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Nightmare Asylum & Other Deadly Delights
Nightmare Asylum – Despised by day, tortured by night.A midwifery student’s life disintegrates into a terrifying nightmare, after a disturbing encounter with the notorious child killer, Evelyn Green. Dark secrets from Lydia’s past unleash a truth that conjures her fears into unspeakable horror. Other Deadly Delights – Tales from the psychotically unsound and deadly deluded.A stalker turns serial killer; a cleaning lady is imprisoned in the basement, there’s a prophetic warning for a woman in peril, and an android with love addiction, plus many more… a deliciously dangerous collection of short stories, ranging from psychological horror to paranormal, sci-fi and noir.Dare you enter the nightmare Asylum?
128 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 28, 2020
12 people want to read
About the author
Sonia Kilvington
4 books11 followersSonia Kilvington is a journalist and fiction writer from the beautiful Mediterranean island of Cyprus. She has published many articles, travel features, short stories and interviews in glossy magazines. She loves to write dark and disturbing short stories in genres such as noir, crime, ghost and Sci-fi. Her online writing credits include Out of the Gutter Online, Spelk fiction, Pulp Metal Magazine & Near to the Knuckle. Her new short story collection, Nightmare Asylum & Other Deadly Delights - published by Close To The Bone, is available on Amazon
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
October 19, 2020
Anyone that has stuck around long enough knows that horror is my favourite genre, and I will lap up anything that is creepy, haunted, or plain dark. I love a good horror short story collection and the opportunity to review this was an extremely exciting prospect. There are eighteen stories in all, and they all fall within the realms of horror, thriller, and suspense. I always think it’s especially hard to review a collection of stories because there is always going to be ones you love and ones that don’t mould particularly well with your tastes. Nightmare Asylum was a good selection, and it was a fun ride!
Nightmare Asylum was a nice quick read, the stories were short and snappy, and I finished the book in one sitting. The story highlighted everything that I adore about horror. We have authentic characterisation, and it opened my mind to possibilities that I would only dare to dream of. One thing I did love about this collection of stories was how I could imagine sitting around a campfire, everyone taking it in turns to tell a scary story on Halloween. It had a strong voice, and I could listen to it for hours and hours.
One of the stories that stood out for me was the opener, Nightmare Asylum. It chilled me to the bone. The first thing that came to my mind was thinking it reminded me hugely of Shutter Island. The plot played with your mind, there was red herring aplenty and there was the killer twist. The ending did emit a gasp of surprise and shock. It was the strongest story out of the collection. I could picture the darkness, the suspense and wouldn’t be out of place with some suspenseful music accompanying it.
My other favourite was Cry Baby. This was a dark story but one that had such a compelling storyline that it had me hooked, line and sinker. The eerie edge to the stalking of a victim, the reasoning behind it and the final curtain call, brought me out in a sweat. The words danced in front of me, but I happily consumed all the author was conveying. It was a story that highlighted the curse of our upbringings. A mother’s love is one of the most pure and untainted things…without it, where would we be?
There was a few that I didn’t rate so highly but that’s ok because you are never going to have a collection that you love everything from. Overall, it was exceptionally good collection and I look forward to hopefully reading more from the author. Nightmare Asylum will probably give me at least a few nightmares in the nights to come!
Nightmare Asylum was a nice quick read, the stories were short and snappy, and I finished the book in one sitting. The story highlighted everything that I adore about horror. We have authentic characterisation, and it opened my mind to possibilities that I would only dare to dream of. One thing I did love about this collection of stories was how I could imagine sitting around a campfire, everyone taking it in turns to tell a scary story on Halloween. It had a strong voice, and I could listen to it for hours and hours.
One of the stories that stood out for me was the opener, Nightmare Asylum. It chilled me to the bone. The first thing that came to my mind was thinking it reminded me hugely of Shutter Island. The plot played with your mind, there was red herring aplenty and there was the killer twist. The ending did emit a gasp of surprise and shock. It was the strongest story out of the collection. I could picture the darkness, the suspense and wouldn’t be out of place with some suspenseful music accompanying it.
My other favourite was Cry Baby. This was a dark story but one that had such a compelling storyline that it had me hooked, line and sinker. The eerie edge to the stalking of a victim, the reasoning behind it and the final curtain call, brought me out in a sweat. The words danced in front of me, but I happily consumed all the author was conveying. It was a story that highlighted the curse of our upbringings. A mother’s love is one of the most pure and untainted things…without it, where would we be?
There was a few that I didn’t rate so highly but that’s ok because you are never going to have a collection that you love everything from. Overall, it was exceptionally good collection and I look forward to hopefully reading more from the author. Nightmare Asylum will probably give me at least a few nightmares in the nights to come!
May 28, 2020
Nightmare Asylum and Other Deadly Delights by Sonia Kilvington starts at the cover. Your eye is drawn ever deeper upon viewing the cover art by Craig Douglas. This book, like the fabled abyss, will stare back at you as Sonia Kilvington plumbs the essential nature of human relationships. For these stories are not uplifting, Chicken Soup for the Soul, no, these stories are much more Charles Addams style. You see, each of these stories strips away normal. To quote Charles Addams –“Normal is an illusion. What is normal for the spider is chaos for the fly.”
These are short stories at their finest, which are a different skill set than a novel. Novels have time to explore the full three-act structure. In a short story, you often only have space to write a segment of the three-act structure, usually a portion leading to a significant, transformative event for the main character.
Good short stories will have an impact. They strike you and stick with you. Weird tales and horror stories can kick your adrenaline and hours, maybe days later, they still rattle around inside your head. In this style, Sonia Kilvington is a master.
From the title story Nightmare Asylum to the final story Winter Baby, this book will enthrall you. They are fast reads. We need to remember horror does not lurk solely in darkness, seclusion, and gore. Innocence, passion, greed, and yes, even beauty, can bring their horror. Only the lucky ones get out of this through death. For the unlucky, shredding sanity as madness takes its toll.
If you ever watched Scooby-Doo, you should know this lesson. The real monsters are people. Stroll through the pages of Nightmare Asylum and Other Deadly Delights by Sonia Kilvington and meet the monsters. I wager you might even recognize a few.
These are short stories at their finest, which are a different skill set than a novel. Novels have time to explore the full three-act structure. In a short story, you often only have space to write a segment of the three-act structure, usually a portion leading to a significant, transformative event for the main character.
Good short stories will have an impact. They strike you and stick with you. Weird tales and horror stories can kick your adrenaline and hours, maybe days later, they still rattle around inside your head. In this style, Sonia Kilvington is a master.
From the title story Nightmare Asylum to the final story Winter Baby, this book will enthrall you. They are fast reads. We need to remember horror does not lurk solely in darkness, seclusion, and gore. Innocence, passion, greed, and yes, even beauty, can bring their horror. Only the lucky ones get out of this through death. For the unlucky, shredding sanity as madness takes its toll.
If you ever watched Scooby-Doo, you should know this lesson. The real monsters are people. Stroll through the pages of Nightmare Asylum and Other Deadly Delights by Sonia Kilvington and meet the monsters. I wager you might even recognize a few.
May 7, 2020
“Nightmare Asylum and Other Deadly Delights”—Sonia Kilvington [4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️] This was fast-paced and addicting, and I flew through this in just one sitting. This was a collection of short stories that contained horror, paranormal, and sci-fi elements and all were creepy in their own way. Some stories I enjoyed more than others, and my favorite was the opening story “Nightmare Asylum,” and I wish this one could have been longer. It told about a midwifery student and how her life turned into a total nightmare after a disturbing encounter with a notable child killer. This author did a great job in painting these twisted and creepy stories for the readers and I definitely recommend this book if you’re a fan of horror 💀👍🏼*Thank you to BookSirens for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review*
July 13, 2020
Nightmare Asylum and other Deadly Delights is a book of eighteen short stories all based around psychological thrillers and horror.
The book had me gripped from the very first page to the very last page with its twist and turns it left me in suspense to the very end. Unlike some books that abruptly end with no explanation this book was enjoyble and easy to follow. I found all stories interesting and my attention was held all throughout the book.
I recommend not just the book but also the author.
The book had me gripped from the very first page to the very last page with its twist and turns it left me in suspense to the very end. Unlike some books that abruptly end with no explanation this book was enjoyble and easy to follow. I found all stories interesting and my attention was held all throughout the book.
I recommend not just the book but also the author.
May 2, 2020
A great collection of stories here. In divergent genres. My particular favorites are:
The eponymous tale, "Nightmare Asylum": even cautious rereading doesn't reveal: What is Truth? Who is Righteous and Who is Culpable? Nightmare or Reality?
"Women's Work": oh my, my. Gory, sadistic, deliciously twisted. So good.
"Jake": wow. Twisted in a deadly fashion. I think of certain couples accused in true crimes: how we wonder "How could they? How could SHE?" This story could offer one possible answer.
"I Wish You A Happy Death Day": Eastern European shudders.
"Deadly Desire": really unexpected, twisted, memorable.
"Perfect Love": psychological science fiction
"Every Move You Make": totally blew me away. Never did I expect THIS Denouement.
"Every Smile You Fake": a sequel to "Every Move You Make" and is it ever a wild and wildly twisted one!
"Soulmate": all too possible nowadays. Shudder!!
"Paranoid ": Really glad I didn't read after dark.
A great collection of stories here. In divergent genres. My particular favorites are:
The eponymous tale, "Nightmare Asylum": even cautious rereading doesn't reveal: What is Truth? Who is Righteous and Who is Culpable? Nightmare or Reality?
"Women's Work": oh my, my. Gory, sadistic, deliciously twisted. So good.
"Jake": wow. Twisted in a deadly fashion. I think of certain couples accused in true crimes: how we wonder "How could they? How could SHE?" This story could offer one possible answer.
"I Wish You A Happy Death Day": Eastern European shudders.
"Deadly Desire": really unexpected, twisted, memorable.
"Perfect Love": psychological science fiction
"Every Move You Make": totally blew me away. Never did I expect THIS Denouement.
"Every Smile You Fake": a sequel to "Every Move You Make" and is it ever a wild and wildly twisted one!
"Soulmate": all too possible nowadays. Shudder!!
"Paranoid ": Really glad I didn't read after dark.
A great collection of stories here. In divergent genres. My particular favorites are:
The eponymous tale, "Nightmare Asylum": even cautious rereading doesn't reveal: What is Truth? Who is Righteous and Who is Culpable? Nightmare or Reality?
"Women's Work": oh my, my. Gory, sadistic, deliciously twisted. So good.
"Jake": wow. Twisted in a deadly fashion. I think of certain couples accused in true crimes: how we wonder "How could they? How could SHE?" This story could offer one possible answer.
"I Wish You A Happy Death Day": Eastern European shudders.
"Deadly Desire": really unexpected, twisted, memorable.
"Perfect Love": psychological science fiction
"Every Move You Make": totally blew me away. Never did I expect THIS Denouement.
"Every Smile You Fake": a sequel to "Every Move You Make" and is it ever a wild and wildly twisted one!
"Soulmate": all too possible nowadays. Shudder!!
"Paranoid ": Really glad I didn't read after dark.
The eponymous tale, "Nightmare Asylum": even cautious rereading doesn't reveal: What is Truth? Who is Righteous and Who is Culpable? Nightmare or Reality?
"Women's Work": oh my, my. Gory, sadistic, deliciously twisted. So good.
"Jake": wow. Twisted in a deadly fashion. I think of certain couples accused in true crimes: how we wonder "How could they? How could SHE?" This story could offer one possible answer.
"I Wish You A Happy Death Day": Eastern European shudders.
"Deadly Desire": really unexpected, twisted, memorable.
"Perfect Love": psychological science fiction
"Every Move You Make": totally blew me away. Never did I expect THIS Denouement.
"Every Smile You Fake": a sequel to "Every Move You Make" and is it ever a wild and wildly twisted one!
"Soulmate": all too possible nowadays. Shudder!!
"Paranoid ": Really glad I didn't read after dark.
A great collection of stories here. In divergent genres. My particular favorites are:
The eponymous tale, "Nightmare Asylum": even cautious rereading doesn't reveal: What is Truth? Who is Righteous and Who is Culpable? Nightmare or Reality?
"Women's Work": oh my, my. Gory, sadistic, deliciously twisted. So good.
"Jake": wow. Twisted in a deadly fashion. I think of certain couples accused in true crimes: how we wonder "How could they? How could SHE?" This story could offer one possible answer.
"I Wish You A Happy Death Day": Eastern European shudders.
"Deadly Desire": really unexpected, twisted, memorable.
"Perfect Love": psychological science fiction
"Every Move You Make": totally blew me away. Never did I expect THIS Denouement.
"Every Smile You Fake": a sequel to "Every Move You Make" and is it ever a wild and wildly twisted one!
"Soulmate": all too possible nowadays. Shudder!!
"Paranoid ": Really glad I didn't read after dark.
A great collection of stories here. In divergent genres. My particular favorites are:
The eponymous tale, "Nightmare Asylum": even cautious rereading doesn't reveal: What is Truth? Who is Righteous and Who is Culpable? Nightmare or Reality?
"Women's Work": oh my, my. Gory, sadistic, deliciously twisted. So good.
"Jake": wow. Twisted in a deadly fashion. I think of certain couples accused in true crimes: how we wonder "How could they? How could SHE?" This story could offer one possible answer.
"I Wish You A Happy Death Day": Eastern European shudders.
"Deadly Desire": really unexpected, twisted, memorable.
"Perfect Love": psychological science fiction
"Every Move You Make": totally blew me away. Never did I expect THIS Denouement.
"Every Smile You Fake": a sequel to "Every Move You Make" and is it ever a wild and wildly twisted one!
"Soulmate": all too possible nowadays. Shudder!!
"Paranoid ": Really glad I didn't read after dark.
June 10, 2020
A compilation of short stories, Nightmare Asylum and other Deadly Delights takes you on a trip through various genres, starting with the brilliant Nightmare Asylum which kicks the book of with a bang, and an almighty twist!
There are stories on abduction, murder, stalking, motherly obsession, revenge, love struck obsessive robots, blackmail, paranoia and ghostly apparitions. Some of the stories were so creepy, and others I couldn’t believe what I was reading!
Nightmare Asylum, the cleaner, the dress (creepy!), and the IT story were my favourites. Unfortunately my copy of the book didn’t have chapter headings so I don’t know the official names of the stories, but you’ll know which one’s I mean when you read it!
The fact that these are all short stories means you can pick this up whenever you want to get lost somewhere and have a spare 5-10 minutes (although you wouldn’t want to be in any of these situations in real life!). Perfect for those with busy lives that don’t have much time to sit down reading, you can get your horror/psychological thriller/sci-fi fix here! Even though these are short stories, there is plenty of tension and build up in some of these that will make you want to keep reading.
As a fan of horror and the paranormal, I thoroughly enjoyed being able to immerse myself in dark, creepy places and some of these stories really did make my skin crawl! If you’re like me and love this kind of stuff, then you will enjoy this.
There are stories on abduction, murder, stalking, motherly obsession, revenge, love struck obsessive robots, blackmail, paranoia and ghostly apparitions. Some of the stories were so creepy, and others I couldn’t believe what I was reading!
Nightmare Asylum, the cleaner, the dress (creepy!), and the IT story were my favourites. Unfortunately my copy of the book didn’t have chapter headings so I don’t know the official names of the stories, but you’ll know which one’s I mean when you read it!
The fact that these are all short stories means you can pick this up whenever you want to get lost somewhere and have a spare 5-10 minutes (although you wouldn’t want to be in any of these situations in real life!). Perfect for those with busy lives that don’t have much time to sit down reading, you can get your horror/psychological thriller/sci-fi fix here! Even though these are short stories, there is plenty of tension and build up in some of these that will make you want to keep reading.
As a fan of horror and the paranormal, I thoroughly enjoyed being able to immerse myself in dark, creepy places and some of these stories really did make my skin crawl! If you’re like me and love this kind of stuff, then you will enjoy this.
April 26, 2020
This collection of stories is shot through with a gothic ambience of darkness, disease and madness in the clinical sense. From its opening story death is always close by, reading to lay a cold hand on someone's neck. The tales seldom wander far from the haunted corridors of the Asylum -- proving you can change the name and the purpose but the horrors that happened there leave echoes that reverberate for a very long time.
Women wronged -- and most often the men who wronged them (this is gothic horror after all) -- figure prominently in this collection. Kilvington has a good ear for creating the layered tension of stories where the characters are never certain if what they believe they see is real. And yet too often their eyes are not really open at all. Deadly desires are a lot more than skin deep. In the world of Nightmare Asylum people nurse their resentments for years even generations; revenge for wrongs real or imagined consume their blighted lives.
And if they're looking for a soulmate instead of revenge, you're really in danger!
You'll be haunted by these stories long after you close the book. Spectral figures my follow you, or you may have a sudden desire to do your own disappearing act...
Women wronged -- and most often the men who wronged them (this is gothic horror after all) -- figure prominently in this collection. Kilvington has a good ear for creating the layered tension of stories where the characters are never certain if what they believe they see is real. And yet too often their eyes are not really open at all. Deadly desires are a lot more than skin deep. In the world of Nightmare Asylum people nurse their resentments for years even generations; revenge for wrongs real or imagined consume their blighted lives.
And if they're looking for a soulmate instead of revenge, you're really in danger!
You'll be haunted by these stories long after you close the book. Spectral figures my follow you, or you may have a sudden desire to do your own disappearing act...
July 13, 2020
3.5/5 stars
Thank you to Blackthorn Book Tours for my free copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Short story collections are always so hard to review so I end up kicking myself a bit every time I agree to review one, but they’re so much fun! This was one I couldn’t resist based on the title alone. I’ve always been fascinated by horror revolving around asylums, probably because they actually were so horrific in the past. That being said, I wish more of the stories did involve an asylum, but there were some other frightfully great stories as well.
Some of my favorites were: Nightmare Asylum, Women’s Work, Cry Baby, Vera, and Spectral Warning.
I applaud the author for being able to pack so many chills into such few pages. Each of the stories are very short, and the book as a whole is short as well. There was only one story that I didn’t like enough to finish and one that left me more confused than anything, but otherwise an enjoyable read. I also loved that the author connected a couple of her stories to make one longer tale, which I don’t think I’ve seen in a short story collection before.
Thank you to Blackthorn Book Tours for my free copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Short story collections are always so hard to review so I end up kicking myself a bit every time I agree to review one, but they’re so much fun! This was one I couldn’t resist based on the title alone. I’ve always been fascinated by horror revolving around asylums, probably because they actually were so horrific in the past. That being said, I wish more of the stories did involve an asylum, but there were some other frightfully great stories as well.
Some of my favorites were: Nightmare Asylum, Women’s Work, Cry Baby, Vera, and Spectral Warning.
I applaud the author for being able to pack so many chills into such few pages. Each of the stories are very short, and the book as a whole is short as well. There was only one story that I didn’t like enough to finish and one that left me more confused than anything, but otherwise an enjoyable read. I also loved that the author connected a couple of her stories to make one longer tale, which I don’t think I’ve seen in a short story collection before.
April 14, 2020
Nightmare Asylum 5-20
I awoke from my nightmare.
OK. The expectant mothers complained about Grey Memorial Asylum Hospital being kind of creepy.
Everyone knew about Evelyn Green (13, patient, child killer).
Bad reputation 21-22
Kate watched as Josie came running into the room covered in blood.
Women’s work 23-29
Claire (wife) had moved out west.
Mr. Tinder was what he wanted me to call him.
Spending time in his basement was not fun.
The camp bed springs were not comfortable.
I was Mr. Tinder’s hostage cleaner.
Jake 31-32
Jake still had the knife in his hand dripping with blood.
The blonde woman on the ground had grasped her last breath.
Jake always blamed me for everything.
Cry baby 33-40
Woman seem to know when you are stalking them.
2 woman wave good bye to Sylvie (dental nurse).
Thoughts ran through my head as I turned to go.
Skin deep 43-44
At 50, I felt like a monster with my strange disfigured face.
After the accident, people avoided me, & good friends were embarrassed to be seen with me.
Vera 45-46
Vera (mother) didn’t have much use for her son, only Susan (daughter/sister) was her Golden Child.
I wish you a happy death day 47-52
Being back Slovenia was a blessing after being exiled for 5 years in Turkish-Cypriot mountains.
Was Cilka (f) surprised to see me.
Deadly desire 53-54
At 1 time Jack (asthma) & Kasey had a thing going on.
Perfect love 55-62
Dr. Doug Whitman & Dr. Alan ‘Android’ Allingson, were at the top of their game in new manufacturing & design developments.
Zarathustra (Model WZ374 advanced android model) programming was incomplete.
Every move you make 63-68
Finola came to visit Declan.
A middle-aged man had been flowing her for quite some time.
Diamonds Bar (O’Connell St.) Tom brought Finola her food/drink.
She had taken off running down the alley.
Every smile you fake 69-76
Diamond Bar (Ennis, County Clare). What was Declan yelling at Finola about?
What happened in Dublin, Ireland stays there!
What was Angela O’Dowd (55+, wife/mother) saying about Mary (BFF)?
Soulmate 77-82
Coleen had 34 emails.
1 of them was from Skip (IT Dept.).
Marsha (Customer Liaison mgr.) had talked to the Fraud Dept. about my bank account.
Disappearing act 83-90
There was a policewoman at Alice’s (wife, family furniture shop mgr.) front door.
Alison (sister) alive/well had been found in Leighton-on-Sea.
Paranoid 91-93
The orange brain-washing religious cult’s techniques consisted of weird chanting & worshiping things Frank couldn’t see.
Frank was made to procreate with the orange robed females.
Spectral warning 95-100
Sarah tried to forget Richard’s (husband) cruel/harsh words from earlier in the day.
Gatekeeper of memories 101-102
Joe’s mother had given Alice (widow) husband Joe (father) had died, & Christopher (their son) had flown the coop.
Alice had a role now.
Winter baby 103
Simon was the newborn son. 1-day he would grow up.
I do not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing free books from publishers & authors. Therefore, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. 18 very well written several types of genres short stories (book). They were all very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great description list of unique characters, settings, facts etc. to keep track of. There is no doubt in my mind this is a very easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free author (s); Goodreads; MakingConnections; Making Connections discussion group talk; Author; Gritfiction Ltd.; PDF; book.
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
I awoke from my nightmare.
OK. The expectant mothers complained about Grey Memorial Asylum Hospital being kind of creepy.
Everyone knew about Evelyn Green (13, patient, child killer).
Bad reputation 21-22
Kate watched as Josie came running into the room covered in blood.
Women’s work 23-29
Claire (wife) had moved out west.
Mr. Tinder was what he wanted me to call him.
Spending time in his basement was not fun.
The camp bed springs were not comfortable.
I was Mr. Tinder’s hostage cleaner.
Jake 31-32
Jake still had the knife in his hand dripping with blood.
The blonde woman on the ground had grasped her last breath.
Jake always blamed me for everything.
Cry baby 33-40
Woman seem to know when you are stalking them.
2 woman wave good bye to Sylvie (dental nurse).
Thoughts ran through my head as I turned to go.
Skin deep 43-44
At 50, I felt like a monster with my strange disfigured face.
After the accident, people avoided me, & good friends were embarrassed to be seen with me.
Vera 45-46
Vera (mother) didn’t have much use for her son, only Susan (daughter/sister) was her Golden Child.
I wish you a happy death day 47-52
Being back Slovenia was a blessing after being exiled for 5 years in Turkish-Cypriot mountains.
Was Cilka (f) surprised to see me.
Deadly desire 53-54
At 1 time Jack (asthma) & Kasey had a thing going on.
Perfect love 55-62
Dr. Doug Whitman & Dr. Alan ‘Android’ Allingson, were at the top of their game in new manufacturing & design developments.
Zarathustra (Model WZ374 advanced android model) programming was incomplete.
Every move you make 63-68
Finola came to visit Declan.
A middle-aged man had been flowing her for quite some time.
Diamonds Bar (O’Connell St.) Tom brought Finola her food/drink.
She had taken off running down the alley.
Every smile you fake 69-76
Diamond Bar (Ennis, County Clare). What was Declan yelling at Finola about?
What happened in Dublin, Ireland stays there!
What was Angela O’Dowd (55+, wife/mother) saying about Mary (BFF)?
Soulmate 77-82
Coleen had 34 emails.
1 of them was from Skip (IT Dept.).
Marsha (Customer Liaison mgr.) had talked to the Fraud Dept. about my bank account.
Disappearing act 83-90
There was a policewoman at Alice’s (wife, family furniture shop mgr.) front door.
Alison (sister) alive/well had been found in Leighton-on-Sea.
Paranoid 91-93
The orange brain-washing religious cult’s techniques consisted of weird chanting & worshiping things Frank couldn’t see.
Frank was made to procreate with the orange robed females.
Spectral warning 95-100
Sarah tried to forget Richard’s (husband) cruel/harsh words from earlier in the day.
Gatekeeper of memories 101-102
Joe’s mother had given Alice (widow) husband Joe (father) had died, & Christopher (their son) had flown the coop.
Alice had a role now.
Winter baby 103
Simon was the newborn son. 1-day he would grow up.
I do not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing free books from publishers & authors. Therefore, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. 18 very well written several types of genres short stories (book). They were all very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great description list of unique characters, settings, facts etc. to keep track of. There is no doubt in my mind this is a very easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free author (s); Goodreads; MakingConnections; Making Connections discussion group talk; Author; Gritfiction Ltd.; PDF; book.
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
July 5, 2020
⭐⭐⭐💫
Filled with scary & odd short stories this one makes a good addition to any Spooktober TBR. With 18 different stories ranging from an asylum to killers to stalkers it has a little something for everyone to be afraid of.
While I wasn't the least bit scared when reading, this doesn't take away from the book itself. I'm read a lot of horror and thriller books so short stories like this don't bother me.
Some of the stories didn't make any sense as to why they were included. There were a couple that were only a few paragraphs and left me more confused than entertained. They were like half-thoughts and unfinished stories.
Other than that, I did enjoy the writing style and the format throughout.
I appreciate the author and Book Sirens for providing me with the E-ARC for an honest review.
Filled with scary & odd short stories this one makes a good addition to any Spooktober TBR. With 18 different stories ranging from an asylum to killers to stalkers it has a little something for everyone to be afraid of.
While I wasn't the least bit scared when reading, this doesn't take away from the book itself. I'm read a lot of horror and thriller books so short stories like this don't bother me.
Some of the stories didn't make any sense as to why they were included. There were a couple that were only a few paragraphs and left me more confused than entertained. They were like half-thoughts and unfinished stories.
Other than that, I did enjoy the writing style and the format throughout.
I appreciate the author and Book Sirens for providing me with the E-ARC for an honest review.
July 22, 2020
An interesting set of stories designed to spook and disturb.
My expectations were high for this horror anthology that simply fell very short.
I received this novel for free in return for an honest review.
Full review here:
http://bookshelfadventures.home.blog/...
My expectations were high for this horror anthology that simply fell very short.
I received this novel for free in return for an honest review.
Full review here:
http://bookshelfadventures.home.blog/...
April 15, 2020
Nightmare Asylum & Other Deadly Delights by Sonia Kilvington is a collection of 18 short stories. Overall, I enjoyed all the stories except 4 (Disappearing Act, Paranoid, The Gatekeeper of Memories and Winter Baby. These 4 I would only give 2 stars too.) I enjoyed how most were just that perfect amount of creepy. Wished a couple of the stories, like Nightmare Asylum was more than just the short story. A good, easy, fast and creepy read.
Thank you to BookSirens for the free digital copy in exchange for an honest and voluntary review. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to BookSirens for the free digital copy in exchange for an honest and voluntary review. All opinions are my own.
July 11, 2020
This book is a collection of short stories sent to me by the most awesome people ever at Blackthorn Book Tours. There are eighteen stories in this collection. They are ALL horror, thriller and suspense type stories. They are put together kind of like an anthology, which I always like.
Here is the blurb for the book:
Nightmare Asylum – Despised by day, tortured by night. A midwifery student’s life disintegrates into a terrifying nightmare, after a disturbing encounter with the notorious child killer, Evelyn Green. Dark secrets from Lydia’s past unleash a truth that conjures her fears into unspeakable horror.
Other Deadly Delights – Tales from the psychotically unsound and deadly deluded. A stalker turns serial killer; a cleaning lady is imprisoned in the basement, there’s a prophetic warning for a woman in peril, and an android with love addiction, plus many more… a deliciously dangerous collection of short stories, ranging from psychological horror to paranormal, sci-fi and noir.
Dare you enter the nightmare Asylum?
I like the fact that it is a COLLECTION of short stories, rather than a full novel. It makes it easier to read, like when a book is broken up into chapters. So, keeping in mind that it was in such format, I decided to rate each story individually and then take the average of those ratings for the overall book rating. I figured that would be a completely fair way of evaluating the book.
But, before we get to the ratings, I want to point out a couple of things. First of all, in a larger collection of stories like this, you get such a variety of content. I want to say that’s one of the best things about this particular collection. Some of the stories read like journal entries, some were hair raising and chilling, some were mildly creepy but still fun to read. There was only one story out of the whole collection that got a 1-star rating. I’d say that’s pretty good.
One of my favorite stories that I would like to highlight is the first one, Nightmare Asylum. This was a truly haunting and chilling tale. It’s full to the brim with madness, anger and confusion. So much so that those very emotions and feelings are very real to the reader and beyond just palpable. This piece actually reminded me of the Masters of Horror TV episodes that have been on cable here and there. It is amazingly written and quite a page-turner. Exceptional vocabulary was used in this creation and it really adds to the heft and depth of the story. The vivid descriptions and emotional context put the reader right in the thick of what is happening.
Another excellent creepy concoction was Cry Baby. This rated VERY high on the creep-o-meter scale. The psychopathology expressed in this little bite of terror is incredibly detailed leaving you to able to conclude nothing but the fact that this main character is nothing other than a truly disturbed and troubled individual…and that’s putting it VERY nicely.
So, here’s how the ratings broke down:
There were five stories that got 5/5.
Two stories got 4/5.
Three got 3/5.
Six stories got a 2/5 (keep in mind that THIS count includes a two-part story set.
Only one story got 1/5.
This gave me a total of 53/90 which is an average of 3/5 stars.
I would totally recommend this to short horror story lovers. Again, the beauty of this collection is that you can read in short bursts and not have to remember what carries over in the plot because you can easily finish one or two stories in a sitting.
I really respect and like how the author wasn’t afraid to try new things in the story lines. It feels like the writer really searched themselves for some good ol’ fashioned horror and managed to not only keep it classic but also add a splash of modernism, which nicely rounded things out. I hope you all enjoy this horror collection as much as I did, or better yet, more than I did!
About the author:
Sonia Kilvington
Bio: Sonia Kilvington is a journalist and fiction writer from the beautiful Mediterranean island of Cyprus. She has published many articles, travel features, short stories and interviews in glossy magazines. She loves to write dark and disturbing short stories in genres such as noir, crime, ghost and Sci-fi. Her online writing credits include Out of the Gutter Online, Spelk Fiction, Pulp Metal Magazine & Near to the Knuckle. Her new short story collection, Nightmare Asylum & Other Deadly Delights - published by Close To The Bone, is available on Amazon.
Links:
Website: https://soniakilvingtonwriter.com/
Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/SoniaKilving...
FB writer’s page: https://www.facebook.com/soniafiction/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Soniacyprus (@Soniacyprus)
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonia-kil...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soniakilvin...
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Contact email: soniawriter@hotmail.co.uk
RATINGS
3/5 Stars
Here is the blurb for the book:
Nightmare Asylum – Despised by day, tortured by night. A midwifery student’s life disintegrates into a terrifying nightmare, after a disturbing encounter with the notorious child killer, Evelyn Green. Dark secrets from Lydia’s past unleash a truth that conjures her fears into unspeakable horror.
Other Deadly Delights – Tales from the psychotically unsound and deadly deluded. A stalker turns serial killer; a cleaning lady is imprisoned in the basement, there’s a prophetic warning for a woman in peril, and an android with love addiction, plus many more… a deliciously dangerous collection of short stories, ranging from psychological horror to paranormal, sci-fi and noir.
Dare you enter the nightmare Asylum?
I like the fact that it is a COLLECTION of short stories, rather than a full novel. It makes it easier to read, like when a book is broken up into chapters. So, keeping in mind that it was in such format, I decided to rate each story individually and then take the average of those ratings for the overall book rating. I figured that would be a completely fair way of evaluating the book.
But, before we get to the ratings, I want to point out a couple of things. First of all, in a larger collection of stories like this, you get such a variety of content. I want to say that’s one of the best things about this particular collection. Some of the stories read like journal entries, some were hair raising and chilling, some were mildly creepy but still fun to read. There was only one story out of the whole collection that got a 1-star rating. I’d say that’s pretty good.
One of my favorite stories that I would like to highlight is the first one, Nightmare Asylum. This was a truly haunting and chilling tale. It’s full to the brim with madness, anger and confusion. So much so that those very emotions and feelings are very real to the reader and beyond just palpable. This piece actually reminded me of the Masters of Horror TV episodes that have been on cable here and there. It is amazingly written and quite a page-turner. Exceptional vocabulary was used in this creation and it really adds to the heft and depth of the story. The vivid descriptions and emotional context put the reader right in the thick of what is happening.
Another excellent creepy concoction was Cry Baby. This rated VERY high on the creep-o-meter scale. The psychopathology expressed in this little bite of terror is incredibly detailed leaving you to able to conclude nothing but the fact that this main character is nothing other than a truly disturbed and troubled individual…and that’s putting it VERY nicely.
So, here’s how the ratings broke down:
There were five stories that got 5/5.
Two stories got 4/5.
Three got 3/5.
Six stories got a 2/5 (keep in mind that THIS count includes a two-part story set.
Only one story got 1/5.
This gave me a total of 53/90 which is an average of 3/5 stars.
I would totally recommend this to short horror story lovers. Again, the beauty of this collection is that you can read in short bursts and not have to remember what carries over in the plot because you can easily finish one or two stories in a sitting.
I really respect and like how the author wasn’t afraid to try new things in the story lines. It feels like the writer really searched themselves for some good ol’ fashioned horror and managed to not only keep it classic but also add a splash of modernism, which nicely rounded things out. I hope you all enjoy this horror collection as much as I did, or better yet, more than I did!
About the author:
Sonia Kilvington
Bio: Sonia Kilvington is a journalist and fiction writer from the beautiful Mediterranean island of Cyprus. She has published many articles, travel features, short stories and interviews in glossy magazines. She loves to write dark and disturbing short stories in genres such as noir, crime, ghost and Sci-fi. Her online writing credits include Out of the Gutter Online, Spelk Fiction, Pulp Metal Magazine & Near to the Knuckle. Her new short story collection, Nightmare Asylum & Other Deadly Delights - published by Close To The Bone, is available on Amazon.
Links:
Website: https://soniakilvingtonwriter.com/
Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/SoniaKilving...
FB writer’s page: https://www.facebook.com/soniafiction/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Soniacyprus (@Soniacyprus)
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonia-kil...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soniakilvin...
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Contact email: soniawriter@hotmail.co.uk
RATINGS
3/5 Stars
May 3, 2020
My Review of Nightmare Asylum and other Deadly Delights by Sonia Kilvington
Nightmare Asylum and other Deadly Delights is a book of short story full of dark fantasy, deep routed psychological fascinations, and the twisted times when asylums were full of people committed for disturbing acts and emotional states of mind. I really enjoyed each story because I think the author got into the mind of characters’ dark thought and emotional attachment and helped the reader not only see the terrible acts some committed but also what brought their mindset to that point.
The book itself starts with Nightmare Asylum where a midwife dreams of being stuck in the hospital she works at when it was an Asylum. She’s lost and scared, but one night after waking from her dream she is needed by the hospital to deliver the baby of Evelyn Green a well-known child killer. However, this delivery changes her life for the worst now and no one wants her near their children. What could be so dark that mothers fear there midwife.? Does she really belong in an Asylum after all? You’ll have to read this collection of stories to find out.
Though there are many stories I enjoyed, one that stuck in my mind was about a man who was fixated on a young girl because of her dress. It was interesting because although he was clearly mentally unstable, the reasoning behind his need was to recreate the person he’d lost long ago, however, I think his story told that no matter how close to memory you feel it will never be the real thing and therein lies the darkness the drove him forwards.
Also, the story about the android made me see the future in a new light. This one was rather interesting because being in love and attached completely was what the bot was programmed for and yet the actions, he took to never leave his intended made me shiver.
The author does an amazing job of looking at how far a person can go down a dark road and the horror people leave behind the lives of the others.
I would recommend this book if you like dark stories, scenes, and characters that will take you down the darker side of the human mind. I also think anyone who has watched the American horror series would really enjoy this collection of short stories…
Nightmare Asylum and other Deadly Delights is a book of short story full of dark fantasy, deep routed psychological fascinations, and the twisted times when asylums were full of people committed for disturbing acts and emotional states of mind. I really enjoyed each story because I think the author got into the mind of characters’ dark thought and emotional attachment and helped the reader not only see the terrible acts some committed but also what brought their mindset to that point.
The book itself starts with Nightmare Asylum where a midwife dreams of being stuck in the hospital she works at when it was an Asylum. She’s lost and scared, but one night after waking from her dream she is needed by the hospital to deliver the baby of Evelyn Green a well-known child killer. However, this delivery changes her life for the worst now and no one wants her near their children. What could be so dark that mothers fear there midwife.? Does she really belong in an Asylum after all? You’ll have to read this collection of stories to find out.
Though there are many stories I enjoyed, one that stuck in my mind was about a man who was fixated on a young girl because of her dress. It was interesting because although he was clearly mentally unstable, the reasoning behind his need was to recreate the person he’d lost long ago, however, I think his story told that no matter how close to memory you feel it will never be the real thing and therein lies the darkness the drove him forwards.
Also, the story about the android made me see the future in a new light. This one was rather interesting because being in love and attached completely was what the bot was programmed for and yet the actions, he took to never leave his intended made me shiver.
The author does an amazing job of looking at how far a person can go down a dark road and the horror people leave behind the lives of the others.
I would recommend this book if you like dark stories, scenes, and characters that will take you down the darker side of the human mind. I also think anyone who has watched the American horror series would really enjoy this collection of short stories…
May 24, 2021
I received an ARC of this book and am leaving a review voluntarily.
Lydia is a midwifery student just trying to complete her studies when her life descends into a living nightmare.
Brought in to help with the birthing duties of Evelyn Green, the woman committed for killing a child for whom she was caring while in her young teens, Lydia feels tainted afterwards. Other mothers begin making complaints against Lydia, and Lydia is now unable to separate reality from her night terrors.
Although I normally do not read anthologies, I took a chance on this one because I love horror and anything creepy and crawly. Thankfully other tales in the book are just as unsettling as that of Lydia’s.
A man obsessed with blue dresses like his mother used to wear stalks a woman in order to turn his sick fantasy into reality.
A pair of twin sisters plays a deadly game of bait and switch that ends up ruining one girl's life.
Tale after tale follows in the same eerie vein. My only minor critiques are that it was sometimes difficult to tell where one story ended and another began as they simply looked like different chapter headings rather than separate tales.
There is also some awkward phrasing and editing mistakes sprinkled throughout that would be helped by a closer editing job.
Overall, however, I enjoyed the creep factor of this unique collection.
Lydia is a midwifery student just trying to complete her studies when her life descends into a living nightmare.
Brought in to help with the birthing duties of Evelyn Green, the woman committed for killing a child for whom she was caring while in her young teens, Lydia feels tainted afterwards. Other mothers begin making complaints against Lydia, and Lydia is now unable to separate reality from her night terrors.
Although I normally do not read anthologies, I took a chance on this one because I love horror and anything creepy and crawly. Thankfully other tales in the book are just as unsettling as that of Lydia’s.
A man obsessed with blue dresses like his mother used to wear stalks a woman in order to turn his sick fantasy into reality.
A pair of twin sisters plays a deadly game of bait and switch that ends up ruining one girl's life.
Tale after tale follows in the same eerie vein. My only minor critiques are that it was sometimes difficult to tell where one story ended and another began as they simply looked like different chapter headings rather than separate tales.
There is also some awkward phrasing and editing mistakes sprinkled throughout that would be helped by a closer editing job.
Overall, however, I enjoyed the creep factor of this unique collection.
April 12, 2020
I thoroughly enjoyed this fast-paced, eclectic mix of paranormal, noir and psychological horror flash fictions.
There’s some heavy stuff here — creeps, stalkers, blackmailers, child killers — but the stories are still very “human”. Deep down, they’re about the lonely and the vulnerable — about sibling rivalry, night terrors and the loss of a child — and the author very skilfully undercuts them with empathy and understanding.
For me, there are two standouts.
“Perfect Love” is a cleverly constructed little tale of a “love-programmed” android and its unrequited feelings for its human companion. It might be dystopian and futuristic but it also taps into that age-old affliction: rejection. “I asked Claire why she did not find me attractive, when I have the perfect face,” the android says. “She said that a face can be too perfect and that she preferred human imperfections. I offered to damage my face to make it less perfect.”
The other standout, “Winter Baby”, is a heart-breaking story of loss, a short and brutal examination of what it means to lose the thing most precious to you. “You were a winter baby,” it starts, “born in an icy white flurry of snow.”
Beautiful, and highly recommended.
There’s some heavy stuff here — creeps, stalkers, blackmailers, child killers — but the stories are still very “human”. Deep down, they’re about the lonely and the vulnerable — about sibling rivalry, night terrors and the loss of a child — and the author very skilfully undercuts them with empathy and understanding.
For me, there are two standouts.
“Perfect Love” is a cleverly constructed little tale of a “love-programmed” android and its unrequited feelings for its human companion. It might be dystopian and futuristic but it also taps into that age-old affliction: rejection. “I asked Claire why she did not find me attractive, when I have the perfect face,” the android says. “She said that a face can be too perfect and that she preferred human imperfections. I offered to damage my face to make it less perfect.”
The other standout, “Winter Baby”, is a heart-breaking story of loss, a short and brutal examination of what it means to lose the thing most precious to you. “You were a winter baby,” it starts, “born in an icy white flurry of snow.”
Beautiful, and highly recommended.
July 11, 2020
Did you read Scary Stories to tell in the Dark as a kid? I did and loved them. I loved their dark and macabre nature and the abrupt often startling endings. Sonia Kilvington brings us the adult version of those stories. Haunting and dark, Nightmare Asylum will twist your mind and leave you wanting for more after the jaw dropping twist. The anthology continues with tale after tale of creepy stories that leave that unsettled tickle in your brain.
Short stories are not my regular go-to and in this case they were all well shorter than what I would normally go for but it made perfect hammock reading. With the end of each vignette I was left to imagine the characters beyond the one intense moment I saw of their lives. Who were they, what led them to the moment of horror, where would they go from here?
First person stories are also harder for me to connect to, but that's a personal preference, so if that is not an issue for you then you will definitely enjoy these.
3.5 stars from me.
Thanks to Blackthorn for a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Short stories are not my regular go-to and in this case they were all well shorter than what I would normally go for but it made perfect hammock reading. With the end of each vignette I was left to imagine the characters beyond the one intense moment I saw of their lives. Who were they, what led them to the moment of horror, where would they go from here?
First person stories are also harder for me to connect to, but that's a personal preference, so if that is not an issue for you then you will definitely enjoy these.
3.5 stars from me.
Thanks to Blackthorn for a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 20, 2020
I loved this collection of short stories, as each one is so unique. Sonia Kilvington did a great job of assigning each one its own “feel” and each character their own voice. The title story, “Nightmare Asylum” is a fantastically creepy story with a great twist that I didn’t see coming. It’s one of those stories that makes you immediately return to the beginning and re-read it all over again. “Women’s Work” and “Cry Baby” were also favorites of mine. “Deadly Desire” had so much story packed into such a short format, I don’t know how Kilvington does it! But my absolute favorite of all, “Perfect Love”, checked all the boxes of a unique, terrifying, and entertaining read. This was my first foray into the world of Sonia Kilvington, and I look forward to checking out her other work.
July 5, 2020
Recently, I’ve read stories with men as the main characters, so it was a good change to read short stories with women as the leads. And this book has many stories, clocking in at 18. Several of them are quite short: one or two pages that make for swift reads.
An undercurrent in this book is men behaving badly. Men make for a bad boss for a maid, men are stalkers, men are murderous husbands, men are obsessive hackers. Which is not to say the stories are monotonous. Nope. Sometimes the protagonist gets revenge, and other times, she acts as a helper (the “Jake” story comes to mind).
The characters and situations vary in this collection. In “Cry Baby,” we get the point of view of the stalker himself, and his voice is downright creepy. It’s also a believable voice — I thought it was a more powerful story than the flipped story of “Every Move You Make,” which portrays the point of view of the women being stalked and seeking assistance to stop him.
The story “Nightmare Asylum” is reminiscent of Edgar Allan Poe’s stories, while “Perfect Love” jumps into a sci-fi tone with an android loaded with emotional programming. This futuristic story alternates from the scientist speaking and the android itself (himself?) speaking. It’s my favorite story in the bunch.
If you’re looking for bite-sized spooky stories, this collection delivers.
An undercurrent in this book is men behaving badly. Men make for a bad boss for a maid, men are stalkers, men are murderous husbands, men are obsessive hackers. Which is not to say the stories are monotonous. Nope. Sometimes the protagonist gets revenge, and other times, she acts as a helper (the “Jake” story comes to mind).
The characters and situations vary in this collection. In “Cry Baby,” we get the point of view of the stalker himself, and his voice is downright creepy. It’s also a believable voice — I thought it was a more powerful story than the flipped story of “Every Move You Make,” which portrays the point of view of the women being stalked and seeking assistance to stop him.
The story “Nightmare Asylum” is reminiscent of Edgar Allan Poe’s stories, while “Perfect Love” jumps into a sci-fi tone with an android loaded with emotional programming. This futuristic story alternates from the scientist speaking and the android itself (himself?) speaking. It’s my favorite story in the bunch.
If you’re looking for bite-sized spooky stories, this collection delivers.
July 11, 2020
This collection of short stories by Sonia Kilvington is a bit different than what I expected. Not bad, mind you, just different. The stories are a combination of creepy, sinister, strange, unusual, and anything in between. Some clicked with me a little more than others, some thoroughly creeped me out, and some left me scratching my head, but they were all entertaining. This is my first experience with Kilvington, and I really liked the writing style, so I will come back for more. All in all, this collection is a creepy good time, and it works well for binge reading straight through or dividing it up over days when you only have a few minutes here and there. I'd recommend it to anyone who likes a little bit of a scare now and then.
May 3, 2020
Nightmare Asylum & Other Deadly Delights is an interesting collection of short stories that are twisted and dark. Each one drags the reader into the mouldy crevasses of horror, with surprises along the path. I definitely had favourites among the stories and some I didn’t care for as much. For example Nightmare Asylum could have been longer, I glad it was the first story in the book as how well it was written was what moved me along.
Thank you to BookSirens for a free digital copy in exchange for an unbiased review.
Thank you to BookSirens for a free digital copy in exchange for an unbiased review.
July 11, 2020
I applaud the author for trying out new things and different writing styles with her stories. Two of the stories are set in Ireland, and as an Irish person, I found the setting very convincing.
Unfortunately, this collection was not for me. I would class these stories as mundane horror, where the horror comes from the fact of being stalked, or mentally ill, or married to an unpleasant man. I’m sure plenty of readers will connect with these tales, but they weren’t for me.
I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately, this collection was not for me. I would class these stories as mundane horror, where the horror comes from the fact of being stalked, or mentally ill, or married to an unpleasant man. I’m sure plenty of readers will connect with these tales, but they weren’t for me.
I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
July 21, 2020
This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believeable.
Great suspense and action with wonderful world building.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believeable.
Great suspense and action with wonderful world building.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
March 18, 2020
Absolutely LOVED this book! Being a busy mum it was perfect to pick up here and there and be able to read a story in such a short time! What I enjoyed about the stories is that each one is completely different and you jump straight in the middle of the action, no messing around you get straight to the exciting bit! Can’t wait for more from this author!
May 24, 2020
(Finally got round to writing a review)
Anyway, when reading this book, I couldn't help but imagine myself sat in an abandon, Victorian mansion in front of a fire while the eerie wind howls and beats against the window shutters. Sonia is an incredibly talented writer, who knows how to weave a truly sinister story within a matter of few paragraphs. You'll be second guessing every one's intentions after reading some of these stories, especially those you feel you should be able to trust the most. My personal favourite was Crybaby, which I highly recommend for fans of You and Psycho.
Anyway, when reading this book, I couldn't help but imagine myself sat in an abandon, Victorian mansion in front of a fire while the eerie wind howls and beats against the window shutters. Sonia is an incredibly talented writer, who knows how to weave a truly sinister story within a matter of few paragraphs. You'll be second guessing every one's intentions after reading some of these stories, especially those you feel you should be able to trust the most. My personal favourite was Crybaby, which I highly recommend for fans of You and Psycho.
June 28, 2020
Move over author Alfred Hitchcock; a modern author has written a collection of modern stories much in your style. The stories often match up in subjects as the reader flows through from one story to another. It is a spooky read through some of them and down right terrifying in others. She writes the stories to snare the reader into the depths of the characters, then springs a twist into the story that leaves the reader breathless.
I enjoyed the various stories written in this book. I find the writing close to the old Alfred Hitchcock mystery anthology stories. I would hope to see a second set of stories from this new writer/author.
I enjoyed the various stories written in this book. I find the writing close to the old Alfred Hitchcock mystery anthology stories. I would hope to see a second set of stories from this new writer/author.
March 8, 2020
It was a great read! Some very unusual stories. The first story was very scary and atmospheric and the ghost story was excellent.
February 3, 2021
If you are someone who likes scary stories I would definitely say that the first short story will be right up your street ! It is one that I couldnt read at night it played on my mind alot! But if you can get through that one you will find lots of little treasures, the stories are very well written , and they will be ones that you dont instantly forget once you have read it like some short stories do. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys thriller stories.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
June 18, 2020
Some stories predictable while others not. Definitely a few tucked in there to get your creepies going. Some of the stories I would like to see expanded as the ideas that started them were certainly worth exploring in more detail. Overall I enjoyed the format and the tales.
*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 14, 2020
This is a great collection of short stories, aimed at those who like their stories full of horror and things that go bump in the night.
There are eighteen stories in total starting with Nightmare Asylum, which tells the story of a midwife, whose job turns in to a nightmare. There is something for everyone in the individual stories, although they all tell very different tales they are linked by having strong main characters.
The author has done a really good job in building this collection. The book can be read a story at a time or do I what I did and read it all in one go.
Highly recommended.
There are eighteen stories in total starting with Nightmare Asylum, which tells the story of a midwife, whose job turns in to a nightmare. There is something for everyone in the individual stories, although they all tell very different tales they are linked by having strong main characters.
The author has done a really good job in building this collection. The book can be read a story at a time or do I what I did and read it all in one go.
Highly recommended.
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