ericarobyn's reviews
1356 reviews

In the Land of the Pigs by Caesar Ruell is a story of terror, bloodshed, and pink stormy skies that rock these small towns, forcing the inhabitants to face their community’s wickedness. 

When approached by a celestial being he believes is an angel, this man has to push his fresh grief aside and use his skills as a butcher to save humanity. But untrained in fighting, bogged down by sadness, and terrified about what begins to occur, will he be able to do it? 

Phew, kicking things off with some unease and then terrible grief, readers won’t linger there too long as the action kicks in shortly afterward. 

This tale has so much brutal action! Many scenes are written so vividly! With how much the visuals and sounds were focused on, I’m very grateful the author didn’t dwell too much on senses like smell. 

This was such a wild ride from start to finish! I had a blast reading the carnage while on a fast-paced race to the big ending! I absolutely loved the main character and how he would call out how ridiculous this all was and how things didn’t make sense to him, but he kept rolling with it. This element added so much fun to the otherwise dark tale. 

I hurried down the empty streets, as thunder intermittently roared – both in the far distance and close by, as if the storm was everywhere at once. It was so powerful that it seemed to make the buildings shudder on their very foundations.

There were a few gnarled trees whose limbs were bent to hover over the graves, like fingers reaching down to snatch up the remains of the unfortunate ones buried nearby.

“Good. Your gifts are impressive, indeed. You are untrained, yet you can more than hold your own in a fight.” 
“It doesn’t make a lick of sense to me.” 
“Nor does it have to. Just be grateful for what you’ve been given.”

If a surgeon cut me open right at that moment, I’d have little doubt they’d find my heart to be as dark as the mean sky above.

Horror fans, you need this tale in your lives! While filled with horrors, it’s also so much fun! 

Evil In Me by Brom is a tale centering on a young woman whose life is a whirlwind of misdirection and turmoil. As Ruby struggles to find her footing and navigate a path that seems perpetually unstable, this tale explores the darker sides of human nature when mixed with the supernatural.

Ruby Tucker has almost reached the end of her personal purgatory. While doing community service at the local community center in her small town, she needs to bite back her anger for a few more days as she deals with the nasty comments from the head of the community center and her ex who also works there.

But Ruby just can’t help it. When one poor decision occurs, a landslide of poor decisions quickly follows. Before we know it, Ruby has an ancient ring clamped onto her finger, possessing her with the spirit of a demon.

As the story unfolds, it’s made clear to the reader that Ruby’s dreams and aspirations have been overshadowed by personal demons and inner rage. When possessed, she finds herself drawn into a world where music holds a potent and transformative power, but can she make it big before it’s too late?

Her journey is marked by intense emotional conflict and a constant battle against the forces that seek to control or consume her, both supernatural and not. As she grapples with her tumultuous emotions and the malevolent influences within her, the music becomes both a refuge and her battleground.

Nothing mattered except how I felt. My reality was the only reality.

David returned a moment later with a small fire extinguisher, setting it on the table next to the bowl.
“Did you check that it’s safe for putting out hellfire?” Ruby asked
David laughed. “Says it’s safe for grease fires. Gotta be about the same. Right?”
Ruby groaned.

It is good to leave the bad behind, to let it go. But sometimes things are shut away before they are delt with, They linger, fester like an infected wound, spreading their poison. Often it is not something intentional, just sometimes a person is born a bit broken … unable to deal with life’s struggles.

This tale was a frustrating and wild ride from start to finish! At every fork in the road that Ruby faced, I wanted to reach through my Kindle screen to violently shove her in the right direction. But of course, that wouldn’t have made for a fun storyline!

If you enjoy Brom’s storytelling mixed with characters you just want to see good things happen to, this is going to be a hit for you!

Picking You Out Of My Teeth by Somer Canon is a collection of dark horrors that flow between real-world terror that reads like a punch to the gut and supernatural horror that will give you goosebumps! 

Per usual with Somer’s writing, there is terrible darkness here, but many times it’s combined with something else, each pair going together as perfectly as macaroni and cheese. 

My two favorites from this collection were both quieter horror tales. I absolutely loved:

Here are my thoughts on each tale: 

A wonderful intro to kick off the collection. I loved the heads-up about the tales about motherhood. 

Desperately wanting her pregnancy to be over, this woman hates everything about being pregnant. One evening, her labor takes her by surprise. 

Oh, this poor woman. I immediately felt for her and being just over seven months away from my own pregnancy, this tale hit extra hard. Like her, I hated being constantly touched and didn’t find a single moment of pregnancy to be a good time. And oh gosh, her itching. As someone who had PUPPS, I felt extra terrible for her. Oh man, Somer crushes this tale with a perfect mix of everyday pregnancy and the much more extreme side effects. 

Escaping the house to be outside where things are safe, this boy hears a knocking. Of course, his curiosity wins out over his hesitation. 

This poor kid. What a heartbreaking tale. 

Trying her best after running into a series of difficult life hurdles, this woman lets her anger and grief get the best of her. But that’s not the end of her tale yet!

Ah, another super heartbreaking tale! And oh my gosh, that ending!! 

Tasked to tear down an old house to make way for low-income housing, things don’t go as smoothly as planned. When three men die, the project lead goes out to the property herself to investigate. 

What a quiet little chilling ghost story! Ugh, the grief woven into the suspense is so sad. 

Working on a reality TV show, this crew member can’t help but be unsettled by the whole process. But when a big makeover is revealed, she’s even more unsure about things. Soon, she’ll learn why her alarm bells were ringing. 

Oh my gosh, this was wild! The things people will do to their bodies to look “perfect” is already terrifying. But Somer has taken that to an extreme here! 

A quick tale of a sudden loss that the main character is struggling with.

There is such good body horror in this one! The descriptions will leave you queasy! And oh gosh the Cool Whip… I did what this mom did ONE time as a kid, got sick, and still can’t think about it without getting nauseous. Haven’t had any form of whipped cream since! 

When a woman finds out her cat brought in fleas, she’s determined to get rid of them all one way or another. 

Oh, this one made me itchy. What nerve-wracking body horror!

While going to a very old and forgotten graveyard, this character wants to make some charcoal rubbings. But she sees something else while there that makes her think it’s time to let the site rest. 

This was so eerie and beautiful at the same time! I love the format of this one as we got to jump back into a memory to learn about what was happening in the present. 

As the title states, this woman reluctantly makes a trip back home. Once there she learns two things that collide later in a horrible manner. 

The grief horror here has many layers. As we get deeper into the tale, things only get worse.

Waking up to realize their garden beds have been overgrown with weeds, people in this neighborhood rush to pull them before getting in trouble with their HOA. But then the first scream echoes around the area…

HOA’s are terrifying in and of themselves, but what happens here was wild! I have so many questions!! I loved this story! 

Living in a cult, this woman struggles to stay compliant. Determined to get her and her daughter to safety, she’ll never stop trying no matter what they do to her. 

Oh, the rage this one will make you feel! Every page was just dripping with horrors of the situation and each scene got darker.  

The woman reached out and grasped Claudia’s stomach, as so many people did. Pregnant women feeling like their bodies were public property to touch and comment on was nothing new, and Claudia knew to expect it, but as someone who usually did not like being touched, it was nothing worth getting used to.
— A Pretty Intense Case of Abjection

Pregnancy was an unmapped level of hell that people had sugar-coated and she found that deception infuriating.
— A Pretty Intense Case of Abjection

The morning fog stayed close to the ground, thick and dense, as if during the night a blanket has been draped over the earth as it slept.
— The Boneyard Grim

The only thing more destructive to that graveyard than erosion was the short memories of the people who let it fall to such a state.
— The Boneyard Grim

I can’t say whether I picked this one up at the perfect time, or the worst time as I am still new to being a mother and many of these tales had me ready to run to my little guy for a cuddle. But either way, I thought this was such a killer collection with a great range of darkness.

Horror fans will love this one as it forces you right into the shoes of the characters within each tale!

When Painted With Deceit by Shana Frost is a heart-pumping tale of false hope, deceit, and murder mixed with our usual dose of cozy romance set in a small town. 

The town has gotten some big news – A developer is planning to set up a glamping site. It has been promised that this new addition will bring more tourists to the area, but a few of the locals believe otherwise. 

When things quickly turn sour, Aileen puts on her investigative cap and gets to work. But soon she finds herself in the hospital after being run off the road a second time in just a short period, this time, leaving one person dead. Of course, this is Aileen, so she doesn’t let that slow her down. Unfortunately, that’s just a precursor to the terrible things to come… 

Starting with a terrifying scene of a car being run off the road, this book takes off just like the car that caused the accident! 

I’ve loved every entry in this series, but this one is my favorite so far! This one seemed a bit grittier to me. Things had been dark before, sure, but this one was filled with a whole new level of darkness. There’s so much packed in here. There’s mystery, suspense, drama, and per usual, there are life-threatening situations and things that could be resolved if Aileen and Callan could stop being so stubborn and stay on the same page! 

Whenever I pick up one of the books in this series, I know that I need to be careful with my timing as my mind will be stuck in Loch Fuar with these characters. I started reading this one on a Sunday and unfortunately wasn’t able to finish it until Monday evening. And phew was that Monday the world’s longest workday! All I wanted to do was get back to the book! 

The green grass gleamed, a contrast to the greyish-blue waters of the Loch Fuar. The mountains in the background also shimmered adding that awestruck gasp to the entire scene.

By half two in the afternoon, Aileen had scrubbed, washed, hoovered and ticked off every minuscule task on her list. The scent of fresh washing and home-made cookies wafted through every crevice of the inn. And there wasn’t a single particle of dust to be seen in any of the rooms. Clean, dusted, homely, calming, restful. Except a tornado spooled chaos in Aileen’s mind.

Aileen sighed a breath leaden with stress. She sat at one of the dining tables, staring out at Loch Fuar. No matter the weather, the view always took her breath away; living here was like having access to heaven before you died.

If you haven’t picked up this series yet, but love cozy and yet heart-pounding mysteries, you gotta check this series out! 

I had an absolute blast with this one! I’m so sad I’ve already reached the end! Now I will patiently await the next book! 

Reality Squall by Jason Krawczyk is a psychological tale of second chances that is filled with oddities, grief, and love. 

A trucker with chronic pain and a tendency to lose time carries loads of trauma and grief with her every day. While she can tune out the world while on a run, strange things begin to happen and the grief won’t stand to be left out for long. 

I am obsessed with the organization of this story! At the very beginning, I love that you meet the character and learn that something is deeply wrong. Fearing the worst, answers are very slowly revealed as you get deeper into the story and see the main character grapple with her past. 

When the strange things begin to occur, it’s hard to tell if it’s really happening or if it’s all in her mind. After that point, things just get more and more mind-bending and grief-filled. 

I loved every second of this wild ride! 

General consciousness shouldn’t harbor such grief.

She sits behind a waist-high mound of paperwork that presumably has a desk underneath.

Free of pain at the moment, she knows pain is stalking her next movement.

This is a man carved by choppy ocean weather. Sun-bleached and rough, his face only allowed a thin scraggily line of hair to outline his jaw. His eyes are shielded from the elements by wrinkles of bronze skin, an exaggerated brow and craggy patches of wild white eyebrows.

Time has transformed the whisper of experience into a scream.

If you enjoy tales that pull you deep into their darkness while leading the way with just a small pin light, slowly showing you what’s going on, you’re going to love this! I had such a blast learning more about the situation these characters found themselves in! 

Preorder your copy as soon as you can! This book launches from Nosetouch Press on Aug 13, 2024

KJK Publishing has done it again! The Horror Collection: Topaz Edition is another collection of killer tales. So many stories within these pages had me squirming in my seat while reading. These nightmares are going to haunt me… I’m not sure I’ll be able to look at a razor or a burger the same way again.

Let’s get right into it! My favorites from the collection include: 

Per usual, here are my notes on each tale!

After two children are found on the shores, dead, a small town is rocked with grief and fear. One man thinks he may know what is going on, but he can’t tell anyone. Not even the priest. 

Kicking off this collection with a doozy! This is such a good supernatural tale with grief-horror mixed in. The last two paragraphs are so chilling! 

Thrilled that a group of women have completely booked up their inn, this man quickly becomes unsettled by these women. Little does he know, they aren’t just there for a vacation. 

This tale is so eerie! From the first moment of unease, the tension just continues to build. I loved the ending! 

Living in a civilization where they believe they’re safe from the beings they call their ancestors, a young couple dreams of getting away. But of course, things do go as planned. 

Oh, this one will get your blood boiling! The first scene of death was so vivid and heartbreaking! 

Finding an old circus ship, this crew goes aboard to see if they can determine what happened to them so many years ago. They think they’ll only find bodies, which they do, but they find something else as well. 

My anxiety started building the second this tale opened. The claustrophobic element of being in space, that fear of the unknown, the sadness of death. Then of course there’s the sheer terror of what they discover. Phew!

A man with a special ability explains his dilemma and the fears that come with it. 

My gosh, the emotional journey readers will take with this one! 

A talented in mixed storylines of a woman sharing her past and giving readers glimpses into what is happening now. The two tales crash together in an explosive ending. 

I had first read this one in Into the Light: Stories Volume 2 by Steven Stred and my gosh. It was even more of a heartbreaking tale the second time around knowing how it ends! 

Looking for something action, this man decides to follow up on a note scrawled on a wall. The promise of pleasures is fulfilled, but at what cost?

Fans of sexual horror will love this one!

New fear unlocked… that bubble-popping explanation.

Venturing out into the desert to find an abandoned cult compound, this girlfriend is uneasy. When they get a flat tire and her boyfriend leaves to get help, she only gets more and more unsettled as she sits and waits in the extreme heat.

Ah, the heat had me sweating just reading about it! This poor girl… Everything unraveled so quickly, leading readers down a terrifying path. 

When delivering a creation to his investor, this man soon regrets taking the job. But the creation isn’t the biggest thing he fears… 

That ending was wild!

Focused solely on beauty, this teenager is determined to sleep to make sure she looks her best. But when sleep evades her, she’s told about something that can help. Bit of course, things aren’t what they seem.

Oh my gosh the body horror here was brutal! I cringe just thinking about it!

Working for a circus as a dancer, this woman raises a small family of children with unique features. The leader of the circus is wicked and has her stuck. But she’s determined to start a new life. 

My heart broke over and over again for this poor woman! My gosh, this is such a dark carnival horror tale! 

A teenage boy struggling with acne and voices in his head focuses in on his father’s razor…

I don’t think I’ve ever squirmed as much as I did reading this short story! The tension and build-up was so nerve-wracking! 

Unable to turn down a dare from his bullies, this kid goes with them to a cemetery at night. Before he can put together what was wrong, it was too late…

This tale made me so claustrophobic! The suspense and terror that was present at literally every moment was intense.

After two odd things occur, this girlfriend starts warning of biblical things, losing herself in an eerily calm mindset. 

Oh this was so unsettling. The first half will have you nauseous while the second half will make you nervous.

When turning away an old woman, this man soon goes outside to try to find her to invite her back in. Little does he know, the act of turning her away has set something wicked in motion.

Such a quick moment with a thoughtless answer that leads to quite the tale of horror! 

When an undercover cop gets hooked on a drug, he’ll do anything to find the creator to get his fix. 

This one took such a wild turn into bizarre and very creepy horror! 

After years of canceling their annual Halloween party due to COVID, they’re finally having the party this year! But while driving over, something strange occurs, and it only gets more bizarre from there. 

This was so much fun! Terrifying when you don’t understand what’s happening, but once the puzzle pieces begin to fall in place, it’s all fun and games with a splash of horror. 

When a man has to have his leg amputated, he goes through the usual mourning and healing process. But when things got a bit dark, he remembered the coupon to a burger joint his doctor had given him. They go and love the food! But of course, this is a horror tale…

That one line that the man makes while waiting for his food set off alarm bells for me. I was so nervous to see where this was going after that! So dark. 

Waking up after a shocking landing, this man is in for a few more shocking revelations before this story comes to a close!

The suspense and action here were wild! What a terrifying premise that only got worse and worse!

The fireplace crackled as Travis stared into it, his thoughts as wild and chaotic as the fire.
— Culpa by Lex H Jones

He tried counting them. He got to three and had to stop. Their bobbing heads, their flailing limbs; it was a mob of monster parts, indistinguishable as individual beings in the gloom.
— The Ancestors by D.W. Hitz

“…We don’t sleep much and have to be careful about where we look because those things are always nearby someplace, looking like normal shit to you – knots of tree bark, shapes in clouds, patterns in wallpaper or sloppy drywall or an old lady’s quilt – stuff that you see every day but never think might be looking back at you, just waiting for its chance.”
— Shoo Fly Pie and Apple Pan Dowdy by Gary A. Braunbeck

She wondered briefly how many of the wild things out here could kill her. She hoped none of them were interested today.
— High Desert by Lisa Morton

Everything in this place was dead, including the silence.
— Grave Danger by Devin Cabrera

Thunder crashed so loudly he felt the immense sound in his guts as much as he heard it with his ears.
— A Monstrous Hunger by Simon Clark

I cannot get enough of this series! Each time a new one comes out, I think it’s my favorite one (so far, anyway!)! I had such a blast with this collection. Horror fans, this one needs to be on your radar!

Shrouded Horror: Tales of the Uncanny by K.C. Grifant is such a fun collection of stories! The tales are all over the place when it comes to plot elements, creating a thrilling reading experience where surprises abound, promising both spookiness and enjoyment at every turn!

I’m so excited I was able to snag an early copy of this one via NetGalley. While I took my sweet time reading though since my reading time was very scarce, I was so grateful for these short stories each time I picked up the book to read one when time allowed. 

Right from the first tale, I knew this collection was going to be a hit for me. 

My favorites include:

Per usual, here are my thoughts on each tale!

This intro gives readers a peek into what’s to come in such a spooky way! And the last sentence… are you kidding me?! I was even more pumped to dive in after that! However, I paused for a moment to ask myself if I really wanted to start reading right before bed. (I did)

Determined to get pizza, but not wanting to wait in the long line, this crew decides to follow a creepy man into a tunnel after he promises them quick access to the pizza.

Following a creepy dude into a tunnel is never a grand idea! All the alarm bells were going off here but they were just too blinded by the smell of the food! Ugh, the claustrophobia this one gives for a bit! 

Finding an old beat-up jewelry box in a shop, this woman is immediately drawn to it as she is a bit battered herself. Finding an impossible item inside, she’s shocked to find that’s not the only thing the box provides. 

My heart hurts for this poor woman. The grief and blood-boiling unfairness makes the ending that much sweeter!

When a sickness runs rampant, extreme quarantine measures are taken to keep people safe. But will this group of exposed be safe?

Oh my gosh, this is too real-world terrifying! Illness already terrifies me, but mob mentality especially freaks me out!

While on the set of a true crime film, this woman decides she has had enough of the expectations of sexual favors. When an unusual being appears, she’s offered another path. 

Ugh, men that expect sexual favors. Congress! The turn this tale took was wonderfully satisfying! I would love a whole book dedicated to this woman and what comes next for her!

After getting picked up while hitchhiking, this character has bonded with the couple. But when a zombie sneaks up in them, will they stick together or split?

Oh my gosh! This is such a fun twist on the zombie element. I’m obsessed with this tale! 

When a terrible storm approaches, a man appears on her doorstep. Knowing that he needs shelter, she lets him into her basement to ride out the storm. But as soon as he’s through the doorway, strange things begin to occur. 

How quickly things go sideways here is absolutely terrifying! 

While on a weekend away, things with this group are tense. When the woman who organized overhears her friends talking about her, she finds a new friend to confide in. 

Oh, this was so eerie! I love not knowing how to feel about the main character! 

When a girl burdened with far too much is shown a dark path, it’s up to her to see which way she will go. 

My heart broke for this poor girl. So much grief packed into such a short tale! 

Determined to prove that Bigfoot is real, this woman plans one more trip. If she doesn’t find anything this time, she promises she’ll move on. 

Ah but of course she finds more than she hoped. That ending! It just begs for more! How did this end?! 

Stuck waiting for the train, this random bunch soon realizes that they can’t leave and are about to be put to the test. 

I loved this spooky real-world tale so much! Waiting certainly is the worst, but what came next for these folks was of true nightmare. 

While out in his “space condo,” this man makes a connection with another life form. He thinks this will be his ticket into popularity with a better light, but he gets way more than he bargained for. 

Anything around AI in horror tales freaks me out. This one continued that trend. The ending is terrifying. 

Unrest – 

Sent to finally allow a place to rest? This being must stay strong and do what needs to be done. 

Oh, your blood will just boil over this man saying he just can’t help himself. 

Escaping his apartment and his fighting parents, this young man plays with his butterfly knife. When it slips and he feels it cut him, he waits for the pain to subside. While waiting, he gets a visitor. 

Oh my gosh, I was so nervous throughout this one! As soon as he cut himself, I feared the worst.

While away on a trip that’s supposed to be relaxing, this woman is more stressed than ever. When she feels that something g is off, she’s drawn to a mirror in their honeymoon suite… 

This tale is such a quiet and slow-burn horror! I was so ready for something big to happen at any turn, but the pacing continued to crawl and add more and more unease! 

While fishing for jellyfish, this character gets a warning for something that may be to come. 

Everything about this one is fast! Phew, what a tale!

Blessed – 

When an invasion reaches them, one woman believes she is safe. Even swept up by the survivors, she keeps telling them she will be soared, but they don’t share that same faith… 

What an intense start! I loved that we slowly learned what was going on! 

The Circus King –

Working a strange and unusual circus with peculiar clowns, the Circus King is surprised when the act suddenly doesn’t go as planned. 

Puddle of Comradely Despair –

Finding himself stuck in a helpless state, he begs anyone to help. When someone finally pauses to look at him, he promises them a wish. 

This was so unsettling, strange, mysterious, and exciting all at once! I had so much fun reading this one. I’d love to see what these two got up to next! 

Macabre Elves – 

When a group of elves appears but are never quite captured on camera, these two teenage boys are intrigued. Whether they’re a gang or something else, the boys don’t care, they just want to join them. But little do they know, these elves have more with them than just their knives. 

I love a good holiday-themed tale! This one reminded me of the year we had clowns randomly showing up in random places, just creepily standing there. The dark interest in learning who they are is strong! 

The Peerlings – 

Trying to start a colony in a new world, this crew soon learns that there’s something already there. As they start disappearing, the mayor is forced to face the beings or deal with the backlash from their people. 

Oh my gosh, this one had a killer claustrophobia element to it mixed perfectly with the suspense. 

It’s amazing how even in a span of two days you can get to know someone well enough that you don’t have to talk to communicate. One of the few perks of being in constant life-or-death situations, I guess.
— Just Another Apocalypse

They say waiting is its own kind of hell. Whoever said that was probably familiar with the NYC subway system.
— The U Train

So at night, we all pretend to be asleep though we’re far from it, willing ourselves not to peek as the buzzing intensifies. The curiosity almost kills you as much as the fear itself.
— The Peerlings

I can’t say enough how much fun reading this collection was! Each tale was so wonderfully unique. I’m already eager to delve into more of this author’s work!

The Vast by Matt Wildasin delves into the somber depths of a man’s inner turmoil. As he grapples with the burdens that bind him, the pressing question remains: Can he find solace and heal before the darkness consumes him entirely?

Wow, this one left me reeling — I’m still catching my breath. Trying to write a review for The Vast has been an ongoing struggle for over a week now. It’s a book I wholeheartedly recommend going into as dark as possible. If you’d like to learn more, I will leave some high level notes below!

While the narrative has a captivating cosmic and supernatural glamour, it’s evident that many elements are deeply-rooted in the author’s personal experiences. Reviewing this book has been a challenge because I felt connected to many of the situations in the story.

From the black sludge seeping in and the terror that comes when you know you’re slipping into the darkness in your mind, to things like believing every command when young but learning how to work against them when you’re older, each moment resonated, transporting me back to my own darkest memories.

The darkness in this tale is richly layered and incredibly captivating. The body horror was particularly striking, while the pulse-pounding action and relentless terror kept me eagerly anticipating what was to come anytime I had to set it down.

Matt also has some really fun elements where he turns mental health-related things into physical creations. Just one example of that was the main character’s physical search for his intrusive thoughts.

And my goodness, when the main character meets the woman smoking, one of her blunt comments will hit you like a ton of bricks. 

The Vast masterfully balances darkness and horror with the glimmer of resilience and the pursuit of closure. For those familiar with the depths of depression, it offers a uniquely resonant journey, ultimately leaving you in a happy place. For those unacquainted with depression, it’s a fun and captivating exploration of grief and cosmic horror.

Suddenly, it all went dark as the sound of a single footstep echoed through the wall.

As Mark sat there in the sand, feeling its dampness soak into his clothes and against his skin, he witnessed a foreboding sight. Lightning snaked from between the clouds and struck the tossing ocean like an elongated crooked finger. Thunder cracked and rolled over the sky, forcing Mark to scramble to his feet.

The boy didn’t reply; instead, he continued to pluck petals until the flower was bald, then discarded the corpse. Mark watched as the boy eyed up a bunch of purple Cornflowers swaying in the breeze on his other side, then snatched up a handful. He yanked at their tiny petals too.

A folded piece of lined paper sat between the two men. It was yellowed enough to alter the blue lines, making them appear green. The bubbly tight-knit lettering on the note was somewhat visible through the thin paper. Mark’s name was on the front of the letter, written in the same bloated font that comprised the body of the paper. A few hearts floated around his name.

“…Well…I guess it’s always going to be there. Ya can’t have such a traumatic thing happen to a person and expect there to not be some kind of darkness to stick around.”

“…It’s just, you’ve been hiding things from yourself all your life. Instead of coming to peace with any of it, you’ve buried them and left them to fester for a long, long time. And they want to have a word.”

“With every darkness, there is a light. It might be hard to find; like sometimes the light isn’t very bright or doesn’t carry far, but it’s there.” 

If there could only be one book that I recommend to all my horror-reading friends this year, this is it.

Brace yourselves before embarking on this narrative. The journey you’re about to take is quite something and many scenes are going to stick with you for a long time to come.

Move aside nudie mags! In Find Him and Kill Him by Cody J. Thompson, this young man has a new obsession — a darker obsession — murder. Get wrapped up in the unease of how normalized killing becomes for this teen and what journey it sets him on for the rest of his life… 

When a kid winds up in the wrong place at the wrong time, he witnesses a murder. Rather than fleeing, this kid has questions. Lots of questions. Luckily for him, the murderer/drifter actually agrees to take the kid under his wing and teach him the best ways to end someone’s life. 

Fast forward sixteen years – this kid is all grown up and has a special birthday surprise for his sister. But will the gift be a hit?

My gosh. When I tell you I was totally sucked into this story… it was like I had tunnel vision while reading. Right from the start, this was such a normal, everyday life kind of setting, and even though many things changed and a lot of blood was spilled, it all kept that same vibe. I thought this was so interesting as the quiet and the brutality objectively clash, but blended so well here.  

I absolutely loved Myrna’s character. I feel like she and I would have been friends, especially with her taste in music! I mean, talking about My Chemical Romance and playing the Misfits? Two of my favorites!

Another element that I will continue to comment on when it comes to Cody’s writing is how well he places you in a scene with various senses. I mean, just read the passage below and tell me you don’t feel like you’re right there with the character, ready for a shower.

“A blower from overhead burst to life covering their bodies with recycled, stale air. The smell inside was anything but comforting or inviting. The stench of travelers on the road for way too long floated all around, intermingled with the heavy odor of chemicals all too familiar in these roadside establishments. Like some sort of bionic lemons grown in a laboratory somewhere that had fallen into a batch of acid and ammonia.“

And no spoilers, but that ending… I’m obsessed.

“Hey!” the drifter shouted, using the back of his arm to wipe the splatter from his face. “The kid’s already dead. You’re not going to hurt him any worse than you already have. Hack at it. Slash away. That sawing shit might work on some weeds in your backyard, but that ain’t gonna cut it here. Let me show you.”

The sun continued to fall beyond the horizon; the night taking over quicker and quicker, yet the nameless killer never showed. As the darkness took over any remaining light, he shivered. Not just from the chill in the air, but also from being alone with the ghosts that now lived in and were stuck forever within those containers. His own hands had created some of those ghosts.

“You know, My Chemical Romance reunited and are touring again. Couldn’t you just get us tickets to go see them? That would be a much better gift if you ask me.”
“No. Forget the tickets,” he said, shuffling in his seat. “Come on, it’ll be perfect. You and I… [redacted to avoid spoilers].”
“Three cheers for sweet revenge, huh?”

A blower from overhead burst to life covering their bodies with recycled, stale air. The smell inside was anything but comforting or inviting. The stench of travelers on the road for way too long floated all around, intermingled with the heavy odor of chemicals all too familiar in these roadside establishments. Like some sort of bionic lemons grown in a laboratory somewhere that had fallen into a batch of acid and ammonia.

Left to your own imagination, nightmares play not only within your head, they become all too real. Almost like you can reach out and touch them, slicing your fingertips on the memories.

Not quite a full-blown horror comedy, but very close. This book was such a hit for me! I had a blast following these characters and seeing their lighthearted banter with one another. But more than a few times, I had to pause and remember that people were dying here. The author had me so deep in the same mindset as these characters that I kept thinking this was normal. 

Horror fans, if you enjoy everyday life types of tales combined perfectly with brutal slashers that have many twists and turns, you gotta check this one out! 

Be warned though, you’re not going to want to put this one down!

Into the Light: Stories Volume 2 by Steve Stred is another killer collection of tales that will lead you to believe all is well (or at least will be well) before the rug is pulled out from under you!

I took my sweet time with this collection, really letting each tale sink in. Whether or not that was a good idea… my nightmares will soon tell I’m sure!

When reviewing the notes I took while reading, I noticed that I had started each of my thoughts with “my gosh…” So needless to say, each of these tales was a wild ride! I had such a blast reading and seeing where each one brought us.

My favorites from the collection include:

Per usual, here are my thoughts on each story!

Like the previous collection, I just have to note how much I love it when authors put their published works together in a collection like this so readers can access them all! 

Interviewing for a science research project, this young man gets in based on his willingness to experiment with different … foods… Of course, there’s a catch.

This is one of those tales that once you read it, it’s forever cemented in your mind, for better or for worse!

Forced to move due to financial reasons, this family is making the best of their new start. But one day, black sludge begins to appear and take over the house. But by the time they notice, is it already too late?

Ugh, your heart just breaks for this family! 

Two teenage boys keep going to the beach in hopes of glimpsing more of a new woman in town. Curious and obsessed, as only teenage boys are, their curiosity gets the best of them. 

This tale is wild! That ending!

Nearing the end of his ability to deal with these bullies, this kid listens to his uncle and takes a hike to ask an old one for help. But can they help in time?

Oh, my heart breaks for this poor kid!

Such a short and killer tale! This perfect snippet makes you want more! 

Another short and terrifying one! Love this tale written in honor of Kevin J Kennedy! This one gave me chills!

I first read this one in 100 Word Horrors 4 from KJK Publishing and loved it just as much this time around.

Waking up in a saw-like nightmare but so much worse, this character is desperate to find a way to leave alive…

My gosh, the last line made my mouth drop open! 

Determined to prove he wasn’t crazy and that merpeople were real, this man wasn’t afraid to step into the water. 

Oh, this poor man. 

A character on the run has no other option but to keep going…

This one is terrifying every second one way! Such a killer short tale!

Setting foot on a new planet, their excitement takes over any caution. 

Ah! A short and terrifying snippet that makes you both happy and sad there isn’t more here! I love shorts like this so much! I first read this in 100 Word Horrors 4 from KJK Publishing as well!

When robbing a bank, this man can’t believe how smoothly it went. Until he opens the bag that is…

This took such a fun turn!

A dog reflects on his life, overcoming trauma and finding his purpose. 

This tale is filled with grief, terror, and so much love. What a fun perspective! 

On a trip of enlightenment, this character is in good spirits. 

That ending! Ah! What happens next?! I love this short! 

While out in the woods with her boyfriend of a year, something begins to change in him, and she doesn’t like it. Being forced to flee, she thinks she finds safety. 

This story is so unsettling! The transformation is terrifying in itself, but what happens next is even more horrific! This one had my chest pounding in anticipation of what would happen next! 

While flying, they realize that something is wrong on the ground. With no communication coming in, will they be able to hand safely? 

I read this tale once before in The Horror Collection: Ruby Edition by KJK Publishing. My gosh, I’m already an anxious flyer… add something like this to it and I’d be happy to never get on a plane again. What a terrifying end of the world! 

Warning the psychologist that if he knows what’s on an online video, that the bad stuff will happen to him too. The psychologist isn’t phased, even when presented with the video. But will he manage to escape the darkness?

This one is so chilling and stressful! 

When a man who has lived a life of pranks and wild behavior realizes he’s hit the end of that road, and has isolated himself because of it. So he cooks up a new plan, but will he be able to start fresh so easily?

I first experienced this in The Horror Collection: Lost Edition by KJK Publishing, and I was still so nervous to reread how it would play out. 

Seeing his doppelganger one day sends this man into a tailspin. Unsure what to believe, he finally gets answers that change everything. 

This tale is so unsettling! The freezer scenes will haunt you! 

After the brutal slaying of his family, this young man is discovered by someone who can help him get revenge and end the slaughter. 

I so expected something bad to jump out of the trees at any moment during this tale! 

Slowly as we learn more and more about this woman’s life, we also get glimpses into what’s happening now in her apartment. 

Ugh, this poor girl! And that ending! My gosh, what a tale to end the collection with!

On that Sunday, the construction finished, champagne toasts were made and while the family wasn’t watching, evil moved in.
– Tendrils

From where he stood, he could look between them and see a stone circle with trees. Everything stilled. All he could hear was his breath, a hostile noise in the silent wilderness.
– The Oak

We’d seen what had happened at Chernobyl and Hiroshima, but still the ones making the decisions let their anger get the best of them and they sentenced the world’s population without a second thought.
– September in the New World

After he left, I could feel the crackle of my father’s fury infesting the air.
– In Name, Only

Steve is so talented when it comes to writing a short story! This collection is a must-read for horror short story fans. Readers will love how quickly things twist and turn!