ericarobyn's reviews
1325 reviews

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

5.0

Undead Folk by Katherine Silva is a short and intense tale of grief, horror, and the lengths in which someone will go for closure and vengeance.

Wandering a barren landscape, this character finds what she was looking for; a dead fox. Carrying it back to an abandoned space, she completes a ritual and falls asleep. Waking up to a voice, she sees that her ritual has worked and begins her journey of revenge.

I don’t want to go too in-depth here as readers need to explore the darkness for themselves. But like all of Kat’s work, it’s just stunning. I had such a hard time picking out my favorite passages to feature as I found myself highlighting passages on almost every page. The grief is thick here, weighing on readers’ shoulders like a backpack filled with rocks. You just know something dark is simmering underneath the character’s cool exterior, but she keeps the reasoning behind this mission to herself, only slowly revealing bits and pieces as they travel.

Showing strength in every meaning of the word, readers’ hearts will break time and time again as more of her past is revealed.

One other quick note – Chapter Seven! Oh my gosh! My heart… this poor girl. And this wasn’t even the most intense chapter of the book!

My Favorite Passages from Undead Folk –

“Okay. The reason I ask is because the house we’re in looks pretty fucked up. Like someone committed an armed robbery and then maybe a triple homicide happened and then after a few years of rumors milling around town, a bunch of kids had a rager-party in it.”

The darkness swam like schools of frightened fish in her vision, lurching this way and that.

The encampments were the last bastion of the unlucky ones: a collective of wanderers who broke apart and came together like a hive of bees.

The image of her dad’s body on the tracks renewed in her mind’s eye: a sight she’d sworn to herself she’d bury beneath the memories of a hundred beautiful things he’d done for her before his death.

My Final Thoughts on Undead Folk –

Are you ready to dive into this story with an atmosphere thick with sorrow that will utterly captivate you as you journey right alongside the main character and her companion?

Sleep Tight by J.H. Markert

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challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

4.0

Sleep Tight by J.H. Markert is a chilling narrative filled with unexpected twists and harrowing turns. At its core lies the abduction of innocent children, beginning a desperate race against time to locate them before the unthinkable occurs.

Content Warnings:
Blood, violence, death, infidelity, addiction, drugs, alcohol, miscarriage, child abuse, kidnapping, child death, mental illness, suicide, animal death, physical abuse, and more!

When a famous serial killer is put to death, many people think that the nightmare has ended… but it’s only just begun.

The next morning, the detective who had arrested the killer years ago is found dead. Reeling from the news, the victim’s daughter, Tess Claibourne, doesn’t have time to mourn her father before she’s set on a path of even more terror; her daughter has been kidnapped by the man that they believe did the killing.

Throughout the investigation, the killer/kidnapper toys with Tess, forcing her to face her past and uncover her long-buried memories.

My gosh, could Tess have anything more to deal with all at the same time?! She had her husband’s infidelity, the death of her parents, the kidnapping of her only child, and so much lingering trauma from her past both recent and decades old. As the story centers mainly around her, we’re really able to get into her head to see how she is processing everything. My heart broke for her the more we learned about her and saw her go through.

Mixed in between the chapters from Tess, we also get the perspective of the kidnapper himself as well as the little girl that he kidnapped. As each storyline was so perfectly placed, readers won’t want to put this one down! I was so anxious to see what would happen at each twist and turn that we came to!

One last note, I would definitely caution readers with this one as it covered a lot of elements that could be triggering. I think the author handled each one perfectly, but please be aware that the darkness is there.

My Favorite Passages from Sleep Tight –

In hindsight, a lot of people should have known a lot of things. But unfortunately, the world doesn’t ever run in reverse. And one thing I’ve learned to be a hard truth is that hindsight never proves useful.

He squeezed the sides of his head to keep his thoughts in order. Sometimes they got muddled.

At least he sounded less drunk now, Tess thought, like Danny had somehow punched the alcohol right out of his bloodstream. Or at least, some sense into him.

Julia might be alive, but they both knew that sometimes for victims, it was better off if they weren’t.

Her grandfather’s voice, when he’d taken a break at the kitchen table, grandmother fixing a pot of coffee as the sun began to rise, a sliver of orange glow amid the trees out there, like the horizon was on fire.

Wind pushed the tall grass like ocean waves, and Tess smelled rain, Dark clouds had gathered suddenly from the west. The news had forecast storms, and they’d arrived. As if on cue, distant thunder rumbled. The approaching clouds looked ominous.

My Final Thoughts on Sleep Tight –

I had a blast immersing myself in this gripping dark mystery, which intertwines real-world horrors with inexplicable supernatural phenomena.

If you enjoy exploring the human psyche’s complex and sometimes dark framework, set in a fast-paced race for answers, this read is for you!

Content Warnings

Spectrum: An Autistic Horror Anthology by Lor Gislason, Aquino Loayza

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5.0

Spectrum: An Autistic Horror Anthology is a collection of chilling horror tales crafted to sink deep into your psyche, allowing the terror to linger while also offering varied perspectives on the human experience.

The authenticity of each tale and the things that the authors each bring to the page is astonishing. Readers will never know what to expect with any turn of the page! The tales cover such an awesome range, with very real-world horrors that each one centers around.

While I enjoyed each and every story here, my favorites from this collection include:

Survive Lot 666 by Caroline Hung
Curse The Darkness by Die Booth
But The Wi-Fi Is Great by John Wiswell
The Mask It Wears by Sarah Musnicky
Neighborly by Aquino Loayza
The Silence Of Broken Things by Xan Van Rooyen

Per usual, here are my thoughts on each tale!

Worry Your Head by Rain Corbyn –

The severed head of their husband sits in a box next to them, talking and still very much alive after some magic was done. Even though they’re together, they’re not free from danger just yet.

The opening of this tale made me do a double-read! I chuckled but that laugh died fast when we got to the meat of the tale. Ugh, my heart hurts for these two!

Like No Blood by Adrian Speth –

Arriving home one day to find his partner dead after an accident in the bathroom, this man is determined to set things right using a gift he learned about as a kid.

Ah, a killer take on the “sometimes dead is better” focus. Seeing this through only the eyes of one character made it extra terrifying! I can’t imagine being in either of their shoes.

These Thirteen Simple Tricks Will End Your Sleep Hallucinations For Good by Catherine Forrest –

Oh my gosh, I don’t even have the right words for this one. This reminded me a bit of the thing I used to do as a kid where I’d say like, “the monster is here but it won’t grab me if I…” and then list off every single thing I did until I got settled. For example, “the monster is here, but it won’t grab me if I adjust my sheet, reach up and scratch my forehead, fix my hair, get back under the sheet…” In the end, did it help or just add to the night terror?

A Dream So Sweet by Chris Nelson –

Determined to solve a riddle he comes across, this being will stop at nothing to find the answer.

Oh, this one reads like a fever dream! What fun! The determination to get answers had me so anxious!

Survive Lot 666 by Caroline Hung –

A reality TV host goes into a world where danger lurks around every corner, but lack of supplies is one of the biggest threats.

Oh, this was fun! I love the setup and how everything was narrated to us.

Discourses On The Seven-Headed Monkey by Tim Lieder –

Nigel Thorne meets Lord Ridgely and they become fast friends. Soon, Lord Ridgely tells Nigel about the seven-headed monkey.

What a wild tale of two eccentric friends! Mixed in with descriptions of the monkey heads, this tale keeps you on your toes! And Nigel Thorne… I couldn’t help but picture Nigel Thornberry during this read!

Curse The Darkness by Die Booth –

Having trouble with the dark, this character goes to a witch to find a way to make it light all the time just for them. It works, but is it really what they want?

Oh my gosh, the dread over the darkness in the beginning hit me like a punch! The line about the day taking a step toward night was exactly the dread I felt early on in postpartum. My heart hurts for this character!

The Sun Approaches Every Summer by Akis Linardos –

As time goes by, the sun appears to get closer and closer, and people start to die. When one man is left, he questions why.

Oh my gosh, I definitely would have been one of the first to go. I get heat exhaustion all the time and I’ve gotten heat stroke a few times. What a terrifying premise presented in such a quiet day-to-day tale.

But The Wi-Fi Is Great by John Wiswell –

Going to a remote town to stay in a motel that her college friend owned after a break-up, she’s looking for some quiet. Planning to get work done, her schedule is thrown off by a gnarly migraine. But that’s not the worst of it…

Oh, this one made my head ache in sympathy. Migraines are horrible.

Given Names by Lucas Shipwright –

Going back home to introduce his lady to his folks, it seems like they’re going to have a nice getaway. But the element of the creepy man at the gas station starts to hint otherwise.

This was such a beautiful tale of grief horror mixed with curiosity.

Safe Food by Xochilt Avila –

In a terrible situation with their father, this character doesn’t know how to go on. One day, they find something left behind by their mother that may just change everything.

This one had my blood boiling so badly! Ugh, what an abusive and toxic father.

The Thing That Lives In The House by Nexus Hope –

Cursed to hear everything this house has to say, this character is about to go mad. But before losing themselves, they try to warn off their love to prevent them from visiting and getting stuck there.

While terribly sad to think about being haunted by all of these voices, seeing what came next at each description of the house and what the elements were up to was so much fun!

So, This Is Freedom? by Steve Neal –

While at work at a gas station, this man repeats a mantra from therapy that soon becomes more real than he anticipated.

Oh, the body horror here is so creepy!

The Mask It Wears by Sarah Musnicky –

One night while working in a jump scare attraction, things don’t go as the routine dictated. This time, things have taken a deadly turn.

Oh my gosh, that ending!! I love tales set in theme parks and attractions, so this one was right up my alley!

Freedom Was A Flaying by Onyx Osiris –

After a vicious attack, this character is left for dead. But an old god appears to him and makes a deal.

Oh my gosh, the body horror and gore here is brutal! That ending!!

Bitemark Bitch by Olive J. Kelley –

Walking free from a trial in which she was seen as the victim who fought back, this woman’s troubles aren’t over yet.

WOW, this took such a turn!

Neighborly by Aquino Loayza –

In a city of chaos, this character just wants peace and quiet. When he meets someone who just wants to help others relax, he’s smitten. But there’s something else going on here…

Oh my gosh, the tension! I was so nervous to see what would happen next!

The Silence Of Broken Things by Xan Van Rooyen –

A grief horror tale broken up by a review of an album, this story will make your heart ache for the main character.

I loved the format of this one and how we learned more and more about the character slowly.

Shabbat Dinner by Zachary Rosenburg –

Stuck in a wood where Fascism is the norm, this character does everything in their power to mask and keep who they are private to survive.

Far too close to current times, this one has a tension that gets more and more intense with every step the character takes. That ending!!

Different by Ashley Lezak –

Waking up in a hospital, this little kid knows something is different but they aren’t quite sure what. They are sure that their parents are acting strangely.

Oh, what a heartbreaking one to end on! This poor kid. With such a quick snapshot into their lives, the grief horror and confusion are potent.

My Favorite Passages from Spectrum –

“Dying and surviving are on the same side of the great river, dear heart. Living, really living, is on the other side,” he says.
— Worry Your Head by Rain Corbyn

Blood outside a living body is a life gone slightly wrong.
— Like No Blood by Adrian Speth

Every step towards daylight is ultimately just a step closer to night again.
— Curse The Darkness by Die Booth

Lowering his backpack over the gate, he climbs over after it, a jagged creep of unease spidering up his spine at the night and the quiet and the woods crouched beside him. It’s darker among the trees. Twigs crack beneath his step, and things rustle in the bushes.
— Curse The Darkness by Die Booth

The most interesting sight was a pond at the bottom of a deep depression, jagged and dramatic. The land was creased and folded for yards around it, like wrinkles in the corner of a wincing eye. Char wondered what had happened to make such an impression on the earth. Tiny toads chirped along the pond’s otherwise barren banks.
— But The Wi-Fi Is Great by John Wiswell

None of this needed to happen. Then again, it never does.
— The Mask It Wears by Sarah Musnicky

Still, he recognized the trail his torn skin had left, leading all the way back to the tree in the park. The scarlet stains were so vibrant against the dingy ground… It might have been beautiful if it didn’t end in a crime scene.
— Freedom Was A Flaying by Onyx Osiris

The staircase served as the spine of a decaying warehouse-turned-dwelling. Humans latched on to each landing as though they were scavengers, and the last pieces of the carcass had yet to be consumed.
— Neighborly by Aquino Loayza

Their arms are mottled with homemade tattoos, snatches of Dad’s favorite songs, lyrics they never wanted to forget, interesting chord progressions, moments etched into flesh to be recalled even when their brain decides to forget.
— The Silence Of Broken Things by Xan Van Rooyen

Sometimes you wish you didn’t know. But ignorance is a luxury afforded only to the complacent.
— Shabbat Dinner by Zachary Rosenburg

Her mother turned around in her seat. Only her nose was in focus; the rest of her face was blurry, like a watercolor painting ruined by a tipped rinsing cup.
— Different by Ashley Lezak

My Final Thoughts on Spectrum –

In the final pages of the book, Aquino writes that while this was Third Estate’s first release, it’s just “the first paint stroke in a much broader canvas we hope to paint.” I cannot wait to read more from this press!

This anthology is the kind of collection that makes me want to shout from the rooftops, urging everyone to grab a copy! So what are you waiting for? Grab yours today!

Reanimated Rex by Alex Ebenstein

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense fast-paced

4.5

Reanimated Rex by Alex Ebenstein is a tale of lightning, an abandoned theme park, dinosaurs, and the sheer terror of what may be lurking around the corner.

Please Note: There is a lovely content warning section at the back of the book!

Centered around the perspectives of various characters who all have their reasons for entering the park, readers very quickly see that this “abandoned” park is hiding some secrets. But is it the old park owner that should be feared, or something else?

Right from the start, the terror is as thick as the overgrown forest within the park. Bloodshed occurs quickly, setting the tone of the book before taking a step back to build tension until things take a brutal turn.

I’m obsessed with dinosaurs. Not to the extent that I know all their names, but anytime I see content, posts, movies, books, etc. about them, I’m all in! When we found out we were having a kid, my first thought for their nursery was to do dino-themed. So needless to say, when I heard about this book, I was so antsy to get my hands on a copy!

I had an absolute blast reading this!

The small nods to Jurassic Park were so much fun! There were some blatant ones as well, but the smaller elements were what made this extra fun for me as that is one of my all-time favorite books!

My Favorite Passages from Reanimated Rex –

Please note, these passages were pulled from an ARC and may have changed before publication.

Carefully, he stepped over the replica and slunk inside. As if waiting for him to do so, the first drops of rain arrived, pattering against the terracotta roof tiles.

The rectangular box of a building was just off the path, tucked underneath and between a few cedar trees. Shrubs, grass, and time helped obscure the once brightly painted structure; the yellows faded to a dingy tan and the reds into a browning rust color. The shingled roof was covered in moss and tree litter, and had a noticeable sag. Fragments of glass along a pair of sills implied the place used to be closed up with windows. But no longer.

The force of impact and the weight of the monster driving him into the soggy ground might have been the worst pain Sam had ever felt in his life. The icing on this torture cake was the snap announcing that yes, his collar bone was indeed broken, if not shattered.

My Final Thoughts on Reanimated Rex –

Dino horror fans, you gotta get your hands on this immediately! The suspense and tension make this an absolutely wild read.

We're Not Ourselves Today by Lydia Prime, Jill Girardi

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense fast-paced

5.0

We’re Not Ourselves Today by Lydia Prime and Jill Girardi is a collection of thirteen amazing pulp horror tales jam-packed with creatures, darkness, and a bit of fun.

Are you ready to unlock new fears such as looking underneath ice or the sound of frogs croaking?

My gosh, I had so much fun with this collection! I truly loved each and every tale and couldn’t wait to see what each author was about to bring next!

So many of these tales gave me a pit in my stomach while reading, while others had me chuckling a bit. Most stories though, had me chilled and ready to turn on a light! And it certainly didn’t help that I mainly read these while feeding my infant son during his overnight wakeups!

My top favorite tales include:

Hunger by Jill Girardi
Little Pig by Lydia Prime
Lab Rats by Jill Girardi
Hazel Hill by Lydia Prime

Per usual, here are my notes on each!

Introduction –

Kicking things off with a letter from Aisha Kandisha, Head Librarian at Kandisha Press, readers are immediately shown what the book’s tone will be!

I am obsessed with collections that begin with a character teeing up the tales!

The Letter by Lydia Prime –

When receiving a letter addressed to her son, and told not to open it until the time comes, this pregnant woman can’t help but be curious. In trying to open it, she unleashes something horrible. But wait, it gets so much worse.

Oh my god, this was so difficult to read being still too close to pregnancy. That ending though! Oh, my heart.

The Ecstasy Of Gold by Jill Girardi –

A thief thinks he’s found the perfect target one evening at a concert, but what he steals has unusual consequences.

Oh, I love a good tale with an object like this! I was so curious to see what would happen next every step of the way! That last line though, phew!

South Dakota by Lydia Prime –

Discovering that her doppelgänger lived underneath the ice of the lake, Dakota is determined to break her free. But of course, setting her free comes with a terrible cost.

This was so eerie! You just know things aren’t really what they seem from the very start, and the author does a killer job dropping in more hints that lead us into the darkness.

The Garbage People by Jill Girardi –

A family that lives on a garbage dump are tasked with doing the jobs that no one else wants. Little do the townspeople know, that this family takes care of another very important job. If anyone does learn about this secret job, then it’s already too late.

My gosh, this one has some wild body horror! What an action-packed tale!

Monster Mashed by Lydia Prime –

Watching a rerun of a cooking show, these children become ravenous. Luckily their grandpa has a meal waiting for them in the kitchen.

This one starts out so calm and innocent but when the first horrific element appears, it’s a wild ride from then on!

The Wet Dream by Jill Girardi –

While boating one day, this young girl is berated by a man so badly she wants to sink into the water and never return. There’s a legend that says the lake takes one person every year and in her embarrassment, she wouldn’t mind being that person. But the lake has its eyes on someone else.

Oofh, this one made me so uncomfortable! There were so many moments that could have been avoided… but the sunburn scene really got to me. Why didn’t anyone wake her up sooner?!

Sadie by Lydia Prime –

Haunted by a terrible nightmare that bleeds over into her wakeful hours, this woman suddenly has an insatiable hunger.

A quick and uncomfortable tale! What a fun creature short story!

The Roiling by Jill Girardi –

After a hostile takeover, these people are just trying to survive their new normal.

I live across from a pond… I’m so not looking forward to when the frogs come out this year!

Lunation by Lydia Prime –

Promised a drug that will make their transition pain-free, everyone is so desperate for help, that they don’t think twice. Even the kids…

Oofh, this one hit me hard. The desperation to avoid pain is something, but the poor kids.

Hunger by Jill Girardi –

Running from her gangster fiancé this woman finds herself renting a room in a place with some odd residents. Desperate for work to eat and continue paying rent, this woman is given a kindness. But was it actually kind?

Oh, this one had me so anxious! It was clear something was up, but I did not see that coming! This was so darkly fun!

Little Pig by Lydia Prime –

Seeing shadows and fearing “the spot” in her place, this woman is absolutely terrified of the nighttime. Try as she might to convince herself she’s just half awake and seeing things, things just get more and more terrifying.

My gosh, the anticipation and dread of what could be coming next!! The author does a killer job putting you right in the character’s shoes. The scene where the character slowly looks up at the ceiling had me holding my breath!

Lab Rats by Jill Girardi –

Conducting various experiments to aid in her research, this woman is determined to show the world what she has unlocked in these rats. But her methods are sporadic and they’re starting to catch up to her.

This was so unsettling! I loved that as a reader we slowly see how dark and intense the situation is while at first glance, everything seems normal. But my gosh, the wound and the final scene had me questioning everything! I loved this!

Hazel Hill by Lydia Prime –

After being sent to a halfway house, this woman is upset to see that her hallucinations have lingered. But soon, she’s forced to realize that she wasn’t just seeing things…

While this one had the fun and terrifying horror element, it also had the very real-world troubling issue of addiction that will just break your heart.

My Favorite Passages from We’re Not Ourselves Today –

He couldn’t afford a ticket, so he sat on his bike and listened to the music outside the gates. He tried to enjoy the songs he’d loved all his life, but he also felt that old heaviness in his heart—a naked want that pumped through his veins even in the most festive of times.
— The Ecstasy Of Gold by Jill Girardi

One couldn’t see the precarious tilt of the porch, or the grime on the curtains sewn by Grandma Maighréad. She’d died thirty years ago, but her yellow curtains still hung in the windows, year after year, holding on. Surviving, like the rest of the O’Malleys.
— The Garbage People by Jill Girardi

Despite all my efforts, no one wanted to hire a girl with an obvious checkered past. It was as if any potential employer could look at me and see the trouble looming in my future.
— Hunger by Jill Girardi

As the sun set, the six-foot shadow-being grew, stretching across the walls; slinking its way back through my mind. Existing of pure darkness—blacker than the deepest pit—it crept to the corners of my eyes; taunting me.
— Little Pig by Lydia Prime

It’s two in the morning. I could have sworn I felt someone breathing on my face.
— Little Pig by Lydia Prime

April was always a strange month, sometimes appearing wonderfully sunny, defrosting the ground just enough for flowers to peek out from beneath the harsh earth. Other times, it seemed as if winter would never leave—its chilling whispers stretching beyond the unreliable prophecies of the rodent oracle.
— Hazel Hill by Lydia Prime

My Final Thoughts on We’re Not Ourselves Today –

Horror short story fans, you need to grab this collection right away! Just be warned, you’re going to want to read through as quickly as possible as you won’t want to wait to see what comes next!

The House at the End of Lacelean Street by Catherine McCarthy

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense slow-paced

4.5

The House At the End of Lacelean Street by Catherine McCarthy is a heavy yet uplifting story of the many paths a life can take and the beauty of letting go.

I highly recommend going into this read in the dark!

Content Warning: drug use, overdose, self-harm, mention of abortion, grief.

One day, three strangers board a bus with the destination of Lacelean Street. Everyone is having a difficult time and no one seems to know exactly why they are on the bus in the first place.

When they are dropped off, there’s just one place to go – a house at the end of the street. But will these three get the answers they don’t know they’re even seeking?

The combination of dread and mystery will captivate readers immediately as we’re dropped right into the tale like another passenger on the bus. From there, the story slowly reveals things to us right along with the characters and I absolutely loved this element. I became invested in each of the characters’ journeys very quickly and went on quite the rollercoaster of emotions with each of them.

I also really enjoyed the setting! It was equally intriguing and terrifying! I couldn’t help but be nervous that with each lesson, more darkness was about to come through.

And that ending… Phew.

My Favorite Passages from The House At the End of Lacelean Street –

Dawn has elbowed a gap in night’s shroud by the time the bus stops next.

The first floor landing stretches ahead of her. High-ceiling, deep skirting boards, patterned carpet, and dark doors on either side that seem to shrink into the distance. The name Danny Torrance rests on the tip of her tongue, and the image of a kid riding a tricycle looms large, though she cannot pinpoint the reason.

Howard lies on the bed, exhausted and heart sore. This grief feels like an illness, one that weakens him to such a point he believes he is close to death. One prod, a poke of someone’s finger is all it will take to push him over the edge of the cliff.

Her face is a sheet of parchment that has not yet been written on.

The life she led before coming here is a blurred photograph. Monochrome and burnt at the borders, with very little detail in the center. It wasn’t a good life, though. She senses the negative vibes in every pore, every cell of her mind and body.

Anxiety mounts in her chest until she thinks she might have a heart attack. In the last few minutes the sky has dimmed at least two shades, and dark gray clouds have gathered to watch.

My Final Thoughts on The House At the End of Lacelean Street –

This is a must-read for fans of dark mysteries, great character development, and spooky houses!

Content Warnings

Into the Darkness: Stories Volume 1 by Steve Stred

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challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

4.75

Into the Darkness: Stories Volume 1 by Steve Stred is a killer collection of dark tales that will rip your heart right out and stomp on it, leaving you feeling hollow.

Content Warnings: Child death, suicide

I’m obsessed with Steve Stred’s work! When I heard about these two collections, I snagged them immediately. I’m so excited I finally got around to reading this one! While the subject matter in many of the tales is very dark and I had a difficult time reading now as a parent, I still loved this collection.

My favorites from the collection include the following:

The Dare
The Bleeder
Out of Gas
Eric, in a Small Town
Every Town Has That House

Per usual, here are my thoughts on each tale!

Foreword –

In the foreword, Steve notes that these collections include most of his published short stories. I was so pumped to hear this! In the very next paragraph, he states, “The reason I’m releasing these two volumes is two-fold. The first is that I know I have some people who dig my work, who simply can’t afford to buy every anthology I’m in. Those people, those completionists, deserve to be able to collect my work and enjoy it when they can.” How amazing is that?! As a reader who tries my best to read everything from my favorite authors, I’m obsessed with this! (You’ll have to read the book for the second reason!)

Snow on a Clear Night –

Oh, kicking things off with a stab right to the heart. This story is beautiful and heartbreaking. What good friends, but what a tragic situation.

A Broken Man –

After an apocalyptic event, this man is forced to make a horrific deal to try to save most of his family. But things only get worse…

Gosh, this one makes me so sick to my stomach. Kicking the tale off with a brutal gut punch, things don’t get much better from there. I first experienced this tale in The Horror Collection: Nightmare Edition presented by KJK Publishing and it hits just as hard, if not harder, the second time around.

A Warrior’s Call –

Another heartbreaking brutal situation! While super short, this one will still haunt readers.

Alone –

Finding himself in a strange forest, this man slowly realizes why he is there.

This poor man! I was so nervous to see where we were going with this one but with each description of the trees he passed, I knew readers were going to get a dark answer.

Flayed Flesh –

Traveling to visit the catacombs, this man is prepared to do anything for the story.

I loved that this one has little hints of darkness, but that last sentence changes the whole vibe.

Do You Remember? –

After the death of his mother, this young man decides to build a cabin in the woods for escape. Once his father decides to disown him, he lives there full time, only going to town when absolutely necessary. One day on a trip to town, he realizes the world had changed while he was in isolation.

Such a tragic, slow-burning tale. The very last line throws in one more punch of sadness.

Pumpkin Kicker –

A brutal tale! This type of story is so fun. Because it’s so quick it leaves so many fun questions!

Grave Digger –

Digging up graves is their job. They’re thrilled to do this job because of the money they’ll get. But little do they know, things are not going to go as smoothly as their previous jobs.

A super quick tale with a “wait, what?!” ending! I love it!

The Dare –

Oh my gosh! Love this quick zombie tale!

The Bleeder –

Realizing he’s bleeding, this man tries to ignore it. But the wound gets bigger and bigger until he can’t ignore it anymore. But that’s not the most terrifying bit!

This tale is so scary! I couldn’t tell you how many times I’ve looked at a part of my body and noticed I was bleeding… Now this story is going to come to mind and freak me out every time that happens.

Out of Gas –

Yikes! Short and so spooky!!

The Screams –

Ah, don’t let them in!!

This tale is a terrifying snapshot of a zombie-filled world!

The New Girl –

This kid just wants to be friends with the new girl, but she tries to warn him off. He’ll soon learn why!

A classic tale of letting your curiosity get the best of you.

A Discovery –

Stuck within caves of ice, these men are dropping like flies. Will anyone make it out alive?

Chilling to say the least! This one had me reaching for a blanket to stay warm!

Eric, in a Small Town –

When three people are found dead in a small town, it’s not long before people suspect Eric. But was he really to blame?

THAT ENDING!! Perfection.

Every Town Has That House –

A child living a sad and dreary life just wants to be like all the other kids, but something is wrong.

Ugh, this tale is heartbreaking!

Salvation –

A spooky horror sci-fi tale! Ah, this one left me with so many questions!

Tradition –

A man determined to have the best Christmas knows that he must have the best Christmas tree. Finding out about an amazing place in the woods, which just so happens to be near a spa, the man convinces his reluctant family to go with him. But their family tradition isn’t the only tradition being carried out that weekend.

I read this one before in The Best of Indie Horror: Christmas Edition by KJK Publishing. It was just as exciting and then terrifying the second time around!

Won’t You Open the Door? –

When his brother is killed, this man and his father go to bury him but find that he is cursed and hurry away. Unfortunately, the curse didn’t stop there… it was coming for each of them.

Oh my gosh, the opening scene is so chilling. I have thought about this so many times since I first encountered this tale in The Horror Collection: Silver Edition by KJK Publishing. Reading it a second time was just as spooky! Ugh, the description Steve uses here puts you right in the story.

On the Mountain –

After beings from space arrived, the world changed. Forced to adapt, the surviving beings hide away to avoid being detected. But the drones aren’t the only thing they should fear…

Such an intense and sad cosmic horror! I so want more from this world!

My Favorite Passages from Into the Darkness: Stories Volume 1 –

He took her hand and led her outside, feeling the crisp bite of the air that only October weather can bring. The feeling of snow in the not-so-distant future made for crunchier leaves and greyer clouds. It was the seasonal change that hurried the elderly to warmer climates and the young to dream of costumes and candy, chased by snow forts and Santa.
— Snow on a Clear Night

A cedar tree swayed with the breeze, it’s resemblance to a larger man with a sliced open throat almost too much for Bill to take. The branches and bark of the next tree painting a picture of a woman who’d been burned alive. Each step bringing him beside a horror story he’d never wished to have read.
— Alone

The town had nothing left for me. My mouth tasted bitter when I inhaled the air, the scent of the past filling my nostrils. I hated every street corner, every shop.
— Do You Remember?

Every town has that house.
You know the one.
— Every Town Has That House

“To answer your question, I don’t believe in demons or witches. Look at the foolishness over in Salem. But, I do believe in evil as a power. I can’t fully rationalize it and say why, just that I firmly believe a person can harness it and do bad with it. I think this is one of those times.”
— Won’t You Open The Door?

I turned and fled, hoping my feet could keep up to how fast my brain begged me to run.
— On The Mountain

My Final Thoughts on Into the Darkness: Stories Volume 1 –

Into the Darkness: Stories Volume 1 is a must-read for fans of dark and upsetting horror!

Content Warnings

Mothman Haze by E.C. Hanson

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challenging dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

4.0

Mothman Haze by E.C. Hanson is a gut-punch horror tale about a missing kid, a grandfather who swears Mothman took him, and a strained family on the edge of breaking apart.

CW: gun violence, suicide, child death

Returning home to help her parents when her nephew goes missing, this woman has trouble staying focused. Years and years of bottled-up emotions, pushed further away by seeking instant gratification has made her cold and focused only on the next good feeling, even in the most inappropriate of times. Also struggling with her family dynamics, she keeps hoping that things will be different but continues to be let down.

When she meets with the local cop, she learns that even though they’re far from Point Pleasant, West Virginia, her father swears Mothman took the little boy. Unconvinced and determined to find answers, she pushes her way into the investigation.

But will they find the boy or is it already too late?

E.C. Hanson does such an amazing job of giving snippets of information that allow readers to both despise and feel terrible for the main character. While the focus is mainly on her and her struggles, the darkness of the missing child creeps closer and closer until the case is resolved and the horror smacks you right in the face.

My Favorite Passage from Mothman Haze –

It pointed face down and flew so fast that I thought, in a matter of a few seconds, my face would eat the concrete. I quickly imagined my head smashing the black ground, my teeth crunching, and my brown eyes popping out. But it adjusted its vertical position to horizontal at the last moment, leaving me out of breath and without a clue as to what would happen next.

My Final Thoughts on Mothman Haze –

This is another tale that I went into totally dark and phew, I was not expecting this! I made the terrible mistake of finishing this one at 3AM while feeding my kiddo…. Let’s just say I didn’t put him down for quite a while after he finally fell back to sleep.

The blurb on the cover from Mark Towse sums it up nicely;

“This one will haunt you for days after reading.”

Horror fans who enjoy twisted family dynamics and gut-wrenching sadness will love this one!

This Skin Was Once Mine and Other Disturbances by Eric LaRocca

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challenging dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

4.5

This Skin Was Once Mine and Other Disturbances by Eric LaRocca is a collection of horror tales that are sure to make readers squirm in discomfort.

Not shying away from more difficult topics, we see elements of abuse in this collection so please tread lightly if that’s a trigger for you.

As always, Eric has found a way to make each dark element intriguing, leaving readers hanging off of every word even if they’d rather turn away. Eric is just so darn talented with blending beauty and brutal darkness.

Here are my thoughts on each tale –

This Skin Was Once Mine –

Receiving a call to learn her father has died and that her estranged mother wants her to attend the funeral, Jillian (aka Jay) dreads returning home. Once there, she’s met with frustration from her mother’s nurse and surprise from her mother that she actually came back.

Filled with tension and something dark lying just beneath the surface, we get glimpses into what’s going on here. Some of the horrors come to light, but many stay in the shadows.

Seedling –

After receiving a call to learn his mother has died, this man goes to his father to comfort him. Their relationship had always been strained, but this time, they may have finally found a way to understand one another.

Oh, the bit where the father practically forced the son to pay his last respects to his mother had me ready to rage! Telling people what they have to do to process grief will always be one of the most inappropriate things!

Oh oh my gosh, that ending!! Was what was presented to us really happening, or were the events just grief gone sideways?!

All The Parts Of You That Won’t Easily Burn –

When looking for the perfect knife for an upcoming dinner party, this man is shocked when the shopkeeper offers something other than cash for payment. This sparks immediate curiosity and arousal that the man can’t let go.

This made me so feeble. I got a glass splinter in my finger once while working at HomeGoods and I’ll never forget how painful that tiny thing was!

Prickle –

Deciding to play a game they had made up just one last time in case they never see each other again, readers soon learn this isn’t the type of game you would expect from two old men. In this game, they perform little cruelties on strangers. And this time, they go big.

My gosh, this one made me so uncomfortable! The world is such a scary place, the thought of this actually happening isn’t hard to imagine. Reading this while watching our four-month-old sleep made me want to go run into the room and cuddle him! That last scene is something else!

My Favorite Passages from This Skin Was Once Mine and Other Disturbances –

There’s nothing glorious or wonderful about being a survivor. Those that like to hurt other people know this for a fact. Perhaps that’s why they go out of their way to cause heartache, despair. Maybe they get their kicks out of knowing that someone will survive their desecration and will be forever marked by what they’ve done – permanently stained.
— This Skin Was Once Mine

Silence falls over the small room and threatens to undo the invisible tether that had fastened us for most of the evening. I can already see the wire beginning to fray.
— This Skin Was Once Mine

For as long as I could remember, my father and I had spent year after year torturing ourselves on either side of an invisible gate that seemed to eternally separate us.
— Seedling

But I knew full well how there was some unnamable urge rooted in every human being that compelled us to drag others into our suffering, our despair.
— Seedling

He knows full well once he crosses over the threshold, there is no turning back. There are no opportunities to end what he’s started once the dance has finally begun. A sharp pang of agony coils its way up his arm—a sudden reminder that tells him in no uncertain terms that the dance has already started.
— All The Parts Of You That Won’t Easily Burn

My Final Thoughts on This Skin Was Once Mine and Other Disturbances –

Give me all of the short story collections from Eric! Eric’s tales are always such a dark treat to read, and this collection was no exception.

Content Warnings

Werewolves by Tom Deady, Candace Nola, Glenn Rolfe, Edward Lee, Kevin J. Kennedy, Tim Curran, Graham Masterton

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense fast-paced

4.0

Werewolves (Classic Monsters Book 2) presented by KJK Publishing is an anthology that brings dark and fresh takes on the good ol’ werewolf that readers will want to sink their teeth into right away!

Per usual with these collections, I loved not being able to anticipate what would come next even though each tale was tied together with the theme!

My favorites from the collection include:

Rug by Graham Masterton
“Harry’s Inevitable Extinction” by Glenn Rolfe
Almost Never by Edward Lee

Here are my notes on each tale!

Elena by Kevin J. Kennedy –

While traveling around and living out of a camper on a weekend getaway, a couple sees lights coming from a bar that they swore hadn’t been there when they arrived. Going out for a few drinks, they bring a woman back to the camper with them and their fun soon takes a turn.

Erotic horror fans will love this one! I first experienced this tale in Kevin’s book, A to Z of Horror, and revisiting it while knowing how things would turn out was like watching someone walk right into a trap.

Last Dance by Tom Deady –

Constantly harassed by a bully at school, things take a darker step one night at a dance and this boy finally reaches his breaking point.

This was such a fun tale! It had the slow reveal, the cute crush, the nasty bullies, and the bloody terror!

Inherent by Candace Nola –

Clawing at her neck during vivid nightmares has this poor woman on edge during her wakeful hours. When a friend stays the night and witnesses what happens, it’s not difficult to convince her that she needs to go talk to her Nana. But will she like what they learn?

What a dread-fueled slow burn of a tale! And my gosh, that ending really packed a punch of horror!

Beware the Moon by A High Moor Story –

While on a trip to Italy, an afternoon hike goes sideways when Connie injures her ankle. Determined to get help when her boyfriend doesn’t come back, she soon learns why he was delayed.

This was such a quick tale of terror! I loved that we got right to the action and I had to chuckle with Connie’s inner thoughts as they were so spot on for what I would have been thinking!

Rug by Graham Masterton –

When a boy finds a wolf rug in an attic room, he can’t help but investigate more. Later, while in town he hears tales of werewolves, and while he says he’s not interested to the shopkeeper regaling the stories, he is actually very interested and the wolf lurks closer than he thinks.

Oh my gosh, that ending! This one had an extra spooky premise and a fun take on the werewolf!

“Harry’s Inevitable Extinction” by Glenn Rolfe –

Paid to report on the site of a brutal murder, this man thinks he’ll be in and out. But once he’s in the area, he gets caught unawares.

This tale is a prime example of why I’m so obsessed with short stories. There’s a short build-up that sets the scene perfectly and gets the reader curious while also dreading what could be discovered. There’s loads of terror both in the quiet moments and the action. There’s beautiful description mixed in with the darkness. And of course, there’s blood and a monster!

Wetware by Tim Curran –

A wild tale of various characters all trying to take down one werewolf! The action and body horror here is intense!

Almost Never by Edward Lee –

When a little girl tells her grandfather that two men have been following her as she does their grocery shopping, he says she is not to run to the store alone anymore. She knows it will take her grandfather much longer as he is in a wheelchair, so the very next day, she goes alone…

With little Red Riding Hood vibes, this one focuses on the real monsters that are much more dangerous than the wolves.

My Favorite Passages from Werewolves (Classic Monsters Book 2) –

As much as I want to run and hide from this terrible truth, the thought of passing out and having another dream terrifies me. How will I ever sleep again?
— Last Dance by Tom Deady

Connie had become attuned to the noises of the mountain over the last few hours. Her only companions on the painful journey were the steady chirping of cicadas and the distant bleating of mountain goats. Now, however, everything had fallen silent, as if the mountain itself were holding its breath in anticipation. Connie felt the first real stirrings of fear in her stomach. Something was wrong here. Something was very wrong, indeed.
— Beware the Moon by A High Moor Story

Some things are so obvious to children that they blink in disbelief when adults fail to understand.
— Rug by Graham Masterton

Stepping over the imaginary threshold, Harry tried to shake off the ghastly feeling clinging to his spine and started toward the kill zone.
— “Harry’s Inevitable Extinction” by Glenn Rolfe

A bruised sky, cloudy with the chance of death, swallowed what remained of the late September afternoon.
— “Harry’s Inevitable Extinction” by Glenn Rolfe

Are we not all just as capable of evil as we are good? Is it a choice or destiny?
— “Harry’s Inevitable Extinction” by Glenn Rolfe

Blood was splashed over the walls, dripping like a child’s runny fingerpainting.
— Wetware by Tim Curran

My Final Thoughts on Werewolves (Classic Monsters Book 2) –

I had such a blast reading these tales! I love werewolves. The whole idea of the monster itself absolutely terrifies me… the lack of control, the body horror, the speed, the teeth! And phew, this collection only added to that fear!

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ericarobyn's reviews 1325 reviews

ericarobyn's reviews
1325 reviews