While reading And The River Drags Her Down, I couldn’t help but think of Jason Isbell’s song The River. The final chorus captures how I felt about this powerful novel. The river is my saviourShe’s running to the seaAnd to reach her destinationIs to simply cease to beAnd running ’til … And the River Drags Her Down by Jihyun Yun: A Hauntingly Beautiful Tale of Grief and SisterhoodRead more
BOOK REVIEWS
Matthew R Davis is Singing Songs Songs of Shadow, Words of Woe
A lot of my characters are haunted by trauma or guilt, and sometimes it’s not clear whether their circumstances are a result of external forces or their own mind. That guilt isn’t even over the traditional horror mistakes, like causing someone’s death accidentally or otherwise, but usually over more mundane … Matthew R Davis is Singing Songs Songs of Shadow, Words of WoeRead more
Wyrdwood by Curtis Jobling: Where Folklore Meets Modern Chills, Review
Wyrdwood’s compelling core mystery and successful fusion of folklore with modern fears make it a captivating and spine-tingling addition to Curtis Jobling’s bibliography. It’s a fairly quick read that offers a thoughtful, if at times gruesome, exploration of family, fear, and the unknown. Recommended for Teens and young readers who enjoy folk horror, character-driven stories, … Wyrdwood by Curtis Jobling: Where Folklore Meets Modern Chills, ReviewRead more
Review: Reunion by Alana K Drex’s, Is Evil Born or Made?
For the horror crowd, though, it’s all about the spookiness, and here Drex pulls absolutely no punches. Demons, ghosts, spectral birds, shapeshifters, torture, reincarnation, revenge, nightmarish imagery, all get their turn by the book’s astonishingly dark denouement. While the nature-versus-nurture question may never be conclusively answerable in real life, with … Review: Reunion by Alana K Drex’s, Is Evil Born or Made?Read more
The Night Birds by Christopher Golden, Pure Witchy Horror Terror
The Night Birds by Christopher Golden, Pure Witchy Horror Fun Christopher Golden has crafted a tale that is as intelligent as it is terrifying, a folk-soaked, storm-drenched odyssey that crackles with action and brims with dread . It is a novel that acknowledges the darkness in the world while also finding … The Night Birds by Christopher Golden, Pure Witchy Horror TerrorRead more
A Review of The Library at Hellebore by Cassandra Khaw: A Viciously Brilliant Descent into Dark Academia
This is all in service of a gut-punch of a story that marries gore with potent social commentary, using its allegory of institutional violence to deliver an intelligent and impactful critique. The novel is notably more subversive and politically charged than many of its dark academia peers, offering a refreshing … A Review of The Library at Hellebore by Cassandra Khaw: A Viciously Brilliant Descent into Dark AcademiaRead more
Saltwash by Andrew Michael Hurley: Deeply Moving Fiction
Distinguished Folk Horror author makes an intriguing change of direction There is limited horror on show here and the story is more of a meditation on old age and illness, with guilt a lurking dark passenger in the background. It asks tough questions about dealing with the end of life, … Saltwash by Andrew Michael Hurley: Deeply Moving FictionRead more
Penguin Horror Brings Back Forgotten Scares
For generations, the chill of a well-told ghost story, the creeping dread of Gothic decay, and the profound terror of the uncanny have found a home in the pages of literary horror. Now, Penguin Books invites readers to rediscover the foundations of fear with their new series, PENGUIN HORROR, a celebration … Penguin Horror Brings Back Forgotten ScaresRead more
Herculine by Grace Byron is a Raw and Unforgettable Descent into Trans Horror
Herculine by Grace Byron is a Raw and Unforgettable Descent into Trans Horror There’s a particular, piercing quality to horror that feels both deeply personal and universally unsettling. It’s the kind of story that gets under your skin not just with its monsters, but with its painful, poignant truths. Grace … Herculine by Grace Byron is a Raw and Unforgettable Descent into Trans HorrorRead more
Book Review: Extremity by Nicholas Binge, A Time-Bending Police Procedural
Extremity is a sharp, intelligent, and relentlessly entertaining novella that successfully merges the detective thriller with mind-bending science fiction. Nicholas Binge demonstrates a remarkable ability to craft a complex, high-stakes narrative that is both thought-provoking and immensely readable. Book Review: Extremity by Nicholas Binge, A Time-Bending Police Procedural In Extremity, Nicholas Binge, … Book Review: Extremity by Nicholas Binge, A Time-Bending Police ProceduralRead more
James Herbert’s The Fog: My Childhood Terror Story
The Fog by James Herbert celebrates its 50th anniversary with a brilliant reissue from Tor Nightfire. This book will always hold a special place in my heart. Alongside Hammer’s Taste the Blood of Dracula, it was the cornerstone that sparked my love for the horror genre. Like Taste the Blood … James Herbert’s The Fog: My Childhood Terror StoryRead more
That Very Witch: Fear, Feminism, and the American Witch Film by Payton McCarty-Simas: Book Review
A Definitive Spell: Why That Very Witch Is Essential Reading for Horror Fans and Feminists Alike That Very Witch: Fear, Feminism, and the American Witch Film by Payton McCarty-Simas is a vital, thought-provoking, and exhilarating read that successfully argues for the witch’s place at the heart of the American zeitgeist. By demonstrating … That Very Witch: Fear, Feminism, and the American Witch Film by Payton McCarty-Simas: Book ReviewRead more
Fiend Review: Alma Katsu’s Scary Take on Greed and Family Secrets
readers are left grappling with the harsh realities of privilege, power, and the consequences of unchecked ambition. This electrifying tale delivers both spine-tingling suspense and a searing indictment of a world where wealth can no longer shield from the darkness lurking within. Fiend Review: Alma Katsu’s Scary Take on Greed … Fiend Review: Alma Katsu’s Scary Take on Greed and Family SecretsRead more
The Originals Rage’ by David Watkins: Howling Good Finish
The Originals Rage by David Watkins: Howling Good Finish But it’s not all blood and guts; there’s heart here too. I found myself genuinely caring about these characters, even the ones with excessive body hair. The emotional stakes are sky-high, and the ending, while not what everyone expected, subverts traditional … The Originals Rage’ by David Watkins: Howling Good FinishRead more
Gemma Fairclough’s New Novella The Retreat: Cults, Secrets, and Sacrifice
Gemma Fairclough’s New Novella The Retreat: Cults, Secrets, and Sacrifice The latest release in the Northern Weird Project heads into Cumbria, spending time with a family destroying and money grabbing cult Gemma Fairclough’s The Retreat is the fourth release in The Northern Weird Project, published by Wild Hunt Books. Once … Gemma Fairclough’s New Novella The Retreat: Cults, Secrets, and SacrificeRead more