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We alone know what is coming for us, and we know it’s going to hurt: Reviewing One Yellow Eye by Leigh Radford

Happy Hallow’s Eve, everyone! I was hoping to get one last review out before Halloween and I somehow managed it! I hope you are already for one last seasonally appropriate book review. Happy Halloween if you celebrate. Let’s talk about One Yellow Eye.

Content Warning: Violence, Disturbing Imagery, Body Horror, Some Strong Language, Grief and Mourning, Animal Death, Alcholism

The zombie apocalypse came and went, leaving London ravaged in its wake. Many of the survivors are going everything they can to move forward with their lives. Kesta Shelley, though, can’t move on. Her beloved husband Tim was tragically infected by the virus. She couldn’t bring herself to let him go, so she hid him away in their flat. As an accomplished biologist, Kesta is confident that she can find a way to cure him one day. When she finally gets the breakthrough she’s been waiting for, Kesta races against time to create a cure for Tim. The government, though, is cracking down on the project after discovering evidence of internal sabotage. Kesta is falling apart, physically and emotionally. All she hopes is that, in saving Tim, she can save the world…and herself.

It’s been awhile since I read or watched anything that had to do with zombies. I was excited when I saw this title and immediately realized that this was going to be a Frankenstein retelling involving zombies. One Yellow Eye is a noteworthy narrative that is less focused on zombies, and more focused on a story of undying love. Leigh Radford injects sympathy and tension throughout the prose. There are so many visceral moments that really put the reader in the shoes of the character. Kesta Shelley is an endlessly complicated character who makes for a perfect lead in a story that is hinges on the complexities of human nature, both biological and psychological. Radford’s zombie apocalypse is atypical in the genre, but it works for the world of the book. It doesn’t rely heavily on classic zombie tropes, which is kind a breath of fresh air in the genre. That being said, there is still enough gore and brutality to satisfy the zombie narrative. Overall, I truly enjoyed One Yellow Eye and give it a very high recommendation.

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Control was antithetical to life. To be alive is to be battered about. To endure and adapt and keep stumbling onward despite it all: Reviewing Diavola by Jennifer Thorne

Hi everyone! I hope you are still enjoying October. I might have one more horror novel review for this month, so stay tuned for that. I don’t have much else to say, so let’s just hop into it. It’s time to talk about Diavola by Jennifer Thorne.

Content Warning: Disturbing Imagery, Violence and Gore, Animal Death, Self-Harm, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Discussions of Abortion, Child Death

Anna Pace has one goal: to survive her family vacation. She’s sure she can make do in the sunny Italian countryside. Between her sister’s neurotic behavior, her brother’s new boyfriend, and her overbearing parents, Anna finds herself lost in the typical family chaos. The villa seems like the perfect place to unwind and forget about the past. Unfortunately for Anna, the villa holds many dark secrets. She begins to lose time, hear strange noises, and see glimpses of the souls who remain in the idyllic little home. Anna finds herself consumed by the villa’s dark past, and her own past, too.

Diavola was equal parts darkly humorous, macabre, and messy in all of the best ways. I thought the overall premise was pretty different from any other haunted house and/ or (spoiler) possession stories I have read in the past. Thorne creates perfectly imperfect characters who are just realistic enough to exist in the real world, but are also perfectly suited for a horror novel like this. This book was certainly a breath of fresh air, as there was just enough to make it stand out, while still embracing the fun tropes that come with ghost stories. What I personally like about Diavola is that it could easily be considered “messy girl literature.” With all of that being said, I truly enjoyed Diavola and encourage you to experience this book for yourself.

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I don’t fear death…but they do: Reviewing The Haar by David Sodergren

Hi everyone! I’m back with another spooky book review. I have at least one more to read for October, and then it’s back to the other series I have started. I hope you all have been enjoying these so far. It’s been a pretty good year for reading, in general, for me. Hopefully, I have a couple more good reviews for this blog. Before we get to those, though, we must talk about The Haar.

Content Warning: Violence and Gore, Self-Harm, Disturbing Imagery, Graphic Violence, Strong Language

Mrs. Muriel Margaret McAuley has lived her entire life in the sleepy town of Witchhaven in Scotland. She is content with her quiet life, even though she misses her dear and departed husband. Her peaceful existence is threatened by an American billionaire who intends to tear down the town and build a golf course. Muriel stubbornly refuses to leave her home, but mysterious deaths and large sums of money are making it difficult for her to remain. Just when Muriel considers giving up, a mysterious fog known as the haar engulfs the land. Along with this fog comes a creature that may be Muriel’s one hope at a serene life. She will have to come to terms with the bloody price she will have to pay.

David Sodergren has been on my radar for a minute now, and I am so glad that I finally read one of his books. The Haar was such a fun little gore-fest with a surprising amount of heart. I went into this novel expecting something like a splatterpunk book, but it was a bit more than that. It was a book about grief and acceptance. There was a surprising romance in the novel, albeit a twisted and bloody one. That being said, the descriptions in the book did turn my stomach a bit. You’ve been warned if you’re on the squeamish side. The violence, though, didn’t take away from tender moments. I found Muriel to be a well-written protagonist who was easy to sympathize with. Even with everything that happens, I found myself hoping for the best for her. There is a level of ambiguity that, I think, is necessary for most horror novels, and Sodergren does a great job incorporating that uneasiness through the narrative. I am going to recommend The Haar immediately and will be picking up another Sodergren novel sooner than later.

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When things felt right, it only meant there was so much more that could go wrong: Reviewing We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer

Hi everyone! I hope you are all doing well. Life has happened. Things have changed. This blog remains. That’s my quick summary of how events have unfolded for me recently. I’m doing fine and have a lot to look forward to, but transitions are rarely easy. Thankfully, I have books as my steadfast coping mechanism. There are plenty of spooky books to read this October. It’s time the newest addition, We Used to Live Here.

Content Warning: Violence, Some Gore, Disturbing Imagery, Some Strong Language

Eve and her girlfriend Charlie bought an old house to renovate and resell. Eve finds the old house unsettling, but reminds herself that this is only temporary. One night, when Eve is alone in the house, she finds her dealing with some unexpected guests. A man who claims to have once lived in the house wants to give his family a tour. Despite her worry, Eve decides it wouldn’t be so bad to let this man take a trip down memory lane. Once the family sets foot in the house, everything goes wrong. The youngest child goes missing. The layout of the house changes. A ghostly figure appears. Terrified, Eve tries to get the family to leave the house but they don’t seem to want to leave. Worst of all, Charlie goes missing. Eve fears that she is going insane as her reality begins to change and the house won’t let her go.

We Used to Live Here is such an interesting take on the classic “the house is wrong” trope. It’s part liminal space horror, part supernatural horror, and part internet mystery all wrapped up in a dynamic narrative. Marcus Kliewer does a great job toying with ambiguity throughout this novel. That, to me, is what makes a story truly scary, or unsettling, at least. There is just enough in the material to give you a good idea of what’s happening, but there is not enough to give you any certaintly as to what is actually happening. There’s also these random little mysteries planted throughout the book, like Morse code lines, that make it all the more intriguing. It combines a lot of the things I like about online “creepypastas” without being obnoxious or heavy handed. It’s safe to say that I truly enjoyed We Used to Live Here and think you should add it to your TBR pile ASAP.

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I am no garden, but the woods, and if you ever come near me again, every bit of wildness in me will rise up to bite you: Reviewing Grey Dog by Elliot Gish

Hi everyone! Happy October! We are officially in spooky season! I wanted to kick it off with something interesting. There will be plenty of horror reviews coming up soon. I hope you are all excited! Let’s talk about Grey Dog.

Content Warning: Violence, Gore and Mutilation, Sexual Content, Sexual Assault, Miscarriage and Stillbirth, Child Death, Animal Death, Psychosis, Domestic Violence, Child Abuse, Discussions and Depictions of Misogyny

1901. Ada Byrd accepts a position as a school teacher in the tiny, rural town of Lowry Bridge. Eager for a fresh start, Ada quickly integrates herself into the town. She develops friendships, teaches her students about nature, and begins to feel confident in herself. Lowry Bridge, though, is not what it seems. Ada begins to experience strange things. She hears a disembodied voice. She sees animals mutilate themselves. Ada begins to believe that a mysterious entity, called the grey dog, is the one causing these disturbing things. Ada fears she is slowly unraveling after doing everything she can to hold herself together. One’s true nature, though, can only be hidden for so long.

Grey Dog is a slow-paced, atmospheric tale of oppression, madness, and the power of nature. Gish does a wonderful job building tension and creating uncertainty throughout the novel, which is told through Ada Byrd’s diary. She captures the spirit of rural Gothic horror with unabashed, gory detail. There is an underlying commentary, though, about the oppression experienced by women and the extreme lengths we have to go through to “unlearn” society’s standards. With that being said, it is also a bit of a cautionary tale against losing oneself completely. Grey Dog is ambiguous enough to allow the reader’s imagination to run wild, without avoiding the grotesque and macabre. This book would be the perfect way for you to kick off spooky season. I would hate for Grey Dog to go unrecognized so I implore you to read this novel as soon as possible.

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I’m in your blood and your are in mine: Reviewing Blood on Her Tongue by Johanna Van Veen

Hey everyone! It’s time to get a head start on spooky season! I was going to hold off on this book until October, but I got too excited. I’ll have plenty of other books to review if you aren’t interested in horror. If you want some thrills and chills, then stick around. It’s time to talk about Blood on Her Tongue.

Content Warning: Blood and Violence, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Disturbing Imagery, Loss of a Child, Grief and Mourning, Mental Health Crises, Discussions and Depictions of Misogyny

Lucy is living a quiet life as a lady’s companion. Her peaceful existence is disrupted when she receives disturbing letters from her twin sister, Sarah. Soon after, she receives word that Sarah has fallen ill. In her delirious state, Sarah keeps rambling on about a strange old corpse that was found on her husband’s estate. Lucy must figure out how this discovery ties to Sara’s condition. Sarah, though, suddenly becomes violent. To protect her beloved twin, Lucy must work quickly to figure out what happened to her sister. In doing so, she will confront the darkness that lies in her sister and herself.

Blood on Her Tongue was absolutely not what I expected, and that is what I loved about this novel. I thought this was going to be a Gothic vampire novel. It is, indeed, a Gothic novel. Johanna Van Veen does a wonderful job creating a dark, tense atmosphere full of blood and secrets. It is, however, not a vampire novel, and that surprised me in the best way. I won’t spoil the “twist,” but I will say that I loved how this book steered away from being predictable or trope-laden. I loved the little bits of dark humor and all of the subversive scenes that are sprinkled throughout this novel. It does fall in the realm of “Good for her” horror, in the same way that Midsomar does. (If you know, you know.) I really don’t want to give away too much because this is a book that simply must be experienced. If you are going to choose any book to read for spooky season, I implore you to choose Blood on Her Tongue.

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We were monsters once…: Reviewing And Then I Woke Up by Malcolm Devlin

Hi everyone! I got lucky and had an unexpected day off today. Obviously, that means I’m going to do some serious catching up on my TBR pile. It hasn’t been this out of control in a while. I’m not going to be out of material for a while. Now that I have finished a book, let’s talk about And Then I Woke Up.

Content Warning: Violence, Disturbing Imagery, Strong Language

The world ended when diseased monsters ran rampant and killed innocent people. At least, that’s what they were told. A disease spread across the world, but what it did was affect how people perceive reality. Spence is one of the “cured,” living in Ironside, a massive rehab facility that is essentially a prison. He decides that he belongs here, away from the guilt and shame. A mysterious new inmate named Leila asks him to help her escape so she can find her crew of survivors. Spence agrees, drawn by her enigmatic past. Now, outside of his carefully designed world, Spence must reconcile with the past and confront the reality of the horrors he faced and caused.

Someone can rarely take a genre as straightforward as zombie survival and make it new. Malcolm Devlin, though, does just that. And Then I Woke Up serves as more of an allegory about propaganda and perspective, rather than a gory zombie tale. This book is about one unreliable narrator talking to another unreliable narrator, who is also relying on other unreliable narrators for their survival. It’s a quick, punchy read with plenty of dizzying moments of uncertainty and emotional whiplash. That is what made this book so effective in its message. There are still gory details here and there, along with dramatic scenes of fighting hoards of infected monsters, Those scenes, though, are not what makes this book so interesting. It really is a character study that examines the horrors of not being able to rely on one’s own mind. With this being a shorter one, it would definitely be a great book if you need to get out of a reading slump. It’s safe for me to recommend And Then I Woke Up if you want a unique horror read.

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Day or night, dead was dead: Reviewing Brother by Ania Ahlborn

Hey everyone! I’m back again! I’m on a bit of a roll with finishing books and I intend to keep the momentum. I’ll get to my longer books sooner than later, but I have a couple of shorter ones I want to finish. Ania Ahlborn is an author I have been wanting to read for a while now. I have a soft spot for female horror authors so I want to discover as many as I can so I can then pass along recommendations to all of you. With that being said, it’s time to talk about Brother.

Content Warning: Violence and Gore, Strong Language (including slurs), Sexual Assault, Child Abuse, Incest, Distrubing Imagery

The Morrows live deep in the Applachian mountains, tucked away from civilization where they can carry out their crimes. Girls go missing and no one thinks to look where the Morrows live. While the rest of the family takes sick joy in hunting these girls, Michael wants nothing more than to live a normal life. He fantasizes about seeing the rest of the world, far away from the suffocating landscape of West Virginia. One day, Michael meets Alice who also has hopes of seeing the world. Just as Michael dares to hope that his dreams might come true, his old brother plots to show Michael where he truly belongs.

This was one of the nastier books I have read in a bit, and I have read plenty of gross books in my life. That statement, though, is a compliment in this case. Ania Ahlborn creates a violent and hauting tale of a twisted family of serial killers in the 1970s. Every character felt more human than I expected, but they all still creeped me out in every sense. Ahlborn does an excellent job balancing the humanity of the characters and gruesome, stomach-churning violence. There was a bit of a twist towards the end that, while a tiny bit predictable, made this all the more tragic. I am glad that this was my first foray into Ania Ahlborn’s novels. Once I recover from this one, I will definitely check out another book by her. If you are a fan of gruesome family dramas, then this certainly the novel for you.

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Fun Is Guaranteed!: Reviewing FantasticLand by Mike Bockoven

Hi everyone! I’m back yet again with yet another review! I know, I know; hold the applause and surprise. I’m glad, though, that you are all still enjoying these and engaging with my posts. Thank you all to my new followers and my long-time followers! I appreciate every single one of you and am happy to keep you entertained. Now, let me entertain you with my review of FantasticLand.

Content Warning: Violence and Gore, Strong Language, Disturbing Imagery, Discussions of Sexual Assault

In September 2017, FantasticLand, a beloved theme park, was struck by the enormous power of Hurricane Sadie. The hurricane laid waste to the Florida coast and left about 200 employees stranded in the park for five weeks. During that time, chaos reigned and once-civil theme park workers turned to murder. When they were rescued, the media circus that followed left a gruesome imprint on America’s imagination. Now, nearly ten years later, reporter Adam Jakes is determined to find out what really happened by asking the survivors. What he finds out is more horrifying than anything than he had imagined.

FantasticLand spends most of its narrative dancing between semi-believable and pretty unbelievable. The overall setup is interesting and I like how the novel is told through different testimonials. Each character’s voice is unique and there were a lot of interesting connections made throughout the novel. Where it sort of lost me was close to the end where the book has some weirdly convenient plot points, like the park having a stockpile of guns or a real working cannon. There were some other unnecessarily gruesome points that kind of took away from the initial premise of people stuck in a theme park trying to survive. That alone would have been interesting, but the book veered too much into “creepypasta” territory for me and took me out of the interesting parts that dealt with survival and bonding. With all of that being said, I am not going to not recommend FantasticLand. It had enough thrills to keep me entertained. I will say that this book is the most ideal for any fans of survival horror.

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