ericarobyn's reviews
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Dead Folk by Katherine Silva is a tale of grief and a continued journey toward getting the revenge our main character seeks.

Janet thought she had come to terms with her grief. But when a new death occurs, she’s plunged right back into her personal storm. Turns out, her journey for revenge isn’t over.

Knowing her backstory now, I was extra nervous to see what was to come. I so badly wanted to see her have a little light in her journey. But of course, that wasn’t to be.

Not yet anyway! I cannot wait to see what happens in the next book! 

Paintings of churning seas and ships with full sails lorded over the staircase landing as she reached it. The rich wood behind it was carved in swirls and eddies much like the waves in a storm.

Running along in the woods, she’d get scraped up by all manner of broken sticks and thorns without noticing. Only when her parents reacted did she finally see and the pain slipped in like a silent passenger along with panic.

While the first book in this series read like a gut-punch, this one was non-stop action and I thought the worst was about to happen at any moment!

Ugh, I’m SO NERVOUS to see where book three takes us!

Halloween My Way by Somer Canon is a collection of stories and essays about the greatest day of the year; Halloween. While the cover may look sweet, you’re in for some delightful tricks within these pages!

Grab yourself a sugary treat and let’s dive in!

Halloween fans, get ready for some of the most fun and terrifying tales that celebrate our day.

Per usual, here are my notes on each tale!

A short and sweet intro that asks readers why fellow spooky friends all get so giddy this time of year! I love how conversational this intro is, like Somer was sitting next to me preparing me to dive into these tales! 

When a being comes earthside they’re thrilled to get into all kinds of mischief. But of course, their mischief isn’t just things like putting black dye in candy or toilet papering a neighbor’s tree… 

How wild this tale gets almost immediately gives you a good taste of what’s to come! 

Thrilled to be first-time homeowners, and in their dream home at that, this couple can’t wait to settle in. But the house came with something they didn’t expect; an old cat. 

My gosh, I’m not a cat person at all. This one got me! I was squirming during so much of this tale! What a wicked cat. 

On this Halloween night, the dead are looking for some entertainment. As they know people just can’t stay away from the cemetery on Halloween, they know the entertainment will be wonderful. As the groups of people start to arrive, the dead get started. 

This tale started out so cozy and fun but then took an intense turn into terror! I was so nervous to see what would happen to each new group!

Told from the perspectives of a mall cop and a Halloween store employee, this night ends in bloodshed and terror. But the human monster isn’t the only one to fear! 

I read this last year when I was deep in the trenches of having a newborn and oh my gosh it was so much more fun this time around! I dreaded what was to come, but being able to read it start to finish in one sitting was so much better than my last choppy experience! This is one of those tales that I can see myself reading each Halloween season to get into the swing of things! 

Hospitality – 

Ready to protect what’s theirs, this couple doesn’t think twice before firing a round into their closed door when someone arrives and asks for help. Will that scare the would-be “intruder” away or just make things worse for them?

The way that Somer kept these two repeating that they have a right is so dreadfully spot on for folks like this. Nevertheless, it made my blood boil. The way all of the contradictions in their “arguments” are easily explained away… chefs kiss! 

Perfectly titled, this piece could get anyone in the Holiday mood with this thoughtful ode to Halloween! 

Oh my gosh, if this doesn’t bring back all your Halloween memories, nothing will! This was such a fun little piece!

Halloween has come around again.
The crispness of fall, the chill, and sweet smell of dead leaves now permeates everything. Orange pumpkins adorn anything standing still as this part of the world celebrates the end of summer’s sweltering stranglehold.
— Boneyard

While the seasonal change from verdant green to the warm, cozy colors of fall certainly had an aesthetic appeal that almost everybody seemed to like, the season of Halloween was a different creature altogether. It wasn’t anchored in an obligatory family gathering like so many other holidays, nor was it force-feeding the masses saccharine sentimentalities that were sometimes more hurtful than inspirational, especially to those who were alone in the world, like herself. It was a season that invited people to indulge in their darker sides, even if their darkness only went as far as pumpkins and baskets of chrysanthemums.
— The Spirit of the Season

Time makes fools of us all, and it was her turn to experience that painful truth.
— The Spirit of the Season

Panic and terror wrapped their own gnarly and rotten hands around her and she had to endure it all surrounded by these decorations.
— The Spirit of the Season

“In the front of this home are many markings indicating that this home strongly believes in and follows a faith of peace and brotherhood. I asked for hospitality and your reaction was one meant to be fatal to me. Why the disparity in faith and reaction to pleas for help?”
— Hospitality

“The world has always been dangerous, thus the divinity in the act of helping those in need, of putting your own self-interests on the backburner while you see to the needs of those who come to you seeking help. It’s really not a complicated concept. I know you’re afraid. I know the world is a strange place, as it has always been. And I know that there’s simply too much information floating around for frightened people to sort through. Fear overcomes compassion and anger displaces logic.”
— Hospitality

You already know I’m always here for anything Somer Canon writes. Her storytelling is just TOO GOOD. When I heard this collection was coming out, I could not WAIT to dive in. I had such a blast with this collection of fiction and writings about Halloween as she experienced it.

While Halloween-themed, this is a great read for fans of the holiday no matter the time of year!

The Stones of Landane by Catherine Cavendish is a tale of romance and destiny, steeped in tension and uncertainty.

When a couple, Nadia and Jonathan, take a trip to Landane, it seems like it’s going to be a quiet stay as Nadia shows Jonathan around. While Nadia says she’s been there before, it soon becomes known that she doesn’t keep visiting just for the cozy stay at the local inn. There’s a local attraction that she can’t stay away from. 

The longer they stay, the weirder things get. 

With time, the couple finds themselves desperate to leave. But are they sucked too deep into the current of terror already or will getting out of town remove them from danger? 

Of my gosh! I so love stories that have character and time jumps! The characters that we got to meet here were all so interesting. I was so sad when we’d move from one character to another, only because of wanted more from the character I was just with! But that sadness was short-lived as I was excited to see what was to come with the next character. 

The oddities begin pretty early on, which helps to set the tone, and the storyline progresses in such a fun slow burn. Overall, this story has such an unsettling feel to it. And of course, because it’s Catherine, you can feel the weight of every scene. Whether that’s the warmth of the bar at the in, the pot-thick air of the festival, or the musty and earthy caverns. 

A narrow, carpeted staircase took us to the upper floor, where uneven floors creaked when you so much as looked at them and protested when you put your foot down.

He left me to my thoughts and the remains of my beer. I made short work of the Bud. but my thoughts remained as tangled as a plate of spaghetti carbonara.

Vicki’s lips moved. The words came out a fraction after her mouth uttered them. The bizarre effect made Shelly’s flesh creep. The words themselves did nothing to dispel her feeling of dread.

The woman in front of me opened her mouth and let out a sound that reminded me of a murder of crows. Maybe it was her version of laughter. It sounded to me like the gates of hell had just been flung open. 

Outside the summer sun blazed but the cathedral provided a cool, calm place of solace and reflection. The crypt was another case entirely. Here it was as if winter had suddenly descended. I almost expected to see icicles hanging off the gargoyles.

I’m all in for anything Catherine writes! I had an amazing time with this one. The slow build of dread was perfectly paced and incredibly impactful.

After Tomorrow: The Cellar Door Issue #4 edited by Aric Sundquist is filled with tales of fear and the sheer determination to live in impossible situations. But in this collection, there are many tales where the apocalyptic landscape is the least of the characters’ worries. 

Ah, apocalyptic horror is always so nerve-wracking! In this collection, there is such a terrifying spread of tales. Without fail, the thing that gets me with this sub-genre is the isolation and desperation for basic needs. I can’t help but put myself in the characters’ shoes and wonder what I would have done. 

My favorites from this collection include:

Here are my thoughts on each tale:

Determined to become a mother, this woman concocts a plan to trick her ex-husband. But the apocalypse that they have going on puts a bit of a strain on the situation. 

There are so many small yet brutal scenes here. But oh my gosh, that last line had me particularly queasy! What an unsettling tale to kick off this collection! 

Taken by those he knew would come for him, this man grapples with fresh grief but focuses on his anger to help him fight back. 

This tale was so intense! Kicking off with a scene that’s right in the middle of the action, things only get more intense from there. 

While trying to survive, this character captures birds and makes sure to keep listening for them. 

Oh gosh, that ending. I love that it’s not spelled right out for us so you can have either a dark ending or a lighter one.

This family trying to get by rotates who goes to look for survivors. But what happens when they find one?

I should have known this was going to take a turn, but I wasn’t at all prepared for where this one went. Grief and terror all wrapped up and mixed with terrible hunger. 

After an attack, people have fled the cities to try to survive where they won’t be attacked. But of your, humans are terrible to one another, and more monsters walk among them. 

I had a gut feeling this one was going to be tough for me. I had to put this short tale down five times before getting through it. Phew. Pregnancy and anything with kids like this is so hard to read. And that ending! 

After he’s the last one of his group left alive, this young man goes into the city for supplies. He is discovered by a younger boy who brings him back to his crew of survivors. 

This tale was so scary and so fun! I was nervous to see what would happen next. I would love a whole book about Pollo!  

When winter has set in, this character hasn’t seen another living thing in ages. When they see a wolf watching them eat, they try to make her comfortable. Luckily, it works and the two continue on to find food. 

I loved this tale! The terror with the cold and the creatures was solid nightmare fuel, but it was blended so wonderfully with hope!

When monsters have crawled out of the waters in this town, the people are forced to try to keep things as normal as they can during the day or risk losing their minds from fear. But at night, it’s all about surviving to the sunrise. This young kid has a tool that can help. But only for 30 seconds…

My gosh, the tension with this one! 30 seconds is such a small amount of time to be working with. I was so nervous during this entire read! 

A woman who had been genetically modified since she was three had found a way to survive the role she was forced into. With a smile, she serves up what is expected of her, but she’s not going to just let the man take what he wants from her. 

As this hits in bodily autonomy, it had my blood boiling for this poor woman. Sci-fi or not, that’s such a hard topic to read about. I’m obsessed with the ending of this one! 

Determined to do something other than live in his lonely purgatory, this man finds his mission when coming across a family of fellow survivors. Unfortunately, he has no idea what he’s getting himself into. 

This apocalypse has such a terrifying premise! The poor kid, my god that hit me so hard. 

I used to cry sick off school when I was out of mascara, but alive is the most any of us can expect to be these days.
— THE BANJAX by Sarah Jones

The other dark figures scattered like smoke escaping in the wind.
— THE LONG WINTER by Aric Sundquist

Juniper is on the Everglades, just far enough into the wetlands to be considered remote. It’s a tiny, out of the way place that is easily forgotten by the world, though I’ve started to wonder if there’s any world out there to forget.
— THIRTY SECONDS by Scott McCloskey

All of these stories, even the ones with a lighter mood, made me feel so uneasy. At one point I was so antsy I started googling key tips from preppers. 

Yet another killer collection in this anthology series! Go grab your copy today! 

The Clown: A Halloween Land Story by Kevin J. Kennedy weaves a story of teenage love intertwined with a bloodthirsty carnival, featuring scenes that are straight from the darkest of nightmares.

Thrilled for a carnival to come to town, but not expecting much, these teenagers are shocked at the size of the carnival once they see it in all of its glory. Like any typical teenager, their night if filled with walking around to take in the sights, have fun on the rides, and slip away for some romance and beverages.

Their time at the carnival is all fun and games until they enter the Ghost House… While the host warns them of what’s to come, they all believe it’s just more fun. But of course, they’re about to find out otherwise.

When the terror begins, it hits hard and fast! The story is jam-packed with scenes of horror right up until the very end.

SO many of these action scenes had me holding my breath. With Kevin’s writing, you know he’s not afraid to go really dark. So even though I kept hoping for something good to happen, I continued to be shocked by all the bad. I mean, the scene where things start to shake and forge floors and walls begin to crack was pure nightmare fuel! 

She looked at the other houses in the street, and wondered what was going on inside them. She wondered how many people were really happy. Did some people just pretend, or were there some that found what they were looking for? And did you need to know what you were looking for to find it?

Everyone seemed so happy. How little it took to bring people together, and distract them from the nightmare that everyday life could be. People seemed to be lost in the world of the carnival. Thoughts of outstanding bills, credit card debt, cheating partners, unemployment, and everything else that people in the local towns were suffering from, was forgotten for the short time while they were here. Something about carnivals transports people to a different time. A simpler time, but when it comes down to it, people just want to feel happy.

The carnival was pushing her to feel depths of despair and pain that would have crushed most normal people, but Melissa wasn’t normal. She had been broken many times from a young age, and at some point, learned that she wasn’t made of glass. Pain was temporary, but being true to yourself was non-negotiable. Regret was the one thing she couldn’t live with.

He couldn’t believe his eyes. It should have smashed her teeth to pieces, but she had chomped straight through it like a shark biting a fish in half.

“Your blood is really pretty. I’m glad you aren’t keeping it on the inside anymore.”

This was SO MUCH FUN! I love when tales start out hopeful and then turn to terror. As this was a prequel to Halloween Land, readers that have already read that tale know generally, where the story is going to end up. But how we get there is a ride of terror that will leave you on the edge of your seat!

Kevin J. Kennedy Presents Collected Christmas Horror Shorts IV is another killer collection of horror tales centered around the chilling winter holiday. This book has the supernatural, the grief, and the terrible, all wrapped up nicely with a bow.

Fans of holiday horror, you’re in for a treat again with this collection! Every single tale made me feel so uneasy.

Per usual, here are my notes on each story.

Per usual, Levin includes a perfect kick-off to the tales! I can’t believe this is the 36th anthology already! Any collection Kevin puts together is killer. I couldn’t wait to get into these! 

Forced to recount the events of a stormy night, readers follow the main character as he arrives at a terrible scene where five bodies have been discovered. But that was only the beginning of that horror-filled night.

My gosh, this tale will have you chilled to the bone! All the references to the storm and the ice had me ready to go find a blanket to cover up with. And then there’s the horror that’s uncovered… it just kept getting more terrifying!

When a young man steals a ship in a bottle, his family and their employer want to teach him a lesson. Even so, they caution him not to enter the woods. Blinded by determination to have a nice holiday feast, he ends up deep in the forest, regretting what he has done. 

This poor boy. A little trouble leads to some terrible consequences. 

After the world has turned into a wasteland where people will do anything to survive, Santa is happy to go visit his favorite family that has stayed on the nice list. But this year, something changed. 

The suspense of this one was so good! Right from the start, I had a guess as to what was going on, but finding out for sure wasn’t any less sad and upsetting. 

When siblings surviving a terrible childhood are told to be on their best behavior for the visit of this father’s boss, the eldest is locked in her room. When their guest arrives, the eldest is strangely quiet. The family soon learns why. 

This tale, while so upsetting and dark, had such a fun twist! The excitement of seeing what would come next in each popper was a blast!

On Halloween night, this woman finds out that she seriously underestimated the wildness of her new HOA. As the Christmas holiday approaches, things only get worse. Will she cave and stick to their intense schedule? 

Oh, this one stressed me out! That ending though! 

When a Christmas carnival suddenly arrives in town, some of the community are excited to attend, but others are weary. Once they walk into the carnival, they quickly realize it’s not what they had hoped. Things only get worse from there. 

Christmas and carnival horror?! These are two of my favorite horror topics, and what a fun blend they are!! This was such a dark tale, filled with action and terror! 

When an annual holiday tradition is interrupted by an old woman, the holiday cheer is dashed when one man learns what is to come. 

This tale is absolutely terrifying. The element of the holiday items keeping the darkness at bay had me ready to do some early decorating! Ugh, the bit with the kids broke my heart. I had to skip a couple of those scenes. 

This boy has a bedtime ritual to keep the monsters away. But on Christmas Eve, he lets his guard down… 

I loved this one! How dramatic the boy was with his actions was adorable at the beginning. But then when the horror arrives, the tale takes a terrifying brutal turn! 

Cooking up a plan to break into homes and steal wrapped presents, these two boys immediately think something is off with the first house they enter. When they find a gift wrapped up in one of the rooms, they decide to stick to the plan. Ah, but if only they had bailed…

Such a bloody tale! I was so nervous to see what would come next!

Rushing to get everything in place before Santa visits, this father takes the carrot nose off the snowman to give it to the reindeer. The little girl says it’s not a good idea because the snowman doesn’t want them to take it, but of course, he doesn’t listen and that has disastrous repercussions.

What a premise! My gosh, there was so much terror packed in here. Every scene was chilling!

When kids go missing, the local cop realizes that sometimes they come back a year later, but they’re forever changed. They no longer speak and stare out into space. They also have a strange new body feature. Will this cop figure out what is going on before the next kid is taken?

Ah, kid horror hits me so hard now. While my heart broke for these kids, I also hoped they would learn a lesson and be okay. Things certainly wouldn’t be okay here though. Phew! 

When receiving a letter under their door offering a trip that sounds far too good to be true, these parents jump at the opportunity. Their young daughter is more hesitant but is brought with them. Once they arrive, they quickly see that this is not the trip they had expected. 

Such an awesome premise! The descriptions of the beings were so unsettling! This tale had me so on edge to see what was going to happen next. 

When it’s quiet out and everything has a thick coat of snow, the cold usually has a strangely clean smell. Unless the weather has you congested, a real deep winter can open your sinuses. No pollen. No flowers. No animals. Just that bitterly cold aroma that’s more of an absence of smell than the presence of one.
— The Holly King by Dexter McLeod

Even though he was seven, he had a dedicated list he did every night to make sure the monsters that hid once the light was turned off kept their distance.
— Good Boy by Steve Stred

I love holiday horror so darn much! When I first heard that this book was going to launch, I couldn’t wait and of course, it did not disappoint.

While reading this book, I was just getting into the Halloween holiday spirit, and this one had me ready to dive into the December holidays!

Snag your copy today!

October by Gregory Bastianelli is a book that serves as a perfect love letter to the Halloween season. It wraps nostalgia and terror beautifully within its crisp fall pages.

When an odd man steps off a train, something strange begins to spread like ink spilled on the map of this small town. Following the perspectives of various characters, readers follow this tale of horror through the month of October. 

When things start getting spooky, the terror is sprinkled into the story in quick little bursts. So small that each character tries to convince themselves they’re seeing or hearing things at first. But they all soon learn it wasn’t just their imaginations. 

My goodness! What starts as a quiet and creepy tale quickly ramps up to some seriously terrifying bloodshed! Some of these scenes are branded in my brain…

This would make a killer horror film or series! I’m so grateful I was able to give this an early read as it really helped me get into gear for fall!

AND THAT ENDING!

His heart felt like ice in his chest, as if he sucked in a great gulp of the fall air. 

Time had no meaning here. There was no light, no days, only darkness blurring into more darkness as the house floated on a sea of black.

Eddie’s heart leapt into his throat so he couldn’t scream. He jumped up and raced across the bridge, not caring that the boards rattled beneath his pounding feet and felt like they were going to collapse and pitch him down into the grasp of whatever crawled along the underside.

He began to pant as his chest heaved up and down, air sucking in and out of his open mouth. He spun around looking for anyone. The plaza was empty. No one around except for the library gargoyles, but they didn’t see him, their lifeless eyes focused on the books held in stone hands.

What a perfect read for the ‘ber months! This one will have you reaching for your favorite fall beverage and perhaps an extra light to light up that darkened corner of your room. 

Creatures of the Night: Vicious Vampire Tales brings together spine-chilling horror from Simon Clark, Kevin J. Kennedy, and Gord Rollo. Brimming with terror, blood, and intense action, this collection promises readers an exhilarating and unforgettable ride!

I just can’t get enough vampire tales! So of course, I was really looking forward to what would be served up here. Little did I know, I was going to get three very unique stories that will haunt me for a long time to come!

Per usual, here are my notes on each tale in the collection:

When this man’s girlfriend is taken by vampires, he tries to explain what happened, but many don’t believe him. When he finally finds two that do, this unlikely trio are determined to get her back. But to make matters more difficult, this man now struggles from memory loss, putting them all even more at risk. 

This tale is so fast-paced and terrifying! From the initial introduction of the vampires to the final showdown, it’s all action and scenes of suspenseful horror. 

When two vampires are living their best lives, things are turned on their heads when they meet a being that forces them to work for him. Will they be able to fight back, or are they already lost?

My gosh the battle scene here was incredible! I had so much fun with this one, especially as Elena and Isla made an appearance! First meeting these two in Elena from KJK Publishing Presents Werewolves, I just knew this story was going to be a blast!

While the community has seemingly forgotten the horrors that occurred deep in the caverns below a swimming spot, these waters aren’t ready to let the small community forget what happened there just yet. While diving in an area where disaster struck many years ago, a body is discovered. Of course, that won’t be the only body that turns up…

This tale was SO unsettling! At every moment, I was so nervous about what was to come next.

My heart pumped blood to my brain so powerfully, that the pulse in my neck became as loud as thunder.
— From The Bloodred World of Vampyrrhic – Return of the Blood-Feeders by Simon Clark

He knew memory leaked from my skull like water through a cullender.
— From The Bloodred World of Vampyrrhic – Return of the Blood-Feeders by Simon Clark

Life isn’t always as exciting as fiction, but it can certainly be as strange.
— Perspective by Kevin J. Kennedy

The sun was a sliver on the eastern horizon, the sky turning from black to grey to orange. Most of Red Spruce Lake was still shrouded in darkness, though, the trees and the walls of the cliff surrounding it dutifully, holding back the daylight like vigilant guards protecting the battlements of some medieval castle.
— Beneath Still Waters by Gord Rollo

Hatred hardens even the purest of hearts.
— Beneath Still Waters by Gord Rollo

Vampire fans, go grab this book immediately! I had an absolute blast reading these stories. Each one left me wanting more, and I was so sad when they ended, even though they concluded perfectly. I cannot recommend this one highly enough!

The Gathering by C.J. Tudor is a horror and suspense-filled murder mystery with unusually high stakes. 

Sent to a remote town to investigate a murder, this detective is forced to walk a very thin line between humans and vampyrs. Tension is high and both sides are ready for a fight. 

When more people are found murdered, the pressure on her to hurry up and make “the call” is even more intense. 

Will she be able to solve the case and catch the killer before tensions boil over? 

My gosh, the suspense in this book is palpable! I found myself on edge with every scene, constantly bracing for something terrible to happen. There’s a lot of horror, but the quieter moments also add to the tension, making the whole experience even more gripping.

One of my favorite elements was the small-town setting, which I’m always a sucker for. I also really loved learning about how these vampyrs felt. There was a passage about living a long life but not really LIVING that hit wicked hard. 

Per usual, the pacing is just beyond perfect. Readers are sure to have a hard time putting this one down once they start reading.

She gazed out across Main Street. Christmas lights twinkled in the darkness; snow glistened on rooftops. She could see the white tips of the Denali mountains in the distance, illuminated by a shy sliver of moon, and hear the call of moose and the wind rustling in the spruce. A reminder that whatever small space humans carved out upon this planet, nature, in all its callous ferocity, was never far away.

Outside, the forest leaned in on every side, close enough to whisper in the windows and scratch spindly twigs against the glass.

There is no such thing as immortality. Death visited us all eventually.
The only difference was when he came and how long he lingered.
When you lived for centuries, you died for decades.

“Don’t seem like any way to talk about your father.”
“He wasn’t much of a father, or a man.”
“He still alive?”
“No. He killed himself when I was sixteen. Only time he shot anyone who deserved it.”

C.J. Tudor has been one of my favorite authors since I first read The Chalk Man. Though I love them all, this book is officially my favorite of her works so far!

Bedtime Blitz! by Matthew Van Fleet is SUCH a fun book. First of all, the storyline is a blast to read out loud and as it’s centered around getting ready for bed, it makes a perfect bedtime routine read. Second, the artwork is adorable. It’s so fun to see what each animal is up to every step of the way (I think the alligator is my favorite!)! And then there’s the very cool element of the pull tabs to make things move on the page. This is such a hit with my little guy! There’s even a special little surprise on the very last page. This is a book every kiddo needs!