The nitty gritty: Brutal and beautiful, heartbreaking and healing, Betty is an extraordinary coming-of-age story that I won’t soon forget. Depending on which way the wind is blowing, the snow comes in. At first the flurries melt before they land. Then they pile lightly like dust, bringing their cold in. I can see my mother’s […]
The nitty-gritty: Another fabulous installment of R.S. Belcher’s weird western Golgotha series, The Ghost Dance Judgement reunites beloved characters and enemies alike, with plenty of action, magic, emotion and humor. Her eyes were huge in the darkness; her hair had tumbled down around her shoulders. She carried as many scars along her flesh as he […]
The nitty-gritty: This short, bloody revenge story had some interesting moments, but overall it was just OK for me. The Easton Falls Massacre grabbed my attention when I saw the cover and read the blurb, which promises a Bigfoot-centric horror story. Plus, how can you ignore the word “massacre” right there in the title? It […]
The nitty-gritty: Mythology, romance, magic and intrigue collide in Sharon Lynn Fisher’s latest lively and sexy fantasy. Sharon Lynn Fisher continues her Faery Rehistory series in this sparkling sequel, which by the way, can easily be read as a stand-alone if you haven’t read The Absinthe Earl first. Although a couple of familiar characters from […]
The nitty-gritty: Short and brutal, these horror stories by much lauded and prolific author Pete Mesling are both shocking and eye opening. Horror comes in all shapes and sizes, and I’m glad I got the chance to read Pete Mesling’s brand of horror, which is an interesting mix of slasher fiction, Lovecraftian influence, and just […]
The nitty-gritty: A vividly realized world with fascinating characters, The Hive Queen is a thrilling and satisfying sequel. Freedom is like a marsh with no path, a dangerous place where any wrong step might send me and my brothers to our deaths. I never imagined being free could be so hard. Or so deadly. Robin […]
The nitty-gritty: A thrilling and thought provoking tale, The Bond had me riveted from start to finish. I waited far too long to pick up The Bond, and I have to admit the upcoming release of the sequel, The Hive Queen, spurred me to finally read it. And wow, I was blown away by this […]
The nitty-gritty: Calvin Demmer offers up a tasty but bloody chocolate box of horrific tales that revolve around holidays. I had seen Calvin Demmer’s collection The Sea Was a Fair Master around, and so when he contacted me to see if I’d be interested in reading his latest short story collection, I immediately agreed. Demmer’s […]
The nitty-gritty: A sparkling and witty story set in Stephanie Burgis’s Harwood Spellbook series, full of romance and magic. Stephanie Burgis’ Harwood Spellbook series is a delight, and each new novel or novella expands on her world by focusing on different characters and situations. I’ll admit I’m a little behind on this series, but that […]
The nitty-gritty: A familiar horror scenario gets a facelift in this well written, fast-paced tale. If you like your stories spiked with aggressive sharks, creepy atmosphere and violence, then Infernal was written just for you. I’m embarrassed to admit I’ve had a copy of Infernal for several months, kindly sent to me FROM SWEDEN by […]