Sage Nestler's Blog, page 10

I Cannot Praise This Groundbreaking Horror Novel Enough

Rating: 5/5Quick Take

The Oath Keeper’s Servant is a brutal, hell of a ride ideal for fans of horror who prefer a young adult flair.  The originality in Zach Kuhl’s novel is astounding, and he has left me haunted.

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                The Oath Keeper’s Servant is a horror novel, but it also passes as a young adult novel due to the age of its main character, Cassie, who is fourteen years old. But don’t let the young adult label fool you, this novel is not for the faint of heart. Cassie’s story is one of terrifying intrigue, and despite the urge to turn away from her story, you will be unable to do so. Zach Kuhl keeps you in his unrelenting grasp with each line, and you will be changed upon finishing his novel – whether you determine that to be for the better or the worse. His words are that bewitching.

               Aside from the classic struggles of growing up, Cassie is faced with a unique situation in which an entity called the Oath Keeper abducts her to save his dying soul. Soon Cassie discovers that she is faced with fear, paranoia, and loneliness as she tries to fight for the right to her own body. Throughout the novel, Cassie fears that the Oath Keeper will take over her body and she will end up being a simple passenger in her own vessel. Doing so will cause her to lose her friends and family, and her life will seemingly cease to exist.

               Possession horror is often oversaturated with stories that follow the basic exorcism storyline. I have to admit that I am not often a fan of the subgenre because it is hard for me to find stories that surprise me and reignite the fear that I first experienced when reading the original novel, The Exorcist. However, The Oath Keeper’s Servant turned the possession subgenre of horror on its head by combining the horrors of puberty and growing up with possession. The novel also challenges how we see our bodies and how we take for granted our sovereignty. Kuhl’s story is complex and thought-provoking, which makes it a novel I plan to read over and over again. You are sure to catch new things with each read, and my understanding of the story will remain unfinished due to its complexity.

               The Oath Keeper’s Servant is a unique, horrifying novel that has challenged my view of the horror genre as a whole. Horror fans will be surprised and pleased with this excellent addition to the possession subgenre, and I thoroughly recommend reading it multiple times in order to understand it the best. I want to thank the author for presenting me with such a challenging – and rewarding – horror novel. I am completely enthralled, and I will be recommending The Oath Keeper’s Servant as one of my top horror picks from here on out. 

Get Prepped for Spooky Season with This Chilling Read

I am always on the hunt for my next horror read, and upon reading the synopsis for Ambush Dawn, I knew I was in for a treat.  My favorite horror reads are those in which extraordinary events occur in ordinary circumstances to ordinary people.  Upon reading the first page of Ambush Dawn, I became connected to the first character to be introduced, and my heart was broken only a few short paragraphs later.  It has been a long time since an author has been able to affect me in such a way, and I knew that I was dedicated to Ambush Dawn for the long haul. 

Ambush Dawn follows a team of firefighters who enter a mine and are confronted with an army of the dead.  They were only going in for a routine exercise but find themselves in the middle of a horrific battle deep within the mine.  Soon they find that their only hope is in that of a local police officer, and their lives have been changed forever. 

RK Hazelett’s writing is immediately compelling, and each word is essential to the story.  Sometimes I find that substantial portions of novels feel like filler, but this was not the case with Ambush Dawn.  I found myself gobbling up word after word, as though I could not read the story fast enough.  Each character is so well presented and developed that they just about become ingrained within your mind.  The horror aspects of the story were also so subtle that they interwove together to instill a deep sense of fear and dread within me.  I felt a building sense of dread as I continued reading, and this feeling has stayed with me long after I finished the novel. 

Unfortunately, there were some grammar and editing errors that detracted from the story in various areas.  I gave Ambush Dawn a 4/5 rather than a 5/5 due to these errors, but I did rather enjoy the novel despite the errors.  It is just something to note if this is an issue for other readers. 

Hazelett is a clear and talented author who deeply understands the horror genre.  Ambush Dawn will stick with me for quite a long time, and I will surely recommend it to other horror lovers.  If you are seeking a scare, then look no further.  Horror lovers across the literary world are surely in for a spook.

Discover A Revolutionary New Voice in the Dystopian Genre

            

Rating: 4/5Quick Take

Tessera: The 47 Shadows is a revolutionary addition to the dystopian genre – this novel is not one to miss!

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Tessera: The 47 Shadows by Stephen Gresko is a dystopian treasure that provides the reader with classic dystopian elements as well as a unique cast of characters who share a bond and friendship that leaps off the page.  I am a longtime reader of dystopian novels, and while I have found that many dystopian novels on the market today tend to run together with similar storylines and undercover themes, I was happy to find that Tessera: The 47 Shadows holds its own in the genre.  Gresko writing is easy and quick to read, which helped me to become invested in the story.  Dystopian fans rejoice, we have a new treasure to add to the genre in Tessera: The 47 Shadows.  You are sure to enjoy Gresko’s bright, new voice.

                Like many dystopian novels, Tessera: The 47 Shadows addresses a world ruled by a higher power, such as the massive corporate entities who have power over those who were lucky enough to survive the demise of civilization.  The story follows Leo, Lily, and Locke, three individuals who were born and raised in a megafacility built deep within the earth by the corporate entities.  Through their eyes we experience the bond that the three of them share, as well as what it is like to discover that the entities who have raised them may not be as positive of an influence as they were raised to believe.  I enjoyed seeing how much influence a higher corporate power has over individuals and how it can often become brainwashing.  The evolution of Leo, Lily, and Locke was exciting to see, and I felt myself rooting for them throughout the story.  I was so devoted to the story that I became depressed when it was over.

                The only critique I have about Gresko’s writing is that he used a plethora of adjectives which often became frustrating to read and unnecessary in many areas of the story.  However, Gresko knows how to make his characters come alive while creating a world that is easy for the reader to understand, which allowed me to look past the subpar writing in terms of the overuse of adjectives.  If this novel were edited and reworked to remove or replace the adjectives, I think that it would appear more professional.  The story itself is strong enough that it doesn’t need so many adjectives to paint a picture in the reader’s mind.  Removing such adjectives would give the reader a better chance to imagine the story to their own imagination and doing so would make such a strong story that much stronger.

                Tessera: The 47 Shadows by Stephen Gresko is a well-developed and vibrant dystopian gem that adds a significant new story to the dystopian genre.  The character development and world building were so strong that I was able to overlook the overuse of adjectives, and I found myself becoming protective of the characters in such a vile world.  While the dystopian market tends to be saturated with stories that are all too similar to one another, Tessera: The 47 Shadows stands out by offering up a complicated story with a diverse cast of characters that help the reader to visualize a world not too different from our own.  Gresko’s work is excellent for dystopian aficionados as well as those new to the genre, and I would classify it as an excellent literary escape.  Try out Tessera: The 47 Shadows by Stephen Gresko,you will not be disappointed.    

This Epic Fantasy by an LGBTQA+ Author Will Be Your New Favorite Book

Rating: 5/5Quick Take

Fantasy lovers seeking strong heroines and excellent world-building – rejoice! Your new favorite novel has arrived.

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                As an avid fantasy reader and author, I find that I am more critical of the selections I read due to my storied experience with the genre.  I am a seeker of strong female heroines and excellent world building, and oftentimes I am left disappointed by the stories I choose due to my critical nature; but Trials of Throk’tar by Jamie Samland had the opposite effect.  I was blown away by the vividity and arc of the characters and their development throughout the book – particularly that of Princess Alishia – and Samland’s world building transported me into his world without giving me a choice. 

As the second book in The Chronicler’s Awakening, Samland did well to appeal to me as a reader by catching me up with the storyline and linking back to the first book in several ways.  I did not feel lost at any point when reading Trials of Throk’tar, and I found myself becoming so engrossed in the story that it took quite the effort for me to return to reality once I finished reading.  I haven’t read a novel in so long that captivates like this novel has, and I plan on becoming an avid reader of Samland’s. 

The most enthralling aspect of Trials of Throk’tar was Samland’s use of descriptive language, which brought the world and story to life.  While the story was complex and covered a plethora of characters facing different journeys and circumstances, Samland connected them all as threads being woven into the same fabric.  Reading Trials of Throk’tar felt like putting a puzzle together, and each piece felt so satisfying once it was put together. 

Trials of Throk’tar is an epic fantasy perfect for fantasy lovers who enjoy strong characters, storylines, and world building while also being okay with some explicit content.  Even though this is the second book in The Chronicler’s Awakening series, I found it easy to catch up with the story and characters, because Samland did such a respectable job of referring back to the first novel.  I haven’t read a fantasy novel that I have enjoyed this much in so long, and coming out of this gorgeous story, I fear that I may enter a reading block.  However, I am grateful to Samland for sharing his story with me, and I look forward to his future works.    

This Feminist Science Fiction Treasure Will Change Your Life

Synopsis

She had to travel beyond the planet to discover her true self. Will she find the courage to walk through the doorway to a new future?

Shambhala Space Station, 2097. Solitary physicist Callisto (physics, after all, is a jealous mistress) never accepted conventional wisdom. So when she’s recruited to work on faster-than-light technology by a beautiful and mysterious older woman, she eagerly accepts the career opportunity at the women-only research station orbiting Earth’s moon. But her enthusiasm suffers when her first discovery is unexpected heartbreak.

Throwing herself into work on a problematic warp drive prototype, Calli blossoms in the utopian female community that shows her love and acceptance for the first time in her life. But when a twisted conspiracy, a disingenuous affair, and a disastrous betrayal test her place in this unique environment, the brilliant scientist must dig deep to find her moment of truth.Will Calli embrace her destiny in an unexplored cosmos?

Callisto 2.0 is the transformative first book in the Shambhala Saga feminist science fiction series. If you like compassionate characters, deep-space intrigue, and hopeful visions of the future, then you’ll adore Susan English’s cosmic adventure.

Rating: 5/5Quick Take

                Callisto 2.0 is a groundbreaking science fiction novel that is loaded with the empowering spirit of feminism and a STEM based storyline.  It is the first science fiction novel I have read that has captured my heart in such a way that I may be ruined for other science fiction novels forever.

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Callisto 2.0 by Susan English is a transformative science fiction novel that brings both feminist and STEM elements, while also presenting a beautiful cast of characters that become alive in the reader’s mind.  The story follows Callisto, a solitary physicist who is recruited to work at a women-only research station.  While this becomes an excellent opportunity for Callisto, she finds herself facing heartbreak, which causes her to throw herself into her work.  Callisto finds solace in this unique environment as she experiences love and acceptance she has never felt before, but she is also faced with numerous challenges that force her to evolve not only in her position as a physicist, but as a person as well.

                Susan English’s writing is crystal clear and drags the reader further into the story with each word.  While I find that science fiction can often become difficult to get into because of the complex world building that the reader has to become committed to, this was not the way with Callisto 2.0.  English’s world building is flawless and original, and her protagonist – Callisto – is an excellent guide.  As someone not as familiar with physics, I found the story easy to understand, while also broadening my perspective.  I am huge advocate for feminism and women centered stories, and I found English’s stance to be inspirational rather than politically focused as many women centered stories tend to be.  I found myself empathizing with each character and evolving along with Callisto as she experiences numerous trials and heartbreaks that leaves her reeling. 

                When I read science fiction novels, I find that I often have numerous critiques on how the author’s world and character building can be more effective, but with English, I devoured her story and characters without a single thought of a critique.  Callisto 2.0 is the feminist science fiction novel of my dreams, and it is one that I will be reading again and again.

                If you are a fan of science fiction, you will be delighted with the elegant world building and complex characters that Susan English has created.  Even if you are not a fan of science fiction, I suggest giving this novel a try as it is impeccable and easy to understand, so much so that it feels like being in a dream.  I am afraid of reading any more science fiction novels after reading this one because I fear that no other novel will compare to its beauty.  Give Callisto 2.0 a try, no matter your literary tastes.  You will not be disappointed.    

This Toolkit Revolutionizes Mental Health Care At Home

I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Linn Martinsen, psychotherapist and creator of the revolutionary Therapy Toolkit: Sixty Cards for Self-Exploration.  We discussed this new toolkit that she created as well as how we should all manage our mental health as the pandemic continues to change.  Read about Martinsen’s Therapy Toolkit below and enjoy the interview!

About the Therapy Toolkit: Sixty Cards for Self-Exploration:

“You may want to throw this box at the wall,” admits author Linn Martinsen.  Therapy Toolkit features sixty cards written by an experienced and qualified therapist that help the user explore their mental health matters in a compassionate and safe space.

Though some are open to the therapeutic process, others are nervous or trepidatious. Without cost barriers or shame and stigma attached, Martinsen’s thoughtful ‘pandora’ box of therapy cards, divided into four categories – experiences, emotions, relationships, and childhood – invites anyone into the intricate process and idea of psychotherapy.

Each beautifully illustrated card in the deck features questions and reflections that emulate the process of therapy. The cards work together in a cohesive way to guide the user through a journey of self-exploration in a place and at a pace that’s right for them to create deep, meaningful change.

As we come out of the challenging months of the pandemic, there’s never been a more important time to offer people what Therapy Toolkit provides. With these cards, users will have the capacity to understand where their reactivity comes from and learn to have compassion for themselves – and others – in meeting the challenges of a rapidly changing world.

As Martinsen’s colleague John Mackessy, psychotherapist, says:

These cards offer a tool that could work exceptionally well either alongside therapy or as an alternative path to self-exploration. With these cards, people can begin to explore and make sense of issues outside of the therapeutic hour and decide for themselves on what they’d like to work.

Though not a replacement to therapy, Therapy Toolkit is a gentle primer for or complement to therapy. A comprehensive booklet that includes an introduction to the therapeutic process, tips on using the deck, and a list of resources for further guidance accompanies the deck.

Tell me a little bit about yourself and your background

From the mountain to the melting pot…. Despite all my years in London, I still feel deeply connected to the girl who collected thousands of hours and scars on gnarly trees and in rocky rivers in rural Norway. The youngest of eight sisters (five of whom I grew up with) I spent much of my time trailing their coolness and soaking up their goodness, all the while carrying around a notebook to make sense of things the best I could (a rather endearing read in retrospect).

Mid-teens to early twenties saw a whirlwind few years of acting, TV production and travel, before putting all my belongings in storage and buying a one-way ticket to London. It may not have been the most well thought out plan, but this sudden decision to up sticks to England all those years ago brought me to this moment right now, with two beautiful sons, a loving co-parent relationship, a wonderful partner and two beautiful stepdaughters (sorry Bumble; and a cute Cocker Spaniel).

What made you want to become a therapist?

In short, I decided to become a therapist because of the riches of compassion and potential for change I experienced with therapy both firsthand and through others. Also, my initial certificate course was such an amazing and eye-opening experience that I decided to immerse myself fully in the continued training.

How did you get inspiration to create the Therapy Toolkit deck of cards?

It occurred to me a few years ago that therapy, and especially the core elements of psychotherapy (which are so fundamental and applies to us all, especially how our formative story shape how we feel about ourselves and how we relate to others) is not accessible to everyone. Either for financial reasons or because the literature connected to it is so complex and intricate. The initial thought was to create an affordable and accessible workshop that anyone could attend, but when a friend wondered if it could also work in a simple, written format to be explored in your own time I started reshaping the idea and came up with the concept of the toolkit.

What do you hope people will get out of using the Therapy Toolkit?

My hope is that the Therapy Toolkit can help demystify and destigmatize the world of therapy a bit and show how universal a lot of the things we struggle with as human beings are, particularly things we tend to carry in the shadows such as shame, anger, and fear. It’s important to note that the Therapy Toolkit is not therapy, which is a beautiful process of creating a trusting relationship in which you are supported to fully emerge with all you carry. The Therapy Toolkit is simply a gentle voice letting you know that we all carry difficult things and that it’s ok to ask questions, it’s OK to grieve, and it’s more than ok to seek support. Compassion for the aching loneliness that can be experienced in our individual human complexity is really at the heart of the toolkit.

Do you have any guidance on how we should manage our mental health as the world begins to open back up?

Two words come to mind immediately: Patience and compassion. Patience with ourselves and with others, and compassion for ourselves and for others. I notice around me that, despite a semblance of normality resuming in many places, tempers can flare more quickly, insecurities are more pronounced and felt more deeply, and a general feeling of exhaustion is permeating many people’s lives.

We are in essence a world full of ‘walking wounds’ right now, in some cases without even realizing it. Wounds suddenly exposed to the elements, where the slightest breeze or accidental brush can set off the impulse to either lash out or to shrink back.

I think the best and most compassionate way to look after ourselves and each other now that the world is opening again is to pay attention to how we feel about and react to the world around us, and to slow down and focus on self-nurture as much as we can. Some may feel desperate to throw themselves back into life again but consider when this may become too overwhelming and allow time to emerge at a pace that feels more comfortable, even if this pace is new compared to before.

Initiating intimate and honest conversations with people you trust – whether that is a friend, a family member or a charity who offers listening support can be a good place to start.

It’s not unusual to think that ‘everyone else is coping/doing so much better,’ but rest assured; you are not alone in feeling vulnerable right now, at different times and in different ways and it’s ok – and normal, if you and your relationships need extra support and extra time to recover.

Get your own Therapy Toolkit here: https://www.laurenceking.com/us/product/therapy-toolkit-self-exploration/

This Scorcher Will Set Your Summer Reading List Ablaze

Book InformationTitle: Good Morning Mr. DeathAuthor: Jerrimiah StonecastleRating: 5/5Format: AudiobookQuick Take

Good Morning Mr. Death is both a puzzle to be solved, and a dreadful tale to be absorbed. This is author Jerrimiah Stonecastle at his best, and the audiobook format sheds a spotlight on Stonecastle’s gift of writing horror fiction.

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    Summer is one of my favorite times to enjoy audiobooks – especially if its horror (perhaps it is the heat) – and I was overjoyed when horror author Jerrimiah Stonecastle approached me to review his audiobook Good Morning Mr. Death.  Stonecastle’s author style is eclectic in that each of his horror novels vary greatly, but each one draws you in with clenched fists and refuses to relent.  I found this to be especially true after listening to the audiobook of Good Morning Mr. Death. 

                Good Morning Mr. Death follows sixteen-year-old Wendell Tate, a young man on the edge of the wrong side of the tracks who meets Mr. Death, a Grim Reaper-esque fellow who collects souls.  Wendell’s story soon becomes a puzzle as Mr. Death presents Wendell with a riddle.  If Wendell is to solve the riddle, then he will be able to keep his soul.  If not, then his soul will be the next on Mr. Death’s list.  

                When it comes to audiobooks, I find that the calculated choice of a narrator is paramount to how the story is enjoyed by the listener.  In the case of Good Morning Mr. Death, I found the selection of narrator Craig Roberts to be an optimal choice.  Roberts’ voice compliments Stonecastle’s writing strategically, while latching onto the listener’s ear with each word.  It didn’t take me long to become absorbed in the audiobook, and I thoroughly enjoyed my listening experience.

                Due to Wendell Tate’s age, Good Morning Mr. Death falls under the young adult genre’s large umbrella, but Stonecastle did not hold back his premium horror writing gift as some authors do when writing from a younger perspective.  The puzzle that Wendell must decipher is the primary focus of the plot, and it affected Wendell, as well as myself, in a complicated way. The story required the listener to solve the riddle right alongside Wendell, and it forced me to become completely immersed.  I felt his desperation and intrigue deeply as I listened to his journey, and it didn’t take long for genuine fear to build up within me.  True to Stonecastle’s previous work, he did not create filler that would lessen the impact of the dread felt by the listener.  Each word was an exceptional link to the story’s riddle, and with each word read by Roberts I became more and more entrenched.

                Jerrimiah Stonecastle is a vital voice in today’s horror market.  I have been impacted by each of his works, but even more so now that I have listened to his audiobook Good Morning Mr. Death.  In his novel, Stonecastle has created a journey that is not only to be enjoyed by young adults, but adults as well.  If you are a fan of horror, then this audiobook is an excellent listening choice for your summertime book list.  What can I say, the process of listening to this audiobook along with the heat of summer only intensifies the impact of its story.  I have been thoroughly scorched by this horror gem, and I couldn’t be happier. 

Author Information Jerrimiah Stonecastle

Born and raised in the slums of New York, he was raised by a single mom who earned her Master’s in Early Childhood Development while working as a teacher’s aid. She sent young Jerrimiah to the prestigious Power Memorial Academy for Boys, the Alma mater of NBA great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He worked part-time after school to help his mom pay for his tuition.

He declined a full scholarship from Concordia University and joined the US Army and became a combat medic. He returned to New York upon his discharge where he was hired by the NYC Chief Medical Examiners Office as a medical stenographer.

In 1982 he joined the New York City Police Department. In 1983 he was recruited by the Organized Crime Control Bureau (OCCB) as an undercover officer in their narcotics division. He finished out his career as a detective assigned to the Bronx Homicide Task Force.

When he retired in 2002, he relocated to Florida to pursue his passion for writing. After hundreds of rejection letters and reading Amanda Hocking’s story, he decided to self-publish his own works. In 2016 he formed Stonecastle Publications LLC and has published 21books and publications so far. He has an additional 225 fiction and nonfiction novels in draft form in his company’s literary vault.

On October 31, 2018, He launched his first horror novel “FRANKENSTINA” and released the sequel “FRANKENSTINA REBORN” on Halloween 2019. There are two more books in the horology.

Slip Into the Occult with Author Jerrimiah Stonecastle

              

Book InformationTitle: Invited: InitiumAuthor: Jerrimiah StonecastleRating: 5/5Format: E-bookQuick Take

Invited: Initium by Jerrimiah Stonecastle is as juicy a tale as it is gothic. It has been a long time since I’ve read such a tale reminiscent of old-school horror, and I can honestly say that I have been swept off my feet.

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I’m always a fan of horror novels, especially those about the occult.  Jerrimiah Stonecastle’s newest short story Invited: Initium is all of that, and so much more.  His work reminds me of classic horror and occult writing, and if you are a fan of these like I am, then you are in for a treat.

                Invited: Initium is set in 1631 and follows Bianca Lupei, a woman about to be married to a man named Sebastian Barbaneagra .  However, her life is interrupted when a vampire, Lord Lucian Dascălu, comes into her life and claims that she is his heir.  He proceeds to bite her and afflict her with a curse that will continue his bloodline, but Sebastian knows that he cannot live without Bianca, so he chooses to become damned as well.  The story follows the lovers as they try to find a way to end the curse, all the while being chased by Jesuit Priests who are intent on banishing them. 

                Stonecastle has a unique way of welcoming the reader in before dragging them straight into his world, and even though this was only a short story less than one hundred pages, I found myself completely absorbed.  Bianca and Sebastian were such vibrant and loveable characters, that I couldn’t help but feel connected to them and empathize with their experience.  While this story does interweave the occult into its love story, I felt that it became more of a gothic period piece.  Stonecastle made sure to include just enough descriptors that his characters and world became vibrant, but he did not put the reader through heavy filler.  Each word was an integral part of the story, and I found myself reminiscing over classic horror authors, such as H.P. Lovecraft and Edgar Allan Poe.  Having read some of Stonecastle’s other work, I was impressed to see how diverse his writing has become over the two stories I have read thus far, and I would attribute that to his talent as a horror author.

                If you are a fan of classic horror short stories with a touch of romance, then you can’t go wrong with Invited: Initium.  Jerrimiah Stonecastle is not an author to be missed, and I look forward to his innovative writing as it comes. 

AUTHOR INFORMATION Jerrimiah Stonecastle

Born and raised in the slums of New York, he was raised by a single mom who earned her Master’s in Early Childhood Development while working as a teacher’s aid. She sent young Jerrimiah to the prestigious Power Memorial Academy for Boys, the Alma mater of NBA great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He worked part-time after school to help his mom pay for his tuition.

He declined a full scholarship from Concordia University and joined the US Army and became a combat medic. He returned to New York upon his discharge where he was hired by the NYC Chief Medical Examiners Office as a medical stenographer.

In 1982 he joined the New York City Police Department. In 1983 he was recruited by the Organized Crime Control Bureau (OCCB) as an undercover officer in their narcotics division. He finished out his career as a detective assigned to the Bronx Homicide Task Force.

When he retired in 2002, he relocated to Florida to pursue his passion for writing. After hundreds of rejection letters and reading Amanda Hocking’s story, he decided to self-publish his own works. In 2016 he formed Stonecastle Publications LLC and has published 21books and publications so far. He has an additional 225 fiction and nonfiction novels in draft form in his company’s literary vault.

On October 31, 2018, He launched his first horror novel “FRANKENSTINA” and released the sequel “FRANKENSTINA REBORN” on Halloween 2019. There are two more books in the horology.

Book Review: Invited: Initium by Jerrimiah Stonecastle

              

 Book Title: Invited: Initium by Jerrimiah StonecastleRating: 5/5Format: Kindle Book

I’m always a fan of horror novels, especially those about the occult.  Jerrimiah Stonecastle’s newest short story Invited: Initium is all of that, and so much more.  His work reminds me of classic horror and occult writing, and if you are a fan of these like I am, then you are in for a treat.

                Invited: Initium is set in 1631 and follows Bianca Lupei, a woman about to be married to a man named Sebastian Barbaneagra .  However, her life is interrupted when a vampire, Lord Lucian Dascălu, comes into her life and claims that she is his heir.  He proceeds to bite her and afflict her with a curse that will continue his bloodline, but Sebastian knows that he cannot live without Bianca, so he chooses to become damned as well.  The story follows the lovers as they try to find a way to end the curse, all the while being chased by Jesuit Priests who are intent on banishing them. 

                Stonecastle has a unique way of welcoming the reader in before dragging them straight into his world, and even though this was only a short story less than one hundred pages, I found myself completely absorbed.  Bianca and Sebastian were such vibrant and loveable characters, that I couldn’t help but feel connected to them and empathize with their experience.  While this story does interweave the occult into its love story, I felt that it became more of a gothic period piece.  Stonecastle made sure to include just enough descriptors that his characters and world became vibrant, but he did not put the reader through heavy filler.  Each word was an integral part of the story, and I found myself reminiscing over classic horror authors, such as H.P. Lovecraft and Edgar Allan Poe.  Having read some of Stonecastle’s other work, I was impressed to see how diverse his writing has become over the two stories I have read thus far, and I would attribute that to his talent as a horror author.

                If you are a fan of classic horror short stories with a touch of romance, then you can’t go wrong with Invited: Initium.  Jerrimiah Stonecastle is not an author to be missed, and I look forward to his innovative writing as it comes. 

Amazon Series Review: Them by Little Marvin

Synopsis

THEM is a limited anthology series that explores terror in America. The first season, 1950s-set COVENANT centers around a Black family who move from North Carolina to an all-white Los Angeles neighborhood during the period known as The Great Migration.

Rating: 5/5Quick Take

The first season of Them by creator Little Marvin is at once so terrifying and skin crawling that you can’t bear to continue watching, yet so intriguing and well-written that you can’t pull yourself away. As a horror maven I am always in search of horror that fills me with dread and infiltrates my mind, yet I rarely find horror that affects me on such a deep level. Them, on the other hand, took me completely by surprise, filled me with dread, and forced me to stare racism in the face. Horror has never been so good.

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I rarely review television series or movies because I don’t often come across many choices that affect me deeply enough to the point of me wanting to leave a review. When I first came across Them I wasn’t sure what to expect. I at first assumed that it was a television series about racism in the 1950s, but I did not know that it was also a horror series. Maybe going into watching this series without any prior knowledge of it intensified my experience, but I also attribute my awe to the writing and the brutal yet elegant way racism was personified through horror villains.

Them begins with a family on the move from South Carolina to California in search of a new life. We aren’t exposed to the family’s history until later on in the series, but we are shown how the family moves to an all white neighborhood called Compton and their presence as a black family is not received well. The perspective of the series focuses primarily on the perspective of each family member and their experience as supernatural experiences invade their everyday life. Each episode gets more and more intense as we learn more about the family’s history and each of the parent’s deteriorating mental health.

In this anthology, racism is personified as various supernatural villains that target each member of the family, while also influencing each of the white neighbors who target the family from the moment they move in. The language and behaviors used against the family are vile and the epitome of the darkest form of racism. The series jump ropes with the line between eye opening and inappropriate without ever crossing it, but forcing the viewer to stare racism in the face – while also acknowledging racism’s impact on mental health as both of the parents demonstrate symptoms of severe post-traumatic stress disorder.

But it was the way that the story was filmed and presented to the viewer that created such a lasting effect. Each scene was a work of art and infiltrated my mind with dread, horror, and an intense urge to take action. The angles of the camera and the sound effects and music choices intensified each scene in such a delicate and torturous way. The episode that revealed the tragedy that the family suffered in their previous home was by far the most horrifying horror scene I have ever witnessed, but it was done in such a way that you couldn’t look away. The anger and pain I felt during this scene made me want to reach right into the screen and save the mother and her child from the torture they experienced while also feeling helpless and unable to do so.

Little Marvin has created such an astounding work of art with Them that I can’t praise it or recommend it enough. Racism is such a despicable aspect of our society, and there is no better way to present it on television than through the lens of horror. Little Marvin has created such a controversial series with such grace that left me breathless. While Them is extremely difficult to watch it is vital that you take the time to view it. It will change you for the better and inspire you to take action. I am not the same after watching it, and you won’t be either.