drakaina16's reviews
2112 reviews

You Can't Save What Isn't There by Paul Michael Anderson

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Thank you to Cemetery Dance for providing a review copy. 

This is a book that will punch you right in the emotions. It's about a subject I hope to never experience - the loss of a child. Following along with Calvin as he sinks deeper and deeper is not an experience for the faint of heart. You Can't Save What Isn't There is a gut-wrenching meditation on the choices we make, and how grief can make monsters of us. 4.75 stars

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death

With A Blighted Touch by J. Todd Kingrea

dark mysterious tense 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

3.5

Thank you to the author for providing a review copy. 

I'm always a sucker for the evil in a small town trope, and this book was a pretty fun example of that. There were times I felt the story didn't move quickly enough, and I never connected with any of the characters, so I wasn't terribly invested in what happened to them. But I found the story very interesting and always found myself reading a big chunk of it at a time. It doesn't rewrite the trope, but it is well-written. 3.5 stars

Anybody Home? by Michael J. Seidlinger

challenging dark sad tense fast-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? No

4.25

This seems to be a fairly divisive book. It's written in the present tense, with a narrator, and not all of the action is "seen" on screen. (And that might be a good thing for some, because there are some heavy triggers here.) I found the whole thing fascinating, and the narration made the book even more tense and frantic. I found the entire concept of the book unique and interesting. 4.25 stars

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty and Kidnapping

Moderate: Animal death and Rape

Freddie Mercury: An Illustrated Life by Ned Sublette, Alfonso Casas

informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

4.5

Breeding Ground by S.C. Mendes

dark mysterious tense fast-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

4.0

Thank you to NetGalley and Blood Bound Books for providing a review copy. 

This is a quick, nasty novella that can be read in a single sitting. If you enjoy the body horror of David Cronenberg, this will be right up your alley. S.C. Mendes continues to impress me. 4 stars

The Haunting Of Chavez Ravine by Debra Castaneda

dark mysterious 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

The Haunting of Chavez Ravine is a short read with a lot of story packed into it. I would have happily read a longer version of the story. I find La Llorona fascinating, and I think Castaneda's take on the legend is really interesting. She also did a great job of making me care for the characters in the short time we spent together. 4.25 stars

All Through the House by Joshua Millican

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

Thank you to BookSirens and Encyclopocalypse Publications for providing a review copy. 

'Tis the season, and what better way to get in the holiday spirit than reading another awesome novelization by Joshua Millican? I will admit to never having seen the movie, but Millican is an auto-read for me and I absolutely enjoyed it despite that. I'm definitely going to check the movie out now as well. If you're in the mood for a Santa slasher, this is the one. 4.5 stars

Candy Dish by Matthew Lutton

challenging dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

This collection was my introduction to Matthew Lutton - color me impressed. I absolutely understand why it made it into the finals of the Books of Horror Short Smack. This is a well-rounded collection and I greatly enjoyed every story. 4.5 stars

Be Careful Out There ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Can't Complain ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Small Town ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Gemini's Loveline ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
You Have Been Served ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
We the Clay ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
It's Just an S ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Mind Yours ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Don't Take Down Your Fence ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Caduceus ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Tales from the Lake Vol. 2 by Ramsey Campbell, Richard Chizmar, Jonathan Winn, Lisa Morton, Emma Audsley, R.J. Cavender, Jack Ketchum, Rena Mason, Aaron Dries, John Whalen, Jan Edwards, Jim Goforth, Tim Lebbon, Glen Johnson, Rocky Alexander, Raven Dane, Edward Lee, Vincenzo Bilof, Hal Bodner, Ben Eads

challenging dark 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? It's complicated

4.0

This anthology is really good. There's no overarching theme, just really good literary horror stories. While not completely without gore, I found myself most drawn to the quieter stories in the collection. There's also one of the most unique vampire stories I've ever read. 4 stars

Lago de Los Perdidos by Jim Goforth ⭐⭐⭐.25
Out of the Woods by Ramsey Campbell ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Winter's Dollhouse by Rena Mason ⭐⭐⭐⭐.75
The God of Rain by Tim Lebbon ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
A Grand Perversion by Ben Eads ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Bone Wary by Jan Edwards ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Photograph of You by Mark West ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
St. Thomas of El Paso by Lisa Morton ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Forever Dark by Jonathan Wynn ⭐⭐⭐
Ripperscape by Vincenzo Bilof ⭐⭐⭐.25
Descending by John Whalen ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Virtuoso by Hal Bodner ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Chalk Face by Raven Dane ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Like Disneyland by Rocky Alexander ⭐⭐⭐
Prime Cuts by Glen Johnson ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
The Lake is Life by Richard Chizmar ⭐⭐⭐⭐.75
Damned if You Do by Jack Ketchum ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The First Header by Edward Lee ⭐⭐.5
Love Amongst the Redback Spiders by Aaron Dries ⭐⭐⭐.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape

Blood of My Pen: A Collection of Dark Poetry Volume 1 by Amanda Ruzsa

dark emotional sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Thank you to the author for providing a review copy. 

Poetry is a deeply, deeply personal endeavor. There are pieces here that I definitely related to. High school age/young adult me would have resonated deeply with many of the poems here. 42 year old crotchety me enjoyed them less so, but definitely remembers being that woman. 3 stars