My Rating: 4 Stars A great creepy and humours story! The novel follows the ghostly adventures of Devin, a teenager that see ghosts and his group of friends as they face the supernatural. Devin is taunted at school and called “Ghost Boy” when his talent comes to light through the social media, and if that wasn’t bad enough, add a not-very-nice boss in the coffee shop where he works. The best way to deal with these problems? To go on an adventure with his friends and explore a haunted house because, seriously, ghosts can be better than people… right? When Devin is attacked inside the house, things reveal themselves to be more complicated than they first thought and it’s up to Devin to use his talents to solve the ghost mystery. One of the first things that pull me into a story is the writing style, and in this novel it’s brilliant. The plot is very nice, the descriptions pulled me into the story and it was like I was also there walking through the dark hallways. It’s impossible to get lost in the story, you get taken on a journey that in some occasions really made my skin crawl. It was impossible to stop reading, it’s a fast-paced adventure that left me hungry to know what would happen next. The characters are incredible and the group dynamics was very well thought and described. One of the things I liked the most was the fact that all them knew about Devin’s ability and didn’t make a fuss about it. That’s what true friendship is, accepting even the weirdest part of someone and still stay. All of the characters have something unique and their way of being compliments the story perfectly. Clive is a music composer with a taste for dark themes, Rex is the nerdy character that loves technology, always open to an adventure; Ramona, Devin’s boss, the picture of insufferable boss with a love for nasty comments; Nayra, a blogger with a passion for Wicca and the supernatural with a very unique taste for clothes and Emily, the only person in class that defends Devin from the verbal attacks. Their interactions and dialogues are hilarious and brilliantly written, especially between Devin and Nayra and Clive and Rex that always do something with the right intentions but somehow always end badly. This novel has everything: suspense, adventure, humour, horror, all mixed together perfectly. It goes from moments of tension to hilarious dialogues that only add colour to the story and makes you love the plot and the characters even more. It’s impossible not to laugh. A fan of adventures and supernatural with a tad of humour? I highly recommend this read! Absolutely amazing! I want to thank Brian K. Henry for the opportunity of reading his novel in exchange for an honest review.
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My Rating: 4 Stars Right on the first page of the preface, it felt like my heart was being squeezed inside my chest. To know that this novel is based on a true story and that the treatment of this person was hell both during his captivity and when he manages to escape is both scary and revolting. It really shows the flaws in the justice system and proves that justice doesn’t always prevail, unfortunately. Blood Moon tells the story of Recidio Suarez, a man that is kidnapped from his working place for no apparent reason, blindfolded and tortured for a month, living and suffering under conditions that no human being ever should. Under the threat of his life and his loved ones, Suarez is forced to submit to the conditions of his kidnappers. When he alone manages to escape his captivity, he faces another level of torture: no one believes him. Both police and The Special Investigations Division of the Miami-Dade Police discredit his evidence and his story; refusing to take the case further. I will tell you this: It’s not a book for the faint of heart. Bethel describes the events with accuracy and the characters are very well developed, and I think he portrays the kidnappers with frightening accuracy as well. As I read through the novel, I’m sure I gained white hairs. Not knowing what would happen and what horrible thing would come up next left me in a state of anxiety and suspense that I sure I’ve never felt before with a book. Reading through the insane torture scenes was, without a shadow of a doubt, one of the hardest things I’ve read. At some point, I just wanted to throw the book on the floor and scream at the things these people were willing to do to and how far they were willing to go for money. The arrogance of thinking they would never get caught and that they could do whatever they pleased. These people are the living proof that monsters do exist in the world. And when you think you can rely on those with the responsibility and duty of protecting the people, they completely discredit his story and completely ignore the pain, the suffering and the physical and mental scars that will haunt him until the end of his days. The indifference is revolting. Suarez proves to be a true hero, surviving through something I would never be able to and having the courage and the strength to escape. The fact that it’s based on a true story just enhances everything that’s for sure. A thrilling, suspenseful and horror novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat and that will put your problems into perspective. I want to thank the author of Blood Moon John David Bethel for sending me a copy of his book in exchange for an honest review. My Rating: 5 Stars For once, I have no words. There are a lot of feelings and lot of things to write, I just need to figure out how. This book came as a surprise, a very bloody surprise, but I loved every second of it! Just, wow! I'm sure that Mr C. S. Lewis would roll in his grave if he read this novel and I don't think he could have ever imagined such a Dark Wonderland. It's fast-paced, brilliantly thought and written and it will make it impossible not to read it in one sitting. Let's see if I can describe the plot without revealing too much. If you've read Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, you'll find that the only thing this story has in common is the characters. The story starts in a dark, miserable place, a hospital for the crazy and the rejected of society located in the Old City, the poorest and the most dangerous of places. Inside one of the many rooms, sits Alice, a shadow of who she once was, with no clear memory of her past and only fragments of horrible events that lead her to that place. Alice has no hope of ever escaping until, one night, a fire breaks out, allowing her to escape her prison. Along with the only friend she's ever known, they are destined to fight a dark shadow and face their past. In a place that no one and nothing is what it seems, Alice most thread carefully, for an old friend that once lost her, wants her back, no matter the cost. Absolutely fantastic. I must say congratulations to Ms Christina Henry for the brilliant show of imagination and the beautiful writing. I could feel the emotions of the Old City, the hospital and of the characters in each word, it's like it really exists. In some way, it does. For me, the Old City is a place where all the wrongs of society come together, along with all the people that are forgotten in a society ruled by the people with money and power. Ms Henry doesn't put any sugar on it, this reality is cruel, colourless, cold with very few people to trust in. The characters are incredible and their nature is so deep that even if the story is narrated from Alice's perspective, you get to know the other character very well. Alice has an amazing character and I really liked how she was developed. I could see the loss of the innocence and the cold crude logic and intelligence that she possesses even if she was locked up for years in the hospital. Even so, Alice managed to still have her sweet and compassionate nature for those that suffer. The male protagonist, Hatcher, is a troubled soul and a complex character. The only consistency in behaviour and character I could see was his love and affection for Alice because his behaviour in general and his actions are very hard to predict. If you want to meet a Dark Wonderland, I highly recommend you read this novel. A brilliant piece that I'm very proud to have in my book collection! My Rating: 5 Stars Fantastic story! Just wow! I'm a fan of Ms Charlaine Harris' work and read all the True Blood books but this took a completely different turn, a very good one! The story is about Harper, a young woman that is hit by lightning and, as a consequence, develops a peculiar ability: when in contact with a dead body she can see their final moments and how they died. In the second volume of this series, Harper finds two bodies in a grave and together with her best friend, Tolliver, they set out to find the killer that as being free for far too long. I'll start by saying that I really liked the drawings of this graphic novel. I think the colours and the style really match the story and the characters. Secondly, the storyline is very good. In the beginning, as more characters are introduced to the plot, I had no idea who the killer was. I still managed to figure out who it was before the end though, the clues are all there. Still, the end brings all the loose ends together. I really liked Harper, she's a tough character with a hot temper and she struggles to deal with her gift and the things she sees. I also liked the chemistry between her and Tolliver, because even though they are almost like brother and sister, Harper's feelings are not that pure and it's difficult to see if Tolliver feels the same or not. Definitely, recommend this graphic novel to the fans of Charlaine Harris and of the supernatural genre. Can't wait for the third volume! Thank you NetGalley, the publisher Dynamite Entertainment, and the author for allowing me to read and review a digital copy of this book. My Rating: 5 Stars An exciting, thrilling, supernatural gay novel that I was unable to put down. This book was everything, from the back-story, the development, the scenario, the characters and the perfect build-up to the climax of the story. For a debut novel, Greg Howard proved that he was the essential piece of writing novels, the style of writing that keeps you gripped to each phrase and dialogue. The flow of the story is perfect, and the way Howard presents the events is brilliant. The characters are very human (even when they aren't) and I really connected with them. What is the novel about? The starts with our main character Cooper Causey, a young gay man that after a few traumatic events in his youth, refuses to get emotionally attached to anyone. A strange message from his grandmother warning him not to return home forces him to travel back to the small southern town of Warfield and face his demons... quite literally. Clueless about his family history and powers, Cooper is thrown into a world of supernatural creatures that will force him to face his past and accept part of himself that he desperately tries to keep hidden. Throw in the help of his teenage crush, a few vampires and talkative ghosts to the mix and you get the adventure of a lifetime. The perfect combination of thriller, horror and romance! The cliffhanger at the end left me thirsting for more and I can't wait for the sequel! Thank you NetGalley, the publisher Anakim Press, and the author for allowing me to read and review a digital copy of this book. My Rating: 5 Stars In two words: Absolutely Brilliant! This book has a bit of everything, from horror to adventure and humour. I'm not a big fan of zombie fiction but this one really got to me. The characters are brilliant and witty, it's impossible not to fall in love with them. The alternative perspectives leave no strings hanging and the rhythm of events is really good. I loved the writing style of Vicky Loebel. I could really visualise the settings, the characters. It's a musical and colourful prose. Beautiful! The humour in this novel really made me laugh and it adds the final spice to the story. I definitely want to read more of the works of this author. I highly recommend this book! You wouldn't regret it! Thank you NetGalley, the publisher Pentachronistic Press, and the author for allowing me to read and review a digital copy of this book. My Rating: 2 Stars I will start by saying that this book was different than I was expecting. As I read it, I kept remembering "The Master and the Margarita" from Burgakov. It was a difficult read for me. I got confused right from the beginning not knowing who the narrator was and got lost in the paragraphs. Maybe it's because I really didn't connect with the story. At first, I thought the book was about the story of Lucy but then more characters kept coming up, like Margaret and Belinda. Even though I struggled, I really liked the style of writing and I think it matches the story and it's turns. I could see the colours or the lack of off in certain parts of the story through the vocabulary that is used, it was like music on paper. I will re-read it in the future and see if my perspective changes. An intriguing novel. Thank you NetGalley, the publisher Cosmic Egg Books, and the author for allowing me to read and review a digital copy of this book. My Rating: 5 Stars Frightening, stunning, a page-turner! The absolutely amazing novel, impossible to put down until the last page. I congratulate Keith Donohue on the idea and the creativity of this novel and the style of writing. I feel in love with the idea of the puppet world, even if it does give me goosebumps. Some parts of the book really got my hairs staying-up, spooky is the only way to describe it. One of the details that really got me into the story was the way Donohue described the world of puppets, I really got a perfect picture of that reality almost as if I was there. I found it be an intriguing novel and it kept me interested all the way to the last chapter. As for the ending: brace yourselves. Be aware of this bittersweet conclusion of this amazing novel. I must say, in my honest opinion, that I found it unjust and almost cruel. It's definitely going to stay in mind for a while, which I think it's the objective. Very enjoyable read and I highly recommend it! Thank you NetGalley, the publisher Picador, and the author for allowing me to read and review a digital copy of this book. My Rating: 5 Stars This book was an absolute delight to read! For a first novel, I must say I'm highly impressed. From the storyline, the characters, the pace and the ending, absolutely marvellous and a job very well done indeed! The story follows three main characters with a troubled past that haunts their present. Sarah, a strong woman with money and estates that struggles with her urges to hurt and kill men; Dr Karl Gross a renowned psychologist, with a secret that could put an end to his career; and Detective Martin White that keeps a terrible truth from his childhood shared only by his therapist, Dr Gross. Even though the reader knows who the killer is right from the beginning, the story only gains more power since you can really go in depth into the character of Sarah and her own unique struggles. It's a bit scary even because she really does try to keep her homicidal instincts under control but in the end, they control her. The pace of the novel is perfect and the connection between these three characters is perfect. I was afraid of losing myself in between characters that I read through very smoothly. I really got into the plot and the twists in the story came naturally and in the perfect moments. A great read, one that I highly recommend and I will be waiting for future works from V.R Stone. Thank you NetGalley, the publisher Silverwhite Press, and the author for allowing me to read and review a digital copy of this book. My Rating: 4 Stars In one word: Amazing. I really enjoyed every story in this anthology of nightmares, not because they made feel afraid that because it shows each individual has their own personal nightmare and they are frightful for them. I think the stories go through a line of fears that some people can identify as their own. The stories that really got to me were:
I also really enjoyed "Was She Wicked? Was She Good?" by Mary Rickert, "That Tiny Flutter of the Heart I Used to Call Love" by Robert Shearman (after all these years, creepy dolls get to me every time). All the stories were amazingly written and I definitely recommend the reading of this Horror anthology. Completely worth it! Thank you NetGalley, the publisher Tachyon Publications, and the author for allowing me to read and review a digital copy of this book. |
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