13 Tales To Give You Night Terrors – multiple authors

Hi everyone! Something a little different from me today, I read an anthology of horror books so I’ve decided to do short two or three line reviews of each story and then rate them in pumpkins (in keeping with the Halloween theme!) All ratings will be out of 5.

Link to book – 13 Tales To Give You Night Terrors

Crashing Mirrors – Well I wasn’t expecting that ending, it was a complete twist! Bravo to the author. Whilst the writing did leave a little to be desired it was more than made up for with the story and that shock twist.

🎃🎃🎃 out of 5

Ad Infinitum – aw this was so good! I absolutely loved the ambiguity that the story had and coupled with that story of chaotic way the story was being told to us, it was just brilliantly done. I love that whole crazed vibe and this story certainly had a lot of it.

🎃🎃🎃🎃 out of 5.

Black Holes – well this was fucking traumatising. Jfc. This was actually quite a horrific story, and it made me feel genuinely sick when I finished reading it :))))) bravo to the author though, who clearly put their heart and soul into crafting such an eerie and tense atmosphere, coupled with an impeccable story.

🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃 out of 5.

Clown – oh my good lord, this book is genuinely trying to kill me. I hate clowns and I’m scared of the dark so this story, coupled with those fears was just about enough to tip me over the edge to a full blown breakdown. This was so tense and genuinely creepy, it felt dark and it was incredibly hard not to imagine the scene in your head. It was a lot.

🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃 out of 5.

Back Home – this one was actually quite sad, a tale of loss and ghosts. It was very well done I just didn’t feel the same thrill I felt with some of the others unfortunately.

🎃🎃🎃 out of 5.

Waiting For The Wolf – a shorter story that definitely packed a punch! I loved the ending and the whole chain mail vibe of this story just took me back to my younger days. I was just disappointed it wasn’t longer to allow that tension to build, but it did do well in time it had.

🎃🎃🎃🎃 out of 5.

Store Macabre – DNFR.

Search History – while I did enjoy this one I felt a little mislead by the title, I was expecting something different which was a shame. Aside from that, the story was really good, I loved the way the notes formed a puzzle for Mary but also encouraged the tense feeling for the reader too. The ending did feel a bit of a let down though.

🎃🎃🎃 out of 5.

Gone For Good – I think this one was just too long and didn’t have enough substance to it. Plus I guessed the ending like straight away so.

🎃🎃 out of 5.

One and Done – I was more confused by this one tbh, there were points that didn’t really make sense and that spoiled it for me a bit. It did have a lot of potential though!

🎃🎃 out of 5.

Blackened Fireworks – I’m in 2 minds about this as the actual story was good and I really liked it, it was a compact read that packed a punch. But, the ending did seem a little odd, and could have ended better.

🎃🎃🎃 out of 5.

It’s Different When You Have Your Own – WTF did I just read. I genuinely think this was the most disturbing one of them all.

🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃 out of 5.

The House Sitter – I feel disappointed 😦 this was such a good story and had everything you need to be frightened, it was tense and atmospheric and it made you fearful of things that go bump in the night. It was creepy and eerie and ghostly and I was terrified to move whilst I read it. But the ending, the ending sucked and really let the story down.

🎃🎃🎃 out of 5.

On the whole, this was a really good collection of short horror stories and while some were better than others I definitely would recommend this one!

Until next time, Em xxx

ARC – The Devourer Below, by various authors – A Review.

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Hello friends and fellow bookworms! I’m here today to bring you my review of The Devourer Below, which is a horror anthology written by Josh Reynolds; Evan Dicken; Davide Mana; Georgina Kamsika; Thomas Parrott; David Annandale; and Cath Lauria.

The Devourer Below was published on the 6th July (so I’m a bit late with my review but life has gotten on top of me) and is being published by Aconyte Books. Also a big thanks to NetGalley and Aconyte Books for the free ARC to read and review!

I’ve rated and reviewed each individual story below, but my overall rating of this one is 3.5 stars.

Running The Night Whiskey by Evan Dicken – 3 stars.

I did enjoy this one, even though it was a bit slow to get started and to get to the main point of the story. That being said, I understand why it was a bit slower, it was the first story in the anthology and it needed to set the scene more so and introduce us. I would have preferred a bigger focus on the ghouls and their backstory and less on our characters getting chased etc. My favourite part of this story though was how it constantly alluded to something bigger going on, as if our characters were just pawns in a game.

Shadows of Dawning by Georgina Kamsika – 4 stars.

This was one of my favourite stories from the anthology, more so for the way the emotions were portrayed. You could feel Lita’s emotions through the pages, and her relationship with Priya was beautifully written. Whilst I didn’t enjoy the actual story so much, I felt the way the characters were written and how they expressed themselves made this an enjoyable read.

The Hounds Below by Josh Reynolds – 5 stars.

This was my one of my two FAVOURITES of the entire set of stories! It was a really simple idea, one that I’d seen done a thousand times before but the author just seemed to have this ability to make it feel so much creepier and set you on edge whilst you were reading it. And the ending, I did not see coming at all – I actually thought I’d guessed what would happen but I couldn’t have been more wrong!

Labyrinth by Thomas Parrott – 5 stars.

This one was my other favourite of the stories, anything with a Greek mythology vibe I am instantly going to love! From the start this story had a secretive feeling to it, which was enhanced throughout the story, and at the end when we were left with more questions than answers. The whole story linked so well together, especially with how the Greek mythology merged with the idea of The Devourer. Everything about this story was just so well done.

All My Friends Are Monsters by Davide Mana – 3 stars.

I didn’t quite get the same feeling from this as I got from the others, it didn’t feel (for me at least) as if they got the same brief as the rest of the writers, it didn’t seem to fit as well with the other stories. It was a very well written story and it read brilliantly, it just didn’t fit with the others and the overall feel of the book.

The Darkling Woods by Cath Lauria – 2 stars.

I can’t really say much about this one except it felt as though it didn’t have a plot, it didn’t wow me or make me scared or make me jump or thrill me like the other stories did. It also ended quite abruptly without tying up the lose ends which I found frustrating.

Professor Warren’s Investiture by David Annandale – 1 star.

From the start, I knew exactly how this one would end, it was so predictable. I found the story to be overly simplistic and without any additions to the story to bring that wow factor, it fell quite flat. It made an impression on me, but it was the wrong one, sadly.

Sins in the Blood by Thomas Parrott – 5 stars.

This was a great way to finish of the series, it felt as if it brought a natural ending to the collection of stories. It also helped that the story itself was brilliant, it built up the tension and atmosphere so well! I didn’t know it was going to end, it kept me guessing from start to finish, which was good because the characters were really likable so you were rooting for them but you weren’t sure if they would survive… It was a really simple idea but excellently executed.

What Goes On In The Walls At Night, Andrew Schrader – A Review.

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Hello fellow book lovers! I’m back with another October reads review which I’m excited to bring to you guys!

What Goes In The Walls At Night by Andrew Schrader.

Synopsis… “You may find yourself stuck between worlds both strange and disturbing, disgusting and delightful—a world that Andrew Schrader discovered and now presents to you. Let him quietly introduce you to thirteen unforgettable scenes in this shocking collection of short stories.”

Overall rating 3 out of 5 stars.

My review…

Reading this book was like being on a rollercoaster, and not in a good way…

I enjoyed the prologue, I thought that was really good and introduced the book perfectly. I did find it a bit convenient (and overdone) that this guy bumped into his all time favourite author from when he was a child though.

The book itself was split into several stories that were tales this author had heard in the walls, and some of them were far better than others.

When the stories were good they were absolutely brilliant, they got under my skin, made me feel sick, they built up the intrigue and interest perfectly and hooked you in!

But when they weren’t the best you could really see the difference in quality. Some of them just didn’t seem to be developed as well as others, one story went for the shock factor but you could see it coming a mile off and the final story I ended up DNFR because it was too much for me.

Towards the later couple of stories it felt as though the author forgot he was meant to be writing stories that were heard through a wall and they just got a bit crazy and away from the premise.

Let me know if you’ve read any of these stories within the book and what you thought!

Em xxx

NETGALLEY – It Came from the Multiplex, various authors – A Review.

It Came from the Multiplex by various authors. Published 15.9.2020 by Hex Publishers. Provided by NetGalley.

Synopsis… “Welcome to tonight’s feature presentation, brought to you by an unholy alliance of our spellcasters at Hex Publishers and movie-mages at the Colorado Festival of Horror. Please be advised that all emergency exits have been locked for this special nostalgia-curdled premiere of death. From crinkling celluloid to ferocious flesh—from the silver screen to your hammering heart—behold as a swarm of werewolves, serial killers, Satanists, Elder Gods, aliens, ghosts, and unclassifiable monsters are loosed upon your auditorium. Relax, and allow our ushers to help with your buckets of popcorn—and blood; your ticket stubs—and severed limbs; your comfort candy—and body bags. Kick back and scream as you settle into a fate worse than Hell. Tonight’s director’s cut is guaranteed to slash you apart“.

Overall rating 4 out of 5 stars.

My review…

A huge thank you to Hex Publishers and NetGalley for my ARC of this book, I requested it after reading the synopsis and I didn’t think I’d be approved as my feedback ratio was so low but the book gods smiled down!

It Came from the Multiplex was amazing, a horror anthology with an 80s horror theme flowing through, and featured so many stories that just got under my skin and they were so cleverly done.

There were a couple of stories I didn’t read and I did rate the book 4 stars because of that and some formatting issues that frustrated me.

I moved past it though and enjoyed every second of this read.

Alien Parasite from Outer Space by Warren Hammond. I loved this one so much, it was the perfect opener for what was to come! The ending came from no where, I did not expect it at all.

Return of the alien parasites from Outer Space by Angie Hodapp. This was a continuation of the first story, it wasn’t as good as the first but it was cracking continuation.

Negative Creep by Alvaro Zinos-Amaro. This short story was SO GOOD, I just loved how it progressed and the ending was brilliant. I just wish the actual monster within this story was explained in a bit more detail instead of being so mysterious.

Helluloid by Dayton Ward and Kevin Dilmore. I actually thought this was the best of the bunch, which it was hard to pick just one! But I had literal goosebumps throughout this book. Everything came together in the end but still left just enough to mystify us with the final line…

Rise Ye Vermin by Betty Rocksteady. I’m really glad this book had a sort of happy ending, especially compared to all the others I’d read. It did make me feel ill at points though, like parts it of were vomit worthy for me.

The Cronenberg Concert by Keith Ferrell. This one really took me by surprise, I did not see the ending coming at all and all I will say this one got under my skin…

Creature Feature by Gary Jonas. This one came a very close second to my favourite of this little series. The whole story and the way it was portrayed and written was amazing, and it had the best ending EVER.

Invisible by Mario Acevdeo. This one got a bit weird for me and I struggled to see the point to it, like the actual story line, it wasn’t the best of the bunch.

Screen Haunt by Orrin Grey. I think my initial feelings on this book were just erm what? I was hooked instantly and I loved how the story progressed but then the ending just completely ruined this for me and I felt it didn’t relate to the rest of the story at all.

The Devils Reel by Sean Eads and Joshua Viola. DNFR.

On The Rocks by K Nicole Davis. OKAY so this one had so much potential and I think it disappointed me that it didn’t live up to it. I guessed almost straight away what was going on and I wish that the author had focused on a different aspect if she was going make it so obvious what was going on.

Coming Attractions by Stephen Graham Jones. I’m in two minds about this one, while I did enjoy it I had to read some parts a few times just to understand what was going on. Definitely not the best of the bunch.

Late Sleepers by Steve Rasnic Tem. Again, I enjoyed this one it just didn’t really stand out for me.

Special Make Up by Kevin J Anderson. DNFR.

And there are my reviews for It Came From The Multiplex. As always thank you so much to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC!

Until next time, Em xxx