards the end that made up for what I found lacking in the previous sections.

For the most part this was a bit of a middle of the road read for me with the ending saving the book in my opinion but it has left me with a lot of questions which I don't feel were answered.

(2.5 stars rounded up to 3)

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Review: Dark Vengeance


Dark Vengeance
Dark Vengeance by Russell James

My rating: 3 of 5 stars




I received a copy of Dark Vengeance from the publisher in return for an honest review.

On reading the blurb and seeing this was about a coven of witches I just had to give it a read. Dark Vengeance was a bit of a hit and miss for me, I wanted to read on and finish it but it wasn't a book that stood out for me at all.

I would have preferred if the characters were a bit more fleshed out and developed, there was a little background but not enough for me to be able to relate to or connect with the characters. The plot was OK although I felt like there was something missing, it felt a little like it skimmed the surface and I wanted to know more about where the children came from, why the coven were doing what they were doing, why were they looking at the pupils stats, what did the numbers tell them etc. The dialogue at times seemed very unrealistic, especially when it came to the interactions between Theresa and the sheriff.

Despite the problems above, it was still an OK light read, the pace was even throughout and it held my attention enough that I wanted to finish and learn what the outcome was going to be.

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Saturday 13 December 2014

The Naughty List

The Naughty ListThe Naughty List by Edward Lorn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Well who would of thunk it. Santa and his reindeer are badass!

This was a fun and twisted little story.



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Friday 12 December 2014

Review: The Lurking Season


The Lurking Season
The Lurking Season by Kristopher Rufty

My rating: 2 of 5 stars




I received a copy of The Lurking Season from the publisher in return for an honest review.

After starting this book I was informed that this story follows on from a previous book, The Lurkers, which I have not read. I dithered on whether I should read the first one before reading any further but I decided that as I had already started, to just go ahead and continue reading. Now that I'm finished I think perhaps I should have read the first one before reading any further.

I enjoyed the book but at the same time I didn't enjoy it. The plot was pretty basic and I didn't feel there was much detail to it, perhaps that's because I haven't read the first book and that covers a lot of what I felt was missing here, I don't know. A lot of the background to the characters was hinted at but not enough for me to connect to them. As far as I can tell the characters in this book are mostly new characters to the story so I didn't miss any more detailed background to them from not reading the first book. I found I wasn't too bothered who survived and who didn't and the dialogue and character interaction didn't draw to me to any of them either.

Despite the problems I had connecting, I still wanted to keep reading and finish the book as I wanted to know how it would all end. I have to admit though I had trouble at times taking the lurkers seriously. Some of the descriptions and scenes made me picture the gremlins and I found the scenes quite humorous as a result, but that's just me. The book does have a few disturbing topics in it however, rape, cannibalism and scenes of violence are all in the story, so it may not be for everyone.

2.5 stars but not enough to round up to 3

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Wednesday 10 December 2014

Review: Stillwater


Stillwater
Stillwater by Maynard Sims

My rating: 4 of 5 stars





I received a copy of Stillwater from the publisher in return for an honest review.

Beth who is wheelchair bound is looking for a new house in which she can find some peace and quiet to recover and to work on her new novel. She has leased a property called Stillwater but she soon realises she's not alone, she's sharing her house with the spirit of a drowned girl who previously lived in the house and who is making herself known in many different ways. Beth, as she learns more from the ghost, is determined to help her and discover what really happened at Stillwater.

I really enjoyed this one, it turned out to be a great ghost story and I was hooked right from the beginning. The tension and atmosphere builds really well and it has plenty twists and turns to keep it interesting. The characters are very well developed and I was really rooting for Beth, she was a very likeable and strong character. The pacing was good and and held my attention from start to finish and I didn't want to put it down but at the same time I didn't want it to finish.

Stillwater actually reminded me a little of the movie Jessebelle, only with a much better and more detailed plot and characters. It would make a much much better movie than Jessebelle that's for sure. Definitely one I would recommend for those who love paranormal and ghost stories.

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Tuesday 9 December 2014

Review: Boom Town


Boom Town
Boom Town by Glenn Rolfe

My rating: 4 of 5 stars




I received a copy of Boom Town from the publisher in return for an honest review.

Boom Town is a fast and fun novella and I read it one easily in one night. It wasn't what I would really class as horror, more a mix of sci-fi and horror but not too heavy on the horror compared to my usual reads.

Thirty years after a UFO appeared above Hollers Hill the earth is shaking and people and pets have gone missing. Kim and Brady discover a pipe at the back of the Flea Market that's leaking weird blue slime. Things are changing in Eckert and the two teenagers are about to find themselves in a situation that puts them and their families in danger. What's really going on is much worse than the town and the outside world is aware of.

I enjoyed the different views in this book, moving from news broadcasts, to gossip and then on to several different characters and the relationships between those characters as the story and tension progresses. I liked how the mix of sci-fi and horror worked together here, the talk and speculation of what's happening progresses into something much more dangerous and darker than anyone could have predicted.

The pacing was nice and held my attention, the character development with it being a novella was just enough for the story to work and I enjoyed the plot. This is the second book I have read by Glenn Rolfe and I have enjoyed both, I will be reading more from this author in future.

3.5 rounded up to 4.

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Monday 8 December 2014

Review: Snow, Glass, Apples


Snow, Glass, Apples
Snow, Glass, Apples by Neil Gaiman

My rating: 5 of 5 stars




This was a fun, dark and twisted read. I love fairytale remakes, the darker the better and it doesn't get much darker than this.

Snow white is told originally from the perspective of Snow White herself, this little gem retells the story from the point of view of The Evil Queen.

Looks like little Snow White isn't as sweet and innocent as we were all led to believe. Forget all you think you know of this story and immerse yourself in the dark and twisted truth narrated for us by the Evil Queen herself.

I'll never think of Snow White the same ever again!

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Review: In the Heart of the Dark Wood


In the Heart of the Dark Wood
In the Heart of the Dark Wood by Billy Coffey

My rating: 2 of 5 stars




I received a copy of In the Heart of the Dark Wood from the publisher in return for an honest review.

I was looking forwards to this as it takes place several years after When Mockingbirds Sing, having really enjoyed When Mockingbirds Sing I had high hopes for this one.

It started off well. The book centres around Allie and Zach, who after setting out on a journey realise they are lost in the forest. This worked fine to begin with but most of the story (from 25% - 90%) is about the two children and their experience while in the woods and it really started to drag for me. It felt like this part went on forever and I found myself starting to get bored and skim the pages, it was just too repetitive for my liking.

One thing that bothered me, the children are 12 years old but they acted very young for their age. I know they were having a rough time of it but some of the reactions and dialogue just didn't feel right for their age at times.

I was actually tempted to give up on this one and mark it as DNF but I wanted to know what was in the woods and what the outcome of their journey would be, so I stuck with it and skimmed most of the story from around 60% to 90%. The ending was sweet and emotional but the book as a whole just didn't work for me. I think perhaps because I wasn't enjoying it as much as I wanted to a lot of the deeper message inside the story was missed.


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Saturday 6 December 2014

Review: Doppelganger


Doppelganger
Doppelganger by Sean Munger

My rating: 3 of 5 stars




I received a copy of Doppelgänger from the publisher in return for an honest review.

Anine moves to New York with her new husband, looking forwards to a new life in a new city and a nice new house, life seems to be on the up for Anine. Things aren't as they seem however, there is something sinister in her house and her and her new husband are not being made welcome.

This was a pretty decent read. the characters were nicely developed and the scenes and detail of the era were very well described and set out. I feel there could have been a bit more tension in the actual haunting but it was still a good read. The story revolves more around society, life and the times rather than concentrating on the fear and atmosphere that I would have liked to have seen.

The book held my attention and I wanted to keep reading to learn what the outcome was. I wasn't a huge fan of the ending, I just don't understand why Anine just accepted the ending in the way she did.

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Review: What She Left


What She Left
What She Left by T.R. Richmond

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



First reads giveaway win (Nov 03 2014) - Book arrived 7 Nov 2014

I received a copy of What She Left as a first reads giveaway and I also received a digital copy from the publisher in return for an honest review.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book. The blurb caught my eye and the idea of rebuilding someones life from their digital footprint was something that I had never really thought of before reading this book. Many people put a lot of their lives online and on social media and I'm sure very few of us have ever considered the impression it would leave behind if ever something was to happen to us.

I liked the format, wasn't sure I would enjoy it but I did. The only thing I didn't like about it was the dates on everything, it jumped back and forth so often that eventually I gave up trying to follow the timeline. I did enjoy reading it, if asked to describe it, to give a simple rough explanation... It's a book about a book, Alice is found dead, Prof Cook is rebuilding her life from what he can find online and from her friends. He's putting it all in a book, we are now reading that book.

My feelings on the Prof were a bit all over the place, he wasn't easy to like and was a bit of a letch. A bit of a letch is putting it mildly actually, he was a disgusting, dirty old man and I didn't like him at all most of the time. I can't say I particularly liked Alice either, although everything you learn about her comes after her death and gossip is never a good thing, it always tends to focus on the negative and the flaws. The other characters didn't stand out at all. I don't know exactly what it was that kept me reading, although I didn't like Prof Cook much, his voice was captivating and kept me reading.

The book really explores the devastation of losing someone to then have a stranger expose all different parts of their life publicly without those left behind having any control over it. It really makes you think about yourself and what echoes of ourselves will we leave online and in diaries etc. What will our online legacy be when we are gone? How will what we have left behind affect the people we love after we're gone? What kind of impression of who we really are will it give?

Reading this book sort of feels like you're peeking through the window at someones life and they don't know you are watching. All the good, bad and ugly exposed for all to see. It's a bit like putting together a scrapbook of someones life, revealing all the different sides of them that not everyone gets to see. Their inner thoughts on the page before you, exposed to all. Diary entries, blog posts, emails, text messages, notes on their computer, all there for everyone and anyone to read and interpret any way they like. It certainly gives you a lot to contemplate on, makes you more aware of what you say and do online in a way that perhaps many haven't ever considered before.

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Review: Book of the Dead


Book of the Dead
Book of the Dead by Greig Beck

My rating: 5 of 5 stars




I received a copy of The Book of the Dead from the publisher in return for an honest review.

"And the Earth shall fall before they rise."

Sinkholes are opening up all over the world, getting larger and larger, birds are falling from the sky and hundreds of pets and people are missing. When the government start to investigate what's going on, they realise there is a lot more to what's happening and mankind is in danger of being wiped out.

In the authors notes at the end of the book it states that this book pays homage to H.P Lovecraft and I have to applaud the author, he did a damn fine job. This book had me totally hooked, I couldn't put it down I devoured it and the pages more or less turned themselves.

I couldn't find any fault in this book and I certainly can't find the words to express just how good this book was. I loved absolutely everything about it. The characters were great, well developed and fleshed out, the pacing was perfect and the world building was fantastic. I was totally engrossed in the story from start to finish. The whole time I was reading I felt like I was part of the world created in the story and I had to resist peeking further down the page.

Definitely one I would highly recommend. The Book of the Dead is a must read for all Lovecraft fans and is one of my top reads of 2014.

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Wednesday 3 December 2014

Review: A Christmas Horror Story


A Christmas Horror Story
A Christmas Horror Story by Sebastian Gregory

My rating: 5 of 5 stars




I received a copy of A Christmas Horror Story from the publisher in return for an honest review.

A Christmas Horror Story was a quick and fun read, it's not your usual feel good happy Christmas story though!

Katy, Emily and Jake are home alone on Christmas Eve waiting for their Mum coming home from work and looking forwards to having a nice Christmas together. A snow storm changes all that, their Mum hasn't made it home and something is outside trying to get in. The Child Eater is looking for more victims and his sights are set on the three of them.

I really enjoyed this one, it was fun to read a Christmas tale with a darker side to it. The characters were likeable and I was really rooting for them to get the best of the The Child Eater. The pacing was just right and held my attention, the scenes and environment were easily pictured and written very well. The author has included back story from previous years within this one to show that the Child Eater has been terrorising children for many many years and it adds more tension to the story knowing the history.

This year when you hear those bells and footsteps on your roof, you better be sure it's Santa and not the Child Eater come to pay you a visit!

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Monday 1 December 2014

Review: Satan's Fan Club


Satan's Fan Club
Satan's Fan Club by Mark Kirkbride

My rating: 3 of 5 stars




I was provided with a free copy of Satan's Fan Club by the author in return for an honest review on Scarlet's Web.

I'm not sure what genre I would file this one under, it kind of hinted at horror but then didn't quite get there for me. There was some mystery to it in regards to the serial killer but that's not really what the storyline centred around till later in the book. I would probably class it more psychological dark(ish) fiction, for me anyway.

The plot wasn't predictable at all, there were times I thought maybe I knew where it was going but it went in a different direction. I couldn't really connect with the characters, I'm not sure why. I think perhaps I didn't find any of them likeable as they all had faults in one way or another, there was no clear good guys/bad guys and I don't feel like I really got to know any of them. That being said, I still enjoyed it and wanted to know what happened. I couldn't have predicted the ending at all, which is always a good thing in my opinion. The pacing was pretty good although it felt a little slow to start with and the plot held my interest as it was unique and unpredictable. There was one part that confused me, now that I know how it all ends I'm confused as to who (and how) the youngest daughter was talking to but I can't really explain that here without giving away spoilers.

I'm not a fan of the cover, I know we shouldn't judge a book by it's cover but this one wouldn't have caught my attention and made me curious enough to read the blurb.

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Review: Hillary: Tail of the Dog


Hillary: Tail of the Dog
Hillary: Tail of the Dog by Angel Gelique

My rating: 4 of 5 stars




The faces I must have pulled while reading this book. I have read so much horror and twisted dark books that I swear I have become desensitized and not many books have me cringing anymore. This one did!!

The warning that comes with this book should not be ignored, it's definitely not for the faint of heart. I honestly didn't know who's side to take in this story, perhaps that will become more clear in the next books. I did start off feeling for poor Hillary but as things progressed that certainly changed fast!

I honestly couldn't stop reading, it's brutal and has lots of twisted scenes of abuse and torture that somehow makes it feel wrong to have enjoyed reading it but I couldn't help myself I just had to keep reading. It's grossly addictive and I don't think I am ever going to able to scrub some of those scenes out of my head. My husband actually asked what the hell I was reading, every time he looked over at me I was making faces and cringing, he's not used to a book making me react like that anymore.

This is one I would recommend but only for those who are not squeamish and have the stomach for the twisted and extreme. I really enjoyed it and have recommended it to my daughter, not sure what that says about me, or my daughter lol.

Reviews also posted to my blog: Scarlet's Web
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