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david_john's review against another edition
4.0
This was a really good follow up to Milk Blood. It was hard to read at times as it was so dark and filled with real life horror themes - substance abuse, domestic violence, urban poverty, child abuse, etc.
arnzen's review against another edition
5.0
As a horror writer, I get asked all the time for recommendations for new books and authors in the genre beyond the usual things you find on the supermarket shelves. Lately, I've been recommending Mark Matthews. His "milk-blood" books are really original and modern takes on streetwise noir -- bold examples of gritty realism cast through a blood-red horror lens. He's tackling contemporary fears and societal issues head-on -- charging into them head-first, actually -- and once you read his work it tackles you: there's no escaping the emotional scars that it will inflict on you. It's unforgettable.
The latest "redux" called All Smoke Rises -- a sequel to his unforgettable Milk-Blood novel, which you definitely should read first -- is an unusual and surprising return to the scary world of drug addiction, fanned by the flames and pain, twists and truth, sin and survival. He gets the psychology right, but the story starts to pick at the edges of reality until the boundary lines are no longer clear. The devil is red, bright red, in this short novella, and the plot flares out quick. The writing is tight and the pace quick and when you read his book the whole thing feels like a rush to the head. Few new writers are doing horror with such intensity. Inject it into your mind and you'll see what I mean. It just might make you glow.
The latest "redux" called All Smoke Rises -- a sequel to his unforgettable Milk-Blood novel, which you definitely should read first -- is an unusual and surprising return to the scary world of drug addiction, fanned by the flames and pain, twists and truth, sin and survival. He gets the psychology right, but the story starts to pick at the edges of reality until the boundary lines are no longer clear. The devil is red, bright red, in this short novella, and the plot flares out quick. The writing is tight and the pace quick and when you read his book the whole thing feels like a rush to the head. Few new writers are doing horror with such intensity. Inject it into your mind and you'll see what I mean. It just might make you glow.
wellwortharead's review against another edition
4.0
In this fast paced sequel to "Milk Blood" we are once again immersed in the seedy underbelly of drug addiction.
Lilly is not in great shape. She can hear the voices of the dead though she herself seems neither dead nor alive. She is dumped in the home of a psychiatric nurse along with these very pages which must be read. In these pages we learn what happened to Lilly after the fire. We also get to know Crystal, who was the mother of Oscar from Milk Blood. Crystal is still reeling from her time in jail after Oscar's death, and is desperate to keep up appearances for the sake of her parole officer, but not desperate enough to really make any genuine effort to avoid parole violations. It is difficult for me to say more without giving too much away and I pride myself on never posting spoilers. I will just say that the ending was spectacular.
I received a complimentary copy for review.
Lilly is not in great shape. She can hear the voices of the dead though she herself seems neither dead nor alive. She is dumped in the home of a psychiatric nurse along with these very pages which must be read. In these pages we learn what happened to Lilly after the fire. We also get to know Crystal, who was the mother of Oscar from Milk Blood. Crystal is still reeling from her time in jail after Oscar's death, and is desperate to keep up appearances for the sake of her parole officer, but not desperate enough to really make any genuine effort to avoid parole violations. It is difficult for me to say more without giving too much away and I pride myself on never posting spoilers. I will just say that the ending was spectacular.
I received a complimentary copy for review.
motherhorror's review against another edition
5.0
Let it be known that ALL SMOKE RISES by Mark Matthews is the book that ushered in a new infatuation with "Junkie Horror".
I've always been afraid of illicit drug use.
Back in high school, I hung out with a bunch of skater/stoner boys who mostly only smoked weed but occasionally, I'd find myself at a party or something where kids were experimenting with hardcore stuff and it freaked me out.
It's always been a hard pass for me.
Movies like TRAINSPOTTING or REQUIEM FOR A DREAM scare me to death. The disturbing images lingering in my brain long after viewing--making me feel dirty and hungover.
This book is the epitome of "Junkie Horror" and how dangerously disturbing it can be. I loved the experimental nature of first reading a narrative in the second person, "You do this; you see that."
And then transitioning into the "found footage/files" narrative. Matthews made a bold choice and it pays off in spades. He's skilled enough to execute it perfectly. This story is powerfully immersive--I simultaneously loved and hated how close Matthews draws the reader into the lives of his f*cked up characters.
And they are truly f*cked up.
I found myself wanting to look away but seriously, the story is way too compelling for that. I had to know what happens.
You know how you find yourself reading a news article or watching a true crime story on TV about druggies and tweakers and you're just blown away by how messed up it all is? People living in squalor, their lives in utter ruin? And you feel the sorriest for the children--the poor kids who are born into chaos and drug abuse. It's gut-wrenching. Your mom heart just wants to rescue them all and give them a clean place to rest their heads and help them to unsee all the horrible things they must have witnessed that no child should have to experience.
This book is THAT.
The stories of what happens to the children who have been given no choice but to be raised by junkies--parents who have one priority and that's the next hit.
Matthews also adds a strange and unique paranormal quality that really toys with your sense of what is real and what are the ramblings and experiences of delusional, drug-addled brains.
This book grips you until it's ready to let go--thank goodness it's not too long! Ha!
I will definitely be reading more by this author. Lots of trigger warnings here so read with caution.
I've always been afraid of illicit drug use.
Back in high school, I hung out with a bunch of skater/stoner boys who mostly only smoked weed but occasionally, I'd find myself at a party or something where kids were experimenting with hardcore stuff and it freaked me out.
It's always been a hard pass for me.
Movies like TRAINSPOTTING or REQUIEM FOR A DREAM scare me to death. The disturbing images lingering in my brain long after viewing--making me feel dirty and hungover.
This book is the epitome of "Junkie Horror" and how dangerously disturbing it can be. I loved the experimental nature of first reading a narrative in the second person, "You do this; you see that."
And then transitioning into the "found footage/files" narrative. Matthews made a bold choice and it pays off in spades. He's skilled enough to execute it perfectly. This story is powerfully immersive--I simultaneously loved and hated how close Matthews draws the reader into the lives of his f*cked up characters.
And they are truly f*cked up.
I found myself wanting to look away but seriously, the story is way too compelling for that. I had to know what happens.
You know how you find yourself reading a news article or watching a true crime story on TV about druggies and tweakers and you're just blown away by how messed up it all is? People living in squalor, their lives in utter ruin? And you feel the sorriest for the children--the poor kids who are born into chaos and drug abuse. It's gut-wrenching. Your mom heart just wants to rescue them all and give them a clean place to rest their heads and help them to unsee all the horrible things they must have witnessed that no child should have to experience.
This book is THAT.
The stories of what happens to the children who have been given no choice but to be raised by junkies--parents who have one priority and that's the next hit.
Matthews also adds a strange and unique paranormal quality that really toys with your sense of what is real and what are the ramblings and experiences of delusional, drug-addled brains.
This book grips you until it's ready to let go--thank goodness it's not too long! Ha!
I will definitely be reading more by this author. Lots of trigger warnings here so read with caution.
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