Title: Starlet

Author: Danger Slater

Release date: August 27th, 2024

*Huge thanks to Danger for sending me a digital ARC of this one!*

I’m kind of at a loss as to how to really start this review.

Over the last number of years, I’ve read maybe six or seven of Danger’s books, and throughout, one thing has always been certain – Bizarro. When things are going smoothly, expect a ridiculous, crazy, insane development to happen. I mentioned in my review of Slater’s novella ‘Moonfellows’ that it was perhaps his best thing yet, his shining moment, showcasing his imagination and his writing like nothing else he’d done. With his almost straight-up horror book ‘House of Rot’ (which was very, very close to not having any Bizarro moments in it that it surprised the hell out of me reading it), he showcased another side of his writing and I was chomping at the bit to see what came next.

I never expected ‘Starlet.’

Not in a million years did I expect to read a full-force, body-horror story that skewers Hollywood elitism, ageism, and the battle to stay on top. Danger has delivered not only his most powerful story yet, but also a really engaging slasher story, where the final girl does whatever she can to survive.

What I liked: Déjà is a young woman, recently having moved to Hollywood, in the hopes of making it big. She’s had a few solid casting tests, but nothing’s stuck yet. But her fortunes change, when she bumps into one of the biggest movie stars in the world, one who not only recognizes her from her casting tape, but thinks she has exactly what it will take to make it big.

From here, they get flirty, Déjà working her day job while trying to get cast, and Mr. Brandon Bowers, superstar, is filming around the world. But they text, they Skype, and things progress. Even as Bowers reveals some odd fetishes, Déjà pushes them aside, believing that they really do having something here, a real connection.

The meat of the story takes place once Bowers is back and he invites Déjà over to his place. A few of his Hollywood elite friends show up and things take a strange turn when a new drug, Reno, is introduced and the reality of the lengths this trio is going to stay on top is revealed.

It’s here where the story really shines. Through the biting sarcasm and show biz quips, Slater revels in railing against the ridiculousness of these lengths they’ve gone and Déjà is used as the grounding mechanism. She waxes on about how they should be happy and feel fortunate that they’ve achieved so much, even as they bitch and complain that they’ve not won an Oscar yet or that every movie they’re offered sounds like its filmed straight for streaming.

The final quarter of the novel is where the action takes place. A full on ‘survive-at-all-costs,’ but I won’t go too far into that, as I want to remain spoiler free. Let’s just say, Slater let’s this one roll out cinematically, highlighting each scene with fantastic descriptions and realistic moments. That realism, where things hurt and energy fails highlights Déjà’s will to survive and makes her that much more of a relatable character.

Throughout, Danger also included some quick reviews of movies Bowers had been in, so the ending and the ‘epilogue’ of wrapping things up the way he did was spot on.

What I didn’t like: Honestly, this one was a blast from start to finish and I didn’t really feel any let downs. I think if there was anything I would point out, it would be that at times, where Slater tries to interject some humour, it does come off a bit more sarcastic than hilarious, based off of the way the scene was set up. It’s hard to fully explain without a direct example, but again, I want to be spoiler free, so I won’t direct quote here. But overall, a very minor thing.

Why you should buy this: The King of Bizarro has matured and focused with this one. It’s a strange thing to read a Slater book and discover that this fits 100% in the body-horror subgenre and that worked perfectly for me.

Slater’s writing, which is astounding given his track record and length of time as an author, continues to progress, and this one showcases yet another side to his skillset. He’s like a Jazz musician who can walk into any club in the world and pick up an instrument and play along with the band, no matter what genre of music they’re playing. ‘Starlet’ is a stunning release and I’m frankly still stunned after finishing it. Powerful, poignant, metaphorical and simply perfect, Slater just may have written his masterpiece.

5/5

Title: Children of the Dark 2: The Night Flyers

Author: Jonathan Janz

Release date: April 22nd, 2024

Way back in 2018, I read a novel titled ‘Children of the Dark’ by a brand-new to me author, Jonathan Janz. It was my first Janz book, one that was super highly recommended by a million other readers, and after I devoured that novel, I was hooked. Since then, I’ve read another almost-dozen Janz novels, and have really enjoyed reading his books. But, I think of all of them, ‘Children of the Dark’ remained my favorite – though ‘Wolf Land’ is a very close second – and was one that I thought of frequently, whenever the topic of coming-of-age horror novels was discussed. I didn’t believe we’d get a sequel and the ending of book one was solid enough that it could’ve simply ended there, even with the questions that remained unanswered.

When the second book was announced and the cover was revealed, I was super stoked for this one, getting my pre-order in ASAP. I really, really wanted to start reading this as soon as it loaded on my Kindle, but alas, life (and reviewing commitments) prevented that from happening. But, as soon as I could, I jumped in, and boy was I transported right back to where we left off in book one.

Now, I’ll be doing my best to remain spoiler free, but if you haven’t read book one yet, definitely get it read, but be aware, this is a sequel and as always, stop reading here if you’re not wanting to learn anything about book one or book two.

What I liked: A year after the events of book one, we find Will, institutionalized and despondent. He’s been trapped in a cage, kept at a distance from his younger sister Peach, and frustrated that nobody believes him about what happened during that horrendous period in his life, when the Children came and killed so many people. Will is being blamed for aiding the serial killer, Carl, and no matter how much he pleads his case, it falls on deaf ears. Thankfully, a worker at the institution, Pierre believes him and is Will’s only friend.

This is how life is for Will, that is, until the night the Night Flyers arrive and all hell breaks loose. Carnage erupts, blood is splattered, and when all is said and done, Will, aided by an officer, escapes, and Pierre and his niece, Anita, race away with Will.

From this point on, it’s literally a survive-at-all costs story where Will and crew fight to stay alive, as the Children swoop down on them and soon they’re simply fleeing and dealing with the collateral damage. As Will is reunited with his friends and those he loves, we see an internal fight between helping those who need help or racing away with his loves ones.

It all comes to a head with a cinematic battle, where I can only picture Janz kicking his writing chair away and dancing with glee as his fingers clicked and clacked like possessed maniacs, as he wrapped up the novel and did it with glee.

The ending is both powerful but also open ended. We could see a third novel in this world, but I haven’t seen any word yet anywhere, though I know the fans would be ecstatic if there is a finale to a trilogy.

What I didn’t like: Frankly, I began to grow a bit annoyed with Will’s constant whining over needing to never be apart from Peach ever again, but the second they’re reunited, he does pretty much everything possible to leave her with others and go on some side quest. It became a frustration that repeatedly we get this emotional bump of the two of them together, to only be squashed in the following sentence when Will jogs away. I get it, I really do, but come on Will, good lord, ha!

Why you should buy this: If you’ve already read Janz, and/or book one, then book two is a no-brainer. You probably pre-ordered this. But, if you’ve not read Janz or book one, then get on this. Book one was a phenomenal coming-of-age creature feature, and book two easily lives up to the lofty standards Janz set in book one and then some. This once again shows the power of banding together and fighting for a singular goal, even when the odds seem stacked against you.

Janz has really delivered a phenomenal coming-of-age novel – AGAIN – and once again, I’m thrilled that I’ve visited with Will, even if I’m longing for a third entry and some true answers to the questions unanswered.

5/5

Author: Wendy Dalrymple

Release date: January 1st, 2022

I’ve read a few things from Wendy in the past and have had a lot of fun with her works. She’s typically a lean writer, one who keeps things tight and crisp and deftly carries the reader from point A to B to C, which I personally, really like.

Recently, she had posted that this collection was currently free for Kindle, so I went to grab a copy, but then saw that I’d purchased it about a year ago! I don’t know how many times that happens to each Kindle reader, but it happens to me a lot!

Lately, I’ve decided that I’m wanting to always be reading a short story collection from a woman writer while I read my typical two-four long reads. I like have short stories to sneak in between the books when I switch, so with that in mind, I dove into this one from Wendy, excited to see what bite-sized beasts she’d created this time.

What I liked: The collection itself is a mix of flash-fiction up to novelette length stories. Throughout, we get a lot of great theme changes and it kept things fresh, especially when going from a flash fiction piece to another flash fiction piece. It never felt ‘more of the same,’ which sometimes can bog down collections when story after story seems to be the same thing with just different characters.

Highlights for me were;

‘From Whence We Came’ – this quick story follows Madeline and her rich, douchebag boyfriend, Beau. They’re at a swanky get together near a cemetery. After Beau tells her that some of his relatives are buried there, they sneak in to find them and things go crazy. I enjoyed how this one played out and we didn’t get the expected ending, which was refreshing.

‘Run For Your Life’ – two friends, Danica and Melody, sign up for a fun, 5k run. It’s monster themed, with zombies and chainsaw wielding maniacs jokingly chasing the participants. At first Danica is worried this might be too much after recently being assaulted outside of a bar, but soon she hits that runners high. From that point, Wendy does a great job of taking this somewhere you least expect it, which was such a blast.

‘Sunset Village’ – this one could’ve had the tag line ‘An M. Night Shyamalan’ film. Creepy, unsettling and packing an entire novels worth of dread in maybe 2k words, we follow Sylvia who has taken a new job as the live-in caretaker for Sunset Village, a 55-plus retirement community. But, as you can surmise, the residents don’t really want a new caretaker, and they let her know that.

‘Little Friends’ – perhaps the most body-horror story within, while also being the most squirm-inducing, the story follows a new kindergarten teacher who is excited to teach the kids. Quickly though, a lice outbreak happens and things go from uncomfortable to forcing the reader to take a shower soon after. Phenomenally executed.

Throughout, Wendy sprinkles little fun terror moments throughout, which kept me flipping the pages.

What I didn’t like: There were a few short stories that did seem a bit jarring based off of the tight word counts. Case in point is the first story, ‘Dress to Impress.’ It begins as a fun, Halloween, bar story, but when the action arrives, there’s a moment where I had to reread the preceding parts a few times to see if I missed something, the switch in pacing and plot seemingly arriving out of nowhere.

As always, with collections, reader experiences will vary from story to story!

Why you should buy this: A really fun, galloping batch of stories, Wendy gives something for every reader within. We get some really great highs, some really well executed lows and each story stuffs oodles of anxiety causing moments.

A perfect collection to casually read and react to, Wendy never disappoints.

4/5

Title: Where the Dead Don’t Die

Author: Ronald J. Murray

Release date: May 31st, 2024

*Huge thank to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC!*

I’d not yet read any of Murray’s short fiction, but having read a number of his poems and finding them visceral and engaging, I jumped at the chance to read this collection of short fiction. When you couple that with the phenomenal cover, it really hyped me up for diving into a pit of blackness and wondering if I’d be able to claw my way out from the depths.

What I liked: The collection is made up of short stories and novelette’s, which I can safely say, nothing feels bloated or overly forced to be boxed in by word count restraints. The longer stories flow well, not dipping and the shorter ones bite hard and immediately engage the reader.

Murray doesn’t dance around phrasing, this isn’t a poet filling the paper with purple prose, which we tend to see, and I was very happy to discover wasn’t the case here. If this was your first experience with his writing, you might even be surprised that he writes poems, as the format and pacing here is spot on.

Stand outs for me were;

‘Jealousy’ – the opening story starts this off with a bang. A chaotic story about Riley, who struggles to remember what happened in a traumatic moment and has to swim through his mind putting bits and pieces in front of him. It was a perfect story to start off with, one that sets the stage for the darkness that takes place after.

‘A Letter to My Future Corpse’ – one of the darker, bleaker stories within, Murray gives us a story about a despondent painter who desperately wants to be reunited with his family. This one was the closest story within that I could see beginning life as a poem and being transformed into long fiction, especially with some of the phrasing choices.

‘Cornelia’ – one of the more brutal stories, this one starts off with a man drunkenly challenging the world to strike him down while he raves in the middle of a snowy road. Ironically, he gets hit by a car, waking up under the care of a man and a woman. While Murray doesn’t keep the ‘twist’ that secretive, it still is absolutely unnerving as the story progresses and ultimately we get the big reveal.

‘In the Labyrinth’ – easily the highlight of the collection, Murray channeled his inner Lovecraft to deliver a story that was so cinematic and claustrophobic, that I was very sad when it ended. The story opens with Mitchell, a sleaze ball at a bar, looking to find a woman to hook up, even though he’s married. When he finds someone, they head to her place, where things seem straight forward. Hook up, leave, deal with his guilt. Until he gets drugged and wakes up in an odd labyrinth. We get a stunning dose of cosmic horror and Barker-level brutality from there on.

Throughout, Murray showcases his ability to seemingly ‘flick the switch.’ And what I mean is essentially block out the stories light and take us dark, take us to a place where there’s no hope in sight.

What I didn’t like: Overall, I enjoyed all of the stories, but some were definitely more to my taste than others, which is the case with every collection. Readers will always find which stories work for them and which don’t.

Why you should buy this: Murray is a talented poet and this collection shows that he can easily transition to a mastery of short fiction as well. His characters are flawed, well formed and push the story forward, which makes for a more connected experience for the reader.

Really solid release.

4/5

Title: A Misfortune of Lake Monsters

Author: Nicole M. Wolverton

Release date: July 2nd, 2024

*Huge thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC!*

There’s something to be said for the depth of emotions that really well done YA books can pull off. Often times, its focused around loss or love. But when we get a story that deals with loss AND love, you know that you should probably cancel any plans, as your heart is going to be aching and your attention will be focused completely on the story you’re about to read.

I’ve not read anything from Wolverton previously, but for a first time experience, this was so very well done that I’ll absolutely be seeking out more of her work. I hadn’t seen much of this book shared around in my usual haunts, but when I saw Nicole herself, post about it on IG, I was immediately intrigued. When I read the synopsis, I was hooked. Pun intended? Sure, we’ll go with that!

What I liked: The story follows three small town friends, Lemon, Darrin and Tory. Lemon and Troy secretly love each other, though they’ve not told each other. Everyone else knows it, but hey, grade 12 and all, no need to push these two together if they’re going their separate ways after graduating, right? Lemon though, has a huge secret. For decades, her family has perpetrated the myth that the lake has a sea monster, Old Lucy. They get in the Old Lucy costume and make sure sightings happen so that tourists visit and spend their cash. Lemon herself, is struggling. Her parents have died and she’s moved in with her grandparents.

All is going seemingly well, even if Lemon is angry about being forced into this life and not able to leave and pursue veterinary school. That is, until a real sea monster attacks her and her dog and even more secrets are exposed.

It’s from here that Wolverton really shines. The first quarter or so is all about setting the bowling pins up and from this moment forward the pins are knocked down, one by one. There’s heartbreak, trust issues, secret government agencies, coming-of-age perfection and through it all, we get to see the three friends band together and work as a team to try and not only get to the bottom of what this monster is, but also to ensure the future of their small town.

Like many YA books before, this one had me smiling, crying and pumping my fist in the air, as the story unfolded and we see Lemon, Troy and Darrin grow up over a short span of time, the reality of the wider world showing its ugly face.

The ending is spot on and thankfully designed in such a way that it feels like a true ending. Would I like another book featuring these characters? Sure. But if this is the only story we get with this trio, I’d be a-ok with it because of how wonderfully developed they are, which is a testament to the deft writing of Wolverton.

What I didn’t like: I, personally, am not a fan of first person POV shifts and that is how this book is told. Each chapter is told through a different POV – namely between Lemon and Troy – and it is very jarring, especially as we move deeper into the book and the tensions rise. I would’ve preferred a 3rd person POV throughout, but that’s just me and my own reading tastes. Once I got over that initial shift, it was easy transitions the rest of the way.

Why you should buy this: As far as lake monster stories go, this one is top notch. Told with rapid pacing, rising tension and a really well done finale that was showcased in a very cinematic way, Wolverton has really knocked this one out of the park. Lemon is such a great main character and watching her and Troy find each other through the stress of their situations was an absolute highlight.

5/5

Title: Stone Gods

Author: Adam Golaski

Release date: February 3rd, 2024

*Huge thanks to John at NO Press for sending me a digital copy of this one!*

Recently I read Adam Golaski’s collection ‘Worse Than Myself’ which was released back in 2008 by Raw Dog Screaming Press. That collection was dark, mysterious and at times super weird, which, when done right, can really tick my boxes when it comes to short stories. Not long after I posted my review, John from NO Press contacted me to see if I’d be interested in reading Adam’s newest collection, which I readily agreed to. I’m always mystified by authors who have almost no social media presence other than readers sharing their books or the publisher posting about them. It feels like back before the internet was around and books came upon your reader radar organically and not algorithmically. 

What would Golaski deliver this time? I had no idea, but I was game for whatever he was about to throw my way!

What I liked: Much like ‘Worse Than Myself,’ the stories within this collection can be described as Ligotti meets Lynch. Despondent, bleak, dreary and ultimately devoid of sun, throughout each story grew heavier and heavier, as though a block of cement was continuously added to my back as the collection progressed.

Stand outs for me were;

‘Hushed Will Be All Murmurs’ – the opening story in the collection was very close to my favorite one here. It follows two men, potentially at the end of the world, who row a boat out into the fog and slowly go crazy while one tells the other a story. As someone who has always been scared of fog, this one had me unnerved from the first paragraph.

‘Stone Head’ – my favorite story in the collection, a man comes home, ready to prepare dinner for his wife and child who are returning from a trip, when he discovers a large, stone head in his back yard. From there, madness consumes him, a dystopian jungle sprouts up all around him and things that may or may not be his wife and child come home. This one paired really well with my favorite story from ‘Worse Than Myself’ – ‘The Man From the Peak’ – in that nature played a large roll in the smoke screen over reality and the main character continually questioned his own sanity. Outstanding story.

‘Holy Ghost’ – this one, much like the other two I mentioned, featured a man going insane, but this one utilized a very different manner to have this occur. ‘Holy Ghost’ is a strange band that sporadically releases albums. It’s a cause for celebration and when our main character gets a call from his local record shop that a new ‘Holy Ghost’ CD has arrived and is on hold for him, he races down to grab it. Then he meets a woman, who at first he thinks he’s seducing, but also wonders if she’s seducing him. Until he’s sitting in his car, body paralyzed and his mind begins to break. Fantastic.

Golaski has a way of immediately unsettling the ready, of telling a story from the beginning as though through a funhouse mirror where even the sentences themselves appear wavy and the reader struggles to digest what’s being projected.

What I didn’t like: As is often the case, some stories just didn’t click with me. Some of that is down to the ‘weird’ elements, that cross very close into Bizarro territory, a genre that I either get or don’t, and some of the stories either started strongly before taking a strange turn or simply were weird from the start and stayed that way.

Why you should buy this: Golaski occupies a section of dark fiction storytelling where the prose and the delivery are masterful but are written for a very specific group of readers. Much like how Ligotti and Zelenyj craft their stories purposefully, the reader must consume them purposefully, and for that reason, Golaski surely must be considered one of the masters of that subsection. 

Like a rain cloud that only remains over a singular person on a sunny day, ‘Stone Gods’ is dark, dismal and ultimately a collection that’ll leave a mark on every reader who consumes it.

4/5

Title: Blessed Skeletons (Occult Britain Book 4)

Author: Robert Weaver

Release date: February 14th, 2024

*Huge thanks to Robert for sending me a digital copy of this one!*

If I showed you the cover of this book, without title/author etc listed. Would you think I was suggesting you read a Mike Mignola book? Maybe something in the Baltimore world? If you don’t know that name, Mike created Hellboy and the BPRD and his art is very distinctive. Even without reading the synopsis, when Robert emailed me about this book, I was intrigued. Seeing it was book four, I was a bit concerned, as I’d not read the previous three, but from what I gathered, this one is part of a series, but can be read on its own, so with that in mind, I went in, hoping to be chilled and creeped out.

I’m happy to report, I was!

What I liked: Ten years after being exiled from Wovenham, former judge Wolfe Remington is summoned back. At the end of his time as judge, he found a man guilty of murder and put him to death. Now, new bodies are being found, and they all have similarities to the man Wolfe sent to death. Similarities so close and not known by the public, that it seems as though the dead man has returned.

Wovenham as a whole is a fantastic dark location. Weaver fills this book to the brim with strange characters, odd encounters and a feeling like no matter which direction you turn in, it’s raining and the sun refuses to break through the clouds.

Wolfe is conflicted, dealing with secrets, but that seems to be the standard for pretty much every character within, and as the story unravels and Weaver deftly clicks the puzzle pieces together, the reader is richly rewarded. It’s told in novel form, but throughout it really did have a comic book sensibility to it, as though told through cell blocks, not paragraphs.

The cinematic scope of the story is truly breathtaking and if this is indicative of the other three books in the series, I think readers need to flock to this series, and the gorgeous illustrations throughout made for wonderful accompaniment.

The tail end of this book speeds up ever so slightly, which aids in closing things off and answering many of those burning questions Weaver asked earlier on.

What I didn’t like: The middle section does slow down a bit and gets tricky to follow along. I typically hop between four to six books that I’m reading, but I found once I got to that section, I really needed to focus and diligently work my way through, so that I kept up with all of the moving parts.

Why you should buy this: This novel is as though Neil Gaiman & Mike Mignola wrote a story together. Dark, broody, atmospheric and dirty, Weaver spins a web that grabbed this reader and never let go. A wonderfully gothic story about death, secrets and what happens when the doors open when they should’ve remained locked.

4/5

Title: When the Night Falls

Author: Glenn Rolfe

Release date: June 11th, 2024

*Huge thanks to Netgalley & Flame Tree Press for the digital ARC!*

Ahhhhh… sequels. 

The seemingly expected follow up to every novel.

At least it seems that way. That every author writes a novel and then must write a sequel, especially when readers love that first book to pieces. It’s a position every author who has written something finds themselves in and sometimes there’s more. Sometimes there’s not. And sometimes an idea isn’t there until it is.

Back in 2020, Glenn released his novel ‘Until Summer Comes Around,’ which was a fantastic riff on 80’s nostalgia and vampire fiction. We had Rocky, a teenaged main character who we instantly all clicked with and we had the emergence of bodies being found and sinister forces at work.

Glenn himself said that he thought that was going to be a singular release… until it wasn’t. And when the new idea clicked and things fell into place, voila, the sequel arrived.

Now, can Glenn follow up that fantastic story with a new entry?

I was excited to find out.

What I liked: Ten years after the events of book one, Rocky is just trying to live as normal as a life as he can. Gone is the back brace and now, he’s working as a firefighter. Until he isn’t. One day he’s there, the next gone, wanting to switch up his life and figure out where to go next. That is, until word comes that a TV station is planning on doing a ten-year anniversary special about the killings, even after Rocky refused to be involved and threatened them with a lawsuit if they went ahead with it.

The set up is great, and knowing the way Glenn crafts his stories, we see the weight of the events sitting heavy on Rocky. He still loves November, even if it is complicated, and he compares every new woman in his life to her. Is it a case of teenage love remembered through foggy glasses? Could be. But Rolfe does a great job of playing those emotions off each other well. November is still there, still lurking and still has feelings for Rocky.

The town is as vibrant as ever and its that familiarity that sets us readers at ease, even as Rolfe starts to spray the blood and sully the streets. Action comes fast and furious and we go from a coming-of-age remembrance piece to a full on Blade movie level of carnage quick. 

One aspect that I think works really well, is that Glenn’s vampires can move about during the day and are not immortal. Those two aspects tend to fully shape and guide most vampire stories, but these adjustments work so very well to ramp up the tensions and not let anyone have a moment to relax.

The ending of this one is emotionally spot on. Don’t get me wrong, Glenn plays with our emotions throughout – perfectly I might add – but the ending works to close several chapters, answer questions and ultimately wrap things up. Does this mean there will be more? Never say never, but if this is where we end Rocky’s story, it’s a mighty find ending.

What I didn’t like: I think, personally, the 80’s nostalgia worked very well in book one, but the 90s aspects didn’t shine through as much as I thought they would in comparison. It could’ve been a way for Glenn to make this try to be timeless, or it could’ve been a case of me reading a bunch of books lately all set around that time period, but it didn’t highlight the story like the 80’s did in book one.

Why you should buy this: If you’re a fan of Glenn’s you’ll be all over this. If you loved book one, you’ll be all over this. If you love vampire fiction you’ll be all over this. Can this be read as a stand alone? Yes-ish, though reading book one and book two back to back would be a really great way to dive into this story. Overall, Glenn has once again created a vibrant place, with vibrant people and then ripped them to shreds. And really, that’s exactly what we’ve come to expect from Glenn.

5/5

Title: Kiss Me

Author: Andrew Pyper

Release date: January 1st, 1996

For the past six years (maybe seven?) I’ve been rampaging my social media pages with all things Andrew Pyper during the month of May. When I say rampaging, I mean posting EVEN MORE Pyper content than usual. I dubbed it Pyper-May-Nia (with Andrew’s blessing) and outside of year one which was kind of lame (and 100% my fault for being lame), it’s been a fun time. Now, of course, there’s always the negative Nancy’s, those who comment or DM about the frequency of my Pyper posting, but the funny thing is, if I was posting about an author who wrote ‘IT’ or ‘The Dark Tower’ series every day, those same people would be loving it. So, to them I say, tough shit.

I often do a reread or two during May of Andrew’s work as well, and in the lead up to May arriving, I dove back into his debut collection, ‘Kiss Me.’ I personally prefer the simple, stark cover image of Leah McLaren (who was Andrew’s girlfriend at the time, and the phot was taken by Andrew) in the diner that adorned Porcupine Quill’s original version, versus the re-released edition through Harper Perennial where they added some color, filtering and reference Andrew’s highly successful debut novel ‘Lost Girls,’ which is why I chose that one for this post.

My first time through this collection was back in the halcyon days of 2019.

I went in tentatively, not sure how I’d connect with a collection that was purely literary fiction. Outside of a single story (1001 Names and Their Meanings), where the ending can be considered a turn for the worst, if you see it that way, there are no shades of the juggernaut Andrew would become soon after in the Canadian Horror world, or the wider world thereafter.

The stories within this are a sublime mix of growing up. Of the micro and macro of each person’s life, as seen through the lens of a writer also trying to find their footing in the fiction world. In the past, I’ve written a non-fiction piece comparing an Andrew book to a movie (One Week) and making the further connection to iconic Canadian Band, The Tragically Hip. After having reread this collection now, I’m confident in saying that Andrew is to Canadian Fiction what The Tragically Hip is to Canadian Alternative/Rock. Both shape their stories/lyrics around people, place and Canadiana. Both speak deeply of the people and through their writing/singing voice, connect with those across the globe.

Within this collection, Andrew showcases his versatility and within that versatility, we are richly rewarded for meeting each and every character, no matter how flawed they are.

The collection opens with ‘Dime Bag Girl,’ a story that immediately showcases the emotional depth that Andrew will be laying on the reader. Now, as a 42-year-old, I look back at those days in high school with a mixture of fondness and frustration. But I connected deeply with this story. It reminded me of certain people, of different events and ultimately the struggle to look beyond as a teenager, to move on and leave those we cared for behind. In this case, a new girl moves to town, her dad the judge. She connects with our MC, and they form a fast friendship. When it hits that she’ll be moving soon and life will go on, Andrew addresses those emotions so very well, and it connected with me that in about a decade, my son will be in the same place this MC is, potentially going through the very same thing.

I won’t go through each and every story here, but ‘Dime Bag Girl’ is a great micro aspect of the macro effect that this book delivered. ‘Call Roxanne,’ was a reflection piece, about a young man being dropped off at an institution by his father. We get a great look at the complexities of a father and son, of connection and the inabilities to express emotions between generations. Within the story, our MC uses a washroom and written on the wall is a phone number and the words ‘Call Roxanne,’ which resonates with the MC in ways he never thought possible. This story was so very powerful in its approach but also about the aspects around mental health and how sometimes, those we call parents can’t see past their children’s perceived flaws.

Andrew tells each story as they are, unflinching and combative at times, not giving the characters or the reader an inch of ‘oh jeez’ compassion. This is greatly on display with the gut wrenching title story, ‘Kiss Me.’ Andrew introduces us to a man who has found the love of his life. Then, on a seemingly ordinary day, he lights the BBQ and suffers horrible burns. From that point on, we watch him spiral into a self-imposed isolation where the only person who wants to keep loving him can no longer love who he’s become. This was heartbreaking, frustrating and a story that is timeless in its asking the reader ‘what would you do in this situation?’

‘X-Ray’ is another such story that pushes the reader in ways unexpected. An X-Ray tech details her perfect life, which includes her boyfriend who seems like the perfect catch until he becomes physically and mentally abusive. It’s a tough, but powerful read and shows the lengths those within abusive relationships go to gaslight themselves in the search for a perfect life and a life with a significant other they love.

Within each story, we get little glimpses of the Pyper writer to come. From ‘Kiss Me’ and the burned character – foreshadowing Miles in ‘The Wildfire Season’ – and such is the case with ‘Camp Sacred Heart,’ which alludes to a scene/setting in the 2019 release, ‘The Homecoming.’

The story on itself is fairly straightforward. A boy is sent off to summer camp, wondering how it’ll go and haunted by his dad’s parting words of, ‘don’t get homesick!’ Once there, though, he immediately hits it off with another boy. The two become fast friends and are attached at the hip. On their final night before heading home, feelings are expressed, a kiss takes place and all within this, Pyper deftly showcases the complexities of young feelings, of the heart sometimes struggling to deal with the brain’s response and how sometimes, the distance of time doesn’t change anything. From start to finish this story was as about to close to perfect as you can get and one that I’ll be returning to again and again.

At the end of the day, the stories compiled in ‘Kiss Me’ showcase Andrew through his formative fiction progression years. Of a burgeoning author who fits in writing between academic commitments and who showcases – even back then – his gift of prose and of creating complex characters that you feel like you’ve known forever. Andrew Pyper has a distinct writing voice and, as a long-time fan of his work, it was wonderful to see that it has always been on display, even from the earliest days.

‘Kiss Me’ is a collection that every reader of literary fiction should read. Filled with love, loss, flaws, decisions and the ramifications of such, Pyper’s gift of storytelling is on full display here, buoyed by youth, hope and life experiences.

5/5

https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?kn=Kiss%20Me%20Andrew%20Pyper&sts=t&ds=20

Title: Crota

Author: Owl Goingback

Release date: April 17th, 1996

What makes a book a classic book? It’s a question that readers and scholars have pondered and offered answers since the written word was formulated into a story structure and released to the wider public to digest.

I myself am no scholar. Just a simple reader with simple tastes and simpler reviews.

But, if I was asked what I consider makes a book a classic – or soon to be classic in the case of newer releases – I’d suggest the biggest aspect would be staying power or, to use a single word, timelessness. If a book, no matter when it was written or released, can solidly transport you somewhere and, within the scope of WHEN you read it, it doesn’t lose any of its luster, it can be considered a classic. Or, in ‘Crota’s’ case, a modern classic, as it’s just about to turn thirty.

Going in, I’d never read any of Owl’s long fiction, just some of his shorter fiction, but that has all been amazing, and Owl himself has always been one of the kindest folks I’ve ever come across and interacted with. I’ve had ‘Crota’ on my Kindle for some time, but just never got to it, but recently I felt a pull, and knew it was time to dive in, and boy, am I glad I did. This is a modern classic and one that has populated ‘Best Of’ lists since before it won the Bram Stoker Award for Best Debut Novel back in ’96.

What I liked: The novel takes place in a small town, where suddenly livestock is being slaughtered and soon after, some of its residents. The Sheriff, Skip Harding, wants to put a quick end to that, but when he himself has a one-on-one encounter, he knows that this thing isn’t a rogue bear, as has been suspected.

Our other main narrative, is following John Little Hawk. John’s character is what takes this from your standard creature-in-the-woods thriller and transforms this into a complex story. John takes us on a vision quest, and the mix of Indigenous rituals and their approach to, first identifying what it is they’re up against, and second, how to destroy it, was fascinating, and while I cringe to use the term ‘elevate,’ it’s John’s character and story arc that does just that when you compare this to many books that start out with a similar plot.

Along the way, we get some secondary characters that play vital roles, Lloyd, the officer gunning for Skip’s job who won’t believe what Skip saw and leads other officers below to search for the ‘bear,’ and John introduces us to his adopted father, who shows Skip how to connect with his own heritage and how to look past his ‘white man’ view of the situation and use his ancestral senses, which was such a powerful moment.

The Crota itself was a wonderfully frightening creation, and Goingback used the Devil’s Boot location perfectly, to have the humans have to confront it on unfamiliar ground.

There’s a very powerful, emotional ending to the novel, which was such a heartwarming aspect that seemingly came out of nowhere and I loved that it ended on such a high note.

What I didn’t like:  It’s hard to pick out anything that I noticed when reading such a wonderfully crafted novel, but if I was forced to say something, I’d suggest that the end battle between Crota and humans suffered from the standard plot structure of long lead up with a shorter climax. With how devastating the beast had been, I’d have loved to see a longer battle, especially seeing how much Skip went through to get to that point, but on the flip side, in nature, most battles are explosive, violent and over quickly. If you’ve never seen two bears fight in the wild, go find a Youtube video. It’s a three to five minute experience that’ll never leave your head.

Why you should buy this: Well, I very well might be one of the last horror readers in the world to read ‘Crota,’ but if there are others out there who haven’t, don’t sleep on this modern classic (there I said it!). The pacing is wonderful, the narratives weave together so nicely and Owl’s command of each character is masterful. Such a phenomenal novel, and one that I took far too long to read.

5/5