Steve Stred's Blog, page 9

Book Review: The Dreams of Demhe by Joseph Sale

Title: The Dreams of Demhe (Lost Carcosa Book Three)

Author: Joseph Sale

Release date: May 8th, 2024

*Huge thanks to Joseph Sale for sending me a digital ARC!*

Apologies, first off, to Joseph. He sent me a digital ARC a while back, but between the number of books I’ve been reading and the diminished reading time I have currently with summer in full effect, I simply didn’t get to this one until now.

I honestly can’t think of a current, modern-day author who is as ambitious as Joseph Sale. Don’t believe me? Or rather, you’ll throw out fantasy writers who write 1,000 page books and put out one every five years. Sale has created wholly unique worlds while also creating interconnected mythology and released epic-poems and developed characters so deep, you can practically see each of the pores on their skin. And then. And then he goes and decides to tackle the King in Yellow mythology. This is book three of his Lost Carcosa series and judging from the build up of books one and two and what we encounter in book three, he’s just getting started. These books fully lean into the erotic-horror side of things, and not so much the fantasy aspect, but Sale still tells us this tale of yearning, love, seeking and whimsical friendships all buried in the rotting corpses of the darkest, most brutal prose that Barker himself ever conceived. In fact, many moments in here will have you wondering if The Hellbound Heart itself was a PG13 read when compared to the onslaught of brutality Joseph unleashes.

And, as this is book three, if you’ve not read the first two, tread carefully going forward, as I’ll try and stay spoiler free, but can’t guarantee that for books one and two.

What I liked: Picking up after the events in book two, we find Alan, the princess and his lover, Cassilda, LeBarron, Petruccio, and Roland in pursuit of Cali, wanting to put an ending to her betrayal once and for all.

Sale’s set things up nicely at this point. We know somethings off with Alan, that he’s beginning to question who he is and where he’s from. We know that the Claw that has taken over his hand speaks to him, wanting him to do unto others horrible things. And we know that Petruccio still is seeking the pigment that creates all.

The majority of the book takes place with the group dealing with dreams and the issues around the dreams there are having as they make their way across the deserts of Demhe.

As this is the third book in the series, we get to see the interpersonal conflict become more of the front and centre aspect, especially as Demhe grabs hold and more of Alan’s history is revealed.

It all leads to the ultimate show down, where Petruccio takes centre stage and his character arc arrives at some answers. It works really well to answer questions, but also ask some that I’m sure book four will address.

What I didn’t like: I found that Cali’s part within this story was minimized compared to the previous two books. Her character is so multi-layered and important to Alan and Cassilda’s narrative, that having her part limited felt like a gap in pushing the narrative forward. Saying that, Sale still does advance Cali’s portion and I’m sure book four will really bring us back around to her role.

Why you should buy this: The scope of these three books is second to none. I know at some point Sale will be doing an omnibus (he’s got a history of them!) and while it’ll probably clock in around 2,000 pages, the reading experience will make you feel like it’s only 200. The prose is silky smooth, the atmosphere heightened and tense, the characters fantastic and engaging and the actual story that Sale is telling is commanding of your attention wholly.

So far, these three books have delivered a bloody mix of action, gore and erotica and throughout every single book, I’ve had a wicked smile on my face.

Now, we patiently wait for the next book in the series.

5/5

Book Review: Thrash Track by Julie Hiner

Title: Thrash Track (Detective Mahoney Series Book 5)

Author: Julie Hiner

Release date: July 28th, 2024

*Huge thanks to Julie for sending me a digital ARC of this one!*

I previously read ‘Devil’s Track’ which is book four in the series, and when I saw Julie had a new one coming out in this world, I was very excited for her. Then, when she asked if I wanted a review copy, I was very excited for me, ha! Excited because I enjoy Julie’s storytelling, love the world she’s created here and the mixture of music and detective narrative work so well together. Couple that with the main character of Stella Mahoney and you know you’re in for a good time. Much like with book four, Hiner indicates that you don’t have to have read any of the prior books and I found that to be true here. While there are some call backs to book four I recognized (and probably some to earlier books), I never felt lost, nor as though I’d need to stop and go back and read prior releases.

What I liked: Taking place in 1999, Stella gets called to a found-body crime scene behind a restaurant near Electric Avenue, the party strip of town. There, they find a victim, who has had their skin removed from their hand and not many other clues.

Hiner does a great job of setting the stage for what’s to come and the expected cat-and-mouse game of detective and killer. Throughout, we get a great look into each of their minds and it works really well that we are essentially shown who the killer is early on and learn about their motives and what makes them tick, while also seeing how Stella works, how her mind works and how her and her partner figure things out.

The highlight of this book (and the previous one) was the character of Stella. Part rocker chick, part strung out detective, part adult grappling with changes in their lives, Stella is masterfully crafted and is very, very relatable. She is the lead singer of the book if you will, the one that has the spot light on them and the one that all eyes are drawn too, no matter the situation.

Hiner easily takes us from 0-100 mph time and time again throughout and the finale of this is, I think, much more put together and fleshed out than Book Four wrapped up (not that the ending there was horrible). This one just left a taste in my mouth and scenes replaying in my brain, which is always what you want in an ending.

What I didn’t like: Actually, in this case, I found at times there were too many music references. They’re purposeful and not only set up different parts of the book, but also pay homage to different groups, but at times it became a bit of a distraction when things were running along and suddenly a real name/group was tossed into the book and it pulled me from the fictional narrative. Minor issue on my end, but something I noticed.

Why you should buy this: This book is a pulse-pounding read. Stella is in deep in this one and Hiner decides that’s not far enough, pushing our main character to the very brink. As she always does, Julie deftly weaves a tale punch full of mystery, complexity and buckets of blood.

Had a total blast with this one!

4.5/5

Book Review: Mickey7 by Edward Ashton

Title: Mickey7 (Mickey 7 #1)

Author: Edward Ashton

Release date: February 15th, 2022

I didn’t know about this novel until I saw the news the movie had been delayed. Crazy right? I mean, I do read sci-fi, just not in any sort of overabundance, but I certainly don’t follow big sci-fi book news or releases and for the most apart, my sci-fi ingestion is mainly from the Big Five Mainstream world, rarely from the indie world, which is kind of the exact opposite of my horror reading patterns. When I read the synopsis, I was sold and grabbed it immediately.

The whole idea of our main character, Mickey Barnes, being an Expendable, just had me hooked and not too long after grabbing it, I dove in, wondering just what I’d encounter.

What I liked: The story follows Mickey, on a distant planet, as some surviving humans attempt to set up a base to colonize the planet and build a new home for some of remaining survivors. There’s been attempts all around the universe – some successful, some not – but this one had all the hallmarks of being the perfect place. Until they arrived and it wasn’t. Mickey, as I mentioned, is an Expendable. What does that mean? It means, they’ve made a fully synthetic and digital version of Mickey Barnes aka #1, and when a job comes up that requires a human to do it, but that will result in them most likely dying, well, they call on Mickey. So, as the title suggests, we pick up with Mickey #7, who just happens to be dying, again.

One thing I typically struggle with while reading horror is humor. It just pulls me out if it’s not done spot on, even sarcasm. Well, this ain’t horror, and apparently, Ashton nailed the sarcasm/humor angle, because I was chuckling throughout. Much like Martha Wells does with her Murderbot series (yes, this feels similarish to that, but also very very different), Mickey’s sarcasm and desire to not die, even when that’s his main job, are front and center and as the story moves along, it works to alleviate tension, but also keep those who hate him pissed off.

There are two main plot points that drive this novel. The first is that somehow, a second Mickey was created. So, in theory, there are two Mickey 8’s, which makes for some hilarious moments. And the second is the strange, insect-like clawed creatures they call ‘creepers’ that seem to be planning to attack the inhabited dome where the humans currently live.

It’s those two storylines that make this for a fun back and forth between what Mickey needs to do and what he wants to do and unexpectedly, the novel asks a lot of philosophical questions about life, death, where our moral compass lies and what exactly, qualifies as a genocide.

What I didn’t like: I had a blast with this one from start to finish, so if I had to try and find something to be nit-picky about, it might be that the description of the dome was fairly weak, so I wasn’t totally sure if it was massive, medium, or mild in size. It would’ve been great to have that discussed more, so the reader would have a sense of scope.

Why you should buy this: This is essentially Murderbot meets The Martian. I really loved Ashton’s writing throughout, the characters were a blast and there was an odd, subtle tension that was held from page one until the very end, a sort of ‘Hey, you, come read this,’ tightness that never relented. And even though there is a sequel, this one ends perfectly to be a standalone singular read, which is always a wonderful thing.

5/5

Book Review: Daughters of Cruelty by L.J. Dougherty

Title: Daughters of Cruelty

Author: L.J. Dougherty

Release date: August 6th, 2024

*Huge thanks to L.J. for sending me a digital ARC of this one!*

‘In the Italian language, giallo is a genre of novel including any literary genre involving crime and mystery, with all its sub-genres such as crime fiction, detective story, murder mystery, or thriller-horror.’

The giallo. Whether movie or book, this is a genre of work that I am wholly unfamiliar with. In fact, I believe the only piece of giallo media I’ve ever consumed is David Sodergren’s ‘Dead Girl Blues’ novel, one that I beta read for him. I even remember sending back some feedback, to which he replied something along the lines of ‘that’s counter to what a giallo is trying to do.’ Fair. And Sodergren would know. Not only is he a frequent consumer of such media, but he’s written an essay for a giallo movie release AND the guy learned Italian specifically to go to Italy for a giallo based tour. On top of that, Sodergren provides a very strong introduction to this one, one that helped get me in the right frame of mind.

Because, up to this point, while I’ve not read (or watched) any giallo outside of that one novel, I’ve read each book Dougherty’s released, and each one has been magnificent. From his creature-espionage trilogy to his dystopian novella, L.J. infuses his stories with so much oomph, that each one is an experience to read and each one’s a story that’ll stay with you for a long, long time.

Going in, I didn’t think this novel would be for me. But that was ok, because I was excited to see what he’d delivered with this murder-mystery. Much like how Nick Sullivan delivered ‘Zombie Bigfoot’ as well as ‘Deep Shadow,’ I knew that in the right hands, a novel that I typically wouldn’t enjoy nor choose specifically to read, had the possibility to be fantastic, especially when delivered by an author whose work I love.

What I liked: The novel follows Jack, an American photographer/private investigator, who, after delivering a series of candid scandalous photos to a congressman who has hired him, is sent to Italy as a thank you. An all-expenses paid trip to a five-star, exclusive resort. At first Jack is hesitant, expecting it to actually be a ploy to get him there and have the mafia take him out, but once there, he starts to relax, has some drinks, some casual sex and things seem good. That is until people begin to be killed.

Look, this novel is nothing if not cinematic. Dougherty deftly details (not ridiculously over the top, mind you) the settings and scenarios and it helps to feel like you’re there while reading it. That you can hear the clink of glasses, the laughter of guests and smell the expensive perfumes and the sea air blowing in through an open window.

This works to heighten the tension when things ramp up. As it’s taking place in a hotel, we become intimately aware of the surroundings and when the knife-wielding killer arrives time and time again, the reader is able to picture exactly where they are and what escape routes the characters have. Not that those matter.

Throughout, I kept tossing guesses into the air, as to who the killer was. It had to be the bartender! It had to be the concierge! It had to be Jack himself! It had to be X! etc. etc. Which was a huge part of the fun of reading this. Over and over again, bread crumbs were left behind, but ultimately when they were followed, the reader would end up at the wrong loaf.

The reveal was well done, and in the afterword, Dougherty mentions that part of the giallo-ness of a story is not only who did the killings, but also why they did it, and that was detailed nicely. Which allowed for a very solid ending, answering the numerous questions leading up to that moment.

What I didn’t like: I say this in the nicest way possible – and this is 100% because I’m not familiar with this genre – but the novel does read very formulaic. I knew the killer would be revealed at about the 90% mark, simply because that seems to be how things are set up in this style of story telling. That’s not a bad thing, but if this isn’t something you typically enjoy, it will feel like many characters are purely set up to be taken out – but don’t fret, there is a specific reason for that!

Why you should buy this: I mean, if you love giallo entertainment, this is a no brainer. Dive in, digest, have some drinks, smoke a cigarette and take wild guesses at who the character is in between the spicy scenes. If you’re a fan of Dougherty’s work, also a no brainer. While this wasn’t a horror-style/espionage-style novel, Dougherty’s signature writing voice is there from the very first sentence.

Otherwise, if you’re simply looking for a rollicking, murder-mystery with great set pieces and enjoyable characters, look no further. This was a blast to read and one that did a wonderful job of throwing my expectations through the window and down, down, down to the sandy beach below.

5/5

Book Review: The Miracle Sin by Marcus Hawke

Title: The Miracle Sin

Author: Marcus Hawke

Release date: January 5th, 2021

Over the last few years, I’ve read a number of Hawke’s books and really enjoyed everything I’ve read. But up until now, I’ve not managed to read ‘The Miracle Sin,’ his major novel he’s known for. Everything about this novel had me excited and intrigued, yet it still managed to stay slightly away from the top of my TBR over and over.

But no longer! I made sure to get this to the top, wanting to get it read over the summer months, and help celebrate Canadian horror throughout the month of July.

What I liked: The novel itself reminded me a lot of elements from Clive Barker’s ‘Next Testament,’ and I say that in the best way possible. The story focuses on teenager, Mason. He’s been through a lot, his parents dying in one of the biggest natural disasters ever, one in which Mason himself was the only survivor.

Things take a turn when he finds out that all sorts of the things that are not supposed to be ‘real’ are. And with that, Mason also finds out he just might be the chosen one, the savior descended. While none of this makes sense to Mason or Grim, the stranger who takes him under his wing, it seems to be the truth, when a sinister evil wants to use Mason’s abilities for its own gain.

Hawke takes us on a rollercoaster ride of action/adventure and introspective reflection. Mason works to understand why the events took his parents from him, where he sits within those events and what it means for his current situation. His survival depends on his acceptance of his place in history as well as working with those around him.

The final quarter of this novel works to bring those storylines together and set up an explosive finale. Hawke seems to take special glee in how these things wrap up as even the prose feels heavier with action but weightier with passion.

What I didn’t like: There are a few points where the novel meanders away from its main narrative and at times there’s a few spots where I had to go back and reread the events of a singular scene to follow along, but overall the story is fantastic.

Why you should buy this: Dripping with darkness and some moments of terrific evil, Hawke’s definitively weaved a tale that walks that line between religious possibility and narrative fiction. In the battle between good and evil, our main character takes an all or nothing approach and its this character that really hammers home the depth of Hawke’s convictions for this novel.

I had a blast with this one and see why so many people have recommended it to me over the years.

4/5

Book Review: Breach by Shelly Campbell

Title: Breach (Dark Walker Series Book 2)

Author: Shelly Campbell

Release date: July 9th, 2024

*Huge thanks to Eerie River for sending me a digital ARC of this one!*

Back in 2021, Campbell’s novel ‘Gulf’ was released and I was blown away.

A portal-horror novel that followed David, a lonely teen who finds a doorway to another world in a cabin, it was gripping, moving and utterly terrifying. I’d not previously read any of Campbell’s work, but ‘Gulf’ made me an instant fan. After the original press that released it dissolved, I was super excited to see it get picked up by Eerie River and now, with book two arriving and a third on the way, it was even more amazing to see the books get revamped with matching covers across the series. Saying that, Kealan Patrick Burke’s original cover for ‘Gulf’ will remain one of the single greatest covers I’ve ever laid my eyes upon.

So, what comes next? That was the question after book one ended.

I for one couldn’t wait to see, and on the very day I was about to crack open Campbell’s fantasy novel ‘Under the Lesser Moon,’ the epub of ‘Breach’ landed in my inbox! You’re next ‘Under…’ !!

Before I dive into the review, I do want to say that if you’ve not read book one, there are some aspects here that might be mini-spoiler-ish because this one does follow the first. Enter at your own risk from here on out.

What I liked: The book picks up directly after book one. David awakes, in an observation cell, sick and not alone. The woman who saved him from the creatures is quarantined with him. Her name is Charlie, and she fills David in on where he is and who’s watching. The Embassy. A government entity on the other side keeps things in check. But they’re particularly interested in David, because David was able to cross over between worlds in a way nobody else has ever been able to. And now they want to study him.

Where ‘Gulf’ was a bread-and-butter coming-of-age, portal-horror novel, ‘Breach’ falls closer in alignment to ‘Total Recall.’ More sci-fi action than things that go bump in the night, and that’s not a bad thing. In fact, it adds an element of tension to the world(s) Campbell’s created in that soon, Charlie and David – and another Gatekeeper, Cory, – are heading elsewhere, needing David to heal up so that his powers that The Embassy believes he has will be at 100%. It’s not long after that things are revealed and Charlie and David flee alone.

Campbell does a wonderful job with Charlie. We get a rolling sort of ‘is she or isn’t she into me’ romantic angle between her and David and even after things get spicy, there’s always the subtext of her using David for her own means. This plays out with trying to get David to use his abilities specifically where it relates to her family.

The final quarter of this one takes a turn when The Embassy arrives and it makes for some solid emotional impact. It also nicely sets things up for book three and leaves us readers with some huge questions.

What I didn’t like: This is solidly a book two in that you have to have read book one to know what’s going on.

Also, fans of the coming-of-age horrorness of book one may be disappointed with the direction this one takes as it’s more sci-fi leaning than horror. I personally loved the expansive world building we get here, but I also can see where this one may irk some readers who want more of the same that book one brought us.

Why you should buy this: Campbell has not only done book one justice, but book two takes a giant leap and clobbers the reader over the head. This one is filled with heart, desire, complex emotions and at its core, that same scared kid trying to connect and find where he belongs. David is a startling raw main character, one who embodies the positives and negatives of anxiety, longing and the search for place. The creatures return, the scenes are crisp and frantic and Campbell handles all with a wicked grin on her face.

‘Breach’ levels up the sum of its parts, bringing everything great about ‘Gulf’ into the fold and amplifying it in this new reality introduced and I for one, can’t wait for the third book to arrive.

5/5

RELEASE DAY!

HEY ALL!

Exciting day here for me, as today is the launch of my newest novella, ‘When I Look At The Sky, All I See Are Stars.’

Released through DarkLit Press, this one is related to the Father of Lies series, but can be completely read alone and without any prior knowledge.

Huge thanks to DarkLit Press, David Sodergren for editing this bad boy, Greg Chapman for his amazing artwork/cover, Linda Jones for the performance of a lifetime for the audiobook, all the authors who’ve taken the time to read this and blurb it, Alec Frankel for the amazing behind the scenes film agenting stuff, and every reader who have preordered/liked/shared/read/reviewed and supported this one and me!

If you want to grab it and haven’t done so yet, you can do so here;

https://lnkj.in/p/stars

Also, thank you to everyone who grabbed the Father of Lies ebook while it was on sale for 99c over the last few weeks! That was so very kind of you all!

That’s all I got for now!

Book Review: Crypt of the Moon Spider by Nathan Ballingrud

Title: Crypt of the Moon Spider (Lunar Gothic Trilogy #1)

Author: Nathan Ballingrud

Release date: August 27th, 2024

*Huge thanks to Netgalley & Tor Nightfire for the digital ARC!*

Having previously read Nathan’s stellar short story collections ‘North American Lake Monsters’ and ‘Wounds: Six Stories From the Borders of Hell,’ I was beyond excited when this novella was announced. Nathan also has a novel out, ‘The Strange,’ but I’ve yet to get to it, my TBR as deep as the Mariana’s Trench at this point.

But when Netgalley approved me for this one, I knew I’d be diving in quick, and after reading Michael Patrick Hicks’ review, I couldn’t wait to see what I was in for.

What I liked: ‘Crypt of the Moon Spider’ takes place in an alternative reality, where humans have colonized the moon to a degree. Many years ago, a cave was found deep under the forests on the moon, a cave where an immense spider lived. Now, the moon is home to those deemed ‘unfit’ on earth, people with depression, melancholy and immoral thoughts.

Taking place in 1923, we follow Veronica, as she arrives at an institution on the surface of the moon, where Dr. Cull has developed a cure for melancholy. She wants to get better, wants to return to earth and her husband, but doesn’t believe she can be fixed.

Ballingrud does a wonderful job of setting the stage and frankly, while this is considered ‘science fiction’ it merges the line between sci-fi and horror so very well. This novella is unnerving. You know something lurks, something’s just below the surface – not only of the moon, but also of the story.

Once Dr. Cull’s methods are revealed and Veronica’s childhood stories are unlocked, the story rampages towards a shocking mid-story climax. It was frankly unexpected, seeing how Ballingrud was telling this story, but it worked perfectly to set up the second and third acts.

The ending brought some closure but also created significantly more questions. These questions will be front and center when book two arrives and Ballingrud deftly makes it so that the reader wants to know the answers to those questions.

What I didn’t like: Within the story, we are introduced to the character known as ‘Grub.’ I personally thought the section that details his backstory and arrival was unwarranted. While it did work to show us Dr. Cull’s depravity and methods, it slowed the pacing. Saying that, there’s the potential this was necessary for the trilogy aspect.

Why you should buy this: Ballingrud has a way with prose that instantly transports you to whatever wonderful place he’s created. It’s one of those things that the masters of writing have and the rest of us chase. The story within is magical but grounded, while also being dark and sinister. The first book in this trilogy effortlessly has the reader in the palm of its hand, making us long to learn what comes next.

4/5

Book Review: That Which Stands Outside by Mark Morris

Title: That Which Stands Outside

Author: Mark Morris

Release date: July 16th, 2024

*Huge thanks to Flame Tree Press & Netgalley for the digital ARC!*

Back in 1989, Mark Morris’ debut novel, ‘Toady,’ was released heralding the arrival of a new and exciting voice. Now, some thirty-five years later, Mark is still releasing thrilling, can’t-put-down books. Recently, he’s been working more in the Dr. Who realm, but has been putting out some critically acclaimed anthologies through Flame Tree Press. When this, his debut with Flame Tree, was announced, I was very excited. I haven’t read ‘Toady,’ though it is buried somewhere on my Kindle currently, but this one sounded right up my alley and I was excited to dive in.

What I liked: The novel starts out with a bang, Todd, a down-on-his-luck actor, comes across a woman being attacked one night after leaving his job as a bartender. He intervenes, and while he saves her from worse injury, he himself gets his ass kicked, putting him in the hospital. Waking, he finds the woman there, and that she’s been coming to make sure he’s ok daily. Her name is Yrsa and quickly the two of them fall in love.

Morris sets the stage nicely with that moment bringing them together, but Todd’s feelings for her are solidified after she gets word her mother has died and she’ll need to return to a small Nordic island off the coast where she’s from. She hates the place, hates her hometown, but Todd volunteers to come and the story takes off.

Once there, it becomes apparent immediately that the townsfolk have no love towards Yrsa, no sympathy that her mother’s died and after a short time there, Todd finds out why. When Yrsa was a child, she fell into a cave on the outskirts and was missing. Almost a week later, she was found, but none of the towns people believe that the child they pulled from that hole was Yrsa.

I’ll be the first to admit, I’m not widely read on the 80’s and 90’s UK authors. I’ve read some Ramsay Campbell and more recently a lot of Adam Nevill. I’ve read Tim Lebbon’s work, and many of the ‘new’ breed of UK authors – Kevin J. Kennedy, Gemma Amor, V. Castro, David Sodergren, Phil Sloman, Dave Jeffery, David Watkins, Joseph Sale etc. etc. – and ignoring them (not maliciously) I’ve found that the UK writers coming from that time period have a very pragmatic approach to developing their story. They take their time giving us lush descriptions (read detailed not purple prose) but also have this uncanny ability to leave a drip or two of dread within every paragraph. Such is the case here. Morris sets up the bowling pins well – Yrsa tells Todd about the caves, they go there, and she shares that she saw something when she crawled through as a child. Todd then gets his brother, who has a drilling company, to come and drill through, to see what she saw – and even in that statement alone, there’s a desire to know what it is, that the reader is intrigued.

Morris continues the trend of giving us plum location and character descriptions, while teasing out this change in Yrsa. The rain comes and she dances naked outside. Strange things happen around the town and she seems to be energized. Small little figures are seen and she smirks at the notion. It all leads to the final quarter of the novel being full on bonkers. The drilling breaks through, the terror is realized and characters begin to fall like confetti.

For me, it was a tale of two parts. The first half worked wonderfully to set the stage. I felt like I was walking the streets with Todd, meeting the people and enjoying the remoteness, even if the people were not outwardly friendly to Todd. The second half was the classic horror novel. We get carnage, bloodshed and tangible chills. Morris takes this time to knock down those bowling pins he set up, hundreds of pages ago, and boy does he knock them down.

The ending was remarkable in that it gave us closure. That’s a rare thing these days in the world of expected sequels and readers want more and more. I personally, was very happy with how it was wrapped up.

What I didn’t like: While I personally loved it, in the novella age of fast releases and faster reads, I’m hopeful that the readers who love these dark, burning, quality stories find it and it explodes, because everything is fully developed. I can see this one being set aside by those readers who think a three hundred page book is too long, as this one really begins to pick up steam right around that mark.

Why you should buy this: I’m actually shocked I’m not seeing this novel all over my social media pages as it was fantastic. Morris gives us amazing characters, a phenomenal back drop and some truly wonderful lore. Todd is a character every single reader will root for, even when he seems to be completely oblivious to the dark omen he’s in a relationship with, and the action is here is masterful.

An absolutely face-smacking good time, this one had me hooked from page one and never let go. Now, I really should give ‘Toady’ a read.

5/5

Book Review: Static Screams by Nico Bell

Title: Static Screams

Author: Nico Bell

Release date: March 6th, 2024

*Normally, this is where I’d thank Netgalley and the author for sending me a digital ARC of this book, and while I did grab it off of Netgalley, I had also purchased this on release day! Recently, I saw it on Netgalley and grabbed it, wanting to help Nico boost the profile of the book, but it was also a subtle way for me to bump it way up my TBR, because I try my best to keep a 100% review ratio on Netgalley!*

Over the years, I’ve become a big fan of Nico Bell’s fiction. From ‘Food Fright’ to ‘Beyond the Creek’ to her anthology (that I did have a story in, full disclosure!) ‘Shiver,’ she has a keen eye on what makes the reader unsettled. I still have to read her book ‘Open House,’ which is on my Kindle, and seeing as ‘Static Screams’ was such a wild ride, I’m going to bump that one way up the pile as well.

I loved the new artwork that A.A. Medina from Fabled Beast has created for this edition and the synopsis had me hooked. Any time I get to read a story from a steady writer like Nico, (one who perfectly crafts the tale in wonderfully dark ways) that involves our MC dealing with hallucinations, I know I’m in for a fantastic time.

What I liked: The first quarter of this novella very well could’ve been the entirety of the story and I’d have loved it. We open with a young woman, Carmen, who is dealing with significant PTSD. After her mother took her own life, Carmen struggles with seeing ‘dots,’ these weird, undulating things that float and converge around her in the sky. Her meds control it, but the story picks up with the pharmacy denying her new prescribed medication because of the dosage and without her meds, the dots come at her with a hurricane-level fury.

This could’ve easily been the story. Bell could’ve focused on the appearance of these visions, how Carmen and her aunt have a solid bond and work together to get Carmen the help she desperately wants, and the reader would’ve been richly rewarded for going on that journey with Carmen. Instead, Bell catapults us a million miles further down the deranged train, by introducing Barbara. Barbara is a doctor who is working on a mysterious experiment, one that is so far out of the ethical world of medicine, that she does it on her own, hidden, private property. Once she meets Carmen, she knows she’s the one, and from there the story really ramps up.

Bell does a great job of giving us the ups and downs of Carmen’s struggles. How she desperately wants to reunite with her mom, but also how she knows what Barbara’s doing is wrong and with the introduction of the doctor’s assistant, Neema, we get another layer of potential betrayal.

The final quarter of this one is a frantic sprint, where Barbara’s deception is revealed and choices about what is right and wrong need to be made. We see Carmen harness this ‘power’ she has, something I won’t stray too far into to keep things spoiler-free, but it works really well for the narrative and Bell doesn’t overuse it and turn this into a parody of itself.

What I didn’t like: I don’t know if I fully buy Neema’s role and involvement. It works well for the deceptive aspects and for the battle between right and wrong, but every time she started to defend herself, it felt a bit lite and not effective. That could just be me though finding that!

Why you should buy this: I’m a huge fan of seeing a strong, female lead battle back and not take shit from anyone. Carmen is fierce, powerful and it was great seeing her realize and then utilize her full potential. Bell does a great job of walking us through the opening struggles of Carmen’s mind frame, but also effectively changing that ‘weakness’ into a strength in the latter half and showcasing why Carmen wasn’t weak, but could overcome anything, which metaphorically adds another layer.

Another really great story from Bell! This was awesome.

5/5