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karlakayjenniges's reviews
819 reviews
Through the Ravenous Night We Ride by Calvin Demmer
dark
tense
fast-paced
4.0
“Leave the others out of your plight. They’ve earned their place and are here to watch. If you disobey, they will draw close around you, like a noose around your neck, until you’re dancing in the flames.”
Death and darkness. Sacrifice and purgatory. Humanity served up as monsters. Punishments doled out against the sinners that cross the lines of the despicable. The thirst of the games played amongst those who must be the winner.
"Through sickness and health, for better or worse, and sometimes not even at death shall we part."
Where dreams become reality. The places where one must prove that they are worthy. Blood paints the walls of happy homes. Immortality, bad trips, and murders abound in visceral, blood-soaked fright.
Death has been visited upon mired souls.
It takes talent to be able to write a short story and wrap it up in just a few pages. To make it make sense and give it an ending that stays true to the story. I always enjoy CD's short stories. The stories here are more focused on the horrors of humans, the monsters they could become, abhorrent acts occur that are brutal, and that is what adds the fright factor.
Recommended for an entertaining quick read!
The Black Testament by Michael Penning
dark
emotional
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
“In the dark, the shadows crawl. The night’s embrace consumes us all. The weeping trees, they call my name, and in my dreams, I play his game…” “Voices call from below; ancient power, the seeds I sow. The moon weeps blood, the stars turn black; the Devil’s hand guides my track…”
In a long-forgotten village, where there is an enshrouding darkness, where shadows linger, there is an ancient evil waiting for its release from the deepest depths beyond the veil of life.
A family living in seclusion to protect their lives from persecution.
A ghost hunter who is called from beyond the veil must travel to the abandoned village because there is something there that she needs to uncover. Something with a power so dark and evil and unholy it has claimed the lives of the innocent through centuries of time.
The Black Testament: a grimoire, gifted by the devil himself to an infamous witch.
As all their lives entwine, they must battle the evil that surrounds them. It whispers malicious intentions to follow the darkness that lies deep within, causing them to do unthinkable harm against each other, weakening the bonds that
have served as their protection.
have served as their protection.
The atmospheric writing pulls us into a dark and foreboding tangled web of secrets and lies. The secluded home of the family lying at the precipice of a dark haunting forest filled with deathly whispers is claustrophobic, bleak, and gravely disturbing. The characters are intricately woven into insidious despair as they fight for survival. It's a layered tale of mystery and buried motives.
I enjoyed this so immensely, it was exciting, captivating, and the dreadfulness seeps into the bones. I am completely intrigued to read the other books in this series as I know there is so much more to learn and be enchanted by within the Book of Shadows.
Excellent, compelling, and a definite top 10 contender in my reading journey!
There's Something Sinister in Centerfield by Robert P. Ottone
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
"Give me a fastball just outside the zone any day. Give me a wooden bat over an aluminum all day long. Give me that crack when the bat hammers the sweet spot until the cows come home."
The love of the game. Out for the win of the year.
13-year-old Casey loves baseball, and spending time with her dad who is the coach for the Kingfishers baseball team. When the Kingfisher team ends up playing on an old historic ball field, they are challenged to a best in three series. But their opponents are not human. They are playing to save their star center fielder and good friend, Danny. If they do not win, they will lose him to the ghastly ghosts forever.
Kids who love baseball will certainly connect to and enjoy this. Even more so if they are fans of a little spookiness. They could easily relate to the diversity and age of the characters and possibly some of the challenges of their young lives.
Friendship bonds, family bonds, and the determination it takes to endure any challenge.
There is a lot of fun to this story, a few chuckles sprinkled in, and a big dusting of heart.
*This gets all the stars from me because reading it with the perspective in mind that it's written for middle grade and the fact that I work as an elementary school librarian, I know what the kids enjoy reading. I am positive that this would be a hit for many.
Blood Covenant by Alan Baxter
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
"The world was black and filled with blood."
When a bank robbery has gone off the rails, the four involved must now make some of the hardest choices of their lives. Decisions are made that not all agree upon, but the driving force of the group has control and will stop at nothing to save his own skin. As one of their lives are hanging in the balance between life and death, the tension rises between them. Seeking refuge, they come upon a remote lodge where they believe they can hide out for a while, but they discover there are people already there which complicates the plan.
The Moore's have arrived to open the lodge for the season. Excited for family time and preparation, they are ready to get started. But their plans are upended when an unlikely crew arrives, setting in motion a string of events that will change the lives of all present. Everyone is now fighting to survive.
There is something hidden deep within the darkness. It has been stirred from its deep slumber and it is arising. It hungers and it must feed.
There is a lot that is unpacked in this suspenseful, supernatural, horror story. Multiple characters, an ancient evil, flashbacks, and gifts of sight. Crime, family bonds, death, and grief. Steeped in dark, graphic imagery and non-stop fight for survival, there isn't a moment of letting up on the excitement of wanting to know what was going to occur next. The Moore family is so endearing, I was routing for their survival and felt their heartbreak as lives were lost. Felt the fear that was creeping in as the dreadful darkness was returning from its slumber ready to feed from the victims and rise from the depths of its ancient slumber.
Action, murder, sacrifice, tension, and lots of bloody moments. I was captivated throughout the whole story.
This one is a top 10 contender of the year! I loved it!
*I did receive an advanced reader copy in eBook form from Cemetery Dance, so a very kind thank you, it is always very much appreciated. I am expecting a paperback copy arriving from the Cemetery Dance Trade Paperback Book Club.
The Rising (Crooked Tales) by Chris Harrison
When a group of adventurous young kids decide to go explore an abandoned, notorious B&B called "Crooked House", known to be steeped in mystery and hauntings, they find more than they were expecting. Only wanting to see if the hotel was simply haunted by ghosts and capture it on camera, they discover what's inside is much more malevolent and sinister. Trapped within, they all must fight to find their way out or be lost to the darkness forever. After what they have experienced, they continue to try to understand what is happening and why their lives are now entangled to the mystery and what lies waiting to consume their lives. As they each continue to experience a sinister being, they gather together to continue to try to discover and stop what is happening.
From the start, we are given a look into some of the history that enshrouds the hotel, the previous owners, and the reasons for the abandonment. Advancing forward to the present, we learn about the kids and the dynamics of their lives, giving us that connection to each of the characters. Each of them having their own endearments and troubles.
The atmosphere is very foreboding as we are taken inside to experience the sinister forces that lie within. Feeling just as trapped and anxious as the group of kids. Wondering how they are possibly going to escape. It was like stepping through time and entering into a labyrinth of dreams, especially as more and more of the story unfolded.
I really liked the inclusion of being taken back in time and learning the truth of the hotel and the reveal of what the sinister forces actually were. I felt it was a very interesting concept. There were some things that were revealed that were surprising and the ending was unexpected, as well.
This will be an ongoing series and I can only imagine the horrors that is planned to continue the adventure.
A very well written debut novel that will surely appeal to YA readers as well as anyone who enjoys horror.
**My appreciation to Wicked Ink Publishing and Chris Harrison for the complimentary e-ARC.
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
4.0
"We've been waiting for you...
When a group of adventurous young kids decide to go explore an abandoned, notorious B&B called "Crooked House", known to be steeped in mystery and hauntings, they find more than they were expecting. Only wanting to see if the hotel was simply haunted by ghosts and capture it on camera, they discover what's inside is much more malevolent and sinister. Trapped within, they all must fight to find their way out or be lost to the darkness forever. After what they have experienced, they continue to try to understand what is happening and why their lives are now entangled to the mystery and what lies waiting to consume their lives. As they each continue to experience a sinister being, they gather together to continue to try to discover and stop what is happening.
From the start, we are given a look into some of the history that enshrouds the hotel, the previous owners, and the reasons for the abandonment. Advancing forward to the present, we learn about the kids and the dynamics of their lives, giving us that connection to each of the characters. Each of them having their own endearments and troubles.
The atmosphere is very foreboding as we are taken inside to experience the sinister forces that lie within. Feeling just as trapped and anxious as the group of kids. Wondering how they are possibly going to escape. It was like stepping through time and entering into a labyrinth of dreams, especially as more and more of the story unfolded.
I really liked the inclusion of being taken back in time and learning the truth of the hotel and the reveal of what the sinister forces actually were. I felt it was a very interesting concept. There were some things that were revealed that were surprising and the ending was unexpected, as well.
This will be an ongoing series and I can only imagine the horrors that is planned to continue the adventure.
A very well written debut novel that will surely appeal to YA readers as well as anyone who enjoys horror.
**My appreciation to Wicked Ink Publishing and Chris Harrison for the complimentary e-ARC.