David Niall Wilson's Blog, page 5

August 2, 2022

Review of Natalie Glasgow – by Hailey Piper

This is a great take on a possession story. All of the characters are well defined, and the scares are real as Maragaret Willow races to unwind the mystery of what has taken control of 11 year old Natalie before it consumes her from within. Frustrated at each turn, the story winds through Catholic lore, spiritualism, and, in the end, much darker places.

There is a heat, and a hunger, that will not be satiated. There is very little chance of success. The imagery is stunning and oh-so-chilling with a young girl’s life, and that of her would be savior, ont the line.

I listened to the audiobook and was entranced by the articulate, precise narration of Gemma Amor. It was abolutely perfect for this story and lent it an air of reality that a less – elegant? – voice might not have managed.

Highly recommended, and having read several of the author’s works in recent months, showing a range that is formidable.

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Published on August 02, 2022 12:03

August 1, 2022

Review of LITTLE EVE by Catriona Ward

Little Eve is a remarkably complex novel where truth blends to fantasy and back to darker truth continuously. One moment you are caught up in a great power and the next you are brought back to earth in a more mundane reality that still hints it might be false.

Children have been taken to a castle on an island, separated from the mainland by a gate with no fence that is constantly locked. One man suspects the truth, but is unable to prove it. Eve is the key, and also the lock. Unwilling to be completely drawn into her Uncle’s dark world and simultaneoulsly drawn and driven there regardless of her efforts to be free.

The rituals and darkness are deep and binding. The torn lives and hearts of those drawn and trapped there are intriguing and tantalizing. The setting is bleak, and the entire story takes place against a backdrop of the prejudices of the village beyond the gate, and the few who live there and interact with the island.

This is not a happily ever after story, it is a disturbing on many levels. It feels fantastic and all too real and is one of those books I am always searching for. One that leaves me staring at the wall after reading it, lost in thought and sort of sad as the last words slip away.

Highly Recommended.

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Published on August 01, 2022 09:21

July 29, 2022

Review of TRUE CRIME by Samantha Kolesnik

I am not sure if I just read a story, or if I just refueled the tanks of whatever generates the worst nightmares… the ones where humans are the monsters. This starts out brutal, with a slight hint of Jack Ketchum, and then takes off.

I honestly had no idea what to expect from this book. There aren’t enough trigger warnings in the world to prepare you for it. You can feel your mind in those of the characters the protagonist interacts with, and you can sense the way you want things to shift, the things at least on the side of the barriers of light and darkness that feel sane. Suzy is a very straightforward, honest character. Her life would have killed most others. You get the sense she would not have minded if it had killed her.

The killing that happens seems almost incidental. The bruality raises the hairs on your arms and neck, but is not the story. It’s just there, and bleak and realistic to a point that pushes aside the walls we create so we can pretend that there is good in everyone, and that people can always change.

And I am left to mourn those that Suzy, and Lem, never would… with no closure. I will not forget this any time soon.

Highly recommended and brilliant, but you’ve been warned.

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Published on July 29, 2022 13:23

July 24, 2022

Review of The Hideous Book of Hidden Horrors

The Hideous Book of Hidden Horrors, released by Bad Hand Books and edited by Stoker Award-winning editor Doug Murano, is a solid collection of very diverse voices and styles. It is rare, as a reader, that I run across a book where more than half of the stories truly resonate for me… this book is one such. It has ups and downs, like any anthology, but what is up, and what is down will naturally vary from reader to reader. Quick notes on the stories below, but the standouts for me are Cynthia Pelayo’s “Roses in the Dark,” Zoe Stage’s “What’s Missing,” “Still Life with Bones,” by Andy Davidson, “The Things We Did, We Did, Were All for Real,” by John F. D. Taft, Hailey Piper’s “When I Catch You,” “Peripheral Vision,” by Richard Thomas, “Dungeon Punchinello,” by Josh Malerman and my personal favorite from this collection – Jonathan Lees’ “They are Still Out There, You Just Can’t See Them Anymore.” All of the stories are well-written, and the variety feels just right.

“The Pelt,” by Annie Neugebauer – The appearance of a mysterious object drives a wedge between a husband and wife. Growing madness and creeping dread.

“Wish Wash,” by Sarah Read – Sort a combination of folklore and bad deals with worse things. Bad decision horror with a twist.

“When I Catch You,” by Hailey Piper – Relationships are hard. Broken relationships can be dark. Ghosts, hauntings, stalking. And that’s just the start…

“What’s Missing?,” by Zoje Stage – I guarantee that anyone caught in a rut will be left with… thoughts. Very cool story.

“Still Life with Bones,” by Andy Davidson – This is another quietly disturbing story. As in Zoje Strange’s piece in the same book… it leaves you thinking about the past & future and… things.

“The Things We Did, We Did, Were All for Real,” by John F.D. Taff – Elder Gods and telephones. Another concept that left me with images to ponder. Well done.

“Mooncake,” by Lee Murray – Ghosts… memories… and greedy friends. Very creepy story.

“Dungeon Punchinello,” by Josh Malerman – This story reminds me of why after watching Hostel, foreign travel lost some of its appeal. And I love puns.

“Below the Wildflower Hill: Sara Tantlinger – The lone poem in the volume, this is very creepy, but flows beautifully.

Don’t Open the Cellar Door: Jo Kaplan – Great message at the end of this… sad mom/daughter relationship.  And the world has a shitload of history…

Roses in the Attic,” by Cynthia Pelayo – This is such a good story. Subtle nods to so many things, a bittersweet  backdrop, books, fairy tales, family… and so dark.

“Peripheral Vision,” by Richard Thomas – very creepy story involving phobias, and catch-and-release bugs. A hint of the Lovecraftian. Good stuff.

“Haunted Inside,” by Gabino Iglesias – A Tricky story that starts out as if it will be one thing and then… it’s another.

“Counting Tunnels to Berry,” by Alan Baxter – This felt like it could be an episode of The Twilight Zone. Could almost hear Rod Serling’s explanations…

“Annie’s Heart is a Haunted House,” by Todd Keisling – It’s never a good idea to forget the sins of your past, or those you’ve hurt (even when you were young). Ghosts and more.

“They Are Still Out There, You Just Can’t See Them Anymore,” by Jonathan Lees – This is a multi-level story, hinting at many sorts of darkness. Creepy in the way that leaves hairs standing on end. Very well done.

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Published on July 24, 2022 10:02

July 22, 2022

Review of Children of the Dark by Jonathan Janz

Will’s life is not easy. It all begins when they win a baseball game, and then everything starts sliding downhill. Will’s father is gone. His mother likes pills a little too much… the girl he likes and who likes him is dating an old, bigger bully…his little sister needs him to basically raise her… and that’s just life on a normal day.

When ancient legends start slipping into his reality, the every bully in town targets him, and a serial killer who eats children is suddenly loose, Will and his friends run straight ahead into a line of horrors, bad luck and more, each new challenge slapping them harder.

Children of the Dark is part coming of age, part monster movie tribute, with a hint of Lovecraft and a heavy dash of Stephen King. It builds from a tense beginning to a lightning-round finish that reminds me of the hero from Sharknado looking to the future, and the last words of David Boreanaz at the end of ANGEL.

I listened to the audiobook, and Matt Godfrey does a masterful job of voicing a wide variety of charcters, slipping from one to another with ease and creating real characters you come to care about, even if Will is the luckiest and least attentive action hero in history.

Children of the Dark is Highly recommended and a ton of fun.

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Published on July 22, 2022 11:06

July 11, 2022

Review of BLACK MOUTH by Ronald Malfi

Jamie and Dennis Warren grew up in a home on the outskirts of the fields leading to the abandoned mine the locals call “Black Mouth,” where a tragedy far in the past has left a dark scar. Terrorized by a violent, drunken father, they found ways to cope. Many years have passed since Jamie moved away, but now he’s been called back. His mother is dead, and Dennis, who is not capable of caring for himself, has been left alone.  Except – Jamie doesn’t want to go back.

Fighting his own battle with alcohol, he is horrified by the thought of facing the home where so many horrible things happened to him as a child, and the guilt of leaving Dennis behind. He can’t leave Dennis there alone, so, in the words of Dennis himself, “Jamie Warren is home.” Not just Jamie, though. His childhood pals Clay and Mia turn up, and readers are led through the strange events that drove them all apart and away from Black Mouth, and the dark magician who haunts their memories.

Following trails through carnivals with purple hippos and broken dreams, and crossing paths with other’s the magician has left in his wake, the four childhood companions are forced to face their deepest darkness and hope not to be swallowed whole.

Highly recommended.

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Published on July 11, 2022 17:56

July 6, 2022

Review of The Worm & His Kings by Hailey Piper

The Worm and His Kings manages to be both an intriguing, Lovecraftian story with plenty of darkness, strange creatures, and a wealth of lore, but also a very human piece touching on important themes and issues without letting them disrupt the story.

I felt Monique’s frustration with so many things, followed the interactions and relationships as they developed, and found her to be a true hero by the end.

And that ending… trust me when I tell you you won’t see THAT one coming.

Highly Recommended.

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Published on July 06, 2022 13:44

June 28, 2022

Review of “We are Here to Hurt Each Other” by Paula D. Ashe

In her afterword, Paula D. Ashe states that she feels, at times, like telling readers NOT to read this book, to find and read anything else. Because it will hurt. As a reader, and an author, I believe the truth is deeper than that. It has to hurt to “write” the stories. There is no way to know how a reader will respond, just a deep-seated wish that they will react.

This is a powerful collection. It would not be possible to paint the vivid familial and work-related relationships, conflicts, betrayals and horror contained in these stories without a wealth of experience, whether personal or from close observation. This is writing, in other words, that matters. Even if it never mattered to anyone but the author, this is what it’s about when it’s most powerful. Putting the things that matter into words and bringing them to life.

I’m not going to do one of those story-by-story breakdowns because it’s too simple to drop a spoiler, and because nothing I say will do more than her words to present each. I will say that my favorites of the collection are “Exile in Extremis,” (Kudos for inclusion of the King in Yellow) “Jacqueline Laughs Last in the Gaslight,” and “Telesignatures from a Future Corpse,” which is the final story in the book, and would make a great film.

There are recurring themes of addiction, obsession, loss of children, loss of sanity. There are no happy characters in this book with the possible exception of Jaqueline… but you’ll have to decide that on your own, for her and her Deacon…

I have read collections by seasoned authors that don’t touch the quality of this writing. Very much looking forward to reading more from the author. Would not be surprised to see this one win awards.

Highly Recommended

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Published on June 28, 2022 09:23

June 27, 2022

Review – Mapping the Interior by Stephen Graham Jones

his is the kind of story I love. The first person narration, just telling the story, filling in the details so perfectly you can hear the dogs beyond the fence next door. You can see the bullies, sense the bond between brothers, and the wistful memories of a lost childhood… you can feel a boy’s wish that his father’s dreams could have come true, but also the realization of who and what that father was.

This is a story about family, and ghosts. It’s a story about love and loss, hope and action figures. It’s a story with heart. I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Eric G. Dove. This is a five star novella, but I think there was a slight disconnect on casting. I’ve loved many books Dove narrated, but in this one, he reads in a slightly forced Native American accent. I see the reason for that, but I think it would have played better if he had performed it in more of his natural voice. That makers this a rounded up from 4.5.

I can’t recommend this story enough.

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Published on June 27, 2022 19:15

June 26, 2022

Review of Sunray Alice by Jeremy Hepler

Full disclosure, I am the current publisher of this book. We acquired it when another publisher closed their doors suddenly, so this was my first chance to read / listen to the story. This is a great book. Jeremy Hepler, more known for darker works, has delivered a story with history, heart, and passion.

When four Nazi prisoners escape an internment camp near a small Texas town named Sunray, it sets a sequence of events in action with consequences to nearly every resident. Sunray is heavy on churches and saloons. Alice, whose father died in the war, finds herself pitted against an array of unexpected events, rival kids, her mother and her memories that would send most adults reeling.

The secret she uncovers, and fights for, is remarkable. The characters feel gritty, and real, and the relationships are clearly defined, steering the action. Told from the POV of Alice as an old woman, to a younger woman named Emily, this is a story you won’t soon forget.

And though it’s not always the case, this is a book where you don’t want to miss the author’s notes. How the story came to be, what it means to him, are all important.

The narrator, Cathi Colas, is the perfect voice, able to bring young and old Alice to live, as well as a fairly complex group of others seamlessly.

Highly recommended.

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Published on June 26, 2022 13:09