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drakaina16's reviews
2179 reviews
What Swallows The Light: Alien Horror Novellas by Gage Greenwood, Andrew Van Wey, John Durgin
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Thank you to Crystal Lake Publishing for providing a review copy.
I love a good themed anthology, and Crystal Lake consistently provides some of the best. Here we have three vastly different novellas by three of the best indie authors working today. John Durgin's offering is a tense, action packed thriller with aliens on the loose in an office building. Gage Greenwood's story is haunting, with some terrifically creepy moments. Andrew Van Wey gives us one of the most unique alien stories I've ever read - it's truly an accomplishment. 4.75 stars
Suffocating Skies by John Durgin ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
We Were Who We Were by Gage Greenwood ⭐⭐⭐⭐.75
Dark Matter Dreams by Andrew Van Wey ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I love a good themed anthology, and Crystal Lake consistently provides some of the best. Here we have three vastly different novellas by three of the best indie authors working today. John Durgin's offering is a tense, action packed thriller with aliens on the loose in an office building. Gage Greenwood's story is haunting, with some terrifically creepy moments. Andrew Van Wey gives us one of the most unique alien stories I've ever read - it's truly an accomplishment. 4.75 stars
Suffocating Skies by John Durgin ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
We Were Who We Were by Gage Greenwood ⭐⭐⭐⭐.75
Dark Matter Dreams by Andrew Van Wey ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Blood Cypress by Elizabeth Broadbent
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Thank you to the author for providing a review copy.
Well. Blood Cypress was an unexpected punch to the gut, from so many angles. I was absolutely riveted by the story, and would have happily read a longer version of it. Perhaps, though, a longer version wouldn't be quite as effective. This book manages to accomplish a whole lot in a very short space, and I ran through a whole slew of emotions reading it. There are some heavy triggers here, so check them if you need to. 4.5 stars
Well. Blood Cypress was an unexpected punch to the gut, from so many angles. I was absolutely riveted by the story, and would have happily read a longer version of it. Perhaps, though, a longer version wouldn't be quite as effective. This book manages to accomplish a whole lot in a very short space, and I ran through a whole slew of emotions reading it. There are some heavy triggers here, so check them if you need to. 4.5 stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Incest, Sexual assault
Blood Covenant by Alan Baxter
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Thank you to the author for providing a review copy.
Blood Covenant is one of the best supernatural thrillers I've read in a long time. I frequently found myself letting out a breath I didn't know I was holding. 😅 There are threats from all sides to our truly lovely family. It was nice to see a family that truly loved each other depicted - that definitely ratcheted the tension up. I found myself wanting to race ahead to find out what was going to happen next. 4.75 stars
Blood Covenant is one of the best supernatural thrillers I've read in a long time. I frequently found myself letting out a breath I didn't know I was holding. 😅 There are threats from all sides to our truly lovely family. It was nice to see a family that truly loved each other depicted - that definitely ratcheted the tension up. I found myself wanting to race ahead to find out what was going to happen next. 4.75 stars
Scissor Me Timbers by Phrique
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Thank you to the author for providing a review copy.
What a fun ride! Nunsploitation is kinda my thing, so I had much interest in Scissor Me Timbers right off the bat. Phrique's writing is so good - he's hilarious and whoo boy can he paint a picture. My only complaint is that it seemed a little long, but I loved the ending and the butch rep. I don't encounter that much, and that's kind of sad. Definitely give this one a whirl if you enjoy over-the-top hilarity, sexy nuns, and gore. 4.25 stars
What a fun ride! Nunsploitation is kinda my thing, so I had much interest in Scissor Me Timbers right off the bat. Phrique's writing is so good - he's hilarious and whoo boy can he paint a picture. My only complaint is that it seemed a little long, but I loved the ending and the butch rep. I don't encounter that much, and that's kind of sad. Definitely give this one a whirl if you enjoy over-the-top hilarity, sexy nuns, and gore. 4.25 stars
Freakslaw by Jane Flett
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Thank you to NetGalley for providing a review copy.
Oh, this book. The bright colorful cover catches your eye, then the book ensnares you with lush, candy-sweet words, all with a thread of something sinister running underneath. Much like a carnival or funfair itself. I cannot overstate how beautifully written this book is. The fact that it is the author's debut novel is mind blowing. Freakslaw is gloriously, unapologetically queer. It is so very rare, especially in the types of books that I read, to have characters that celebrate and revel in their differences. Gretchen Etcetera embodies trans joy, and that is so refreshing to see. It's a slow burn, but I delighted in my time at the Freakslaw, even when terr
Oh, this book. The bright colorful cover catches your eye, then the book ensnares you with lush, candy-sweet words, all with a thread of something sinister running underneath. Much like a carnival or funfair itself. I cannot overstate how beautifully written this book is. The fact that it is the author's debut novel is mind blowing. Freakslaw is gloriously, unapologetically queer. It is so very rare, especially in the types of books that I read, to have characters that celebrate and revel in their differences. Gretchen Etcetera embodies trans joy, and that is so refreshing to see. It's a slow burn, but I delighted in my time at the Freakslaw, even when terr
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship
Usher of the Fallen by L.M. Kaplin
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Right off the bat - this is not my favorite Kaplin book. I've been reading a ton of cult books lately, and this one missed the mark a bit for me. The addition of the Nephilim was really cool and interesting. Nephilim aren't something I've read about in horror fiction. While I enjoyed the book overall, the ending felt a bit rushed and unsatisfying, and I didn't really connect with any of the characters. 3.25 stars
Necronado (Cinema Obscura Book 1) by RJ Roles
Did not finish book. Stopped at 20%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 20%.
Just couldn't get into it
Janitors vs. The Living Dead by Michelle Garza, Melissa Lason
dark
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Thank you to NetGalley for providing a review copy.
This is a very refreshing zombie novel. It takes a lot to get and keep my attention with zombies these days, but Janitors vs. the Living Dead was so much fun. The book reads like an action movie, and has a root cause I don't think has been explored much in zombie fiction. These zombies are grosssss, y'all. Zombies are objectively disgusting anyway, but these zombies are even worse than usual. Trust me. Overall, the book has some really cool ideas executed very well. I was unfamiliar with the authors, but am delighted to see they have an extensive back catalog, so I'll definitely be checking those out. 4 stars
This is a very refreshing zombie novel. It takes a lot to get and keep my attention with zombies these days, but Janitors vs. the Living Dead was so much fun. The book reads like an action movie, and has a root cause I don't think has been explored much in zombie fiction. These zombies are grosssss, y'all. Zombies are objectively disgusting anyway, but these zombies are even worse than usual. Trust me. Overall, the book has some really cool ideas executed very well. I was unfamiliar with the authors, but am delighted to see they have an extensive back catalog, so I'll definitely be checking those out. 4 stars
The Namaste Slasher by Alan Shivers
dark
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
I have been reading some very heavy books lately, so picking up this fun slasher was sorely needed. It's witty, funny, and gory, never taking itself too seriously. It's giving 90s slasher vibes, to borrow a phrase from one of the characters. I also loved all queer rep and the folklore behind the killer. Even though quite a few of the characters are essentially cannon fodder, they all had really cool back stories, which I appreciate. You don't always get a lot of character development in a slasher, but The Namaste Slasher excels here. 4.25 stars
Killer Mike and the Blood Slugs - A Night on the Town: A Horror Story by Matthew Jon Smith
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Thank you to the author for providing a review copy.
This is a fun one that can be read in one sitting. I did have the feeling I was maybe missing out on some backstory, as this is the first I've read by the author. I was definitely intrigued, as the writing is good and I wanted to know more. If you like Splatterpunk (and regular punk), this should be up your alley. 3.25 stars
This is a fun one that can be read in one sitting. I did have the feeling I was maybe missing out on some backstory, as this is the first I've read by the author. I was definitely intrigued, as the writing is good and I wanted to know more. If you like Splatterpunk (and regular punk), this should be up your alley. 3.25 stars