Nikki Noir's Blog, page 8

400 Days of Oppression by Wrath James White

400 Days of Oppression by Wrath James White might make you angry. Depending on your gross-out tolerance, perhaps it will make you cringe. Hopefully it’ll turn you on a bit with its sex scenes. Either way though, it will definitely make you think. At least if you read to the end, and this is a book you must read to the end no matter what. I devoured several Amazon reviews of this novel before attempting to write my own, and I’m still not sure exactly how I feel about the message and emotions this novel stirred in me. So let’s just start with the plot: Natasha is a Caucasian teacher who has a bit of a white trash background. She doesn’t understand African American culture or their struggles. When she meets Kenyatta in a nightclub, she’s smitten and excited to be a part of his life. Kenyatta is described as a black Adonis and I envision an almost Christian Grey-type character, but perhaps not as wealthy. After Kenyatta unleashes his sexual power onto Natasha, she is willing to follow him to the ends of the earth. However, he is not willing to crown Natasha as his queen (wife) until she truly understands him. Understanding of not just his BDSM lifestyle, which is dark and intense, but also his African roots. In order to test her, to prove that she fully comprehends what his people went through, Kenyatta designs the ultimate bondage challenge: 400 Days of Bondage. 400 Days where each day represents a year of the oppression his ancestors suffered. 400 Days that not only represent the African struggle, but imitate it as well. For example, Natasha’s first challenge is spending her days and nights in a coffin suspended from the ceiling by chains. The close confines and rocking are suppose to simulate the journey overseas to America. Once “on land” Natasha must begin her next challenge, including the sexual treatment of house slaves and the humiliation and fear of being sold at auction--all challenges accompanied by dark sexual excitement. And it’s only going to get worse. The good news is that, as with all consenting BDSM role-playing, there is a safe word. I’m sure you can guess the word, however, if Natasha utters it, not only does she end the game, she ends her relationship with Kenyatta and any hope of ever marrying him. Now the hard part... While I do not engage in BDSM, I am fascinated by it. As I’ve said in other reviews, I’m a voyeur who is unwilling to participate, but will definitely rubberneck lol. In that regard, I found myself enjoying most of the sex scenes. Some were quite hot while others were highly disturbing and upsetting. Many readers might find themselves really getting turned on by the sex, only to get that splash of cold water on their crotches as they remember the circumstances surrounding the scene, when the subversive degradation slips in. All the sex scenes were interesting and highly creative. That’s probably the best thing going for this novel; I’ve never read anything quite like the plot that Wrath has laid out. Reader complaints will likely come from Natasha’s shallow character and her stupidity of allowing Kenyatta to walk all over her. She continues to bend to all his whims no matter how harsh because she desires and wants this man so badly. The BDSM community may have issues with how Kenyatta puts her through both mental and physical torture with little regard for her well-being. Both aspects made me very uncomfortable too, but people like this exist in real life. And these characters portray them accurately in my opinion. There are plenty of insecure ladies who will allow men to walk all over them. And there are plenty of men whose love of bondage is deep and dark and who mentally and physically abuse anyone they can. In addition to entertaining, this novel can serve as educational too. Despite other readers complaining that the author is racist and misogynistic, I disagree. Just because Wrath writes about these types of characters, it doesn't means this is who he is. It’s the only novel I’ve read by him so far, but I have a feeling he is simply exposing a segment of the population that is very real. And since I don't know him, I can't claim he hates white women or that he’s racist as other reviewers have suggested. Could I be wrong? Sure. I don’t know his personal viewpoints, but taken as a story, these characters are realistic; sadly I have met people like Natasha and Kenyatta. Also, I wonder if the readers who sling the insults as Wrath and the novel have actually read the book TO THE END. If you ask me, I think 400 Days is a sexy and subversive philosophy book, doing exactly what it's suppose to do. But what do I know. Regardless of your personal views, I feel strongly that you should read this book. And I want to hear your thoughts on the ending. Does it change the entire theme of the story? Does it resolve everything? Vindicate Wrath from the angry cries of some readers? I can’t answer that for you. But I do feel like there are some things that should be read, facets of society that must be confronted, whether we like them or not. And as with everything, you will only be able to see this novel through the lens of your own perception. I propose my own challenge for you…read the whole novel before commenting on it. You can pick up a copy here. I look forward to seeing what everyone has to say, but remember, I’m a voyeur only. I enjoy seeing everyone’s reaction, I’m fascinated by human nature, but chances are I’m not going to engage you in deep conversations on race and soci-economic factors, especially not on my website or social media platforms. I don’t enjoy that. I’m not here to change your mind or push my own political views. I only want to explore the various facets of society through books. As such, I present the dark and disturbing without comment. Take my challenge and then share your thoughts…

The Hitchhiker by R.L. Stine

If you’re within 5-10 years of my own age— which I’m not sharing ;)—chances are you remember the scholastic book fairs at your elementary school. If you wanna learn a little more about what I recall from my books fairs and how it started my love of mystery and horror, please check out this blog: What’s in the Box? After the joy of nostalgia from discovering my old stuff passed, I decided I would tempt fate and reread The Hitchhiker, curious to see if it held up or if it would ruin my opinion of Mr. Stine. After all, in my mind, he’s pretty legendary. Yet beyond the cool covers, I don’t actually remember the writing. So how does The Hitchhiker hold up after twenty-six years? The Synopsis: Terri and Christina are coming back from a road trip. I can’t remember if it was fully explained, but I got the impression that they are both eighteen and this is their summer fling before college... or they’re on a spring break excursion during their first year community college. They stop for a cute hitchhiker named James, also an eighteen year old. Tyler’s been hitching for a bit, and we’re not totally sure what he’s running from or where he’s going to, but it’s implied that he hurt his last girlfriend. Hurt her real bad… Now the girls may be in trouble if James loses control again... The Good: Stine gets right to the action! Chapters are short and almost every chapter ends on a cliffhanger. Great way to keep teens--and myself--turning the page. I think more adult novels should follow that formula. Max Booth III did that well in his werewolf novel, and you can take a look at my review of his work here. If you give this one a read, at first you’re gonna be pretty sure who the villain(s) and good guy(s) are. That’s when the adult in me was almost ready to shut down. This is suppose to be a mystery/thriller and the real joy is figuring out whodunit. Without giving it away, I will just give props to Stine because he spends several chapters throwing in curve balls. They will definitely keep a young adult guessing, as for the rest of us...the twists gave me just enough doubt in my prediction to keep reading with a smile on my face. Bravo. I also like that despite the intense scenarios these teens were placed in, their language remained teenish. Nowadays, kids seem to use vulgar language non-stop in all settings. So it was nice to see Terri and Christina still speaking like teens. Granted, some readers will say that’s unrealistic and I’m naive to think that there was a time when youth didn’t use “swear” words. But if you’re a parent and want to gently bring your child into reading thrillers, mystery, and yes, horror, then you probably want them to enjoy the suspense and the literary elements of the genre, while hopefully not being exposed to too much harsh language. That aspect should come as they advance in age. The Bad: Well, even after the twists and turns, and the fun of second-guessing myself, I did indeed know whodunit. But it was a fun ride anyway and a great ride for young adults who aren’t use to having an ending pegged yet. I'm sure though that this aspect will turn off adults thinking of rereading. There is also very little in terms of character development. The Hitchhiker is plot driven, which is fine, but don’t expect a lot of depth to the characters or motives behind their actions. Then again, they’re teens... Do teens even know why the heck they engage in the crazy stuff they do?! The Ugly: I was wondering if YA was always as intense as it is today with shows like Supernatural, Sabrina, and Riverdale. I mean the teens are pretty wicked evil in these TV shows. Sex, murder, the mob, demon invocations, holy heck! Well, the teens in The Hitchhiker are pretty ugly too, maybe not as devious as today’s books, shows, and movies, but pretty darn close. The characters in The Hitchhiker did knock a man into a coma, steal a car, use sexual teasing to trick someone, steal money, punch out a family member, and then, at the end, an adult plots to kill the teens by throwing them into a pool of piranha... Oh yeah, and more than one character is totally devoured alive by said piranha. So...Stine definitely set the tone twenty-six years ago, but I think the main difference is that the graphic descriptions were not present in The Hitchhiker, whereas current YA is pushing harder to be more vivid and visceral in its depictions. Moving forward, I may pick up a few more 90s YA books. I’m thinking Christopher Pike next and at least one more Stine, then I definitely want to read a female author and compare how she handles teens as opposed to male writers. Even though its nearly thirty years later, I think The Hitchhiker is still a great place to start teens on their path to horror. Probably best to keep them away from the graphic stuff until late high school, but that’s a personal decision. As for the adults looking to reread, I think it will be hit or miss for you, fifty-fifty you'll enjoy yourself. This review was partially for "research", since I have decided to combine the YA and Splatterpunk genres. Not sure if that’s a thing yet. If not, I’m calling it #splatterpunk YA--not creative or original, I know. Or as Brad Tierney coined it 'Splatterhouse' YA. If you got something else, feel free to post suggestions. Here’s an excerpt of my Graphic YA novella Watchers of the Black Rite How about you? Do you like 90s YA? Did Scholastic ignite your love of horror or was the flame kindled elsewhere? Let me know your story.

The Hitchhiker by R.L. Stine

If you’re within 5-10 years of my own age— which I’m not sharing ;)—chances are you remember the scholastic book fairs at your elementary school. If you wanna learn a little more about what I recall from my books fairs and how it started my love of mystery and horror, please check out this blog: What’s in the Box? After the joy of nostalgia from discovering my old stuff passed, I decided I would tempt fate and reread The Hitchhiker, curious to see if it held up or if it would ruin my opinion of Mr. Stine. After all, in my mind, he’s pretty legendary. Yet beyond the cool covers, I don’t actually remember the writing. So how does The Hitchhiker hold up after twenty-six years? The Synopsis: Terri and Christina are coming back from a road trip. I can’t remember if it was fully explained, but I got the impression that they are both eighteen and this is their summer fling before college... or they’re on a spring break excursion during their first year community college. They stop for a cute hitchhiker named James, also an eighteen year old. Tyler’s been hitching for a bit, and we’re not totally sure what he’s running from or where he’s going to, but it’s implied that he hurt his last girlfriend. Hurt her real bad… Now the girls may be in trouble if James loses control again... The Good: Stine gets right to the action! Chapters are short and almost every chapter ends on a cliffhanger. Great way to keep teens--and myself--turning the page. I think more adult novels should follow that formula. Max Booth III did that well in his werewolf novel, and you can take a look at my review of his work here. If you give this one a read, at first you’re gonna be pretty sure who the villain(s) and good guy(s) are. That’s when the adult in me was almost ready to shut down. This is suppose to be a mystery/thriller and the real joy is figuring out whodunit. Without giving it away, I will just give props to Stine because he spends several chapters throwing in curve balls. They will definitely keep a young adult guessing, as for the rest of us...the twists gave me just enough doubt in my prediction to keep reading with a smile on my face. Bravo. I also like that despite the intense scenarios these teens were placed in, their language remained teenish. Nowadays, kids seem to use vulgar language non-stop in all settings. So it was nice to see Terri and Christina still speaking like teens. Granted, some readers will say that’s unrealistic and I’m naive to think that there was a time when youth didn’t use “swear” words. But if you’re a parent and want to gently bring your child into reading thrillers, mystery, and yes, horror, then you probably want them to enjoy the suspense and the literary elements of the genre, while hopefully not being exposed to too much harsh language. That aspect should come as they advance in age. The Bad: Well, even after the twists and turns, and the fun of second-guessing myself, I did indeed know whodunit. But it was a fun ride anyway and a great ride for young adults who aren’t use to having an ending pegged yet. I'm sure though that this aspect will turn off adults thinking of rereading. There is also very little in terms of character development. The Hitchhiker is plot driven, which is fine, but don’t expect a lot of depth to the characters or motives behind their actions. Then again, they’re teens... Do teens even know why the heck they engage in the crazy stuff they do?! The Ugly: I was wondering if YA was always as intense as it is today with shows like Supernatural, Sabrina, and Riverdale. I mean the teens are pretty wicked evil in these TV shows. Sex, murder, the mob, demon invocations, holy heck! Well, the teens in The Hitchhiker are pretty ugly too, maybe not as devious as today’s books, shows, and movies, but pretty darn close. The characters in The Hitchhiker did knock a man into a coma, steal a car, use sexual teasing to trick someone, steal money, punch out a family member, and then, at the end, an adult plots to kill the teens by throwing them into a pool of piranha... Oh yeah, and more than one character is totally devoured alive by said piranha. So...Stine definitely set the tone twenty-six years ago, but I think the main difference is that the graphic descriptions were not present in The Hitchhiker, whereas current YA is pushing harder to be more vivid and visceral in its depictions. Moving forward, I may pick up a few more 90s YA books. I’m thinking Christopher Pike next and at least one more Stine, then I definitely want to read a female author and compare how she handles teens as opposed to male writers. Even though its nearly thirty years later, I think The Hitchhiker is still a great place to start teens on their path to horror. Probably best to keep them away from the graphic stuff until late high school, but that’s a personal decision. As for the adults looking to reread, I think it will be hit or miss for you, fifty-fifty you'll enjoy yourself. This review was partially for "research", since I have decided to combine the YA and Splatterpunk genres. Not sure if that’s a thing yet. If not, I’m calling it #splatterpunk YA--not creative or original, I know. Or as Brad Tierney coined it 'Splatterhouse' YA. If you got something else, feel free to post suggestions. Here’s an excerpt of my Graphic YA novella Watchers of the Black Rite How about you? Do you like 90s YA? Did Scholastic ignite your love of horror or was the flame kindled elsewhere? Let me know your story.

D.O.A. II - Extreme Horror

If this is the praise Ed Lee gave D.O.A. II, then you know you’re in for a treat: "Make sure your health insurance covers psychiatric counseling before reading this book, because you're gonna need it. The experience of this collection may be likened to getting run over by a 666-car locomotive engineered by Lucifer. This is the cream of grotesquerie's crop, a Whitman's Sampler of the heinous, and an absolutely gut-wrenching celebration of the furthest extremities of the scatological, the taboo, the unconscionable, and the blasphemous." - Edward Lee, Header DOA II is twenty-eights stories of hardcore horror and bizarro fiction that did not disappoint. I can see why Blood Bound Books has a reputation for the best anthologies in the small press field. For starters, with that many stories, the reader definitely gets their money’s worth. Sadly, the last few anthologies I read had maybe twelve to fifteen stories in total and were highly overpriced for that little content. Plus, I found the bulk of those stories boring and repetitive. In D.O.A. II however, there were only about five stories that were just 'okay' and I could have done fine without. And there were eleven stories that were absolutely killer, probably deserving of an splattery award! I think the best part was the variety of themes contained in this massive tome. Since I’m not sure what the protocol is for reviewing anthologies, I’ll give you my author highlights and then a brief overview of each story below if you’re interested. Awards go to Kristopher Triana, Raymond Little, Wol-vriey,Wrath James White, Calie Voorhis, Kelly Hudson, Daniel I Russell, John McNee, Joshua Dobson, David Bernstein, and Robert Devereaux P.S. This anthology was the May book of the month read for the Splatter Club—an online book club that discusses a new title bi-monthly and provides discounts to members and brings in authors and publishers to discuss the books with the readers. At the time of this posting, it’s still going on, so if you’d like to jump in and discuss stories with the editors and authors of D.O.A. II, just ask to join the FB club here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Splat... May event page here: https://www.facebook.com/events/28510... BREAKDOWN: The Devouring by Kristopher Triana Violet and Alex begin a kinky relationship and with each encounter they push their sexual limits more and more. When they’re not getting off together, they spend their time watching video nasties and violent underground films to help think up new devious ways to get off. But how far can they push things? Great story and opener! Fans of Body Art will see how this story is almost a precursor to his novel, and if you want some excellent insight into this story, check out Triana’s post in the Splatter Club. If Memory Serves by Jack Ketchum Patricia is in therapy, trying to sort out the trauma from past abuse. Bad abuse. Like Satanic sacrificial murder type abuse. Dr. Hooker feels they’ve made a breakthrough in their latest session. But when certain memories are unearthed, danger comes knocking. This is a reprint from Darkside: Horror for the Next Millennium. Good story, but even though it’s Ketchum, I didn’t feel it was one of the strongest in the antho. Scream and I’ll Come to You by Raymond Little A plague has befallen the world. Not zombie. Not bird or swine flu. But an infection that when it enters you, you cannot stop screaming. The screams persist until your vocal cords rip and all that emits from your throat is the gurgling sound of blood and ruptured tissue, and even then you will continue to scream. This story revolves around Beth and her daughter Daisy and how they attempt to survive in this terrifying new world. Great ending! Powerful story. Real Dino Shit by Wol-Vriey Wow. This is crazy fun bizarro. In fact, this is my favorite bizarro story I’ve read so far, and not just in this anthology, I mean overall. Send me more bizarro suggestions like this one. Mo’s got a fat zombie stuck on his toilet and the zombie has got something in its belly. Zombies, dinosaurs, and a hardcore chick with a Mohawk and machete make this one a winner! Fingercuffs by Matt Kurtz Kurtz's story explores the horrifying and sickening theme of child molestation, but he handles it well. Small town sheriff, cute little girls, real nasty monster. More than one plot twist in this one and I appreciated it. Here’s a picture from one of Kurtz’s fan that was inspired by the story. Made me think of Mr. Torso by Ed Lee, but don’t let that fool you. The story is plenty different and plenty original. He’s given some back story in the Splatter Club here: Anointed by D. Lynn Smith Very nice to see a female voice in this next story. Reminds me that us ladies can make it in the world of extreme horror. Do you ever consider the baptismal drains in churches…after all those cleansings, the washing away of all the original sin? What if the drain gets plug up? Where does the sin go? Smith delivers a highly unique and creative story. Home by J.F. Gonzalez A dark and depressing tale of survival. Gina’s parents are sick, the medical bills are due, the heat is turned off and they’re two steps away from being homeless. Gina must go out day after day to panhandle and secure funds for the family. This one is disturbing for its realism and so it stands out as horror that could really happen to any of us, always hard when the main character is a young kid. RoadKill by Monica O’Rourke Another fantastically sick female! This story made me as sick as Ed Lee’s “The Dritiphilist”. Let that sink in! O’Rourke introduces us to two hillbillies who spend their time preparing dinner in quite devious and disgusting ways. Hope you have a strong stomach for this one. A Scalene Love Triangle by Kerry Lipp After reading the title, I was worried this would be a take on human centipede concept with three people somehow connected to each other in some bizarre triangle, but nope. Lipp presents us a love affair between a married female teacher and a young man who is not her husband. When her husband arrives home though, the reader is either gonna be treated to a bloodbath or a threesome… and if I know D.O.A. fans, they’ll take either option with a smile. BorderTown by Laura J. Campbell Anna is a doctor who has been assigned to a small rural town named Dew. Dew has no cancer. No influenza. No real disease and no one ever dies young. But... they do have a very dark secret. One Flesh: A Cautionary Tale by Robert Devereaux This is a reprint from Iniquities 3, 1991, and is not just a cautionary tale, but a bizarro one as well. A father and his grown son are involved in a fiery car crash, mangled and melded into one flesh, at the same exact moment the grown son’s wife is giving birth to a baby boy. God has a sick sense of humor and this tale showcases the dirty side of it. Telescopic by Harper Hull A killer plays an interesting game with his next victim, but I didn’t care for this story much. Left me with too many questions. Sexy by Wrath James White There’s an app for everything now adays. Eros morte-- the app for those of you who want to be fucked to death. No need to say more. If you know Wrath, then you know his twisted brand of sex and death. If you don’t know Wrath yet, this is a great story to start with. I’ll leave you with my favorite line: Someone paid her to fuck them to death with a dildo made from a Rhinoceros horn. Threads by Calie Voorhis Calie does an excellent job capturing the angst and fears of teen girls. Dark and disturbing, but not in an outrageous bizarro way. Threads gets under your skin, literally! Burn the Witches by K. Trap Jones Another bizarro tale from the author of The Sinner and The Big Bad. This town’s got a problem...witches. Every hunting season, there is a protocol and this year, they F*ed it up. Definitely a fun story, but I like some of K. Trap's other work better. I think his fans will definitely dig this one, but even if this tale doesn’t satisfy, do check out some of his other work. Under the Pretext of Propensity by Anton Cancre With similar tones as "Finger Cuffs", this one is even more disturbing as Jordan is having impure thoughts of his fifteen-year-old stepdaughter. The ending is worth it, but ones like this are always hard to read. Stick with it though! Every Drop of Blood Has a Soul by David Quinn This one really wasn’t for me. Seems like you needed to know the Faust comic series. Wasn’t bad story, I just didn’t fall in love with it. Dr Scabs and the Hags of El Cajon by Robert Essig Apparently El Cajon is a real place. No comment on if Dr. Scabs is also real, but for California residents sake, let’s hope not! I envision Dr. Scabs a bit like Dr. Satan from House of 1000 Corpses. Not sure if it’s because of the PhD they both clearly hold or because they’re hideous appearance and devious medical practices ;) Regardless, the good doctor cooks up a powerful batch of meth and his secret weapon is the three hags. Another story that seems fitting of an Ed Lee plot--strange and gross. STD by David Bernstein Great tale of body horror. I don’t have a penis, but I was cringing for this poor guy. Wear a condom. I repeat, always wear a condom. And if you ever need a reminder, read this story. Fat Boy by Kelly Hudson There are some powerful stories in here that could fit in with any horror anthology not just an extreme one, Fat Boy is one of those stories. The real-life pain of bullying. What Calie Voorhis did for the female angst, Hudson does the same for males. Poor Tommy is picked on day in and day out. Fat boy! they all call him. His mother is an enabler and poor Tommy is about to snap. The Pubic Hair Tumbleweed By Joshua Dobson I laughed the whole way through. Bizarro and Gross. Ed Lee fans will love. The Proud Mother by Ken MacGregor Mortuary science is not a field for everyone. Charlotte Banning probably shouldn’t have gone that route, but in the 1800s it was hard for women to become doctors. It’s also hard to get pregnant from having sex with a cadaver, but sometimes, it happens. Game of Golf by Gregory L. Norris I like miniature golf. That’s about the extent of my golfing prowess though. It seems like a relatively pointless sport but maybe I’ll change my mind when I become rich. That or tennis lol. Yet, I can see why Alvin would get so angry and take it out on golfers. No deep plot here. But some fun and creative violence. Slice of Life by Thomas Pluck Short but not so sweet. This was one of the few stories I really didn’t care for. Gimmie Something Good to Eat by Shane McKenzie This was cool Halloween story and unfolded more like a movie than a story. Must read! Linger by Daniel I Russell Harry can’t get the smell of her out of his mind. It’s driving him nuts and not in a good way. His job is miserable and his life is going down the drain. He sees only one way out. Good use of songs to bring this story home. Brutal ending! Skunk JR. by John McNee What a way to end the anthology! Someone is stealing babies and the local law enforcement want to talk to Skunk Jr. and Tick about it. With those names, I again think of Ed Lee. However there are no overused accents which I was thankful for! John McNee is a hell of a writer and a fantastic closer to this excellent anthology. If you say you enjoy extreme horror, D.O.A. II is a must for your collection! Pick up your copy here.

D.O.A. II - Extreme Horror

If this is the praise Ed Lee gave D.O.A. II, then you know you’re in for a treat: "Make sure your health insurance covers psychiatric counseling before reading this book, because you're gonna need it. The experience of this collection may be likened to getting run over by a 666-car locomotive engineered by Lucifer. This is the cream of grotesquerie's crop, a Whitman's Sampler of the heinous, and an absolutely gut-wrenching celebration of the furthest extremities of the scatological, the taboo, the unconscionable, and the blasphemous." - Edward Lee, Header DOA II is twenty-eights stories of hardcore horror and bizarro fiction that did not disappoint. I can see why Blood Bound Books has a reputation for the best anthologies in the small press field. For starters, with that many stories, the reader definitely gets their money’s worth. Sadly, the last few anthologies I read had maybe twelve to fifteen stories in total and were highly overpriced for that little content. Plus, I found the bulk of those stories boring and repetitive. In D.O.A. II however, there were only about five stories that were just 'okay' and I could have done fine without. And there were eleven stories that were absolutely killer, probably deserving of an splattery award! I think the best part was the variety of themes contained in this massive tome. Since I’m not sure what the protocol is for reviewing anthologies, I’ll give you my author highlights and then a brief overview of each story below if you’re interested. Awards go to Kristopher Triana, Raymond Little, Wol-vriey,Wrath James White, Calie Voorhis, Kelly Hudson, Daniel I Russell, John McNee, Joshua Dobson, David Bernstein, and Robert Devereaux P.S. This anthology was the May book of the month read for the Splatter Club—an online book club that discusses a new title bi-monthly and provides discounts to members and brings in authors and publishers to discuss the books with the readers. At the time of this posting, it’s still going on, so if you’d like to jump in and discuss stories with the editors and authors of D.O.A. II, just ask to join the FB club here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Splat... May event page here: https://www.facebook.com/events/28510... BREAKDOWN: The Devouring by Kristopher Triana Violet and Alex begin a kinky relationship and with each encounter they push their sexual limits more and more. When they’re not getting off together, they spend their time watching video nasties and violent underground films to help think up new devious ways to get off. But how far can they push things? Great story and opener! Fans of Body Art will see how this story is almost a precursor to his novel, and if you want some excellent insight into this story, check out Triana’s post in the Splatter Club. If Memory Serves by Jack Ketchum Patricia is in therapy, trying to sort out the trauma from past abuse. Bad abuse. Like Satanic sacrificial murder type abuse. Dr. Hooker feels they’ve made a breakthrough in their latest session. But when certain memories are unearthed, danger comes knocking. This is a reprint from Darkside: Horror for the Next Millennium. Good story, but even though it’s Ketchum, I didn’t feel it was one of the strongest in the antho. Scream and I’ll Come to You by Raymond Little A plague has befallen the world. Not zombie. Not bird or swine flu. But an infection that when it enters you, you cannot stop screaming. The screams persist until your vocal cords rip and all that emits from your throat is the gurgling sound of blood and ruptured tissue, and even then you will continue to scream. This story revolves around Beth and her daughter Daisy and how they attempt to survive in this terrifying new world. Great ending! Powerful story. Real Dino Shit by Wol-Vriey Wow. This is crazy fun bizarro. In fact, this is my favorite bizarro story I’ve read so far, and not just in this anthology, I mean overall. Send me more bizarro suggestions like this one. Mo’s got a fat zombie stuck on his toilet and the zombie has got something in its belly. Zombies, dinosaurs, and a hardcore chick with a Mohawk and machete make this one a winner! Fingercuffs by Matt Kurtz Kurtz's story explores the horrifying and sickening theme of child molestation, but he handles it well. Small town sheriff, cute little girls, real nasty monster. More than one plot twist in this one and I appreciated it. Here’s a picture from one of Kurtz’s fan that was inspired by the story. Made me think of Mr. Torso by Ed Lee, but don’t let that fool you. The story is plenty different and plenty original. He’s given some back story in the Splatter Club here: Anointed by D. Lynn Smith Very nice to see a female voice in this next story. Reminds me that us ladies can make it in the world of extreme horror. Do you ever consider the baptismal drains in churches…after all those cleansings, the washing away of all the original sin? What if the drain gets plug up? Where does the sin go? Smith delivers a highly unique and creative story. Home by J.F. Gonzalez A dark and depressing tale of survival. Gina’s parents are sick, the medical bills are due, the heat is turned off and they’re two steps away from being homeless. Gina must go out day after day to panhandle and secure funds for the family. This one is disturbing for its realism and so it stands out as horror that could really happen to any of us, always hard when the main character is a young kid. RoadKill by Monica O’Rourke Another fantastically sick female! This story made me as sick as Ed Lee’s “The Dritiphilist”. Let that sink in! O’Rourke introduces us to two hillbillies who spend their time preparing dinner in quite devious and disgusting ways. Hope you have a strong stomach for this one. A Scalene Love Triangle by Kerry Lipp After reading the title, I was worried this would be a take on human centipede concept with three people somehow connected to each other in some bizarre triangle, but nope. Lipp presents us a love affair between a married female teacher and a young man who is not her husband. When her husband arrives home though, the reader is either gonna be treated to a bloodbath or a threesome… and if I know D.O.A. fans, they’ll take either option with a smile. BorderTown by Laura J. Campbell Anna is a doctor who has been assigned to a small rural town named Dew. Dew has no cancer. No influenza. No real disease and no one ever dies young. But... they do have a very dark secret. One Flesh: A Cautionary Tale by Robert Devereaux This is a reprint from Iniquities 3, 1991, and is not just a cautionary tale, but a bizarro one as well. A father and his grown son are involved in a fiery car crash, mangled and melded into one flesh, at the same exact moment the grown son’s wife is giving birth to a baby boy. God has a sick sense of humor and this tale showcases the dirty side of it. Telescopic by Harper Hull A killer plays an interesting game with his next victim, but I didn’t care for this story much. Left me with too many questions. Sexy by Wrath James White There’s an app for everything now adays. Eros morte-- the app for those of you who want to be fucked to death. No need to say more. If you know Wrath, then you know his twisted brand of sex and death. If you don’t know Wrath yet, this is a great story to start with. I’ll leave you with my favorite line: Someone paid her to fuck them to death with a dildo made from a Rhinoceros horn. Threads by Calie Voorhis Calie does an excellent job capturing the angst and fears of teen girls. Dark and disturbing, but not in an outrageous bizarro way. Threads gets under your skin, literally! Burn the Witches by K. Trap Jones Another bizarro tale from the author of The Sinner and The Big Bad. This town’s got a problem...witches. Every hunting season, there is a protocol and this year, they F*ed it up. Definitely a fun story, but I like some of K. Trap's other work better. I think his fans will definitely dig this one, but even if this tale doesn’t satisfy, do check out some of his other work. Under the Pretext of Propensity by Anton Cancre With similar tones as "Finger Cuffs", this one is even more disturbing as Jordan is having impure thoughts of his fifteen-year-old stepdaughter. The ending is worth it, but ones like this are always hard to read. Stick with it though! Every Drop of Blood Has a Soul by David Quinn This one really wasn’t for me. Seems like you needed to know the Faust comic series. Wasn’t bad story, I just didn’t fall in love with it. Dr Scabs and the Hags of El Cajon by Robert Essig Apparently El Cajon is a real place. No comment on if Dr. Scabs is also real, but for California residents sake, let’s hope not! I envision Dr. Scabs a bit like Dr. Satan from House of 1000 Corpses. Not sure if it’s because of the PhD they both clearly hold or because they’re hideous appearance and devious medical practices ;) Regardless, the good doctor cooks up a powerful batch of meth and his secret weapon is the three hags. Another story that seems fitting of an Ed Lee plot--strange and gross. STD by David Bernstein Great tale of body horror. I don’t have a penis, but I was cringing for this poor guy. Wear a condom. I repeat, always wear a condom. And if you ever need a reminder, read this story. Fat Boy by Kelly Hudson There are some powerful stories in here that could fit in with any horror anthology not just an extreme one, Fat Boy is one of those stories. The real-life pain of bullying. What Calie Voorhis did for the female angst, Hudson does the same for males. Poor Tommy is picked on day in and day out. Fat boy! they all call him. His mother is an enabler and poor Tommy is about to snap. The Pubic Hair Tumbleweed By Joshua Dobson I laughed the whole way through. Bizarro and Gross. Ed Lee fans will love. The Proud Mother by Ken MacGregor Mortuary science is not a field for everyone. Charlotte Banning probably shouldn’t have gone that route, but in the 1800s it was hard for women to become doctors. It’s also hard to get pregnant from having sex with a cadaver, but sometimes, it happens. Game of Golf by Gregory L. Norris I like miniature golf. That’s about the extent of my golfing prowess though. It seems like a relatively pointless sport but maybe I’ll change my mind when I become rich. That or tennis lol. Yet, I can see why Alvin would get so angry and take it out on golfers. No deep plot here. But some fun and creative violence. Slice of Life by Thomas Pluck Short but not so sweet. This was one of the few stories I really didn’t care for. Gimmie Something Good to Eat by Shane McKenzie This was cool Halloween story and unfolded more like a movie than a story. Must read! Linger by Daniel I Russell Harry can’t get the smell of her out of his mind. It’s driving him nuts and not in a good way. His job is miserable and his life is going down the drain. He sees only one way out. Good use of songs to bring this story home. Brutal ending! Skunk JR. by John McNee What a way to end the anthology! Someone is stealing babies and the local law enforcement want to talk to Skunk Jr. and Tick about it. With those names, I again think of Ed Lee. However there are no overused accents which I was thankful for! John McNee is a hell of a writer and a fantastic closer to this excellent anthology. If you say you enjoy extreme horror, D.O.A. II is a must for your collection! Pick up your copy here.