The Engines of Ruin by Lucas Mangum

People are in no way perfect. This collection of short stories demonstrated the human need of absolution for past transgressions. Although a compilation of short stories, every one of these tales could easily be turned into a novella. I found myself after many of the stories wondering what could have happened next. Magnum created characters that are imperfect beings such as ourselves. It was easy to identify with these characters because their flaws were real and believable. Mortals with skeletons in their closet, fight their inner demons to overcome their fears.  Some conquer those  inner demons, while others do not. These tales have many genres. Horror, mystery, and crime are just a few exhibited in this book.  Magnum has proven with this compilation that he is a versatile writer with an abundance of talent!  I cannot wait to read more from this gifted author. 

Advertisement

Obliquatur Voluptas

Step into a world where your darkest fantasies can come to life! This book takes the combo of horror mixed with erotica to a whole new level. Featured in this anthology is a novellete by the powerhouse duo Monica J. O’ Rourke and Wrath James White. This was one of my favorites! Several of the authors included in this masterpiece I had never read before. I was really impressed with the stories by Sommer Marsden, Lucas Milliron, and Jeremy Wagner! These tales came to life as I read making me feel as if I was participating in voyeurism. Some of the stories made me cringe, while others made me laugh. This is not soft erotica. This is carnal with a horror element intertwined. Death’s Head Press has once again out done themselves on this one. Put your everyday life aside and let your mischievous fascination take over. My kink may not be your kink and that’s ok. But, you may find out that your kink in this book!

So Excited!

KillerCon 2020 tickets went on sale today! I have attended this intimate Con the last two years and it’s been fantastic! It’s limited to 250 guests and that includes authors! This limit gives participants the chance to really spend time and hang out with multiple authors in addition to a signing session with all authors attending.

KillerCon has wonderful panel discussions that are geared for authors. But as a reader, I still learned a lot that will help me in my reading and reviews. Panels are open for all participants to attend. The authors also have some fun with after parties, a gross-out contest, and Wings of Pain challenge.

If you are an author and do not go to KillerCon, you are doing yourself a disservice. Wrath James White and staff do an amazing job. You can bet I bought my tickets today! You should get yours too! I mean come on, where else will you get photo bombed by Brian Keene?

The Evil Returned by Richard Raven

😈😈😈😈

This is a horrific tale of a married couple’s worst nightmare. What starts out as an evening on the town quickly turns into hell on earth. There were some really brutal scenes that could cause issues for people with triggers of physical and sexual abuse. I had not expected the turn the story takes.  When that happened, I could not stop reading as I had to find out what was going to happen next. I finished this book quickly due to the escalation that kept me wanting more. Raven then cleverly wraps things up. I went through a string of emotions as I continued reading. Some chapters left me emotionally spent where I had to stop and breathe before continuing. Hang on tight for this one because it’s worth the ride!

Until the Sun by Chandler Morrison

😈😈😈😈

Faced with the reality that he’s now an orphan due to the brutal murder of his parents, a young teen can focus only on one thing…revenge.  While placed with relatives, he’s uncertain of his future.  Uncertain he even wants to live until a series of coincidences guide him to a person that can mold and give him the tools to prepare him for his mission of killing the man who murdered his parents…immortality.  Morrison takes us on a roller coaster ride of love, loss, friendship, loyalty, and heinous acts of depravity.  This was a fast  read for me. I quickly got invested in the teenager as he navigates the twists and turns of this new life under the tutelage of his newfangled friends. I enjoyed the story because it gave a different rendition of immortals that we haven’t viewed in other narratives. Chandler Morrison has managed to make vampires cool again!

Tepetum Lucidum by Sisters of Slaughter

😈😈😈😈😈

As a sleepy town prepares for their annual festival, creatures of myth and lore await their chance to strike. I was hooked and a little creeped out after reading the first two chapters. The story intensified from there and kept me wanting to read one more chapter, then one more chapter after that and so on. If you want an adrenaline rush from beginning to end, this book will not disappoint!

And Hell Followed An Anthology by Death’s Head Press

😈😈😈😈😈

Picked up this book at a horror convention. I could not put the it down.  I honestly read the entire book the weekend of the horror convention!  The interesting takes by multiple authors on the story of the apocalypse was fantastic! This book has humor, depravity, and down right evil and I loved it! Each author took a piece of Revelations and made it their own. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. 

Full Brutal by Kristopher Triana

😈😈😈😈😈

I listened to the audio book on my way to and from work. I was almost late a few times because I didn’t want to stop listening!  The story is of a young woman who takes what she wants, when she wants it. As her manipulation of people continues, her behavior escalates bringing out her deepest, darkest demons to the forefront. Triana takes us into the mind of a sadistic psychopath that has no limits or regard for herself or others. Just when you think it can’t get any worse, it does!  What a tumultuous ride!  This story is not for the squeamish and definitely deserving of the 2019 Splatterpunk Award for Best Novel!  Bravo!!

Stronger Than Hate by Robert Essig

😈😈😈😈

Be forewarned if you have triggers of torture, humiliation, and deprivation, this story is not for you. I do not have any triggers but this was still a very hard book to read for me. Robert Essig illustrates how cruel we as people can be to ourselves and others. Although the story is focused on teens exacting their revenge, the amount of torture, sadism and abuse is appalling. The repeated torment the victim receives really pulled at my heart strings. I found the story illicited anger in me and  I wanted to jump into the manuscript and kick some butt for her. After some heavy chapters, I had to put the book down for a moment to gather my emotions and take a deep breath. Essig gradually shows how the mind breaks down as that envelope gets pushed deeper and deeper to their darkest, sadistic desires.  In addition to everything going on, a sinister evil takes prey as a mechanism for their own objective, seeking to cross the threshold into our dimension.  The story flows and escalates well. I would describe it as hoodlumism at its best.  Do the malevolent forces win? Read the book and find out!

My Blog Journey Begins

Thanks for joining me! I am a Registered Nurse Manager by day and a beta/proof reader of horror and fantasy in my free time!  I have always loved reading because I could use books as an escape; a way to de-stress and wind down from those rough and emotional days at work. 

My entry into the horror genre began as a teenager with Interview with the Vampire and the rest of The Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice. I read a few John Saul books as well and I was hooked.  Then I found extreme horror and Splatterpunk and knew this was my cup of tea. I have been very fortunate to have met quite a few horror authors and am grateful to call them my friends.

“A great book should leave you with many experiences, and slightly exhausted at the end. You live several lives while reading.” -William Styron