karlakayjenniges's reviews
837 reviews

Isaac's Song by Daniel Black

emotional sad tense fast-paced

5.0

Remembering Demons by J. Cornelius

adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

 “The process of your capture is to be part of your punishment. First, I will break your body and then deliver what is left to Purgatory for eternal damnation.”

Daryl is in an Asylum, he does not know why he is there, nor does he remember his past. He has repressed his memories and is too fearful to face uncovering the truth. He meets with a therapist who is trying to help him not only remember and face his fear of pain, but also to stop believing his hallucinations are real and there are no monsters. 

Daryl is so confused he just does not know what to believe. His dreams do not feel like they are just dreams, they feel real, and he begins to realize there is so much more going on than he could have ever imagined.

Visits from imaginary friends, monsters in mirrors, angels and demons, pain, and fear. 

Will Daryl figure out who he is, face his past, and will anyone believe him when the truth is revealed?

"Feeling safe is a promise your past makes to your future. It does not, in fact, mean that you are safe."

This dark fantasy is like stepping into a fever dream, wondering if you will be able to step your way back out. The lines between the realm of monsters and gods and Daryl's world are blurred until he begins to realize many truths which then blends cohesively together. And yet there are the elements of surprise that still cause the mind to wonder and question, is it all real? Or is it a way of tolerating suppressed memories and past traumatic experiences? 

A blending of dark fantasy, elements of horror, mythology, and moments of humor. I chuckled a few times, which added a little enjoyable lightness to the story. 

If this sounds like a book that you would enjoy reading, please try it. If you feel a bit confused at first, stick with it because it will come together and it will be worth your time spent in a world of imagination.

**Thank you so much, J. Cornelius for reaching out and for the complimentary copy. 

The Apartment: Fear stalks the halls by Kevin Bachar

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

 Katherine aka Kat has a special gift. Starting at the age of eight she has been able to see beyond what others are not able to. Pictures appearing in her mind showing her events happening or are yet to happen. Spirits appear to her at times, but there is one that is malicious, a bringer of doom. 

After a traumatic experience at the age of eight, her ability goes dormant for many years. She has also become very susceptible to becoming terribly ill. She must be incredibly careful not to be exposed, so she mostly stays secluded. 

"Time and trauma had etched their mark, leaving her with a perpetual wariness in her storm-grey eyes."

As her life moves forward, she has found love and a new future. She takes a huge leap of faith and moves to New York with her boyfriend, Benjamin. He chooses an apartment on a less populated island to help protect Kat from being exposed to illnesses. 

Kat soon learns that the apartment building and the island have many hidden dark secrets, and it has awoken her ability. Once again, she starts to see disturbing and horrible things.

The other tenants seem strange and distant, often cranky.

"Some people are just not pleasant."

There is now a murderer among them. The crimes are heinous and have everyone on edge, feeling unsafe.

As thoughts of the island linger in Kats mind, her visions become more frightening, and her dreams become more disturbing. She does not quite feel like her normal self anymore. 

Murder and mystery abound within these pages. Kat's character is so intriguing as she is not easy to figure out because of her ability, it turns one's mind to really wonder what is actually going on, what is real and what is not. The lingering spirits are unsettling because of how much pain they are in, lost and trapped. The most disturbing is learning what occurred on the island many, many years before, heart wrenching. 

The end chapters are full of surprises!

Ghosts, paranormal, thriller, serial killer, mystery, and horror. This was a fun read! 

The Atropine Tree by Sarah Read

dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

 "The wood was stained in splotches of unnatural colors, the surrounding plaster absorbing the hues—purples, reds, yellows fading out from the doorway as if it were a portal to another world."

House Aldane is a manor with a dark history. When Lord Aldane passes, the family is now all gathered in the manor. Alrick is under the impression that he will now be Lord of the manor, but his older stepbrother, Aemon, has other plans. He has gone to great lengths to ensure he will be Lord, and he uses his position of power in an unkind manner. 

Tredan is Alrick and Aemon's uncle who is also the alchemist of House Aldane. He works hard to save many ill orphan children, and he is now teaching Alrick the craft.

Alrick is a gentle soul and only wants what is rightfully his. He also wishes to help as many people as he can while keeping the family together and peaceful. 

"No healing could occur with Aemon in power—he was a hot infection keeping the wound open. Alrick would be the medicine. If necessary, the scalpel."

Nelda is Aemon and Alrick's sister. She is fascinated with nightshade and belladonna, and the trees such as laurel and oleander. Her mother's garden is filled with poisonous plants which she indulges in to open the door to the other side.

 As Tredan and Alrick work together to prove he is the rightful Lord, many hidden secrets become known. 

"There was duty to consider. And not all of the voices in the Aldane halls were happy. Frightened maids. Cries of anger. And the dead. So many voices out of their bottles."

 The Atropine Tree is a wonderfully written dark gothic horror novel. Fascinating characters and an engaging plot. Questionable practices, shattered lives as well as a decaying manor. Trapped souls, some hateful, and some that are favorable. Sickly scenes of death. Deeply buried secrets to unveil. A dark manor full of deceit, tension, danger, and adventure.

I really enjoyed reading this one, just fabulous!

**Thank you Bad Hand Books for the complimentary copy! 

It Lurks by Daniel Dean

dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.0

 Christmas, a time when creating memories should be happy and comforting, A time spent with family, friends, or who is most important in life. 

For John and Caitlyn, Christmas was challenging. Time with family was an unpleasant experience. Leaving early, not wanting to be there anymore, they head out in a bad storm thinking that they could make it home safely. As the storm becomes more daunting, strange happenings begin to occur, resulting in crashing their car. As the hours pass by, they realize their situation is becoming dire and they must figure out what they should do to survive. Leaving the car and heading out into the woods, they come upon a cabin. Hoping to stay warm and safe inside, they realize that the real nightmare is just beginning. 

"The storm turned angry as the seconds ticked by, but Mother Nature didn't distribute her wrath evenly. Instead, she targeted them." 

There is something lurking outside, haunting and sinister. 

"The snowman sat just ten feet from the cabin window."

This is an entertaining novella. There are some creepy elements, but mostly I felt that this is a "mind bender." The characters are separated from their reality, but they never really have an answer as to why it's all happening. This leaves everything open to one's own interpretation and it has an open ending, which really keeps one thinking about what the hell just happened and why. 

A fun winter read that may give one a different opinion of snowmen lurking in other people's yards! 

Burning Glass by Elle Kaelee

adventurous dark emotional 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? It's complicated

5.0

 "Gods were not symbols of bounty and harmony, they were symbols of retribution, of penance, of brutality. There was a special kind of sinister motivation, to create life and then torture it throughout its existence."

Discovering that she is Kinnari, Hadley continues her journey to discover more about who she is. She is confused, hurt, and angry. She has been claimed by her creator; Ayurveda, who is out to increase her power to become the ruler of earth and Myrilosis. She has Hadley assisting her to destroy many but after Hadley is separated from Ayurveda, she begins to question everything pertaining to her existence, her immortality, her new powers, and her feelings of betrayal and loneliness. 

The Kinnari and the Vrae have come together to stop Ayurveda from her destruction. There is still descension between them and they are very unbalanced in their beliefs. With much of Myrilosis and its inhabitants now destroyed, there are few survivors left. 

The earth's rotation is slowing, the moon is dying, and all is dependent upon the decisions that will be made.

Continuing from Book 1; Glass Wings, we learn so much more about the characters and we are introduced to new characters. The world building is expanded upon creating a vast, dark, magical realm. 

Gods and Goddesses. Kinnari and Vrae. New characters from the depth of the sea. Morally gray characters. A wyvern. A realm with portals that allow entry to earth. A fantastical world!

A very adventurous, enjoyable, uniquely created dark fantasy!

**A truly kind thank you to Nicole Kincaid PA and Elle Kaelee for a complimentary copy, it is very much appreciated! 

My UnderSlumberBumbleBeast by Zoje Stage

adventurous lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

 "One of my hobbies is collecting words--I really like finding words that roll around in my brain in a special way."

Pru is an endearing child with a healthy love of words and a big imagination. What many children fear, Pru rather takes an interest in all the wonders. 

The possibilities are endless as each UnderSlumberBumbleBeast comes to life and opens a whole new world for Pru to discover. Her new friends need to be looked after and provided with care, but it has become overly complicated for young Pru. She sets her mind on figuring out a solution to her problem. 

Written with vivid imagery, creativity, and wonderful illustrations, My UnderSlumberBumbleBeast will surely capture the hearts of many children. 

Kill Your Darling by Clay McLeod Chapman

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes

5.0

 "Everybody's got at least one good book in them, so my book is about Billy." 

Glenn and Carol have lost their child, their only son at 15 years old. He was brutally murdered, and the case was never solved. 40 years later, Glenn is still feeling the grief and the frustration of not knowing who murdered his son. He has let it consume his entire life, and he does not stop searching until he finds some sort of answer to what happened that senseless night. 

The grief in this story is so palpable and unrelenting. My heart still feels the depth of the pain of the character's. 

"She tried on a smile, and it didn't fit, so she took it away."

This is grief horror at its deepest level. It is not a beautiful story; it is not a happy story, but it is a story that reaches deep into the depths of ourselves, evoking empathy and compassion. The depths of a parents love and the lengths one will go to find some sort of closure and peace. 

An unforgettable experience! 

DARK TALES by J.D. Allen

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

5.0

 "It's scary to think just how quickly a person can become all alone in the world."

 Grotesque body horror, love and loss, death and grief, the living, and the dead, all wrapped up in this compilation of four novellas of the dark and macabre. 

All four stories are so descriptive it scintillates the senses of the mind and heart. Taking us to the dark places of the imagination. 

A doctor that only wanted to complete his daughter once again, but nothing happened as he had planned it. But a sadistic nurse tries to fulfill his wishes to complete the family once again. Creepy vibes similar to The Modern Prometheus.

An analogy depicting the loss of family members and dear loved ones as they drift away. 

A witches curse exacting revenge upon the town of Luna Vista. 

When a man loses his greatest loves, his wife and daughter, his grief is impalpable, but a creepy doll takes him on a journey of an even darker discovery. 

Every one of these stories did not disappoint my horror loving heart. I found myself excited with the anticipation of being able to continue reading every chance I could! The stories brought to my mind the Outer Limits, one of my absolute favorite television series!

This is one I am going to be adding to my top reads of 2024! 

Glass Wings by Elle Kaelee

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

 "All the love that flows from this world is nothing in comparison to how I feel about you."

Set in Ancient Rome, 47 B.C. This is where we are introduced to the Kinnari. Seven ancient immortals with wings of flight. Magical and mystical, they are protectors of the realm of Earth and the realm of Myrilosis where they preside. 

The Vrae are the enemy of the Kinnari. Known as Vampires/Demons, they feed on the flesh of their enemies. 

 
Set in Sacramento, California, in the early 2000s we are introduced to Hadley. Young, naive, and all alone. Struggling to make ends meet and simply survive in a world filled with so much that is unknown. As she takes on a job to earn the money she needs, she has no idea that she has now put her life at significant risk. 

 

As the plot thickens, a battle of revenge and survival has now begun. For the Kinnari, the Vrae, and for Hadley. She learns where she truly has come from and who she truly is. 

 

"Then, she realized that she wasn't the victim. She was the victor who would rise from the ashes after dragon flame burned down everything. Her glass wings would scorch her path with the sun magnifying heat through them."

 

With totally unique characters and a mythical world, this is a dark fantasy like no other. 

 

Two timelines, two realms. Winged immortals, demons, and humans together as their lives are now out of balance, they will do all they can to protect their own. 

 

With book two being released soon, it will be interesting to learn more about the characters and their mythical world. What will they decide and what will Hadley decide? Will they be strong together or will they meet their demise? Will their world fall apart? Will earth survive its plight? These are questions that need answering!

 

As a debut novel, the author did a fine job at writing. It is a bit raw, but there is beautiful prose and a unique world. Love, heartbreak, death, and betrayal. 

 

Try it if you are a fan of dark fantasy. I am looking forward to seeing the journey unfold in book two. 

**A very kind thank you to Nicole Kincaid PA and Elle Kaelee for a complimentary copy, it is very much appreciated!