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karlakayjenniges's reviews
819 reviews
Draw You In~Vol. 1-Collectors Item by Jasper Bark
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
"Linda couldn’t help feeling they were on the brink of a rabbit hole and once they went down it, they’d never climb out."
Linda Corrigan's whole world is tipped on its edge when her comic book editor has disappeared. When she asks around for him, no one has any idea who she is talking about. None of it makes any sense as these are people that have known him for many years. Not knowing where else to turn, she files a missing persons report with the FBI but is met with even more shocking results.
Agent McPherson is the only one who takes an interest as he realizes there is a connection to a mystery he has been keeping track of for awhile. He confronts Linda and convinces her to join him in the investigation along with a comics historian.
As they research a notorious horror comic book creator, they are pulled into a world of hidden societies and have put their lives and the lives of others in danger.
I am not going to say anymore about the story as I wouldn't want to include any spoilers. There is a lot that goes on throughout this whole story as it evolves. Lots of characters and information to pay close attention to but it flows together flawlessly. There is a deep history of the world of comic books, writers, artists, and editors, moving forward to today's internet trolls, and a whole underbelly of the dark and macabre.
I honestly have never read anything so creative and intriguing. From the prologue to the ending, there was never a moment that didn't hold my interest. The whole mystery is exciting along with the characters unveiling their own mysterious backgrounds and connections to the darkest parts of the comic book world. R.L. Carver, the ill-famed horror comic creator, is a very dark character. What he creates is frightening and adds a whole new level of taking us beyond the realm of reason.
Draw You In Volume 2 will be releasing on June 21st and this is one I am invested in continuing. I am so looking forward to see how this is going to unfold and how deep into this JB is going to take this whole new level of intense and compelling writing.
The Keeper by JJ Carpenter
When Charlie begins to face the fact that her life is at risk every single day, she takes measures to protect herself. Giving up her career and moving to a place of isolation gives her some hope of living in a somewhat balanced protection of safety from that which can take her life.
As she is adjusting to her new life, doing her best to keep herself as safe as possible, she explores her new property, the new town, and does her best to fit in and create a balanced life for herself.
But...
There are ghosts and they are lingering in the shadows of the past. Lost in the "waiting place", forever experiencing the pain and harm that was inflicted upon them. Seeking out the living to help them escape and move into the peaceful place.
The Corner of Her Eye is not only a story of mystery and suspense, but ghosts which are haunting the living, causing fear and havoc. It's a journey of self-discovery, family, friendship, and reaching through the passages of time to free souls that are calling for help.
Charlie is a wonderful character that is easy to connect to as her journey is full of many challenges. A life that unfolds before us. Her character is raw and real. Her heart is pure. She is strong and perseveres through it all.
Many other characters have endearing qualities and create a feeling of discovering new friends to follow as their journey continues.
There were moments that gave me the chills and had me looking around corners. I might have left a light on a couple of times. I do not scare easily, but the descriptions were so vivid, and without giving a spoiler, what lurks in the darkness is frightening. Moments that Charlie goes through, as well, gave me the spine tingling shivers. Although, the creepiness is not the main focus, it is just enough to create those horror elements along side the suspense.
This is a marvelous debut! I am very much looking forward to the next book and continuing to follow Charlie's journey!
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
"Perhaps your life doesn't flash before your own eyes at the end, Charlie thought, but before the eyes and over the hearts of everyone who's ever loved you."
When Charlie begins to face the fact that her life is at risk every single day, she takes measures to protect herself. Giving up her career and moving to a place of isolation gives her some hope of living in a somewhat balanced protection of safety from that which can take her life.
As she is adjusting to her new life, doing her best to keep herself as safe as possible, she explores her new property, the new town, and does her best to fit in and create a balanced life for herself.
But...
There are ghosts and they are lingering in the shadows of the past. Lost in the "waiting place", forever experiencing the pain and harm that was inflicted upon them. Seeking out the living to help them escape and move into the peaceful place.
The Corner of Her Eye is not only a story of mystery and suspense, but ghosts which are haunting the living, causing fear and havoc. It's a journey of self-discovery, family, friendship, and reaching through the passages of time to free souls that are calling for help.
Charlie is a wonderful character that is easy to connect to as her journey is full of many challenges. A life that unfolds before us. Her character is raw and real. Her heart is pure. She is strong and perseveres through it all.
Many other characters have endearing qualities and create a feeling of discovering new friends to follow as their journey continues.
There were moments that gave me the chills and had me looking around corners. I might have left a light on a couple of times. I do not scare easily, but the descriptions were so vivid, and without giving a spoiler, what lurks in the darkness is frightening. Moments that Charlie goes through, as well, gave me the spine tingling shivers. Although, the creepiness is not the main focus, it is just enough to create those horror elements along side the suspense.
This is a marvelous debut! I am very much looking forward to the next book and continuing to follow Charlie's journey!
Bruises on a Butterfly by Chad Lutzke
Taylor, Kevin, and Jackie. Three young boys in the prime of their young little lives. Spending time together building their friendship bonds and going on adventures that all young boys should be able to do without a care in the world.
Taylor's life isn't a life that a child should have to endure. He decides he has had enough and runs away, planning on never returning to the ugliness that he has had to live with throughout his childhood. Kevin and Jackie are aware of what has gone on in Taylor's home, but they are not aware of the extent of it. They promise to be there for Taylor and help in any way they can.
When a cosmic event occurs, they go exploring to see what has fallen from the sky. When Taylor touches it, an anomalous event begins to occur, one that will alter their lives forever.
When reading anything by Lutzke, I am well aware of his writing style and I know I am going to get lost in the story that is unfolding. I know I am going to connect to the characters and feel what they are feeling. I also know I better have a box of tissues at the ready.
This one is going to stick, and I am holding a place for it in one of my top reads for 2024.
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
"Last summer, they hadn’t been teens yet, and none of them should have had to deal with what went down. They were supposed to be running through fields with pockets full of dirt, rolling down hills with dizzying heads, riding bikes on trails they’d made by hand, and most of all, sitting in their fort, reading comics and telling stories."
Taylor, Kevin, and Jackie. Three young boys in the prime of their young little lives. Spending time together building their friendship bonds and going on adventures that all young boys should be able to do without a care in the world.
Taylor's life isn't a life that a child should have to endure. He decides he has had enough and runs away, planning on never returning to the ugliness that he has had to live with throughout his childhood. Kevin and Jackie are aware of what has gone on in Taylor's home, but they are not aware of the extent of it. They promise to be there for Taylor and help in any way they can.
When a cosmic event occurs, they go exploring to see what has fallen from the sky. When Taylor touches it, an anomalous event begins to occur, one that will alter their lives forever.
Lutzke is a master at writing coming of age stories that dives us deep into the heart and soul. "Bruises on a Butterfly" is a shining example. The power of friendship bonds, the suffering of trauma, the effects it has, and the grief one carries with them for a lifetime after the loss of life.
When reading anything by Lutzke, I am well aware of his writing style and I know I am going to get lost in the story that is unfolding. I know I am going to connect to the characters and feel what they are feeling. I also know I better have a box of tissues at the ready.
This one is going to stick, and I am holding a place for it in one of my top reads for 2024.
The Lingering by DM Gritzmacher
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
4.5
"His chest heaved, and his mouth worked in the dim light of the kerosene lantern. Despite himself, soft moans of pleasure escaped is dripping lips."
1900s, the creature is among them, traveling, wandering, ever watchful as it hunts for its next meal. It must satisfy its hunger. The fear, the taste, the sweet entering causing pure bliss.
Present Day, Stander and Secrist travel back to the roots of Standers home. Searching for answers from a past that has ever haunted him. Needing the answers to a mystery that has never been solved, buried deep within the history of time.
1980s, four young boys set out on an adventure. Deep within the woods lies a hidden graveyard from a time that has long past, forgotten and avoided. Undisturbed until the boys explore and uncover something buried deep underground. They are now running for their lives from an ancient evil that has set itself upon them. Their lives will be forever altered by the darkness that has been visited upon them.
Three timelines woven together to reveal what has been lurking in the darkness. Not only upon the earth, but in the hearts and souls of all who have been affected. Many questions have been answered in this third installment of the "Skulldiggery" series. Taking us back in time into the life of Stander and what he experienced as a young boy. An adventurous boy with a free spirit that was taken from him and his friends and has lingered within them as the years have passed them by.
The atmosphere has a foreboding that makes the mind wonder what will come out to play in the darkness. When it does, what occurs is visceral and horrific. It leaves a bloody path behind in our minds, filled with disturbing images with no doubt of what is lying in bloody piles. The lost lives upon our hearts and the lost innocence upon our souls.
Although these can be read as stand alone novels, I recommend reading them in order as it really adds to the whole experience of a marvelously created series.
‘It’s a good day as long as your elbows aren’t touching pine,’...
The Pumpkin King and Other Tales of Terror by R. David Fulcher
The best thing about short stories is the diversity of each plot or character. To create both in just a few short pages and engage the reader is to be commended.
Each story centered on a mix of horror and sub-genres of horror. These are the types of stories that produce the slow creeping dread, the kind that are atmospheric, and have imagery that settles into the imagination. The kind that are thought provoking, creating those moments when one feels the need to stop and think about what was just being read.
Hauntings in neighborhoods, deep within the woods, and in places where one wouldn't expect them to be. One must always be wary of what walks among them and what may be hidden. Watching and waiting for their time to shine amongst the living. Tempting and coercing into realms of darkness that change the lives of their prey. Much like the minds of us readers tempted into the pages of horror stories.
"There was a still woman by a stair railing and a still horror floating in her living room and twenty-seven still spirits by the still waters of a silent lake."
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
"Everything retained the silence after the storm; everything retained the silence of the dead."
The best thing about short stories is the diversity of each plot or character. To create both in just a few short pages and engage the reader is to be commended.
Each story centered on a mix of horror and sub-genres of horror. These are the types of stories that produce the slow creeping dread, the kind that are atmospheric, and have imagery that settles into the imagination. The kind that are thought provoking, creating those moments when one feels the need to stop and think about what was just being read.
Hauntings in neighborhoods, deep within the woods, and in places where one wouldn't expect them to be. One must always be wary of what walks among them and what may be hidden. Watching and waiting for their time to shine amongst the living. Tempting and coercing into realms of darkness that change the lives of their prey. Much like the minds of us readers tempted into the pages of horror stories.
"There was a still woman by a stair railing and a still horror floating in her living room and twenty-seven still spirits by the still waters of a silent lake."
The Plastic Priest by Nicole Cushing
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
4.0
"Reverend Ford is not Reverend Ford. At least, not to her parishioners. To them, she's "Mother Kaye."
Kaye is an Episcopalian priest in the small town of Owlingsville. She questions her faith along with the townspeople who continually fail to attend services. She questions why she continues in her role for the people of the town are thinkers of the old fashioned ways, unwilling to accept changes or ways of life. Bigots, gossips, unaccepting, and judgemental. Kaye doesn't dare integrate new ideas for fear of more rejection. She feels stuck in a situation she can't remove herself from.
As she moves forward with her plan to try prayers in the park, she is confronted by what is seemingly a man, but turns out that was clearly not. The things she is told have settled into her mind and she becomes "The Plastic Priest."
I can't tell you what the plastic priest is because that would be a huge spoiler. But this novella will take you on a journey of how one loses their mind, going into complete psychosis, giving into it.
Pay close attention because this is a mind bender. Makes you think and wonder, ponder and contemplate.
The imagery and writing style is captivating. Bizarre, surreal, but entirely unique, nothing like anything I have ever read. There is something very special about this that I just can't quite explain because it has to be experienced.
That is exactly what this novella is, a complete experience often times causing me to reread a phrase or take pause and really think about what I just read.
That is exactly what this novella is, a complete experience often times causing me to reread a phrase or take pause and really think about what I just read.
Demon's Wrath: Death in Caguas: A Michael Moretti Novel by Patrick James Ryan
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
4.0
"The rain continued to pour outside, foreshadowing additional gloom in a town gripped in unspeakable evil."
Something very evil has entered into the small villages of Caguas, Puerto Rico. The deaths continue to rise as the monstrosity shows no mercy and devours everyone in its wake.
The Vatican is the villages only hope for survival. They must defeat the evil or risk losing many more lives. They call for the help of Specialist Michael Moretti and Demonologist Robert Giametti. They know that they are their only hope at defeating the evil. Many lives will come together to fight and many lives will be lost. The sacrifices must be made or be lost to the evil for all eternity.
Michael must stay strong and fight far more than just the evil, he must fight for his soul, and for the souls that are threatened. He must not lose hope nor faith or lose the battle between life and death, good and evil.
Read the synopsis and you will see much of what this story is about. But it is so much more. A high impact adventure with brutal death scenes. Evil itself reeking havoc upon the world is scary to even think about, it's chilling. Michaels character has strengths and weaknesses that opens a doorway of connecting and rooting for him throughout his plight. Friendship, honor, faith, and even love adds to the characters making them come to life and feel for them, especially during their times of loss.
There were some scenes that had me reeling in disgust at the thought of what was occurring, but those are just my thoughts alone, as we all as readers take from stories our own thoughts and opinions.
Religious/Occult horror, dark fantasy, and supernatural suspense.
This is a planned series, so more of Michael Moretti will be coming our way. He's an interesting character worth investing your time in and will hopefully want to follow as his adventures continue.
"Time for you to die."
"Time for you to die."
Madness IN Tandem by R.J. Powell
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
4.0
"Do you think we'll always be like this?" he asked, looking down into the green eyes of his beautiful wife."
"I sure hope so," whispered Tilly, pressing her hips into his and kissing him hard once again."
Imagine yourself at a peaceful cabin, along side your love, just hoping to relax and enjoy each other. That is the goal for Tilly and Adam. Things start out fantastic, erotic sex, relaxation, and serenity. Seems perfect. Until something is just not right. Little things start happening that don't make sense and it all quickly turns into a confusing mess for this poor couple.
Things turn up missing, creatures start dying, and it's as hot as hades.
What was a hopeful lovefest becomes "Madness in Tandem."
The author really dives into her character development and swiftly takes the story into madness between the couple. Things are open to interpretation as it's hard to figure out what the hell is going on. Clearly they are losing their minds, but we don't know why, and the abhorrent things they do to each other is absolutely repulsive.
For fans of the extreme, I think you will really like this one. It's a novella done well and packs a punch. It's a nasty, tasty little morsel, and the ending is sinister and surprising.
Conjuring the Witch by Jessica Leonard
Deep in the woods, there is a lingering. It is ever watching and waiting. It calls to those who listen and see. It waits for the moment it can exact its revenge, but it will forever live within the darkness. Lost to the pain and suffering it has had to endure for a lifetime. There are witches in the woods and there they will forever stay.
Religious horror can be very complex and disturbing. Not only are we experiencing the foreboding of the woods, not knowing what is exactly haunting within, but we are also experiencing the control of the church and the involvement of the men in the community. Submission of the women is their main desire and they have done evil upon evil deeds to obtain their status as the ones who must be in control.
There is guilt that is layed upon the women that has them believing they are not godly enough and that they must work harder at being submissive to their husbands. But when the women discover what is truly happening, they do what must be done to punish the men.
There is an atmospheric darkness that comes to life with the descriptive prose and setting. There is a melancholy that is unsettling as the story unfolds, it takes us deeper into the reasons behind all the strange occurrences.
There is an eeriness and some moments that are chilling, not only by what lingers in the woods, but by the priest who demands submissive wives.
Witches for the win!
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
"There is a house in the woods, covered in moss and time. It is a cursed place, and it hurries. There is a house in the woods where not even crickets will chirp. It is hurrying."
Deep in the woods, there is a lingering. It is ever watching and waiting. It calls to those who listen and see. It waits for the moment it can exact its revenge, but it will forever live within the darkness. Lost to the pain and suffering it has had to endure for a lifetime. There are witches in the woods and there they will forever stay.
Religious horror can be very complex and disturbing. Not only are we experiencing the foreboding of the woods, not knowing what is exactly haunting within, but we are also experiencing the control of the church and the involvement of the men in the community. Submission of the women is their main desire and they have done evil upon evil deeds to obtain their status as the ones who must be in control.
There is guilt that is layed upon the women that has them believing they are not godly enough and that they must work harder at being submissive to their husbands. But when the women discover what is truly happening, they do what must be done to punish the men.
There is an atmospheric darkness that comes to life with the descriptive prose and setting. There is a melancholy that is unsettling as the story unfolds, it takes us deeper into the reasons behind all the strange occurrences.
There is an eeriness and some moments that are chilling, not only by what lingers in the woods, but by the priest who demands submissive wives.
Witches for the win!
The Sleepy Hollow Gang: Shivers #1 by Robert P. Ottone
When Derek Houseman moved to Tarrytown, the Sleepy Hollow region of New York, he never expected to make new friends that loved spooky horrors as much as he does. As Halloween approaches he is invited to a night of trick or treating and shenanigans. They perform a ritual to awaken the dead not expecting it to be an infamous ghost. Now they must figure out how to stop him as the town is now at the mercy of the "Headless Horseman."
This is such a great spooky tale. Kids who love dark spooky reads will surely enjoy this. Halloween night, ghosts, and a mystery to solve right along with the gang. They may also get those shivery spine tingles, and will also learn about acceptance, what it means to be a good friend, working together as a team, helping each other be strong and brave, and caring for each other.
I really enjoyed reading this and I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
I highly recommend this for any age, but especially for those looking for books for young spooky readers.
*This is the first book in a planned series. The Sleepy Hollow Gang will be returning this year. "The Sleepy Hollow Gang 2: Invasion of the Purple People Eaters".
adventurous
mysterious
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
5.0
"To turn and fly was now too late; and besides, what chance was there of escaping ghost or goblin, if such it was, which could ride upon wings of the wind?"
When Derek Houseman moved to Tarrytown, the Sleepy Hollow region of New York, he never expected to make new friends that loved spooky horrors as much as he does. As Halloween approaches he is invited to a night of trick or treating and shenanigans. They perform a ritual to awaken the dead not expecting it to be an infamous ghost. Now they must figure out how to stop him as the town is now at the mercy of the "Headless Horseman."
This is such a great spooky tale. Kids who love dark spooky reads will surely enjoy this. Halloween night, ghosts, and a mystery to solve right along with the gang. They may also get those shivery spine tingles, and will also learn about acceptance, what it means to be a good friend, working together as a team, helping each other be strong and brave, and caring for each other.
I really enjoyed reading this and I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
I highly recommend this for any age, but especially for those looking for books for young spooky readers.
*This is the first book in a planned series. The Sleepy Hollow Gang will be returning this year. "The Sleepy Hollow Gang 2: Invasion of the Purple People Eaters".