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caffeinatedbibliophile's review
3.0
I received this book through a goodreads First Reads giveaway.
This collection was unlike any other collection of stories and poetry I've ever read. I liked some of them (The Lay of Dumah, Lidiya, Visiting Rites), but overall they just weren't "my thing." I'm not sure what it was, because I usually really like the strange and gorey. A couple of the stories read like the author was trying too hard or something.
I didn't hate it, and I will probably check out other issues of Infernal Ink, but this one was pretty forgetable for me.g
This collection was unlike any other collection of stories and poetry I've ever read. I liked some of them (The Lay of Dumah, Lidiya, Visiting Rites), but overall they just weren't "my thing." I'm not sure what it was, because I usually really like the strange and gorey. A couple of the stories read like the author was trying too hard or something.
I didn't hate it, and I will probably check out other issues of Infernal Ink, but this one was pretty forgetable for me.g
skjam's review
2.0
Disclaimer: This magazine came to me through a Goodreads giveaway on the premise that I would review it.
Infernal Ink is a horror fiction and poetry magazine aimed at ages 18+. As such, it contains sex, violence, sexualized violence (Trigger Warning for rape) and crude language. As of the 01/2014 issue, it is accepting advertisements for suitable businesses.
The cover (which might make this a poor choice to read in public) is by Dave Lipscomb, who also contributes “Demonic Visions”, a selection of his black and white pieces; and “The DaveL’s Music” which reviews albums, in this case, Motorhead’s latest.
There are several gruesome poems; all are modern poetry, so I cannot speak to their quality.
“Amazon Goddess of Doom” is an interview with Saranna DeWylde, who writes both horror and erotica, and helpfully gives us a look at the difference. Her nickname turns out to come from her day job as a prison guard.
All the fiction is very short.
“The Devil’s in the Details” by Robert Lowell Russell: A woman can have a new lease on life if she convinces someone else to go to Hell for her. Quick and twisty, with no innocence to be found.
“Going Viral (Pop Culture Apocalypse)” by Bosley Gravel: After the zombie plague, late-night television looks a little different, though just as cut-throat. Funny if you like your jokes gross.
“A Kiss to Die For” by Giovanni Valentino: Two guys in a bar compete over an attractive woman. Fairly predictable, but a nice last line.
“The Pope’s Dildo” by Peter Gilbert: The title object is stolen, and it’s up to the Vatican’s top agent to retrieve it. Very juvenile.
“The Ripsaw Floor” by Shaun Avery: A one-hit wonder meets the woman who inspired that song at his school reunion. I liked the female lead in this one.
“Flow the Junction” by Roger Leatherwood. A gross-out tale about a woman with constant menstrual flow and her objectification. Very unpleasant.
“Xenophobia” by Michael C. Shutz-Ryan: New neighbors next door present new opportunities for a lonely man who talks to his Buddha statue. Another fairly predictable story.
“Fey” by Robin Wyatt Dunn: A relationship with an otherworldly creature. Dreamlike and hard to follow.
“Add Me” by Rob Bliss: A small twon stalker may have bitten off more than he can chew–or maybe this is what he wanted all along. A bit longer of a story, so it has an actual build-up to the reveals.
All of these could use some polishing, but I most liked the Gravel and Avery stories. There are some spellchecker typos, and a couple cases of what might be that or odd vocabulary choices. Hydra M. Star might need to take a firmer hand as editor.
Mildly recommended to fans of the horror/erotica conjunction; everyone else can safely skip.
Infernal Ink is a horror fiction and poetry magazine aimed at ages 18+. As such, it contains sex, violence, sexualized violence (Trigger Warning for rape) and crude language. As of the 01/2014 issue, it is accepting advertisements for suitable businesses.
The cover (which might make this a poor choice to read in public) is by Dave Lipscomb, who also contributes “Demonic Visions”, a selection of his black and white pieces; and “The DaveL’s Music” which reviews albums, in this case, Motorhead’s latest.
There are several gruesome poems; all are modern poetry, so I cannot speak to their quality.
“Amazon Goddess of Doom” is an interview with Saranna DeWylde, who writes both horror and erotica, and helpfully gives us a look at the difference. Her nickname turns out to come from her day job as a prison guard.
All the fiction is very short.
“The Devil’s in the Details” by Robert Lowell Russell: A woman can have a new lease on life if she convinces someone else to go to Hell for her. Quick and twisty, with no innocence to be found.
“Going Viral (Pop Culture Apocalypse)” by Bosley Gravel: After the zombie plague, late-night television looks a little different, though just as cut-throat. Funny if you like your jokes gross.
“A Kiss to Die For” by Giovanni Valentino: Two guys in a bar compete over an attractive woman. Fairly predictable, but a nice last line.
“The Pope’s Dildo” by Peter Gilbert: The title object is stolen, and it’s up to the Vatican’s top agent to retrieve it. Very juvenile.
“The Ripsaw Floor” by Shaun Avery: A one-hit wonder meets the woman who inspired that song at his school reunion. I liked the female lead in this one.
“Flow the Junction” by Roger Leatherwood. A gross-out tale about a woman with constant menstrual flow and her objectification. Very unpleasant.
“Xenophobia” by Michael C. Shutz-Ryan: New neighbors next door present new opportunities for a lonely man who talks to his Buddha statue. Another fairly predictable story.
“Fey” by Robin Wyatt Dunn: A relationship with an otherworldly creature. Dreamlike and hard to follow.
“Add Me” by Rob Bliss: A small twon stalker may have bitten off more than he can chew–or maybe this is what he wanted all along. A bit longer of a story, so it has an actual build-up to the reveals.
All of these could use some polishing, but I most liked the Gravel and Avery stories. There are some spellchecker typos, and a couple cases of what might be that or odd vocabulary choices. Hydra M. Star might need to take a firmer hand as editor.
Mildly recommended to fans of the horror/erotica conjunction; everyone else can safely skip.
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