What do you think?
Rate this book
My Dark Library #1
Stargazers
Don’t read with the lights on…this is My Dark Library.
A collection of novellas curated by Sadie “Mother Horror” Hartmann to represent her favorite themes, tropes, and subgenres in horror fiction today.
Book One: STARGAZERS
It began with a forum post titled “My Neighbor Has Been Staring at the Moon for Hours.” Dismissed as a poor attempt at fiction, other accounts soon joined, describing family members and neighbors gazing open-mouthed at the stars throughout the night. As the sun rises, the Stargazers are changed. Some gather in groups, some destroy, and some kill.
The unfolding chaos is familiar for war veteran, now father, Henry Sylva. As the city crumbles from its center, he relies on old instincts to save his family. But the enemy is all around, Stargazers and human monsters alike.
As Henry battles for survival a dwindling online community documents civilization’s end. A new beginning, perhaps, for what is to come.
A collection of novellas curated by Sadie “Mother Horror” Hartmann to represent her favorite themes, tropes, and subgenres in horror fiction today.
Book One: STARGAZERS
It began with a forum post titled “My Neighbor Has Been Staring at the Moon for Hours.” Dismissed as a poor attempt at fiction, other accounts soon joined, describing family members and neighbors gazing open-mouthed at the stars throughout the night. As the sun rises, the Stargazers are changed. Some gather in groups, some destroy, and some kill.
The unfolding chaos is familiar for war veteran, now father, Henry Sylva. As the city crumbles from its center, he relies on old instincts to save his family. But the enemy is all around, Stargazers and human monsters alike.
As Henry battles for survival a dwindling online community documents civilization’s end. A new beginning, perhaps, for what is to come.
120 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 5, 2022
24 people are currently reading
2884 people want to read
About the author
L.P. Hernandez
27 books132 followersMy journey to becoming a writer began with a love of books, Goosebumps to start followed quickly by Stephen King and Dean Koontz. I later found and fell in love with Robert McCammon as well as works outside of the genre. I wrote stories about alien abductions and sentient scarecrows. I still have some of these stories and...wow. Awful! I never stopped writing but my life would only allow it to be a hobby until I was around thirty. I submitted my first story to a competition and was given an honorable mention. That gave me the confidence to submit elsewhere, including The NoSleep Podcast. My fist acceptance barely caused a ripple, but it lit a fire in me. I placed stories with homegrown anthologies, cobbled together my own collection, and eventually became a regular on the Podcast. I am writing this in 2022 in what has been my most gratifying writing year to date. I will share a TOC with New York Times Bestsellers this year, and also was privileged to release my first novella, Stargazers, into the world. This is just the beginning, I hope, because the fire is an inferno now.
When I am not writing you can find me front row of a metal show, getting a tattoo, hanging with my wife and kids, wrestling with our dogs, and giving out crisp high fives. I also serve as a medical officer in the Air Force.
When I am not writing you can find me front row of a metal show, getting a tattoo, hanging with my wife and kids, wrestling with our dogs, and giving out crisp high fives. I also serve as a medical officer in the Air Force.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews
May 1, 2022
Coming soon to My Dark Library in partnership with Cemetery Gates Media
https://cemeterygatesmedia.com/2022/0...
https://cemeterygatesmedia.com/2022/0...
July 12, 2022
"Run if you want. Hide if you want."
"They are coming."
Stargazers centers on a small family's attempts to seek safety during a bizarre mass societal breakdown in which people nicknamed "stargazers" suddenly become emotionless, seemingly automated entities with an unstoppable need to destroy. Alternating between narrative chapters and frantic reddit threads, we watch helplessly as Henry, a veteran with PTSD, does everything he can to keep his family out of harm's way.
I went into this novella with no idea of what to expect, having never read anything by this author before, but I am so happy that it was put onto my radar because I could not put this book down. Every single page had me on the edge of my seat and I connected so easily and so tightly to these characters.
It was stunningly gorgeous, disturbing, and above all, full of heart and a father's love. My Dark Library knocked it out of the park choosing this as the first release, and I'm so excited to read more from L.P. Hernandez ASAP. (In fact, I loved this book so much that I immediately went and bought a copy of his short story collection, The Rat King: A Horror Collection!)
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy! All thoughts are honest and my own.
✨ Representation: Henry has PTSD
✨ Content warnings for:
———
twitter | booktok | bookstagram | blog
June 15, 2023
I just wanted so much more, and I was left feeling very underwhelmed in the end. That, and it’s basically the same as Wanderers by Chuck Wendig, but with none of the meat, great characters, or wild plot lines.
I’ll probably still recommend it because it was so short and the vibes were there, and I’ll for sure read more by this author, but this was definitely not my favorite
I’ll probably still recommend it because it was so short and the vibes were there, and I’ll for sure read more by this author, but this was definitely not my favorite
May 4, 2023
The zombie subgenre isn’t one I’m usually big on reading (and yes, even though the Stargazers aren’t technically zombies of the undead variety, the tropes are there… if it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck… well, you know the drill). But this book won me over with its heart. The father/daughter dynamics worked so well to build engagement, and made the emotional stakes of the novella that much higher. Additionally, I liked that the reasons for these horrific events were left ambiguous; sometimes stories try to explain too much, when a bit of mystery can be far more effective. And it ended on a hopeful note, something I love seeing in horror but don’t come across as often as I’d like.
November 29, 2022
This is one of those reviews I had to write the same day I finished the book because it’s so good. I want to shout from the rooftops READ THIS BOOK!! The real surprising thing is I didn’t go into this expecting to enjoy it as much as I did. I read the synopsis and I wasn’t sure it would have that much of a horror element to it. I was so wrong. The atmosphere was full of dread and the people who were turned into Star Gazers were extremely creepy.
The story itself- people walking out of their homes like zombies- seemed somewhat familiar but Hernandez put a unique spin on it. One of the things I loved about STR GAZERS were the characters. Henry ( a victim of PTSD), his wife Judith and their young daughter Penny captured my heart. I rooted for them so hard to survive the apocalyptic nightmare they found themselves in. I didn’t want the book to end because I was so attached. Sometimes children in books can be overly cutesy or just plain brats but not little Penny. She had a mind of her own, was super smart, and loved books. If I had a daughter I’d want her to be just like Penny.
I also loved Hernandez’s writing. Here’s an example from the first chapter: “The cell phone chime could have been a raptor screech for the effect it had on the room, a dozen pairs of white or silver eyebrows arching over disapproving gazes.” His prose only gets even better from there. He has some serious writing chops.
The ending of the story left me out of breath, shaking and nearly crying. It was open to the readers interpretation but it left me feeling full of hope.
I think I’ve rambled on enough. The bottom line is I think this is a book everyone would enjoy. Now please go read it!
The story itself- people walking out of their homes like zombies- seemed somewhat familiar but Hernandez put a unique spin on it. One of the things I loved about STR GAZERS were the characters. Henry ( a victim of PTSD), his wife Judith and their young daughter Penny captured my heart. I rooted for them so hard to survive the apocalyptic nightmare they found themselves in. I didn’t want the book to end because I was so attached. Sometimes children in books can be overly cutesy or just plain brats but not little Penny. She had a mind of her own, was super smart, and loved books. If I had a daughter I’d want her to be just like Penny.
I also loved Hernandez’s writing. Here’s an example from the first chapter: “The cell phone chime could have been a raptor screech for the effect it had on the room, a dozen pairs of white or silver eyebrows arching over disapproving gazes.” His prose only gets even better from there. He has some serious writing chops.
The ending of the story left me out of breath, shaking and nearly crying. It was open to the readers interpretation but it left me feeling full of hope.
I think I’ve rambled on enough. The bottom line is I think this is a book everyone would enjoy. Now please go read it!
Read
July 3, 2022Kinda like the Happening except replace the enivormental messaging with a PTSD metaphor and so things feel a lot deeper and a lot more real and dangerous for Henry and the people in his life. The forum posting bits were my favorite parts and I wouldn't have even been mad if the whole book were that. But there's a more personal story to tell. And with Hernandez's flair for imagery, he painted a really emotional dive into the apocalypse.
July 13, 2022
Welcome to an unsettling world where people are wandering out at night, staring at the stars, and then they leave. No one knows why. No one knows where they’re going. This novella shifts back and forth between a family trying to figure out how to to deal with a world where this phenomena exists and a message board where people are being people on the internet, for better or worse.
There’s a lot to love here, especially the characters. They feel like real people with real problems which goes a long way with making this reader care about them. I absolutely cherished the relationship between Penny and her parents; I think you will too. Besides the characters, there’s also this sense of trepidation throughout that really worked for me, but that’s all I’ll say.
Hernandez’s prose is remarkably creative. Look no further than the first sentence of chapter one:
“The cell phone chime could have been a raptor screech for the effect it had on the room, a dozen pairs of white or silver eyebrows arching over disapproving gazes.”
Great, right? That’s literally just the beginning.
I highly recommend this cosmicy (it’s a word if I say it is) dread-filled novella. The only thing I didn’t get was more time with these characters because I cared about them that much. You’ll tear through this and then want to read more by L.P. Hernandez immediately.
Also of note, this novella is the first book in the My Dark Library collaboration between Sadie Hartmann and Cemetery Gates Media. As a longtime follower of both Sadie and Cemetery Gates, this collection is going to be incredible.
*I was provided a copy for review from the publisher, but also purchased a copy
There’s a lot to love here, especially the characters. They feel like real people with real problems which goes a long way with making this reader care about them. I absolutely cherished the relationship between Penny and her parents; I think you will too. Besides the characters, there’s also this sense of trepidation throughout that really worked for me, but that’s all I’ll say.
Hernandez’s prose is remarkably creative. Look no further than the first sentence of chapter one:
“The cell phone chime could have been a raptor screech for the effect it had on the room, a dozen pairs of white or silver eyebrows arching over disapproving gazes.”
Great, right? That’s literally just the beginning.
I highly recommend this cosmicy (it’s a word if I say it is) dread-filled novella. The only thing I didn’t get was more time with these characters because I cared about them that much. You’ll tear through this and then want to read more by L.P. Hernandez immediately.
Also of note, this novella is the first book in the My Dark Library collaboration between Sadie Hartmann and Cemetery Gates Media. As a longtime follower of both Sadie and Cemetery Gates, this collection is going to be incredible.
*I was provided a copy for review from the publisher, but also purchased a copy
June 14, 2022
“Many, if not most were barefoot, glass and gravel like barnacles hitching a ride in the soft flesh of their feet.”
What an intriguing story. All over the world, people are getting up in the night, going outside and staring up at the sky. They can not be dissuaded, they can not be reasoned with. Eventually they start walking with determination, all going the same way.
I kept trying to figure out what was going to happen. It felt so much like a movie, I became a passenger in a slow driving car, unable to look away from the horror. I was baffled by a story so full of tragedy and hope. I was driven to keep reading.
LP Hernandez has brought these characters to life. They are real and I felt a bond with them. Henry was trying to be the best dad he could be. I wanted to stand by him and watch his back. Help him protect Penny, his 4 year old daughter. Penny is smart and sassy and insanely adorable. She helps her dad when his PTSD from combat is triggered. Penny reminded me of a young version of India from Micheal McDowell’s classic book, The Elementals.
Hernandez really brought the feeling of trying to deal with a worldwide crisis when you have young children who want you to explain the unexplainable. I am going to need more books by LP Hernandez for sure.
If this is any indication of what the rest of the My Dark Library series is going to be like then sign me up for a subscription. This is horror with heart.
What an intriguing story. All over the world, people are getting up in the night, going outside and staring up at the sky. They can not be dissuaded, they can not be reasoned with. Eventually they start walking with determination, all going the same way.
I kept trying to figure out what was going to happen. It felt so much like a movie, I became a passenger in a slow driving car, unable to look away from the horror. I was baffled by a story so full of tragedy and hope. I was driven to keep reading.
LP Hernandez has brought these characters to life. They are real and I felt a bond with them. Henry was trying to be the best dad he could be. I wanted to stand by him and watch his back. Help him protect Penny, his 4 year old daughter. Penny is smart and sassy and insanely adorable. She helps her dad when his PTSD from combat is triggered. Penny reminded me of a young version of India from Micheal McDowell’s classic book, The Elementals.
Hernandez really brought the feeling of trying to deal with a worldwide crisis when you have young children who want you to explain the unexplainable. I am going to need more books by LP Hernandez for sure.
If this is any indication of what the rest of the My Dark Library series is going to be like then sign me up for a subscription. This is horror with heart.
June 5, 2022
It’s so intense, overwhelming and painful that I didn’t expected.
Well done Hernandez , your Stargazers left me speechless.
I think I have to add a new favorite author in my list!
Well done Hernandez , your Stargazers left me speechless.
I think I have to add a new favorite author in my list!
June 3, 2022
Oh this was a wonderful surprise full of worry, anticipation, and gut punches! But all in the best ways, of course. STARGAZERS is the first I have read from L.P. Hernandez and I am a huge fan already. I will be reading more of his work without a doubt. This novella focuses on survival, humanity, and fatherhood/parenthood and had me on edge the entire time. I was so invested at one point that I tried to click a "link" on my tablet to learn more (the chapters have "Reddit"-like forum posts in between and, yea, I fell for it!) and one scene had me drop my shoulders and arm to the side and audibly mutter, "Oh no..." I love the idea of this in novella form as we are not given all the answers and that's perfectly fine - it just makes the story that much more intense and scary. The unknown is more often than not even scarier than knowing. But I still love the concept of Stargazers and would read more in this universe if this novella ever got expanded.
Definitely check out this story and keep your eyes out for L.P. Hernandez - it should not be too difficult because I bet we are going to be seeing a lot from him!
Definitely check out this story and keep your eyes out for L.P. Hernandez - it should not be too difficult because I bet we are going to be seeing a lot from him!
July 6, 2022
Horror Bookworm Reviews
https://horrorbookwormreviews.com/
A large amount of people have been staring blankly at the night sky for hours. This unexplained phenomenon has manifested within the population causing panic and chaos. The strange occurrence quickly develops into a grand scale of violent crimes and intentional brutality. One small family is captured among the bizarre circumstances forcing their struggle to survive and find sanctuary a horrific task that only the strong willed can achieve.
Sadie Hartmann has partnered with Cemetery Gates Media to bring you the first novella in the My Dark Library series entitled Stargazers. Author LP Hernandez has established a storyline involving a husband and wife that share the love for their young daughter. These affections are put to the test as the surrounding disease of pandemonium locates itself off the grid of normality.
I admire how the author enhances his story with online threads, news reports and viral videos giving it a splash of found footage horror. Tense transformations from ordinariness to a corrupt sickness highlights the talent Hernandez possesses. The apocalyptic despondency will leave the audience searching for a beacon of light only to find more darkness and despair. Fictional stains of dead bodies on the side of the road and disturbing encounters with the infected are bound to stay with the reader for a good while.
Prepare yourself and look to the constellations. You may be the first to know that something is happening…pray it doesn’t happen to you. LP Hernandez is completely and perfectly rock solid. Grab this creepy Horror Bookworm Recommendation now.
https://horrorbookwormreviews.com/
A large amount of people have been staring blankly at the night sky for hours. This unexplained phenomenon has manifested within the population causing panic and chaos. The strange occurrence quickly develops into a grand scale of violent crimes and intentional brutality. One small family is captured among the bizarre circumstances forcing their struggle to survive and find sanctuary a horrific task that only the strong willed can achieve.
Sadie Hartmann has partnered with Cemetery Gates Media to bring you the first novella in the My Dark Library series entitled Stargazers. Author LP Hernandez has established a storyline involving a husband and wife that share the love for their young daughter. These affections are put to the test as the surrounding disease of pandemonium locates itself off the grid of normality.
I admire how the author enhances his story with online threads, news reports and viral videos giving it a splash of found footage horror. Tense transformations from ordinariness to a corrupt sickness highlights the talent Hernandez possesses. The apocalyptic despondency will leave the audience searching for a beacon of light only to find more darkness and despair. Fictional stains of dead bodies on the side of the road and disturbing encounters with the infected are bound to stay with the reader for a good while.
Prepare yourself and look to the constellations. You may be the first to know that something is happening…pray it doesn’t happen to you. LP Hernandez is completely and perfectly rock solid. Grab this creepy Horror Bookworm Recommendation now.
June 25, 2022
I started reading this as soon as I got it, and I couldn't put it down until I was finished. I loved it. I was nervous at first, because I am a partner to someone who's been deployed several times in the military and we both carry around enough real physical and emotional baggage that comes along with that, without needing to read an author exploit those experiences. I'm not necessarily trying to trash artists who do that, I respect the right to all free speech, even when its offensive to me, but it's just a personal preference to avoid it for my own emotional well being. But Hernandez wrote this character with a lot of consideration and respect. And after reading his acknowledgments, I appreciate him even more. I also really loved the ending, while simultaneously being frustrated that I was already on the last page. I NEED MORE ANSWERS!! I found this novella through my Nightworms subscription and this is exactly why I lurked around their website for months, just waiting for my chance to finally be one of the lucky few who could snag a membership.
May 30, 2022
A great Novella!! Very riveting and intriguing the whole way through. I loved the overall concept, even though opened to interpretation, I loved my interpretation and was only wanting more! Looking forward to the next one.
June 7, 2022
“Star Gazers”, by L.P. Hernandez, takes the reader on a journey of survival. Henry, Sylva, is a father who will stop at nothing to protect his family.
Henry is a brilliant character. Henry’s feelings and thoughts help him pop off the page. The reader feels
his anxiety as the world Henry knows starts to
crumble. Penny, Harry’s daughter, deals with the situation well for a child. She is a brave little girl
who controls her fears extremely well.
At 120 pages, Hernandez packs a good amount of action into the story. Hernandez builds up the eerie atmosphere. The book wastes no time setting itself up and diving into the novella. Hernandez does not spend too much time exploring the whys and whats. He just throws the reader into the uncertainty and barrels along at a hood pace.
Overall. “Star Gazers” is an excellent short read. The story knows what it is and goes for it.
June 11, 2022
Quick solid read. Enjoyed the break up in narrative style that added context without having to give unnecessary exposition to the main characters. Kept it short, sweet and sharp. Taco Bell 🌮
October 26, 2022
stargazing!
I only picked up this book because I was about to read Chandler Morrison Thighgap but noticed it was number 2 in Sadie Hartmann’s dark library collection. So of course I went to find number 1 and it brought me stargazing. I went into the story blind and haven’t read anything by this author before. I certainly will be going to find more from him soon! Think Cormac McCarthy’s The Road but 100 times better (in my opinion 😂) That ending! 🥹
I only picked up this book because I was about to read Chandler Morrison Thighgap but noticed it was number 2 in Sadie Hartmann’s dark library collection. So of course I went to find number 1 and it brought me stargazing. I went into the story blind and haven’t read anything by this author before. I certainly will be going to find more from him soon! Think Cormac McCarthy’s The Road but 100 times better (in my opinion 😂) That ending! 🥹
June 27, 2022
Holy potato! 🥔 🥔🥔🥔🥔🥔🥔🥔🥔🥔
December 3, 2022
A short novella that I read in a few hours. I really like the writing and story. I would have given it a 5 🌟 if it told me more about what what really going on.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 30, 2022
Wow! This is a beautiful slice of sci-fi horror that has both chilled me and moved me in ways that a book hasn’t done in a while.
The set up of the stargazers and their terrifying agenda gave me the same numbing fear that I remember feeling when I started reading sci-fi horror as a child. Short stories by John Wyndham and novels like Invasion of the Body Snatchers terrified me because they stripped away our personalities, our humanity, and made us into tools wielded by some powerful and alien force. Alien, as in out of this world, but more importantly alien as in unknowable.
I loved the forum posts at the beginning of each chapter. They gave great details about the extent of the stargazers and what people thought they were. The post from the son following his mother moved me to tears.
While the scope of this story is global, the focus is very wisely kept tight on one family going through this horror. I loved Henry, Judith and Penny. They felt so realistic, all with their difficulties, hopes, dreams, and roles to play in their family dynamic. I loved the obstacles they all had to overcome.
Apart from one (very well written) event near the end of the book (it was well done, but a little too predictable for this type of book and I was sad the author went there when he’d avoided so many other cliches), this was a perfect novella for me.
I know the unanswered questions about the origin of the stargazers will divide readers, but I liked the ominous threat that swept people up and left them struggling to survive without the answers. In my experience, horrible things often come in the night and sweep you up, leaving you powerless, and you only get to ask why this is happening after the event is over (and it’s too late).
Thank you to Mother Horror, Cemetery Gates Media, and the author for providing me with a free review copy. I’m voluntarily leaving an honest review.
The set up of the stargazers and their terrifying agenda gave me the same numbing fear that I remember feeling when I started reading sci-fi horror as a child. Short stories by John Wyndham and novels like Invasion of the Body Snatchers terrified me because they stripped away our personalities, our humanity, and made us into tools wielded by some powerful and alien force. Alien, as in out of this world, but more importantly alien as in unknowable.
I loved the forum posts at the beginning of each chapter. They gave great details about the extent of the stargazers and what people thought they were. The post from the son following his mother moved me to tears.
While the scope of this story is global, the focus is very wisely kept tight on one family going through this horror. I loved Henry, Judith and Penny. They felt so realistic, all with their difficulties, hopes, dreams, and roles to play in their family dynamic. I loved the obstacles they all had to overcome.
Apart from one (very well written) event near the end of the book (it was well done, but a little too predictable for this type of book and I was sad the author went there when he’d avoided so many other cliches), this was a perfect novella for me.
I know the unanswered questions about the origin of the stargazers will divide readers, but I liked the ominous threat that swept people up and left them struggling to survive without the answers. In my experience, horrible things often come in the night and sweep you up, leaving you powerless, and you only get to ask why this is happening after the event is over (and it’s too late).
Thank you to Mother Horror, Cemetery Gates Media, and the author for providing me with a free review copy. I’m voluntarily leaving an honest review.
November 30, 2022
People are leaving their homes in the middle of winter nights to stare dumbfounded at the stars. They cannot be shaken from their reveries and soon after they begin walking to destinations unknown. Battle cruisers are sunk and instead of seeming like an exclamation point to something it feels simply like the first word uttered.
Hector locked in a battle with his PTSD and real scars from the war on terror endeavours to keep his daughter, Penny, safe at the same time as trying to rescue his relationship with wife, Judith, if possible. There is truth in the way things go unsaid in their relationship and how the things they do come out wrong or are more aggressive than meant.
As an end of the known world novella, it has to deal in certain tropes and it's not my favourite type of horror anyway, but it does enough surprising things throughout to remain engaging including the framing of the story with message board posts about the ongoing phenomena which lead to a why when a lot of these stories let it remain unknown.
The familial element reminded me of The Cabin at the End of the World with a scene somewhat reminiscent without the element of pure peril Tremblay evokes. But I'd have to say I enjoyed this more than Tremblay's similar Survivor Song, which delivers much of the same without giving back what Hernandez does.
A solid entry into a crowded genre, but Hernandez differentiates himself enough for me to want to hear more from him with a line of compassion that does not always run through books of this type.
Hector locked in a battle with his PTSD and real scars from the war on terror endeavours to keep his daughter, Penny, safe at the same time as trying to rescue his relationship with wife, Judith, if possible. There is truth in the way things go unsaid in their relationship and how the things they do come out wrong or are more aggressive than meant.
As an end of the known world novella, it has to deal in certain tropes and it's not my favourite type of horror anyway, but it does enough surprising things throughout to remain engaging including the framing of the story with message board posts about the ongoing phenomena which lead to a why when a lot of these stories let it remain unknown.
The familial element reminded me of The Cabin at the End of the World with a scene somewhat reminiscent without the element of pure peril Tremblay evokes. But I'd have to say I enjoyed this more than Tremblay's similar Survivor Song, which delivers much of the same without giving back what Hernandez does.
A solid entry into a crowded genre, but Hernandez differentiates himself enough for me to want to hear more from him with a line of compassion that does not always run through books of this type.
June 11, 2022
One of the best novellas that I have ever read. This is what I loved about it…
LP managed to write a complete and compelling story within the span of 120 pages. I am a big fan of the novella format but sometimes it feels like I have been dropped into the life of a character and simply walked with them through a series of related events. In Star Gazers, we are given character depth as well as enough information via first-hand online posts scattered throughout the book to see and understand the world in which these characters exist.
The characters are fully developed in a way that forces the reader to care for them. Henry, Judith, and Penny are an ordinary family facing extraordinary circumstances. LP uses their lived pasts, the unknown present, and their hopes for the future to give the reader and emotional ride along with the horrific experiences that this strange phenomenon brings. And the cast of characters that he brings along with them are all three dimensional, even if they only exist in a single scene.
The prose and storytelling are wonderfully beautiful and chilling. There are passages in the novella describing the broken relationship of Henry and Judith that brought tears to my eyes. And a few pages later a scene is described in such a way that I shivered as I experienced this horror with them.
Star Gazers is the first offering in My Dark Library curated by Sadie Hartmann from Cemetery Gates Media under the My Dark Library brand. If this is any indication of the quality of work that they are offering, then I think that we the readers are truly gazing at some future stars. Well done. Highly recommended.
LP managed to write a complete and compelling story within the span of 120 pages. I am a big fan of the novella format but sometimes it feels like I have been dropped into the life of a character and simply walked with them through a series of related events. In Star Gazers, we are given character depth as well as enough information via first-hand online posts scattered throughout the book to see and understand the world in which these characters exist.
The characters are fully developed in a way that forces the reader to care for them. Henry, Judith, and Penny are an ordinary family facing extraordinary circumstances. LP uses their lived pasts, the unknown present, and their hopes for the future to give the reader and emotional ride along with the horrific experiences that this strange phenomenon brings. And the cast of characters that he brings along with them are all three dimensional, even if they only exist in a single scene.
The prose and storytelling are wonderfully beautiful and chilling. There are passages in the novella describing the broken relationship of Henry and Judith that brought tears to my eyes. And a few pages later a scene is described in such a way that I shivered as I experienced this horror with them.
Star Gazers is the first offering in My Dark Library curated by Sadie Hartmann from Cemetery Gates Media under the My Dark Library brand. If this is any indication of the quality of work that they are offering, then I think that we the readers are truly gazing at some future stars. Well done. Highly recommended.
January 18, 2023
I bought Stargazers on the strength of L.P.’s short story, The bystander, in the Human Monsters anthology released last year. L.P.’s voice really shone in that short, and there was a lot of hype over Stargazers around the same time, so I snapped it up and finally got to read it at the turn of the new year.
From the central idea here, it is similar to Stephanie Ellis’s excellent “Paused” – in that, inexplicably, for no discernable reason (governing who is chosen), people suddenly lose control of their bodies, and go outside and stare at the stars, regardless of what they were doing before, what they were wearing, etc. In Ellis’s version, people are stricken and immobile. In Stargazers, the urge is to stare at the stars – but the end result is the same – lack of impulse to eat, dress according to the weather, be aware of hazards etc – the horror comes from the mindless inability of those people stricken with the affliction to do anything to protect their bodies from outside elements or from the nature of other scrupleless human beings.
Here, the horror is three-fold, we get natural hazard horror, and human nastiness, but also, some of the stargazers (as they are called) attack their families as if being controlled by something else. The story revolves around a man fighting to protect his family from the phenomenon and also trying to shield his daughter from the horror of actually witnessing the horror as it unfolds.
This is a blast. It reads pretty much like a zombie horror novel towards the end, with specific stargazers actively hunting the man and his daughter, and the ending answers the “why” of the book, though I think it pretty clear what the cause is if one applies logic to what the stargazers are looking at/for. It didn’t come as a surprise, but it did bring closure, and the storytelling is gripping, well written, and the pages flew by.
I don’t think you can go wrong with this one, it’s a shortish novella, but the speed which you gobble up the entirety of it (read in one sitting) shows you made a great choice, and Hernandez is a voice to look out for. I immediately bought The Rat King after finishing the last page, and look forward to L.P. once again showing me the strength of his shorts.
Excellent buy, 5 out of 5 ⭐ ‘s, and a fantastic start to the My Dark Library series from Mother Horror.
From the central idea here, it is similar to Stephanie Ellis’s excellent “Paused” – in that, inexplicably, for no discernable reason (governing who is chosen), people suddenly lose control of their bodies, and go outside and stare at the stars, regardless of what they were doing before, what they were wearing, etc. In Ellis’s version, people are stricken and immobile. In Stargazers, the urge is to stare at the stars – but the end result is the same – lack of impulse to eat, dress according to the weather, be aware of hazards etc – the horror comes from the mindless inability of those people stricken with the affliction to do anything to protect their bodies from outside elements or from the nature of other scrupleless human beings.
Here, the horror is three-fold, we get natural hazard horror, and human nastiness, but also, some of the stargazers (as they are called) attack their families as if being controlled by something else. The story revolves around a man fighting to protect his family from the phenomenon and also trying to shield his daughter from the horror of actually witnessing the horror as it unfolds.
This is a blast. It reads pretty much like a zombie horror novel towards the end, with specific stargazers actively hunting the man and his daughter, and the ending answers the “why” of the book, though I think it pretty clear what the cause is if one applies logic to what the stargazers are looking at/for. It didn’t come as a surprise, but it did bring closure, and the storytelling is gripping, well written, and the pages flew by.
I don’t think you can go wrong with this one, it’s a shortish novella, but the speed which you gobble up the entirety of it (read in one sitting) shows you made a great choice, and Hernandez is a voice to look out for. I immediately bought The Rat King after finishing the last page, and look forward to L.P. once again showing me the strength of his shorts.
Excellent buy, 5 out of 5 ⭐ ‘s, and a fantastic start to the My Dark Library series from Mother Horror.
June 10, 2022
I tore through this novella in one sitting. The author did an amazing job of unraveling society as we know it. I loved the Reddit-style threads between the chapters. It contributed to the weird, is-this-really-happening vibe going on here. The beginning of this story when everyone was glued to their phones and televisions watching the strange events unfold brought to mind 9/11. All the day to day activities stopped while people try to make sense of something that doesn’t make sense. I was all in with these characters as they struggle to navigate the chaos and destruction. I’m eager to read more by this author and highly recommend Stargazers!
July 11, 2024
Alright. That does it. Give me all the stories, L.P. Thrilled I finally discovered this author.
June 23, 2022
what was the last book you hugged? ⠀
⠀
Stargazers by LP Hernandez is mine! ⠀
⠀
and bonus! it was a new to me author that totally blew me away! Sadie (@mother.horror) does the forward in this lead off collection of My Dark Library that she curated with Cemetery Gates Media to represent her favorite themes, tropes, and subgenres in horror fiction today. also! isn’t it just the sweetest thing to read an intro to a book from someone you know?! it was so precious 🥹⠀
⠀
now onto the story! Stargazers is a novella that i would have loved to binge but life so rudely kept interrupting! you meet Henry, a husband, father, retired military dude with some scary things still haunting his mind. ⠀
⠀
but he loves his daughter, Penny, something fierce and he will overcome whatever he needs to to protect her. ⠀
⠀
when an internet post pops up in a reddit type forum about these strange sightings of seeing neighbors and loved ones standing outside staring agape (this is creepy in any context) at the stars, and then later walking away from their family and warm beds, like with anything you read on the internet, there were trolls and it took a bit for some people to catch up. ⠀
⠀
but they finally saw. ⠀
⠀
everyone did. ⠀
⠀
the terror of being haunted by things you know, but what about the things you don’t? or understand? it’s misery to not get answers and persevere. the love of a father (or parent) was so moving in this, it’s so easy to say “i would never..” but watch what you say…⠀
⠀
and hope you survive and don’t become a Stargazer. ⠀
⠀
this book releases 7/5/22 and i cannot wait to get a physical copy to add this beautiful collection to my shelves 👏⠀
⠀
and i need to add errrrything by Les to my cart! thanks so much to Sadie and Cemetery Gates Media for getting him on my radar and in my kindle 👏 what a fantastic story teller! seamless!⠀
⠀
⠀
Stargazers by LP Hernandez is mine! ⠀
⠀
and bonus! it was a new to me author that totally blew me away! Sadie (@mother.horror) does the forward in this lead off collection of My Dark Library that she curated with Cemetery Gates Media to represent her favorite themes, tropes, and subgenres in horror fiction today. also! isn’t it just the sweetest thing to read an intro to a book from someone you know?! it was so precious 🥹⠀
⠀
now onto the story! Stargazers is a novella that i would have loved to binge but life so rudely kept interrupting! you meet Henry, a husband, father, retired military dude with some scary things still haunting his mind. ⠀
⠀
but he loves his daughter, Penny, something fierce and he will overcome whatever he needs to to protect her. ⠀
⠀
when an internet post pops up in a reddit type forum about these strange sightings of seeing neighbors and loved ones standing outside staring agape (this is creepy in any context) at the stars, and then later walking away from their family and warm beds, like with anything you read on the internet, there were trolls and it took a bit for some people to catch up. ⠀
⠀
but they finally saw. ⠀
⠀
everyone did. ⠀
⠀
the terror of being haunted by things you know, but what about the things you don’t? or understand? it’s misery to not get answers and persevere. the love of a father (or parent) was so moving in this, it’s so easy to say “i would never..” but watch what you say…⠀
⠀
and hope you survive and don’t become a Stargazer. ⠀
⠀
this book releases 7/5/22 and i cannot wait to get a physical copy to add this beautiful collection to my shelves 👏⠀
⠀
and i need to add errrrything by Les to my cart! thanks so much to Sadie and Cemetery Gates Media for getting him on my radar and in my kindle 👏 what a fantastic story teller! seamless!⠀
⠀
September 19, 2022
An apocalyptic novella that starts with a weird forum post 'My neighbour has been staring at the sky for hours'...
It's a chilling and dark story of survival in the face of I-don't-know-what !!
It's a chilling and dark story of survival in the face of I-don't-know-what !!
June 26, 2022
Really excellent novella. Fast paced and terrifying.
August 14, 2022
For its shortness, this still manages to be a wholly immersive and tense read about an unexplainable event and one of the families caught up in it.
Aircraft carriers are inexplicably sinking at the beginning of this story. Furthermore, it doesn’t seem to be due to war & the crews seem to be afflicted by.. something.
Then follow the Stargazers; people staring seemingly hypnotized at the sky: Unwakeable, they’re soon observed walking to some unknown destination. Then come the violence and destruction, to which end nobody knows.
We follow a family of 3 as events unfold. Nobody knows who will be afflicted (or when) nor why a few aren’t afflicted. Nobody knows the general why of it, making things all the more disturbing. All our MC Henry Sylva knows is that he needs to keep his daughter safe and get out of the city where things are out of control.
Fans of Wanderers (Wendig) looking for a short & genuinely disconcerting read might find themselves as engrossed in this as I was. Cemetery Gates & Mother Horror are off to a great start to their series with this one! I also count myself lucky that I’ve got more L.P. Hernandez waiting for me😊
Aircraft carriers are inexplicably sinking at the beginning of this story. Furthermore, it doesn’t seem to be due to war & the crews seem to be afflicted by.. something.
Then follow the Stargazers; people staring seemingly hypnotized at the sky: Unwakeable, they’re soon observed walking to some unknown destination. Then come the violence and destruction, to which end nobody knows.
We follow a family of 3 as events unfold. Nobody knows who will be afflicted (or when) nor why a few aren’t afflicted. Nobody knows the general why of it, making things all the more disturbing. All our MC Henry Sylva knows is that he needs to keep his daughter safe and get out of the city where things are out of control.
Fans of Wanderers (Wendig) looking for a short & genuinely disconcerting read might find themselves as engrossed in this as I was. Cemetery Gates & Mother Horror are off to a great start to their series with this one! I also count myself lucky that I’ve got more L.P. Hernandez waiting for me😊
June 14, 2022
This is an excellent novella. I was immediately drawn into the story. While this story does feel familiar - people leaving their homes, just walking away like mindless zombies - it takes a very different direction from others I've read.
My mind was able to recognize the terror these characters felt. The parts about the mothers and children were particularly difficult and scary.
I did feel that the ending of the story felt a little rushed. Or maybe that is just because I didn't want the story to be over. I wanted resolution to all the strings - but I understand why this author didn't wrap everything up in a neat bow.
I think that this author is one to watch - at least I'll be watching (with excitement) for what comes next.
My mind was able to recognize the terror these characters felt. The parts about the mothers and children were particularly difficult and scary.
I did feel that the ending of the story felt a little rushed. Or maybe that is just because I didn't want the story to be over. I wanted resolution to all the strings - but I understand why this author didn't wrap everything up in a neat bow.
I think that this author is one to watch - at least I'll be watching (with excitement) for what comes next.
June 22, 2022
Really enjoyed this.
The ambiguity of what caused the gazing, usually frustrates me, but I enjoyed the not knowing.
The last scene really has me on the edge of my seat if even for just a page and a half!
It reminded me a little of Stephen King’s the Cell
The ambiguity of what caused the gazing, usually frustrates me, but I enjoyed the not knowing.
The last scene really has me on the edge of my seat if even for just a page and a half!
It reminded me a little of Stephen King’s the Cell
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews