Year in Review: 2018

It's that time of year again. . .
Here are my Top Ten Favorite Books that I read this year:
(4 novels, 1 novella, and 1 short story were published this year and 4 novels were published prior to this year)

1. The Girl in the Moon by Terry Goodkind [2018]

2. The Hard Bounce by Todd Robinson

3. The Harvest by John Leahy [2018]

4. Hellraiser: The Toll by Mark Alan Miller [2018 Short Story]

5. The Last Hellfighter by Thomas S. Flowers [2018]

6. The Lion's Game by Nelson DeMille (Book #2 in the John Corey series)

7. Plum Island by Nelson DeMille (Book #1 in the John Corey series)

8. Scapegoat by Adam Howe & James Newman [2018]

9. The Spy Who Came for Christmas by David Morrell

10. Trouble's Child by Terry Goodkind [2018 Novella - the Prequel to The Girl in the Moon]

If I were to choose a #1 favorite, that honor would go to:

The Girl in the Moon (my favorite book of 2018 - for the sheer rawness of it) with The Last Hellfighter being a close second.

and The Lion's Game (my favorite non-2018 book of the year)

Here are my Top 10 Favorite Films that I watched this year:
(6 were released this year and 4 were released prior to this year)

1. Better Watch Out (if you haven't seen this one yet, now would be a great time to watch it)

2. Blindspotting [2018]

3. Brawl in Cell Block 99 (If I remember correctly, this was the first movie that I watched this year, and it has remained one of my favorites)

4. Overlord [2018]

5. A Quiet Place [2018]

6. Sicario 2: Day of the Soldado [2018]
(a sequel that surpasses the first one!)

7. Summer of '84 [2018]

8. Thelma

9. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

10. Upgrade [2018]

If I were to choose a #1 favorite, that honor would go to:

Blindspotting (my favorite film of 2018) with Sicario 2 being a close second.

and Brawl in Cell Block 99 (my favorite non-2018 film of the year)

May you all have a very Merry Christmas and have a Blessed, Happy, and Healthy 2019!

Jason

P. S. All of the book covers and movie posters have been posted on my Google+ and MeWe Profiles.

The Spy Who Came for Christmas

If you are having a difficult time getting into the Christmas spirit this year, then consider this my gift to you. (Seriously, if I could purchase a physical copy for everyone, I totally would - it's that good!)

This book is a spy thriller/siege story, chock full of action, that jumps back and forth with an interwoven "espionage" tale of the Three Wise Men. This book will definitely put you in the Christmas spirit!

War for the Planet of the Dead [Book Review]

Planet of the Dead continues. . .

Genre - Apocalyptic Horror/Zombie
Year Published - 2018
Length - 170 (digital) pages
Written by +Thomas S Flowers

Plot Summary:
Following the events of Planet of the Dead, survivors of the expanding outbreak take shelter in homes, and bunkers, and apartment complexes. Across the world, armed police and military struggle to maintain safety. Tensions mount as the worst imaginable comes to pass when nuclear weapons are used on civilian populations overrun with the living dead. Soon afterward, a coup mounts between warring factions of Generals, ruining the best-laid plans of two AWOL soldiers, a cybernetically enhanced veteran, and a scientist, forcing them to fight both humans and flesh-eating hordes of undead as they seek refuge from a planet plagued by war.

Review:
The bar has been set pretty high this year, and unfortunately, this one did not really live up to my expectations. It didn't help that just a couple of months ago Flowers released The Last Hellfighter, one of my favorite books of the year. That one was superior in every way!

I really enjoyed Planet of the Dead, however I just wasn't feeling this one. With that said, there are still some enjoyable moments in this one. Particularly, Polk's new prosthetic arm, Amy Horrigan's news coverage on the Siege of Washington, and the disturbing new religious cult that is forming.

There are going to be several more books in this series, so if you enjoyed the first one as much as I did, you are going to still want to read this one, as I am hoping for greater things to come!

Rating: 3/5 Skulls

Scapegoat [Book Review]

Scapegoat - yet another phenomenal book! (I am going to have a tough time narrowing down a "best of" list, at the end of the year.)

Genre - Horror
Year Published - 2018
Published by Honey Badger Press
Length - 224 (digital) pages
Written by Adam Howe & James Newman

Plot Summary:
March 29, 1987. . . For metalheads Mike Rawson, Lonnie Deveroux, and Pork Chop, an RV road trip to Wrestlemania III becomes a one-way ticket to hell. While delivering an illegal shipment of counterfeit wrestling merchandise, an ill-fated shortcut through the Kentucky backwoods leads them to a teenaged girl carved head to toe in arcane symbols. Soon our unlikely heroes are being hunted through the boonies by a cult of religious crazies who make the Westboro Baptists look like choirboys. . . a cult that will stop at nothing to get the girl back and complete a ritual that has held an ancient evil at bay for centuries. . . Until now.

Review:
I am a huge fan of Adam Howe's work. (He has never written a bad book!) If you have read his stories before, then you know how difficult it is to peg him into one genre. This is not a problem with this book. This one is straight-up horror! (No need to worry though, as there are still plenty of Howe's signature twisted moments of humor.)

As for Newman, I had not yet read anything by him, though his name has been on my radar (I own Odd Man Out, I just haven't read it yet - that's going to change.)

The collaboration of these two authors is near perfect, and you will understand why once you have read the Story Notes (another Howe staple).

On with my review. . .

First, I just have to say that any book that starts off with a Stryper quote from To Hell with the Devil is a win in my book.

After a completely harrowing Prologue, we are introduced to the main characters of the story - three best friends, since highschool (who formed the Metal Band Wrathbone), who are reuniting years later (the year is 1987) for an RV roadtrip to WrestleMania III (to watch the epic battle between Hulk Hogan and Andre the  Giant). Along the way, they of course end up getting lost and end up taking a shortcut through the woods, and we all know that nothing good ever comes from doing that!

Being a fellow metal-head, I immediately connected with these characters, each of whom are fleshed out enough where you truly care what happens to them. As for the story itself - it is written at a break-neck pace and ultimately hits you like a locomotive! There is an ominous, terrifying portent given half-way through the book and from there on out it becomes a rising crescendo of horrific insanity. (Chapter 47 is extremely difficult to get through!) And the end. . . I just thought to myself that Clive Barker would be proud!

Rating: 5/5 Skulls

Collected Halloween Shorts: Trick r' Treat [Book Review]

Collected Halloween Shorts: Trick r' Treat
Genre - Horror/Anthology Collection
Year Published - 2017
Length - 304 (digital) pages
Stories Collected by +Kevin J Kennedy

Plot Summary:
If you love horror, Halloween is probably your favourite time of the year. Well… It’s ours, too.

A mixture of authors from Collected Christmas Horror Shorts and Collected Easter Horror Shorts have come back together, and invited a few friends, to make this Halloween an extra special one.

Lock your door, dim your lights, add some pumpkin spice to whatever you are drinking and light your jack-o’-lanterns. This will be a Halloween you will never forget.

Table of Contents

John R. Little - The Halloween Phantoms
Lisa Morton - Pumpkin Rex
Richard Chizmar - Mister Parker
Christopher Motz - The Halloween Playground
Kevin J. Kennedy - Halloweenland
Mark Cassell - A Story of Amber
Peter Oliver Wonder - Dressed For Success
Christina Bergling - Black Widow
Stuart Keane - Hollowed Be Thy
Andrew Lennon - Girlfriend
Briana Robertson - Trick Turned Treat
James Matthew Byers - Jenny Greenteeth
J.C. Michael - The First Shot
Mark Lukens - The Coffin Man
Suzanne Fox - The Devils Fruit
Steven Stacy - Don't Fear the Reaper.

Review:
16 horror tales - perfect for this time of year!

The stand-out stories within this collection, for me, are as follows:

Christina Bergling's (horrifying!) "Black Widow"
Mark Luken's "The Coffin Man" (has a Get Out feel to it)
Lisa Morton's "Pumpkin Rex"
John R. Little's "The Halloween  Phantoms"
and Kevin J. Kennedy's "HalloweenLand" (this one reminded me of Richard Laymon's The Traveling Vampire Show)

Another stand-out story is Andrew Lennon's "Girlfriend". This one has a story-within-a-story (Intruder) woven within which elevates it to a 5-Skull story.

Other great stories included are:

Richard Chizmar's "Mister Parker" (this one has a good twist)
Suzanne Fox's "The Devil's Fruit"
James Matthew Byer's (excellent poem) "Jenny Greenteeth"
Briana Robertson's (erotic) "Trick Turned Treat"
Stuart Keene's "Hollowed Be Thy"
and Peter Oliver Wonder's "Dressed for Success"

The other four stories are good as well, I just liked the above stories more.

Rating: 4/5 Skulls

Infestation [Book Review]

Genre - Creature Feature
Year Published - 2017
Published by Severed Press
Length - 139 (digital) pages
Written by +William Meikle

Plot Summary:
It was supposed to be a simple mission. A suspected Russian spy boat is in trouble in Canadian waters. Investigate and report are the orders.

But when Captain John Banks and his squad arrive, it is to find an empty vessel, and a scene of bloody mayhem.

Soon they are in a fight for their lives, for there are things in the icy seas off Baffin Island, scuttling, hungry things with a taste for human flesh.

They are swarming.

And they are growing.

Review:
This book is just what the doctor ordered. After finishing the last (600+ pgs.) novel that I read, I was in the mood for something light & fun, and this book delivered! I was able to just sit back, with my bag of Mackie's Haggis & Cracked Pepper potato chips, and enjoy the first adventure of Meikle's "S-Squad" (a Scottish Special Forces team).

In this mission, the team comes across giant isopods (crustaceans). You definitely do not want to be bitten or scratched by one of these things! The action within the story is fast and furious. (Now that I've written that, this book is kind of like a Fast & Furious film - mindless entertainment, and I mean that in a good way!) In fact, this story would make for a great SyFy movie.

This is Book 1 in the S-Squad series, and I am thrilled that there are already several more!
(Meikle must be pumping these out pretty quickly as this one was just released last year.)

So that I can come back to this review, I am going to go ahead and list the others here, as I will definitely be reading them:

Book 2 - Operation: Antarctica
Book 3 - Operation: Siberia
Book 4 - Operation: Amazon (to be honest, it was the cover of this one, just recently released, that drew me to this series)

Still to come - Operation: Loch Ness, Operation: Innsmouth, Operation: Rockies, Operation: UR, and Operation: Mongolia.

Good stuff!

Rating: 4/5 Skulls

The Lion's Game [Book Review]

This is Book #2 in DeMille's "John Corey Series" (#1 being Plum Island).

As much as I enjoyed Plum Island, I am going to say that The Lion's Game is even better! (In fact, it has a completely different feel to it, though it is still chock full of Corey's sarcasm and humor.)

Without giving too much away, this one is about a Libyan terrorist with a vendetta. DeMille  does a fantastic job of writing this character. You almost sympathize with him, or at least understand his thirst for retribution.

This one is an action-packed thrill-ride!
Highly Recommended!

The Last Hellfighter [Book Review]

Let's go ahead and add this book as yet another contender for Best Book of the Year.

Genre - Horror/Vampire/History
Year Published - 2018
Published by Darker Worlds Publishing
Length - 394 pages
Written by +Thomas S Flowers

Plot Summary:
In the year 2044, reporters from the Public Relations Ministry gather at the home of Benjamin Harker, the last surviving member of the Harlem Hellfighters.

At the age of 144, he is the oldest recorded man alive. Hidden among them, Clyde Bruner is looking for a different kind of story.

Across the United States, despite the Great Walls and patrol drones built to keep America secure, something has found its way in. And now towns are vanishing during the night.

Entire populations, gone. Only to return after the sun sets, changed, unholy, and lethal. And whatever this evil is, its spreading west. 

According to a bedtime story Bruner’s grandfather told him when he was a boy, Benjamin Harker has seen this before. He’s faced this scourge. Fought this evil. Survived them. Killed them.

From the trenches of the Great War to the jungles of Vietnam to the sands of Iraq, Harker will search his past to save our future. But as each city light extinguishes across the country, is there no time left to stop what's coming?

Review:
Before I review the book, how about the cover? I love this cover - it gets my vote for best book cover of the year. Simple yet terrifying! (for the curious, the cover is by author +Michael Bray)

Thomas S. Flowers (author of Lanmó, The Incredible Zilch Von Whitstein, and Planet of the Dead) has created a riveting story reminiscent of my favorite book of 2016 - Brett McBean's The Awakening. (Reminiscent as to the style of storytelling)

Rich in character development, this is a character-driven story. Being completely honest, I will say that the "horror" within the story is minimal, but when it is there, it is pulse-pounding! (If the Intro to the story doesn't rivet you to the edge of your seat, I don't know what will.)

I thoroughly enjoyed how Flowers takes us back and forth in time, through the memories of the main character, Benjamin Harker. They are kick-started with music from the era that he is remembering. (Brilliant)

Another unique aspect that Flowers has come up with (aside from the surprising revelation of King Tutankhamen) is that his nosferatu/vampires feed off of the mass bloodshed of war. (a very interesting concept)

Flowers has written a truly immersive story that puts you directly into the setting and into the shoes of the characters. Superbly done!

Rating: 5/5 Skulls

Black Lotus Kiss [A Brimstone Files Novel]

"The sky was made of dried blood and the sand was crushed teeth. Fingerbones outlined a pathway and pointed toward an onyx tower, surrounded on all sides by a sea of churning mercury. The tower was made of scales that breathed. . ."

This is an example of what you are in for when reading +Jason Ridler's latest installment of his Brimstone Files series.

Just like the first novel (Hex-Rated) this one is a rip-roaring read! Seriously, I have no idea where time disappears to when reading these stories. One minute you are on page one, and the next you are already fifty pages in.

James Brimstone is, without a doubt, my favorite P. I. (I so cannot wait until the next book is released!)

5/5 Skulls

Bane County: First Moon [Book 3 - Book Review]

Bane County: First Moon [Book 3]
Genre - Horror/Mystery/Werewolf
Year Published - 2018
Length - 462 (digital) pages
Written by +J R Rice

Plot Summary:
Bane County is an Ongoing Saga . . .

Mystery, Suspense, an edge-of-your-seat Thriller with characters you’ll fall in love with. An old-school, heart-pounding, coming-of-age Horror series with 100s of 5-Star Reviews.

Autumn had been a very troubling time for the residents of Bane County, and the arrival of winter and the holiday season was a welcome diversion. Over the past three months, twenty-six people had gone missing in the neighboring wildlife refuge, believed to have fallen victim to a vicious rogue bear. 

Bryce McNeel and Jackson Campbell knew the truth about the missing people and worried that the horrors of autumn wouldn’t end with the coming of winter. In truth, they both sensed that something far worse was on the way. 

With a massive winter storm bearing down on Bane County, Bryce and Jackson feared they’d be fighting more than just the wintry cold. There could be things more chilling than ice and snow in the approaching storm. 

Far to the west, another kind of storm was brewing. A storm of unspeakable horror the likes of which had never been seen. The evil that had been living in the dark forests of Bane County for centuries was now free, and the world would never be the same again.

Review:
First Moon picks up the morning after Returning Moon [Book 2] ends. (As always, I highly recommend reading the prior books before reading this one.)

Bane County is definitely one of my favorite series of werewolf books. I look forward to each new installment. One of the reasons that I enjoy this series so much is that each book varies in tone. While each book has horror elements, each book can also stand within a separate genre. (Book 1 - "Coming-of-Age", Book 2 - "Action-Adventure", and Book 3 can also be classified as "Mystery/Suspense".)

Another reason that makes this series stand above the rest is the Science behind the creatures. (Though I will say that this book runs the closest to lycanthropic mythology, though with a great scientific twist.)

This particular book in the series seems like it does have some extra padding to it. (Which I can easily forgive, since this is part of an on-going saga. I am sure part of holding things back is ultimately for what is yet to come.) With that said, I will say that Rice knows how to dangle the action/suspense/mystery just like the proverbial carrot, while at the same time building the sense of ever impending doom. (Once the outright horror hits its stride, it has a 30 Days of Night vibe to it, which is awesome!)

Rating: 5/5 Skulls

If you enjoyed the first two books, you will definitely enjoy this one as well! If you have yet to read Book 1 [Forgotten Moon], what are you waiting for?!?

Book 4: Hungry Moon will be released mid-2019.

The Black Monday Murders: Volume 2 [Graphic Novel Review]

The Black Monday Murders: Volume 2 (issue #'s 5 - 8) is even better than the first volume! A much faster pace with an ever darkening storyline. There is also quite the bomb drop towards the end! I am definitely looking forward to Volume 3 in September.

The Hard Bounce [Book Review]

If you have seen the multiple quotes that I have posted over the past several days, (over on Google+) then you can pretty much guess that I thoroughly enjoyed this book! If you enjoy Pulpy-Noir style Crime Fiction, then I highly recommend this book. (Though I will warn you that some of the subject matter can be intense and there is a ton of foul language!)

My wife is the one who actually came across this book, at a Library Sale, and she read it before me. The amazing thing is that she enjoyed it just as much as I did! (While she was reading it, she kept telling me it was right up my alley... this is definitely my favorite book that she has recommended to me.)

Here is the book's synopsis:

Boo Malone lost everything when he was sent to St. Gabriel's Home for Boys. There, he picked up a few key survival skills; a wee bit of an anger management problem; and his best friend for life, Junior. Now adults, Boo and Junior have a combined weight of 470 pounds (mostly Boo's), about ten grand in tattoos (mostly Junior's), and a talent for wisecracking banter. Together, they provide security for The Cellar, a Boston nightclub where the bartender Audrey doles out hugs and scoldings for her favorite misfits, and the night porter, Luke, expects them to watch their language. At last Boo has found a family.

But when Boo and Junior are hired to find Cassandra, a well-to-do runaway slumming among the authority-shy street kids, Boo sees in the girl his own long-lost younger sister. And as the case deepens with evidence that Cassie is being sexually exploited, Boo's blind desire for justice begins to push his surrogate family's loyalty to the breaking point. Cassie's life depends on Boo's determination to see the case through, but that same determination just might finally drive him and Junior apart. What's looking like an easy payday is turning into a hard bounce--for everyone.

I am also including the author's information as I had never even heard of ThugLit magazine. (the back of the book states, in big-bold letters, "the debut novel from the Creator of Thuglit")

Todd Robinson is the creator and chief editor of the multiaward-winning crime fiction magazine THUGLIT. His short fiction has appeared in Blood & Tacos; Plots with Guns; Needle Magazine; Shotgun Honey; Strange, Weird, and Wonderful Magazine; Out of the Gutter; Pulp Pusher; Grift; Demolition Magazine; and CrimeFactory. His writing has been nominated for a Derringer Award, short-listed for Best American Mystery Stories, selected for Writer's Digest's Year's Best Writing 2003, and won the inaugural Bullet Award in June 2011.

I was super excited to find out, as I was posting this review on Amazon, that there is another book after this one. Ordered! 😃

The Black Monday Murders [Graphic Novel Review]

The Black Monday Murders is a noir crime, occult mystery comic book published by Image Comics. It is written by Jonathan Hickman and drawn by Tomm Cooker.

This comic was brought to my attention a few weeks ago by +John Ward. [Thank you, John.]

I just finished reading the graphic novel (Vol. 1) which compiles the first four issues (the comic began in 2016). I had to wait a while as the comic was on back-order. It was worth the wait though and I have gone ahead and ordered Vol 2. (issues 5 - 8). Vol. 3 is due out in September.

As soon as you crack open the cover, you are thrust into this story's reality as it states, "Image Comics Presents. . .
A Story of Human Sacrifice".

To quote a line from later in the story, "the history of Wall Street is written in blood... it's an industry built on human sacrifice."

What I found fascinating about this story is the way that it draws you in. You are introduced to the elite of financial families and a detective looking into the murder of one of their own. The story jumps back and forth from past to present which keeps things interesting. Definitely recommended if you enjoy this type of genre!

Just a side-note:
This comic is rated M for Mature Readers (for obvious reasons). The bloodshed is about as graphic as what you would expect. As far as language/nudity, there is minimal in Vol. 1, though after discussing this comic with John, he mentioned that Vol. 2 does get a bit more graphic, so keep that in mind if you decide to read this for yourselves.

Lost Highways: Dark Fictions from the Road [Anthology Review]

Releasing today:
Lost Highways: Dark Fictions from the Road
Genre - Horror/Anthology
Year Published - 2018
Published by +Crystal Lake Publishing
Length - 267 (digital) pages
Edited by D. Alexander Ward

Plot Summary:
It’s dangerous out there. . .on the road.

The highways, byways, and backroads of America are teeming day and night with regular folks. Moms and dads making long commutes. Teenagers headed to the beach. Bands on their way to the next gig. Truckers pulling long hauls. Families driving cross country to visit their kin.

But there are others, too. The desperate and the lost. The cruel and the criminal.

Theirs is a world of roadside honky-tonks, truck stops, motels, and the empty miles between destinations. The unseen spaces.

And there are even stranger things. Places that aren’t on any map. Wayfaring terrors and haunted legends about which seasoned and road-weary travelers only whisper.

But those are just stories. Aren’t they?

Find out for yourself as you get behind the wheel with some of today’s finest authors of the dark and horrific as they bring you these harrowing tales from the road.

Tales that could only be spawned by the endless miles of America’s lost highways.

So go ahead and hop in. Let’s take a ride.

Line-up:
Introduction by Brian Keene
Doungjai Gam & Ed Kurtz — “Crossroads of Opportunity”
Matt Hayward — “Where the Wild Winds Blow”
Joe R. Lansdale — “Not from Detroit”
Kristi DeMeester — “A Life That is Not Mine”
Robert Ford — “Mr. Hugsy”
Lisa Kröger — “Swamp Dog”
Orrin Grey — “No Exit”
Michael Bailey — “The Long White Line”
Kelli Owen — “Jim’s Meats”
Bracken MacLeod — “Back Seat”
Jess Landry — “The Heart Stops at the End of Laurel Lane”
Jonathan Janz — “Titan, Tyger”
Nick Kolakowski — “Your Pound of Flesh”
Richard Thomas — “Requital”
Damien Angelica Walters — “That Pilgrims’ Hands Do Touch”
Cullen Bunn — “Outrunning the End”
Christopher Buehlman — “Motel Nine”
Rachel Autumn Deering — “Dew Upon the Wing”
Josh Malerman — “Room 4 at the Haymaker”
Rio Youers — “The Widow”

Review:
Are you planning one last road trip before Summer ends?  Then be sure to grab a copy of this book before you head out, as it contains 20(!) stories that are sure to entertain you while on the road.

It is difficult to pick a favorite from this collection, though I will say that Bracken MacLeod's Backseat has stuck with me the hardest. (In the heat of summer, you will feel the bitter cold of this winter tale!)

Other favorites include Joe R. Lansdale's Not from Detroit, Robert Ford's Mr. Hugsy, Lisa Kröger's Swamp Dog, Jonathan Janz' Titan, Tyger, Josh Malerman's Room 4 at the Haymaker, and the closing story, Rio Youers' The Widow. (Story placement matters in an anthology, and this last one is a doozy of a story!)

Some other honorable mentions:
Michael Bailey's The Long White Line (a very "Twilight Zone" type of story), Kelli Owen's Jim's Meats (I would have liked more of this story), Nick Kolakowski's Your Pound of Flesh (this one has a good twist), and Rachel Autumn Deering's Dew Upon the Wing.

There are plenty more good stories within this collection, the above were just the standout stories, for me. So, before you hit the road, grab this book and enjoy your travels. Like D. Alexander Ward stated in his dedication to this anthology: the roads are legion and there are such strange sights to see!

Rating: 4/5 Skulls

The Outsider & The President is Missing [Book Reviews]

I read two books while on vacation up in the mountains. Here are my brief reviews:

The Outsider by Stephen King:
It never fails to amaze me that King can still come up with such amazing stories after fifty+ novels! This one is a completely engrossing/engaging mystery with supernatural elements. It is perfectly paced! The greatest praise that I can give this novel is that after I finished reading it, my mother read it afterwards. This speaks volumes! My mother abhors horror - the only other Stephen King novel that my mother has ever read is Cujo (more due to the realism of the story). She never would have read this one, except for the fact that I explained it is 85% a "police procedural" story. So, she gave it a try and was hooked from the get-go! (there were a few times that she wanted to stop reading, but just couldn't - that is how good this story is!) One more thing - later within the story, King alludes to his "Bill Hodges Trilogy". I own them but have not yet read them. I am going to remedy that, quickly.

The President is Missing by Bill Clinton & James Patterson:
I always find it difficult to get into a new book after having finished such a great one. Such was the case after reading The Outsider. I took a couple of other books with me on vacation, but just couldn't get into them. On Tuesday morning, we had to make a run to the grocery store. While there, I picked this book up and was not disappointed! It is a fast-paced read that is smartly written. I would  have liked to have had an inside look at the writing process of this novel. Whose characters were whose? Who came up with what? Still, it was a perfect story to read while on vacation.

Now, what to read next?

Plum Island [Book Review]

If you enjoy murder mysteries, then Plum Island is for you! It is filled with great characters and is chock-full of hysterical one-liners.

I have been familiar with DeMille's name, however this is the first book of his that I have read (and it definitely will not be the last!) You feel as if you are solving the crime right along with the main character. DeMille is extremely descriptive, creating images perfectly in the mind's eye. (Yes, this book would make for a fantastic movie!) The ending accelerates like a bullet fired from a gun, barely giving you enough time to turn the next page.
Highly recommended!

Jason

Trouble's Child & The Girl in the Moon [Book Reviews]

Terry Goodkind returns to the Thriller genre with a vengeance! If you have already read NEST then you know what to expect with these two stories, though if you thought NEST was intense, The Girl in the Moon increases it ten-fold!! (If you have not yet read Nest, it is not necessary to read first, though I do suggest doing so.)

Trouble's Child is a short novella [64 pgs] that is the perfect introduction to the character Angela Constantine. It is not necessary to read before reading [the full-length novel] The Girl in the Moon though it might be a good idea to try it first - if you like it, then you should have no issues with The Girl in the Moon.

The Girl in the Moon could very well be the best thriller/suspense novel of the decade! It has a real, scary premise, and it keeps you on the edge-of-your-seat!  It is darker than any of Goodkind's prior novels, so be prepared. Angela Constantine is a sick/twisted/demented heroine (until you understand her past). There are certain (gruesome) parts that are hard to read, but if you can push through the graphicness, you will be rewarded.

This book contains several intense, riveting, nail-biting, suspenful sequences. It took all of my will power, in certain parts, to not turn the pages and scan ahead. This book reads like a movie! (When you get to the Border Crossing, you will desire to see it on a big screen, rather than just in your head.) If you have read Goodkind's epic fantasy The Sword of Truth series, you will recall Richard's "Dance of Death" with his sword. Angela achieves the same feat, except with guns (think of the "Gun Kata" sequences from the film Equilibrium).

If you plan on reading only one novel this year, I would make it this one!

5/5 Skulls (for both stories)

The Cimmerians [Novella Review]

Theresa Jacobs' follow-up to The Followers

Genre - Horror/Novella(?)
Year Published - 2018
Length - 150 (digital) pages
Written by +Theresa Jacobs

Plot Summary:
When Emersyn fled the big city for a quieter life in the Midwest, she left all her troubles behind – or so she thought. She quickly discovers her quaint new home has a past of its own. Ten years prior a young woman killed herself inside the front door. Since that fateful day, the locals avoided the house. Not one to believe in the supernatural, Emersyn, along with a new friend, take it upon themselves to conduct a seance for answers.
They get much more than they bargained for when they awaken an ancient evil. The same evil that haunted the past resident. 
Now they must scramble with little time to stop it. When Emersyn's past comes back to haunt her, and innocent people get hurt, she has nowhere to turn. Until a police officer inserts himself into her life, together they will do what they can to put an end to the deadly shadows forever.
Can evil this powerful ever truly die?

Review:
Theresa Jacobs has done it again! Her short story The Followers is my favorite story that she has written. (Do not worry - it is included at the end of the book. In fact, I recommend jumping to the back of the book and reading the short story before diving into The Cimmerians)

From the excellent poem that opens the book to the cliffhanger ending - this is one that should not be missed!

You will connect with Jacobs' characters right away, making the fear that they feel much more tangible. This is a tense, atmospheric story and the way that it ends leaves you wanting more!

Rating: 5/5 Skulls

C.H.U.D. Lives! A Tribite Anthology [Book Review]

C.H.U.D. Lives! A Tribute Anthology [Early Review]
Be advised - this is a long one!

This book officially releases on Friday.
I am sure you are aware that I have been anticipating this book's release for over a year now. Since I was able to obtain an advance copy, I thought I would share what made me so eager for this release, before posting my official review on Friday (the below will not be a part of said review).

I believe that it was last summer when author +Franklin E. Wales (my favorite indie author) contacted me that he had submitted a story for a C.H.U.D. tribute anthology. Being a fan of the film, I was immediately excited and asked if he would send me a copy of his story, to which he agreed. The title of his story was Arthur Jackson II and the Forgotten Dream Park aka C.H.U.D. Florida Style Frank's story opens in 1972 in Liberty County, FL at the Gator Kingdom Amusement Park. It then jumps 44 years later leading into present day.

We all know that C.H.U.D. stands for Cannibalistic Humanoid Underground Dwellers and fans of the film will remember the acronym also standing for Contamination Hazard Urban Disposal. Well, Frank has come up with a new one - Central Humanitarian United Defense. . .

Needless to say, Frank's story is fantastic (especially towards the end), and I became even more excited for the anthology. Now, imagine my surprise when Frank told me that his story had not been accepted. (Why, Eric S. Brown?!?)

The good news is that Frank is releasing an anthology of his own, later this year, titled The Forgotten Dream Park and Other Tales of Terror of which the above story will be a part of, so stay tuned for that!

Now, onto Friday's review of C.H.U.D. Lives!
Did it live up to the hype? Read on. . .

Genre - Horror/Anthology
Year Published - 2018 (April 27th!)
Published by +Crystal Lake Publishing
Length - the ARC that I received is 286 (digital) pages
Compiled by Eric S. Brown/Edited by Joe Mynhardt

Plot Summary:
Today’s top Horror and SF authors pay tribute to C.H.U.D. in this anthology of original fiction.

C.H.U.D. is a genre defying, cult classic film featuring monsters living in the sewers below New York. The stories in this anthology expand the world created by the film and add depth to the C.H.U.D. universe like never before. From stories of apocalyptic horror and all out monster action, to tales of underground parties interrupted by uninvited guests and evening strolls that end in death, this anthology will leave you both smiling and breathless.

Relive the fear as these original stories take you beyond the movie to events that occurred before, during, and after the scenes we remember so well.

Includes C.H.U.D. related stories by Jonathan Maberry, Tim Waggoner, JG Faherty, Mort Castle, Michael H. Hanson, Martin Powell, Ben Fisher, Jason White, Chad Lutzke, Ross Baxter, Philip C Perron, David Bernstein, Nick Cato, Alex Laybourne, Christopher Fulbright, Angeline Hawkes, David Robbins, Robert Waters, Greg Mitchell, Ryan C. Thomas, and Eugene Johnson.

With an introduction by David Drake.
Compiled by Eric S. Brown.

C.H.U.D. Lives! also features in-depth interviews with Andrew Bonime (producer) and Parnell Hall (screenwriter), as well as never before seen behind-the-scenes photos from the classic 80s horror film.

Lineup:
Introduction by David Drake
Interview with the late Andrew Bonime
“Dog Walker” by Robert E Waters
“The Dwellers” by Nick Cato
“The City Will Eat You Alive” by Ryan C. Thomas
“Date Night” by David Robbins
“Strange Gods” by Christopher Fulbright and Angeline Hawkes
“Lost and Found” by Greg Mitchell
“They Are C.H.U.D” by Alex Laybourne
“C.H.A.D.” by Michael H. Hanson
“Samsa’s Party” by Ben Fisher
“The Way to a Man’s Heart” by Tim Waggoner
“Dweller Messiah” by Jason White
“That’s Entertainment!” by Mort Castle
“Toxic Disposal” by David Bernstein
“Monstrous Me” by Martin Powell
“Step Ate” by Chad Lutzke
“Zero Hour” by JG Faherty
“The Deuce” by Philip C. Perron
“All at Sea” by Ross Baxter
“You Will Never Leave Harlan Alive” by Jonathan Maberry and Eugene Johnson
Interview with Parnell Hall (screenwriter) by Eric S Brown

This book is dedicated in loving memory to Andrew Bonime, the producer of the C.H.U.D.film.

Review:
First, I just want to say that each of these authors do an outstanding job expanding the C.H.U.D. universe! For example, Robert E. Waters who opens this collection of stories the same way that the film opens, fleshing out the story of the woman walking her dog. Christopher Fulbright & Angela Hawkes' story alludes to a cult that one of the characters in the film was babbling about. Greg Mitchell's story expands on the 6-yr-old girl and her grandfather and explains what they were doing in NY.

Tim Waggoner's story takes place in the Diner from the film. (I just have to say that I loved the character's name Officer "Lumley" - assuming in reference to author Brian Lumley?) Jonathan Maberry & Eugene Johnson's story continues Bosch's (the cop from the film) tale. These are just some of the examples. The only story that I caught that alluded to the abysmal sequel was David Bernstein's gruesome 'Toxic Disposal' (all I will say is that it involves a headless C.H.U.D.)

Just because a story isn't mentioned above, doesn't mean anything (these are just the ones that specifically tie directly into the film). There are several more great, unique stories (involving C.H.U.D. children, a reality show, [Intelligent] C.H.U.D.'s living in a mine. C.H.U.D.'s aboard a cargo ship, etc.)

The majority of the stories in this collection I rated 4 Skulls each - the one exception being Michael H. Hanson's 'C.H.A.D.' - I loved this story - it plays out like a movie in your head!

Whether you are a long-time fan of C.H.U.D. or have never even heard of it, there is something in here for every horror fan to enjoy!

Rating: 4/5 Skulls

Billy [Short Story Review]

Year Published - 2018
Length - 14 (digital) pages
Written by +Ken Preston

Plot Summary:
"Billy were six foot tall and weighed about sixty pounds soaking wet. Paint him white and light him up in the dark he would’ve looked like one of those skeletons you see on Halloween. That’s what Mr Cooper used to say, what he told everyone who came by."

So begins the story of Billy, part of a travelling Freak Show, and told through the eyes of his best friend.
It hurts to look at Billy, but Billy’s best friend believes that if everyone could only get past that hurt they would see Billy was just like them after all. But not everyone thinks that way.
No matter how hard they look, some people just can’t see the real you.

Review:
What makes this short story unique is that it is told from the perspective of Billy's (illiterate) best friend. When Jim (the best friend) describes Billy's giant head, I couldn't help but think of the hilarious lines from Mike Myers' So I Married An Axe Murderer. The way that the story is written makes it fun to read aloud. (I kept reading portions of it to my wife.)

If you are looking for a super quick read while in transit or while waiting for an appointment, this one will easily fill a twenty-minute void.

Rating: 4 Skulls

Hellraiser: The Toll [Novella Review]

I am not sure how this one slipped through the cracks, but it did. Released on Feb. 28th, by Subterranean Press, Hellraiser: The Toll tells the story of what transpired between Clive Barker's The Hellbound Heart (published in '86) and The Scarlet Gospels (published in '15).

The Toll is a short Novella (73 digital pages) that flies at a breakneck pace, from the Prologue all the way through to the Epilogue. The story is by Clive Barker, but the novella is written by Mark Alan Miller(?!?) I am not sure how that works, as there is no explanation. I will say that the book is also available in Hardcover (for $40! - a bit pricey for such a short story). Even though I own both The Hellbound Heart & The Scarlet Gospels in print, being unfamiliar with Mr. Miller, I opted with the considerably cheaper $3 e-book.

Having now read the story though, I will be keeping an eye on the price of the Hardcover as the story is that good! Miller has written a completely engrossing tale, with such a jaw-dropping revelation within the story that I wrote the quote and then deleted it and then rewrote it and deleted it once more. However, I feel that it is best for you to discover it for  yourself.

I will leave you with the book's synopsis:

"Thirty years after Kirsty Cotton escaped from the clutches of the Hell Priest, Pinhead, and lived to fight another day, her life has never been the same. Every few years she fashions a new name, a new identity, and a new home for herself; She is a woman who is running from her past at all costs, which is why it comes as such a surprise when she receives a mysterious letter in the mail, addressed to the woman she’s been running from over half her life. 

Answering the letter’s query, she begins a descent down a rabbit hole to the ultimate confrontation. Her actions stir something unnamable in the ether, and throw her into a game where nothing—not even what she sees in front of her very eyes—can be trusted. 

With equal parts economy and eloquence, author Mark Alan Miller brings to life the beginning of the end as The Toll expands the Hellraiser universe, and shows that before Harry D’Amour’s adventures in The Scarlet Gospels, there was a first witness to Pinhead’s infernal plan."

ENJOY!

Appalling Stories: 13 Tales of Social Injustice [Book Review]

Genre - Fiction
Year Published - 2017
Length - 170 (digital) pages
Written by +David Dubrow, Paul Hair, and Ray Zacek

Plot Summary:
With political correctness gobbling up the culture like a fat kid on his sister's quinceañeracake, where do you go for quality, old-school entertainment? 

Appalling Stories focuses on themes and characters you're just not supposed to read about anymore, using social issues as the setting, not the plot. Inside, you'll read about a disturbing erotic resort that caters to an exclusive clientele, a violent Antifa group biting off much more than they can chew, a serial killer with a furious inch, and a lot more. The authors find message fiction as tedious as you do, and traditional publishing seems intent on shoving favored narratives down readers' throats. This anthology pushes back against PC moralizing, bringing you story above all else. Are you going to let Social Justice Warriors dictate what you can and can't read? Consider this your trigger warning.

Featuring an exclusive foreword by R.M. Huffman, author of Leviathan and Fallen, books 1 and 2 of The Antediluvian Legacy.

Review:
The authors of this collection of short stories could not have picked a more appropriate title. Appalling Stories - that is what you are going to get - No Holds Barred writing - exactly as advertised.

I cannot wholeheartedly recommend this book as this is not be a book that I would normally read. (The reason that I did so is that I am familiar with two of the three authors - Dubrow & Zacek.)
With all of that said, if this book sounds like your cup of tea, then I am sure that you will enjoy it, as the stories are well written.

The top three stand out stories to me are:

1. Bake Me a Cake (by Dubrow)
2. It Doesn't Affect You (by Hair)
3. The Bitterness of Honey (by Dubrow)

I also enjoyed (is that the right word?) Dubrow's Melanie's Becoming, which fell just short of 5 Skulls.

Bake Me a Cake is the very first story in the collection and (for me) the most shocking! If you can stomach your way through this story, the rest should come easier. I think the authors chose well making this the first story, as it perfectly sets up what this collection is all about. There is always two sides to a story... These stories are going to make you uncomfortable and angry!

As for the other stories in the collection - for the most part they are all decent - there were only two that I didn't really care for - the others were each average. The Bitterness of Honey is definitely my favorite story of the bunch!

Rating: 3/5 Skulls

Fallen (Book Two of the Antediluvian Legacy) [Book Review]

It feels like I have not posted a book review in a while. (My wife is a big fan of the Olympics, so while we watched that together, my reading declined, slightly.) Was Fallen worth the wait?

Genre - Fantasy/Biblical Fiction
Year Published - 2017
Length - 349 pages
Written by R. M. Huffman

Plot Summary:
Humankind was commanded to fill the earth and subdue it, and they have obeyed. In doing so, many have forgotten their Creator; thus, Noah of Eden, a preacher of righteousness, has spent the last few centuries as a wanderer in the world, proclaiming the old, true ways.

His mission is interrupted when a brutal, mysterious enemy fans the embers of lust for power into flames of war. Gathering companions, he races to avert disaster where he can, while realizing that in more ways than he could have imagined the earth, and everything in it, is fallen.

Review:
Back in 2016, I was blown away when I read Leviathan (the first book in this trilogy). I am very sad to say that I did not feel the same, this time around. I am not sure if it was because of the lengthy wait, if my expectations were set too high, or simply because the first book was unlike anything else I had read at the time. Whatever the reason, this book fell short of the first one.

After an excellent Prologue, we are introduced to the city of Phempor, where Noah has been spending some time. I only mention this because I wonder if perhaps the Prince of Phempor was perhaps an ancestor of Vlad Tepes?

We then find out that it has been 400 years since Leviathan took place. Enoch, Cain's City, has now become Atlantis (how cool is that?!?) There is also a new Nephilim character, Eroch, introduced - who I love!

After the above, there just seemed to be some kind of disconnect for me. Some of the story seemed incohesive. I was wishing for a map or a timeline, and the story just did not seem as immersive.

Then, about half-way through the book, a huge revelation revealed itself, tying directly back to the end of the first book, and once you get to the part where Noah and Phiaphara are separated from their party by a wyvern attack, the book really picks up its pace!

So while the mid-portion had a bit of a misstep, for me, the latter-half, filled with great war/battle scenes, is terrific.

After flipping back and forth between a 3 and a 4, I ultimately have to give this book 3/5 Skulls.

With all of that said, I am still, very much, looking forward to Remnant! (Book 3 of the trilogy)

Shroud of Eternity [Book Review]

This is a tough one for me to write. . .

Goodkind has now written 21 novels and this is the first one that I feel is not a full five-stars. (Obviously there are some better than others, however I have always felt each book deserved five-stars, until now.)

This book just seemed to be highly repetitive. A lot of the storyline seemed rehashed. Perhaps my patience just wasn't there this time around, but more than once, I just wanted Goodkind to "get on with it" - to stop dragging things out.

With that said, there is still a lot to love about this book. When Goodkind nails it, he nails it!

Just to mention a couple of my favorite aspects, besides the ancient, fabled city of Ildakar (where everything is not as it appears); Goodkind has now introduced the Morazeth (while the Mord-Sith are more intriguing, I am looking forward to finding out more about the Morazeth). Also, you will be introduced to Ixax warriors - 15' high behemoths - each one capable of taking on 1,500 enemy soldiers. Good stuff!

Overall - 4/5 Skulls

Kept [Book Review]

Author Theresa Jacobs writes predominantly in the horror genre, so my interest was peaked when I saw that she wrote a science fiction novel.
What did I think? Read on. . .

Genre - Sci-Fi
Year Published - 2018
Length - 176 (digital) pages
Written by +Theresa Jacobs​

Plot Summary:
Twelve massive ships leave the dying earth, heading into the great unknown, seeking new life among the stars.
One of the ships, GIA, crashes on Kepler, which is already inhabited. Now at the mercy of the alien race, the humans are held in an underground cavern. 
Would they still have gone knowing that they would be stripped of all humanity?
Under the constant eye of the aliens, a few men discover there may be a way out of the cavern. 
But to where? 
How will they escape and what will they encounter if they succeed?

Review:
Jacobs does a good job placing you within the story. She has also come up with some unique "sci-fi" aspects, and there is a touch of mystery involved that keeps you turning the pages, wanting to discover what is happening behind the scenes.

Rating: 3/5 Skulls

A Hero's Birth (Book III of 'The Empire's Foundation' Trilogy) [Book Review]

Genre - Fantasy
Year Published - 2018
Length - 505 (digital) pages
Written by +Ryan Toxopeus​

Plot Summary:
After more than four months abroad, Eliza, Thomas, and Sarentha return home in the face of dire warnings and sweeping changes in the empire. They go their separate ways to reflect on their lives and look for ways to move forward. New allies and enemies emerge, and grave challenges face the up-and-coming heroes. They will need to come together, combining their wits and strengths, to overcome ancient foes. In the balance is the world of Illuma: will it enter an age of light, or will it plunge into everlasting darkness, ruled by demons and the undead?

Review:
Before I get started, if you have not already read A Noble's Quest and A Wizard's Gambit, you need to read those first. In fact, there are a few short stories written between the novels that you need to read as well. Here is the author's recommended reading order:

A Noble's Quest (Book 1)
1100 BGW (a Short Story)
Demon Invasion (a Novella)
A Wizard's Gambit (Book 2)
Dawn: A Dwarven Creation Story (a Short Story Collection)
A Hero's Birth (Book 3)

So, if you have not already been introduced to Toxopeus' world of Illuma, then the above is your gateway. Have fun!

Now, for those of you who have been anticipating the release of this final book in the trilogy. . . man-oh-man, what a doozy!

What I loved the most about this book is that our three heroes start off on three separate quests/journeys, making their ultimate reunion that much sweeter. You will see Thomas begin to fulfill his destiny, Sarentha's becoming a dragon hunter, and Eliza's growth as a leader. And the ending... Whoa! Man, it is difficult to write this review without giving anything away. I better just say this:

Toxopeus has certainly grown as an author. If you like your fantasy filled with intrigue, suspense, and mystery, then this book is for you!

Rating: 5/5 Skulls

Harvest [Book Review]

First Book Review of 2018
Did I pick a winner? Read on to find out.

Genre - Sci-Fi/Horror
Year Published - 2018
Published by Post Mortem Press
Length - 322 (digital) pages
Written by John Leahy

Tagline: "Sometimes being one step ahead is going one step to far."

Plot Summary:
Nick Prentice is a young vice-president at oil company HHI - Hickson Hydrocarbon International. With the company in financial trouble, Nick feels that he may get fired in an upcoming round of cost-cutting. After a chance meeting with Adam Styles, an old high-school football team-mate, Nick thinks he just may have found the answer to all his problems - and the key to untold riches. Adam and his friends have made an incredible scientific discovery that will change Nick's life irrevocably, and the lives of everyone on earth...

Review:
I started off 2013 by reading Leahy's CROGIAN (a sci-fi thriller about giant, mutated bugs). I thoroughly enjoyed that one, so I decided to start this year off with Leahy's Harvest. Now, to be completely honest, if I were not already familiar with Leahy, I am not sure that I would have ever chosen this book based on its description. The description does not do this book justice!

The book begins with a fascinating prologue, (roughly 30 pgs) that starts in 1910 and leads up till today, and then the book really kicks into gear!

At this point, I feel that I need to give you just a little more information than the summary above - it  contains a slight spoiler, but is perhaps necessary in this case. (just skip the next paragraph, if you want to be surprised)

After an incredible scientific breakthrough, a "carbon-planet" has been discovered. Upon this planet, the seas and rivers are comprised of crude oil. Imagine what this means to the oil industry on Earth. . . untold riches!, but at what cost?

end slight spoiler

Leahy has written a totally engrossing story - one filled with treachery, blackmail, and murder. He has harnessed the power of greed and its cataclysmic consequences.

Rating: 5/5 Skulls