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teaandtales1's reviews
918 reviews
Night Shoot by David Sodergren
dark
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
1.0
As someone who reads a LOT of horror, I have finally found the line. While I've never intentionally delved into extreme horror or body horror, I certainly unintentionally came across it with this book.
This is the 2nd Sodergren book I've read, and the first one was gross but also kind of charming and funny in the way that 80s slasher movies can be. This one was just GROSS and had so many things that I felt were unnecessary to the story.
Which brings me to the story - it's actually fine. There's a college film crew that decides to break the rules and continue filming in a mansion after the time where they've been told repeatedly to leave. And apparently after said time, the monsters of the place wake up and eat people. This *should* make for a fun popcorn slasher, but there was just too much in there. Having purposely stayed away from films like Deliverance and Hostel, I feel like I stumbled on the book equivalent.
Literally all the trigger warnings (except animal death, so I guess there's that...). I need to go read a cozy fantasy story now to get rid of the ick.
This is the 2nd Sodergren book I've read, and the first one was gross but also kind of charming and funny in the way that 80s slasher movies can be. This one was just GROSS and had so many things that I felt were unnecessary to the story.
Which brings me to the story - it's actually fine. There's a college film crew that decides to break the rules and continue filming in a mansion after the time where they've been told repeatedly to leave. And apparently after said time, the monsters of the place wake up and eat people. This *should* make for a fun popcorn slasher, but there was just too much in there. Having purposely stayed away from films like Deliverance and Hostel, I feel like I stumbled on the book equivalent.
Literally all the trigger warnings (except animal death, so I guess there's that...). I need to go read a cozy fantasy story now to get rid of the ick.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Sexual violence, Violence, Cannibalism, and Murder
Moderate: Sexism, Sexual content, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment
80s Ghosts by V.S. Lawrence
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
Genre: Haunted house, found footage, horror/thriller
Pages: 329
Plot: Chrissy is determined to get her YouTube ghost hunting show off the ground - even if it means investigating a school haunted by a devastating fire from decades past. Despite her crew's hesitations, Chrissy figures this is their one last chance for their show to find success.
Review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I love haunted house stories, ghost hunting/found footage tales, and books that take place in the 80s, so I'll admit I went into this book with a bit of bias.
That being said, I really enjoyed it. This is a great book for those looking for a quick read that will spook them, but maybe not bring the all-out horror. While I did feel that the mysteries of the book were pretty easily solved, it didn't much effect my entertainment and I definitely recommend.
Pages: 329
Plot: Chrissy is determined to get her YouTube ghost hunting show off the ground - even if it means investigating a school haunted by a devastating fire from decades past. Despite her crew's hesitations, Chrissy figures this is their one last chance for their show to find success.
Review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I love haunted house stories, ghost hunting/found footage tales, and books that take place in the 80s, so I'll admit I went into this book with a bit of bias.
That being said, I really enjoyed it. This is a great book for those looking for a quick read that will spook them, but maybe not bring the all-out horror. While I did feel that the mysteries of the book were pretty easily solved, it didn't much effect my entertainment and I definitely recommend.
The Devil Aspect by Craig Russell
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Genre: Horror, Psychological, Mystery, Historical fiction
Pages: 414
Plot: In 1930s Czechoslovakia a serial killer is stalking the streets of Prague. About an hour away, locked in an asylum built in an old castle are 6 of Eastern Europe's most notorious criminals. A young psychiatrist seeks to learn the origin of evil even though it seems to be closing in from all sides.
Review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This book is great. In books that deal with two storylines, I usually find that I like one of them more and can't wait to get back to it, but in this book each of them were equally strong. The interviews with the six criminals were interesting and horrifying, and the terror running through Prague reminded me of the movie Seven. Definitely recommended to those looking for a dark, but well-written horror/mystery book.
Pages: 414
Plot: In 1930s Czechoslovakia a serial killer is stalking the streets of Prague. About an hour away, locked in an asylum built in an old castle are 6 of Eastern Europe's most notorious criminals. A young psychiatrist seeks to learn the origin of evil even though it seems to be closing in from all sides.
Review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This book is great. In books that deal with two storylines, I usually find that I like one of them more and can't wait to get back to it, but in this book each of them were equally strong. The interviews with the six criminals were interesting and horrifying, and the terror running through Prague reminded me of the movie Seven. Definitely recommended to those looking for a dark, but well-written horror/mystery book.
Heads Will Roll by Josh Winning
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Pages: 320
Horror sub-genre: Slasher, Summer camp
Plot: After an ill-advised tweet, Willow loses her TV series, her fiance, her house, and is officially cancelled. She decides to get away from everything at Camp Castaway, where she can decompress and look forward to a lack of technology and social media. Everything seems great until campers start going missing.
Review: ⭐⭐⭐1/2
I enjoyed this book and if you're looking for a Friday the 13th vibe (for modern times) in a book, then this will be a good choice. The camp has a group of eclectic characters, with positive and strong LGBTQ rep, and I found myself rooting for all the ones you're supposed to root for. The addition of the urban legend of "Knock Knock Nancy" makes the reader question whether the killer is supernatural or human, and I found the book to be fun. While I did really enjoy the book, I found that the cancellation and social media aspect was very clunky, and while necessary to the story, didn't really add anything positive. Overall I liked this though, and would recommend it to anyone looking for a face-paced, entertaining summer horror read.
Horror sub-genre: Slasher, Summer camp
Plot: After an ill-advised tweet, Willow loses her TV series, her fiance, her house, and is officially cancelled. She decides to get away from everything at Camp Castaway, where she can decompress and look forward to a lack of technology and social media. Everything seems great until campers start going missing.
Review: ⭐⭐⭐1/2
I enjoyed this book and if you're looking for a Friday the 13th vibe (for modern times) in a book, then this will be a good choice. The camp has a group of eclectic characters, with positive and strong LGBTQ rep, and I found myself rooting for all the ones you're supposed to root for. The addition of the urban legend of "Knock Knock Nancy" makes the reader question whether the killer is supernatural or human, and I found the book to be fun. While I did really enjoy the book, I found that the cancellation and social media aspect was very clunky, and while necessary to the story, didn't really add anything positive. Overall I liked this though, and would recommend it to anyone looking for a face-paced, entertaining summer horror read.
Relic by Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Last Days by Brian Evenson
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.5
Horror sub-genre: Cult, Psychological
Plot: After his last case leaves him as an amputee, retired detective Kline is having a rough time adjusting to his normal. Then a cult of amputees kidnaps and enlists him to solve a murder on their compound.
Review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2
This is genuinely one of the weirder horror books I've read, but despite its bizarre subject matter I found it really creative and engaging. Kline is pulled into a cult he wants no part of and somehow it just keeps getting worse for him. As an avid reader of the horror genre it's always nice to come across something totally unique.
Plot: After his last case leaves him as an amputee, retired detective Kline is having a rough time adjusting to his normal. Then a cult of amputees kidnaps and enlists him to solve a murder on their compound.
Review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2
This is genuinely one of the weirder horror books I've read, but despite its bizarre subject matter I found it really creative and engaging. Kline is pulled into a cult he wants no part of and somehow it just keeps getting worse for him. As an avid reader of the horror genre it's always nice to come across something totally unique.