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Book Review: Amulet: The Stonekeeper by Kazu Kibuishi

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Title: Amulet: The Stonekeeper (Amulet #1)

Author: Kazu Kibuishi

Release date: January 1st, 2008

As we often do, my wife, son and I were perusing the shelves at Value Village, looking for some books my son and I could read together. We’ve found a lot of marvelous gems that way, including the Dragon Masters series, Bird & Squirrel, and a few others. As my son has gotten older, I’ve been looking to find a graphic novel to add, as we really loved the Bird & Squirrel graphic novels. It allowed us to decide which characters to be, give them their own voices and really enjoy reading and performing the books together. It was on one such trip that I pulled ‘Amulet: The Stonekeeper’ from the shelf and we were sold. The cover is gorgeous – plus any cover that has a tentacle writhing through a doorway will always have our attention – and the synopsis on the back sounded interesting.

So, recently, after we finished reading one book and we were looking to start another, we decided to give this one a shot and I have to say, we were both knocked for a loop.

What I liked: The story follows Emily and Navin, who’ve recently moved with their mom to a derelict home formerly owned by their grandfather. This, after a family tragedy has upended their previous life. After arriving, they discover the house is in even poorer shape than they imagined and they get to work deep cleaning.

It’s while clearing that Emily discovers their grandfathers library and unwittingly stumbles upon a gorgeous amulet necklace. At first, it just seems like a necklace, but that night while they try to sleep, a crazy monstrosity comes and takes their mom, pulling her through a door in the basement.

Naturally, they follow, wanting to save their mom, but once they run through the door, there’s no going back and that’s where this book really kicks off.

Kibuishi does a wonderful job of giving us some back story and lore regarding the place the children have arrived and we soon meet Kismit, an odd rabbit like creature (who may be a robot?) who brings them to their grandfathers house over in this strange world.

Throughout though, the aspect of desperately trying to find their mom is paramount and the cast of characters we meet within the house are there to help the kids, whether they want to or not. Because the world beyond those walls is filled with things that want to cause them harm and steal the amulet for themselves.

It makes for a fun rollicking adventure through the landscape as they try to get their mom back.

The ending of the novel sets up thing to progress into the next book, which we’re very excited to dive into once we get it.

As well, as this is a graphic novel and a bit different than what I normally read/review, I have to say the artwork throughout is stunning. Just gorgeous, gorgeous art on every page.

What I didn’t like: There were two things that really stuck out for me. The first is Emily and Navin seem to just completely accept what’s happened and where they end up. There’s no questioning about anything and they just run forward, full steam ahead without once stopping to wonder whether they should. Every creature that comes along is simply accepted and there’s not even a throwaway line once like ‘these things shouldn’t exist’ or anything.

The second thing, is that in the start of the book, after they’ve moved and once they arrive in the other world, there’s a lot that’s kind of left to the reader to fill in. It works to move the story along, but it also made a few areas feel very rushed.

Why you should buy this: This is a gorgeous, imaginative story filled with deep emotions and fantastic creatures. We get robots, tentacled beasts and elf-like forest dwellers. And all the while, we get to go along with Emily and Nav as they search for their mom. This was only book one, but I can’t wait to see where this story goes.

Book Review: Secret Lives of the Dead by Tim Lebbon

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Title: Secret Lives of the Dead

Author: Tim Lebbon

Release date: August 26th, 2025

*Huge thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and author for the digital ARC of this one!*

There’s a brilliance that shines forth when an author includes aspects of something they truly live and breathe and love in their real lives, within their written work. Sometimes it’s subtle, sometimes it’s overt, but no matter which way the author chooses to implement it within the book, it sparkles, crackles and fills the spaces between words with a palpable energy.

With Tim Lebbon, that aspect is running. If you follow Tim on Facebook or subscribe to his newsletter/blog, you’ll see a majority of his personal updates are about running events he’s taken part in, whether a marathon length or longer. In fact, his love for running is what elevated his 2020 novel ‘Eden,’ to another level. (And if you’ve not read that banger – A- shame on you and B- get on it, it’s glorious!).

In fact, Tim’s latest novel, ‘Secret Lives of the Dead,’ is what happens when you take that novel and mix it with his recent novel, 2024’s ‘Among the Living,’ and shook them up and tossed them on the table. Where ‘Eden’ had the running, survival element, ‘Among the Living,’ has the heavy, lovely folklore elements.

I went into this one rather blind, but confident knowing I was in Tim’s capable and wonderful writing hands, and wow, did this novel deliver a thrill ride I wasn’t expecting.

What I liked: The novel hops between multiple POV’s but our de facto main character is Jodi. A young woman, she’s haunted by events in her past, including her dad’s death in a car accident she witnessed, and ever since that moment, she’s lived a bit of a nomadic existence. Moving from place to place, never feeling settled, but always finding a place to run. Throughout her wandering life, she’s keeping her eyes open for the relics, pieces of something that seem to hold a curse and that were directly related to her dad’s untimely death.

At her current stop, she learns one might be within an old, abandoned mansion. To her surprise, she’s connected with a man, BB, more than she’s ever connected before. Some might even call it love. Joined by his friend, Matt, the trio break in to find whatever treasure might be inside – with Matt and BB unaware that Jodi is searching something more.

It’s here that Lem is introduced. He’s seeking the relics for himself in an attempt to break the curse that’s enveloped his family for many, many decades. He’s been battered and beaten and carries the scars on his skin from his search.

A confrontation occurs, Jodi and crew flee and from there Tim takes us on a day-long thrill ride filled with brutality, loss, heartbreak and gore. It’s a mixture of very high moments and very low moments and Tim has a way of letting the sorrow sit and take hold while also skyrocketing our blood pressure without warning. Throughout, Tim uses the world around our characters as chess pieces to move and use to better and worsen each others situations and the constant tug of war between Jodi and Lem is heightened because of that. Ultimately, those two want each other to die, while each understanding the other is part of the puzzle for the other to use to get to their end goals.

The final quarter is a dizzying sprint. I raced through it, needed to see what would happen and learn the truth of what resides on Crow Island. Tim sets things up really nicely and when the domino’s fall, it was done with such precision that it felt like the air was sucked from the room.

The epilogue was fitting and answered some questions that lingered and I for one was glad to have answered.

What I didn’t like:  The whole spoiler thingy kind of prevents me from fully discussing what I didn’t like, but what I can say is that revelation of a specific character potentially still being alive and being part of the curse’s dynamic ultimately felt like it fizzled out when we got to the part of actually seeing this character. It felt glossed over and not as impactful as I was thinking it would be.

Why you should buy this: Lebbon is a world class author who is frankly firing on all cylinders. His last three novels have all been PHENOMENAL – ‘Eden,’ ‘The Last Storm,’ and ‘Among the Living,’ and ‘Secrets of the Dead’ only adds another amazing book to a bibliography that boasts over a dozen top drawer reads. ‘Secrets of the Dead’ is a spot on mix of friendship, frustration and kinetic energy. Throughout, you’ll be on the edge of your seat, always waiting to see what happens next and when it does happen, you’ll keep speeding along, pulled roughly by the scruff of your neck as Tim bludgeons these characters to within an inch of their lives.

Pulse-pounding thriller. What a ride.

Book Review: The Wild Robot Escapes by Peter Brown

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Title: The Wild Robot Escapes

Author: Peter Brown

Release date: March 13th, 2018

It was last year that my son and I finished book one, ‘The Wild Robot,’ and we almost immediately dove into this, the sequel. For whatever reason, we kept getting sidetracked and we’d read a chapter here, a chapter there, until eventually we weren’t even picking it up at all, focused on other books that came along.

Now, that’s not to say this is a bad book right off the hop – far from it, this book is wonderful – it’s just more a commentary on the fact that while we started this off with the best intentions to read it right away after book one, life got busy. Finally, this past weekend, while camping, we wrapped it up and now we both can’t wait to check out the third one.

In my previous review, I said that the first book was perfect until the very ending – mild spoiler ahead – because instead of Roz simply enjoying that she was on the island, seeming free of the Reco’s and reunited with Brightbill and her animal friends, she decided to head back to the bigger world, where she came from to see  how she fit.

With that in mind, it made a sequel necessary, at least if you wanted to follow Roz’s story and see where her life took her and my son and I wanted to do just that.

What I liked: The book pick’s up with Roz being ‘reconditioned’ and working at a farm. There, she befriends the farm animals – much like on the island – and tries to get any updates on Brightbill. The farm is owned by a man, who lives there with his two children. Unfortunately, their mother has passed away after an illness. It takes some time for Roz to cozy up and gain the children’s trust and when she finally reveals herself to them and asks for their help so that she can escape the farm and find Brightbill, the story really takes off.

Brown does a wonderful job of making Roz relatable while also being mysterious within this second book. It’s a showcase of trying to find one’s place while making their current situation work for them and as with book one, it shows that kindness is the best way to connect and make friends.

The story isn’t without antagonists. Once again, Reco’s are after her and we get some mangy coyotes vowing revenge on Roz for preventing them from feasting on the farm animals, but ultimately, the story is shaped by Roz trying to return to the island while also finding where she belongs and where she came from.

This is answered in the final quarter of the book and while I won’t go too far into this – spoilers and such – it worked really well to see how connection and humanity can triumph over policy and public pressure.

The ending was really enjoyable and this book can be read as a conclusion for the story, working to wrap up everything from book one and two while leaving the door open for the third book, which we already have and are excited to read.

What I didn’t like: Personally, I wish we had a further expansion on the wider world where Roz ends up. I’d like to learn more about how things operate, the way robots and humans interact and why things have gone the way they have. There’s a lot of dystopian hints throughout, but nothing gets really revealed and it’s left me wanting more.

Why you should buy this: If you read book one and loved it then you’ll love book two. Roz is a phenomenal character, one that teaches valuable lessons and connects richly with the reader. My son and I greatly enjoyed this one! Now, onto book three!

The Huge Compiled List From Canadian Horror Month!

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Weeeeeeelllllll!

Here we are!

August 1st, 2025. Which means July is done and over with and so is the month-long marathon I just did of sharing and showcasing Canadian Horror! I stuck predominantly with books, but did have a post about cover artists, publishers and movies!

Every single Instagram/Tik Tok post also featured a song from a Canadian band, which was a ton of fun to kind of go through and choose.

Now, a couple of quick bits before you can scroll through this insane compilation of links for everything!

Firstly – for 99% of all the books listed here, you’ll see that the link is to the Amazon US site. That’s because 75% of people who will click through this will be from the US. If you are in a different country, simply change the link from amazon dot com to dot ca or whatever your Amazon country is. Easy peasy.

Secondly – there are a few books within that are either out of print or no longer on Amazon. So, a few will purely have Goodreads links.

Thirdly – for a few of the publishers that I could, I put in the direct link from their website – specifically Little Ghosts and Undertow.

Fourthly – I did my absolute best to include and showcase as many Canadian authors as I possibly could. If I missed anyone, anyone at all, I am very sorry. This was a huge undertaking, but also a huge labor of love, so please no, if I missed it, it was due to the sheer volume of books I had saved and somehow a book slipped between the cracks.

Lastly – thank you for everyone’s huge enthusiasm towards all of this! Please, enjoy the compiled list below and please, please, please buy books from authors in here that you’re interested in!

 

Cover Artists

Trevor Henderson – https://trevorhenderson.format.com/

Geoff Parrell – https://numbphasedesign.ca/

Francois Vaillancourt – https://www.francois-art.com/

Publishers

Eerie River – https://www.eerieriverpublishing.com/

The Seventh Terrace – https://the-seventh-terrace.com/

Undertow Publications – https://undertowpublications.com/

ECW Press – https://ecwpress.com/

Little Ghosts Books – https://www.littleghostsbooks.com/

Movies

Splice – https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1017460/

Pontypool – https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1226681/

Skinamarink – https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21307994/

Scanners – https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081455/

The Void – https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4255304/

Ginger Snaps – https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0210070/

Videodrome – https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086541/

Books

Dark Canadiana Anthology

US – https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Canadiana-Anthology-Canadian-Horror-ebook/dp/B0FBGWT4LB/

Gulf by Shelly Campbell

US – https://www.amazon.com/Gulf-Gripping-Otherworldly-Coming-Age-ebook/dp/B0BBCYV55J/

Weed by Night by Sarah L. Johnson

US – https://www.amazon.com/Weed-Night-Short-Sharp-Shocks-ebook/dp/B097C6PCGZ/

Everything Leads Back to Alice by Chris Marrs

US – https://www.amazon.com/Everything-Leads-Alice-Chris-Marrs-ebook/dp/B00NWMOTZU/

Return to Dyatlov Pass by J.H. Moncrieff

US – https://www.amazon.com/Return-Dyatlov-Pass-J-H-Moncrieff-ebook/dp/B07BF48WP5/

No One Will Come Back For Us by Premee Mohamed

Link – https://undertowpublications.com/ebooks/no-one-will-come-back-for-us-epub

Final Track by Julie Hiner

US – https://www.amazon.com/Final-Track-Detective-Mahoney-Book-ebook/dp/B082FVH3DP/

The Talosite by Rebecca Campbell

Link – https://undertowpublications.com/ebooks/the-talosite-epub

Northern Nights Anthology

Link – https://undertowpublications.com/ebooks/northern-nights-epub

Solstice in Purgatory Anthology

US – https://www.amazon.com/Solstice-Purgatory-Purgatorio-Robert-Bose-ebook/dp/B0CKJ6N8PD/

Toronto Noir Anthology

US – https://www.amazon.com/Toronto-Noir-Akashic-Janine-Armin-ebook/dp/B008SBHIVC/

Prairie Gothic Anthology

US – https://www.amazon.com/Prairie-Gothic-Anthology-Stacey-Kondla-ebook/dp/B08NYYKVDW/

Taaqtumi Anthology

US – https://www.amazon.com/Taaqtumi-Anthology-Arctic-Horror-Stories-ebook/dp/B08SHRP647/

Prairie Witch Anthology

US – https://www.amazon.com/Prairie-Witch-anthology-Stacey-Kondla-ebook/dp/B0BL3W44QM/

FOE by Iain Reid

US – https://www.amazon.com/Foe-Iain-Reid-ebook/dp/B075RK464N/

The Coliseum by Patrick Lestewka

US – https://www.amazon.com/Coliseum-Patrick-Lestewka/dp/1889186902/

Rave by Konn Lavery

US – https://www.amazon.com/Rave-Konn-Lavery-ebook/dp/B08Y92C384/

Green Fuse Burning by Tiffany Morris

US – https://www.amazon.com/Green-Fuse-Burning-Tiffany-Morris-ebook/dp/B0D98VL8WF/

Infested by C.M. Forest

US – https://www.amazon.com/Infested-Fast-Paced-Thriller-Horror-Novel-ebook/dp/B09SJ43GYK/

The Axe Remembers by Marcus Hawke

US – https://www.amazon.com/Axe-Remembers-Redwood-Ripper-Story-ebook/dp/B0D4XJJK31/

It Looks Like Dad by J. Krawczyk

Link – https://www.littleghostsbooks.com/product/it-looks-like-dad/992

Mountain Fast by S.J. Shank

US – https://www.amazon.com/Mountain-Fast-S-J-Shank-ebook/dp/B0D2BSZ8TS/

The Black Hunger by Nicholas Pullen

US – https://www.amazon.com/Black-Hunger-Nicholas-Pullen-ebook/dp/B0CTZSHQ8G/

False Bodies by J.R. McConvey

US – https://www.amazon.com/False-Bodies-J-R-McConvey-ebook/dp/B0DKB3W6TL/

Red X by David Demchuk

US – https://www.amazon.com/Red-X-Novel-David-Demchuk-ebook/dp/B08SW818Q7/

The Homecoming by Andrew Pyper

US – https://www.amazon.com/Homecoming-Andrew-Pyper-ebook/dp/B07GNVCRTW/

Woom by Duncan Ralston

US – https://www.amazon.com/Woom-Extreme-Psychological-Horror-Novel-ebook/dp/B075H3MRQ6/

Infestation by William Meikle

US – https://www.amazon.com/Infestation-S-Squad-Book-William-Meikle-ebook/dp/B0777HLL97/

The Girl Who Hid in the Trees by Steve Stred

US – https://www.amazon.com/Girl-Who-Hid-Trees-ebook/dp/B07MJ851BH/

The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson

US – https://www.amazon.com/Gargoyle-Andrew-Davidson-ebook/dp/B0031TZAO8/

The Troop by Nick Cutter

US – https://www.amazon.com/Troop-Nick-Cutter-ebook/dp/B00BSBR5DA/

The Guardians by Andrew Pyper

US – https://www.amazon.com/Guardians-Andrew-Pyper-ebook/dp/B004EBT6XS/

The Tunnelers by Geoff Gander

Link – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12040820-the-tunnelers

The Bear by Claire Cameron

US – https://www.amazon.com/Bear-Claire-Cameron-ebook/dp/B00F1W0R00/

Harmless by James Grainger

US – https://www.amazon.com/Harmless-James-Grainger-ebook/dp/B00NDTUB6I/

Survival Instinct by Kristal Stittle

US – https://www.amazon.com/Survival-Instinct-Kristal-Stittle-ebook/dp/B00BLH7XQ0/

The Killing Circle by Andrew Pyper

US – https://www.amazon.com/Killing-Circle-Andrew-Pyper-ebook/dp/B0031TZALQ/

Suffer the Children by Craig DiLouie

US – https://www.amazon.com/Suffer-Children-Craig-DiLouie-ebook/dp/B00DX0F4L4/

Cataract City by Craig Davidson

US – https://www.amazon.com/Cataract-City-Craig-Davidson-ebook/dp/B00CVS430M/

Fishing with the Devil by Rob Bose

US – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0994737823/

A God in the Shed by J-F. Dubeau

US – https://www.amazon.com/God-Shed-J-F-Dubeau-ebook/dp/B0721NVXSY/

The Bear Who Wouldn’t Leave by J.H. Moncrieff

US – https://www.amazon.com/Bear-Who-Wouldnt-Leave-ebook/dp/B06XBJ5NSK/

Beyond the Deep by Carson Fredriksen

US – https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Deep-Carson-Fredriksen-ebook/dp/B0DT9QN5TX/

Sycamore by Ian Rogers

US – https://www.amazon.com/Sycamore-Ian-Rogers-ebook/dp/B0DJDKB9PR/

Pushing Daisy by Christopher O’Halloran

US – https://www.amazon.com/Pushing-Daisy-Christopher-OHalloran-ebook/dp/B0F8SKYD95/

A Reviewer’s Guide to Writing Book Reviews by Rick Hipson

US – https://www.amazon.com/Reviewers-Guide-Writing-Book-Reviews-ebook/dp/B0D829VTTH/

Most Likely to Summon Nyhiloteph by Madison McSweeney

Link – https://www.littleghostsbooks.com/product/most-likely-to-summon-nyhiloteph/2028

The Bone Key by Mary Rajotte

US – https://www.amazon.com/Bone-Key-Mary-Rajotte-ebook/dp/B0CYBYJ1KZ/

I Will Wander On by Ron Prasad

US – https://www.amazon.com/WILL-WANDER-Terrifying-Tales-Death-ebook/dp/B0DGX5WMJR/

Death in the Family by Tessa Wegert

US – https://www.amazon.com/Death-Family-Shana-Merchant-Novel-ebook/dp/B07RZGJB86/

Those Who Dwell Below by Aviaq Johnston

US – https://www.amazon.com/Those-Dwell-Below-Aviaq-Johnston-ebook/dp/B08B1VYZ1M/

Cats Like Cream by Renee Miller

US – https://www.amazon.com/Retail-Cats-Cream-Higher-Learning-ebook/dp/B0F2GNZ69C/

Seven Days by Patrick Senecal

US – https://www.amazon.com/Seven-Days-Patrick-Sen%C3%A9cal-ebook/dp/B07GNVYDXB/

Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice

US – https://www.amazon.com/Moon-Crusted-Snow-Waubgeshig-Rice-ebook/dp/B07DWLKMS5/

One Of Us by Craig DiLouie

US – https://www.amazon.com/One-Us-Craig-DiLouie-ebook/dp/B0776QMHPT/

Spectral Evidence by Gemma Files

US – https://www.amazon.com/Spectral-Evidence-Gemma-Files-ebook/dp/B079ZC2V3L/

The Deep by Nick Cutter

US – https://www.amazon.com/Deep-Nick-Cutter-ebook/dp/B00J69Y5GQ/

The Demonologist by Andrew Pyper

US – https://www.amazon.com/Demonologist-Andrew-Pyper-ebook/dp/B00APJ0XYE/

Wagon Buddy by Steve Stred

US – https://www.amazon.com/Wagon-Buddy-Steve-Stred-ebook/dp/B07GXXLZF2/

Different Beasts by J.R. McConvey

US – https://www.amazon.com/Different-Beasts-J-R-McConvey-ebook/dp/B09VCXS5JV/

Mad Cow by Alexis Kienlen

US – https://www.amazon.com/Mad-Cow-Alexis-Kienlen-ebook/dp/B086VTD8RT/

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

US – https://www.amazon.com/Mexican-Gothic-Silvia-Moreno-Garcia-ebook/dp/B07YK1K1YK/

Stranded by Renee Miller

US – https://www.amazon.com/Blood-Lake-Monster-Howl-Stranded-ebook/dp/B0DVDY3ZPG/

All the Things We Never See by Michael Kelly

Link – https://undertowpublications.com/ebooks/all-the-things-we-never-see-epub

The Bone Mother by David Demchuk

US – https://www.amazon.com/Bone-Mother-David-Demchuk-ebook/dp/B087DW5ZV5/

Shelter for the Damned by Mike Thorn

US – https://www.amazon.com/SHELTER-DAMNED-Mike-Thorn-ebook/dp/B08QNHMKRW/

The Nightshade Cabal by Chris Patrick Carolan

US – https://www.amazon.com/Nightshade-Cabal-Chris-Patrick-Carolan-ebook/dp/B08GN3G67N/

Acadia Event by MJ Preston

US – https://www.amazon.com/Acadia-Event-MJ-Preston-ebook/dp/B088WFXZX1/

Experimental Film by Gemma Files

US – https://www.amazon.com/Experimental-Film-Gemma-Files-ebook/dp/B08F9NT1K7/

The Ghost Sequences by A.C. Wise

Link – https://undertowpublications.com/ebooks/the-ghost-sequences-epub

We Spread by Iain Reid

US – https://www.amazon.com/We-Spread-Iain-Reid-ebook/dp/B09RX2LW56/

The Mud Man by Donna Marie West

US – https://www.amazon.com/Mud-Man-Donna-Marie-West-ebook/dp/B09TK3TLSZ/

Helpmeet by Naben Ruthnum

Link – https://undertowpublications.com/ebooks/helpmeet-epub

Soup by Kate DeJonge

US – https://www.amazon.com/Soup-Kate-DeJonge-ebook/dp/B09X8W4JLR/

A Time For Monsters by Mason McDonald

US – https://www.amazon.com/Time-Monsters-Mason-McDonald-ebook/dp/B09WHDPZKQ/

Black Bloom by Felix I.D. Dimaro

US – https://www.amazon.com/Black-Bloom-Felix-I-D-Dimaro-ebook/dp/B09VYT5JQ6/

These Long Teeth of the Night by Alexander Zelenyj

US – https://www.amazon.com/These-Teeth-Night-Alexander-Zelenyj-ebook/dp/B0C9W3L3H3/

All We Want is Everything by Andrew F. Sullivan

US – https://www.amazon.com/All-Want-Everything-Andrew-Sullivan/dp/1894037847

Little Heaven by Nick Cutter

US – https://www.amazon.com/Little-Heaven-Novel-Nick-Cutter-ebook/dp/B01CO34GCI/

The Damned by Andrew Pyper

US – https://www.amazon.com/Damned-Andrew-Pyper-ebook/dp/B00LD1OSMG/

Find You in the Dark by Nathan Ripley

US – https://www.amazon.com/Find-You-Dark-Nathan-Ripley-ebook/dp/B074ZR3NWN/

The Window in the Ground by Steve Stred

US – https://www.amazon.com/Window-Ground-Steve-Stred-ebook/dp/B08B455LRG/

The Miracle Sin by Marcus Hawke

US – https://www.amazon.com/Miracle-Sin-Marcus-Hawke-ebook/dp/B08NHZGTY6/

The Walking Son by Eddie Generous

US – https://www.amazon.com/Walking-Son-Eddie-Generous-ebook/dp/B092RP7CWR/

Vindictive by Ryan Lawrence

US – https://www.amazon.com/Vindictive-Ryan-Lawrence-ebook/dp/B09HFZ4C56/

Motherthing by Ainslie Hogarth

US – https://www.amazon.com/Motherthing-Ainslie-Hogarth/dp/0593467027/

Lure by Tim McGregor

US – https://www.amazon.com/Lure-Tim-McGregor-ebook/dp/B0B2V3PX3J/

Every House is Haunted by Ian Rogers

US – https://www.amazon.com/Every-House-Haunted-Ian-Rogers-ebook/dp/B0BGZ1NVY4/

Dollhouse by Andrew McManaman

US – https://www.amazon.com/Dollhouse-Andrew-McManaman-ebook/dp/B09KNS9P2G/

Amy by R.W. Duder

US – https://www.amazon.com/Amy-RW-Duder-ebook/dp/B0B5FFZC83/

The Marigold by Andrew F. Sullivan

US – https://www.amazon.com/Marigold-Andrew-F-Sullivan-ebook/dp/B0BLJ3STLT/

Ghostland by Duncan Ralston

US – https://www.amazon.com/Ghostland-Duncan-Ralston-ebook/dp/B07ZTWN79D/

To Die Alone in the Yukon by Lynn Berk

US – https://www.amazon.com/Die-Alone-Yukon-Lynn-Berk-ebook/dp/B0781JD7N3/

The Saturday Night Ghost Club by Craig Davidson

US – https://www.amazon.com/Saturday-Night-Ghost-Club-Novel-ebook/dp/B077CSX3GD/

A Book of Tongues by Gemma Files

US – https://www.amazon.com/Book-Tongues-Hexslinger-1-ebook/dp/B08F9G6182/

Hollow by Rhonda Parrish

US – https://www.amazon.com/Hollow-Rhonda-Parrish-ebook/dp/B07YSX5YGT/

Brand New Dark by Beau Johnson

US – https://www.amazon.com/Brand-New-Dark-Beau-Johnson-ebook/dp/B0971T9F6F/

Seventeen Skulls by Joe Powers

US – https://www.amazon.com/Seventeen-Skulls-Joe-Powers-ebook/dp/B0F8FMGLY9/

Birds in the Black Water by Kodie Van Dusen

US – https://www.amazon.com/Birds-Black-Water-Paranormal-Drama-ebook/dp/B0B832WGS9/

The Handyman Method by Nick Cutter & Andrew F. Sullivan

US – https://www.amazon.com/Handyman-Method-Story-Terror-ebook/dp/B0BHTPDMH7/

The Belize Experience by James Seamone

US – https://www.amazon.com/Belize-Experience-Loosely-based-events-ebook/dp/B0BC4R2SQV/

Linghun by Ai Jiang

US – https://www.amazon.com/Linghun-Ai-Jiang-ebook/dp/B0DJDGRMFR/

A Strange Little Place by Brennan Storr

US – https://www.amazon.com/Strange-Little-Place-Paranormal-Revelstoke-ebook/dp/B0BK5BKQTT/

The Mouth is a Coven by Liz Worth

US – https://www.amazon.com/Mouth-Coven-Liz-Worth-ebook/dp/B0B6GMTP3W/

The Fire on Memory Lane by Felix I.D. Dimaro

US – https://www.amazon.com/Fire-Memory-Lane-Felix-Dimaro-ebook/dp/B09BXDSHGR/

Scarewaves by Trevor Henderson

US – https://www.amazon.com/Scarewaves-Trevor-Henderson-ebook/dp/B0BNPGXD14/

Devil Music by Joseph Mulak

US – https://www.amazon.com/Devil-Music-Secret-Dempsey-Manor-ebook/dp/B0BJ1ZTGZM/

The Other Ones by Jamesie Fournier

US – https://www.amazon.com/Other-Ones-Jamesie-Fournier-ebook/dp/B0C632XSB1/

Apparitions by Adam Pottle

US – https://www.amazon.com/Apparitions-Adam-Pottle-ebook/dp/B0DKYS7G2W/

Cutter’s Deep by Ronald McGillvray

US – https://www.amazon.com/CUTTERS-DEEP-WELCOME-Ronald-McGillvray-ebook/dp/B0BYM5H3NY/

Agony’s Lodestone by Laura Keating

US – https://www.amazon.com/Agonys-Lodestone-Laura-Keating-ebook/dp/B0BZWD45JT/

Moon of the Turning Leaves by Waubgeshig Rice

US – https://www.amazon.com/Moon-Turning-Leaves-Waubgeshig-Rice-ebook/dp/B0BZ3L7RGD/

Not For This World by Steve & Auryn Stred

US – https://www.amazon.com/Not-This-World-Steve-Stred-ebook/dp/B0FBLFSCC8/

Father of Lies by Steve Stred

US – https://www.amazon.com/Father-Lies-Complete-Steve-Stred-ebook/dp/B09854197X/

Of Witches… by Steve Stred

US – https://www.amazon.com/Witches-Steve-Stred-ebook/dp/B08FVD3K8T/

Mastodon by Steve Stred

US – https://www.amazon.com/Mastodon-Steve-Stred-ebook/dp/B09N43LVK9/

Churn the Soil by Steve Stred

US – https://www.amazon.com/Churn-Soil-Pulse-Pounding-High-Stakes-Paranormal-ebook/dp/B0BLLYDK4Z/

The Color of Melancholy by Steve Stred

US – https://www.amazon.com/Color-Melancholy-Examination-Intersected-Through-ebook/dp/B0C15CZMC7/

When I Look at the Sky, All I See Are Stars by Steve Stred

US – https://www.amazon.com/When-Look-Sky-All-Stars-ebook/dp/B0D9FJF2VH/

The Other Valley by Scott Alexander Howard

US – https://www.amazon.com/Other-Valley-Scott-Alexander-Howard-ebook/dp/B0C7RM1TFB/

Sacrifice of the Sister’s Lot by Chris Kuriata

US – https://www.amazon.com/Sacrifice-Sisters-Lot-Chris-Kuriata-ebook/dp/B0CTD74D9B/

Grey Dog by Elliot Gish

US – https://www.amazon.com/Grey-Dog-Elliott-Gish-ebook/dp/B0CP6B75K5/

The Butcher of the Forest by Premee Mohamed

US – https://www.amazon.com/Butcher-Forest-Premee-Mohamed-ebook/dp/B0C1X7W5B2/

Puzzle House by Duncan Ralston

US – https://www.amazon.com/Puzzle-House-Duncan-Ralston-ebook/dp/B0F9FTQCMH/

Withered by A.G.A Wilmot

US – https://www.amazon.com/Withered-G-Wilmot-ebook/dp/B0CP6C9X6J/

Metal Demon by Julie Hiner

US – https://www.amazon.com/Metal-Demon-Julie-Hiner-ebook/dp/B0CLKZ85Z6/

We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer

US – https://www.amazon.com/We-Used-Live-Here-Novel-ebook/dp/B0CL5F8GXF/

Eynhallow by Tim McGregor

US – https://www.amazon.com/Eynhallow-Tim-McGregor-ebook/dp/B0CVKP8Q7V/

The God Damn Dead by Colt Skinner

US – https://www.amazon.com/God-Damn-Dead-Colt-Skinner-ebook/dp/B0CKKB5CQX/

The Queen by Nick Cutter

US – https://www.amazon.com/Queen-Novel-Nick-Cutter-ebook/dp/B0CL5DXMVL/

The Exchange and Other Calamities by Mallory McCartney

US – https://www.amazon.com/Exchange-Other-Calamities-Mallory-McCartney-ebook/dp/B0DYWD1PPW/

William by Mason Coile

US – https://www.amazon.com/William-Mason-Coile-ebook/dp/B0CPDSTZZM/

The Station Master of New Brook West by Robert Couttreau

US – https://www.amazon.com/Station-Master-New-Brook-West-ebook/dp/B0D1CPVCZ8/

Wheetago War: Roth by Richard Van Camp

US – https://www.amazon.com/Wheetago-War-Richard-Van-Camp-ebook/dp/B0D1YCTXK3/

Coup de Grace by Sofia Arjam

US – https://www.amazon.com/Coup-Gr%C3%A2ce-Sofia-Ajram-ebook/dp/B0CR9P6Q6B/

Skull Daddy by Stephanie Anne

US – https://www.amazon.com/Skull-Daddy-Stephanie-Anne-ebook/dp/B0D5TYBMQV/

The Butcher’s Daughter: The Hitherto Untold Story of Mrs. Lovett by David Demchuk & Corinne Leigh Clark

US – https://www.amazon.com/Butchers-Daughter-Hitherto-Untold-Lovett-ebook/dp/B0CWLRX5CR/

The Roots Run Deep by C.M. Forest

US – https://www.amazon.com/Roots-Run-Deep-Horror-Collection-ebook/dp/B0DCP6NW5L/

The Invisible by Steve Stred

US – https://www.amazon.com/Invisible-Steve-Stred-ebook/dp/B0DHHW4ZTD/

What Happened at Blackthorn by Madison McSweeney

US – https://www.amazon.com/What-Happened-Blackthorn-Madison-McSweeney-ebook/dp/B0DS2Y1S3H/

Exiles by Mason Coile

US – https://www.amazon.com/Exiles-Mason-Coile-ebook/dp/B0DQNB74ND/

Red Laces by Colt Skinner

US – https://www.amazon.com/Red-Laces-Colt-Skinner-ebook/dp/B0DF49N75B/

Grey by Ian Rogers

US – https://www.amazon.com/Grey-Ian-Rogers/dp/1803944811/

The Sweep by Dustin Ekman

US – https://www.amazon.com/Sweep-Dustin-Ekman/dp/1069275409/

Beware Us Flowers of the Annihilator by Alexander Zelenyj

US – https://www.amazon.com/Beware-Flowers-Annihilator-Alexander-Zelenyj-ebook/dp/B0F1TZKWN3/

Reality Squall by J. Krawczyk

US – https://www.amazon.com/Reality-Squall-J-Krawczyk-ebook/dp/B0D9KPYXPK/

The Preserve by Patrick Lestewka

US – https://www.amazon.com/Preserve-Patrick-Lestewka/dp/1453842446/

Haunted Canada by Pat Hancock

US – https://www.amazon.com/Haunted-Canada-True-Ghost-Stories/dp/0779114108/

Pontypool Changes Everything by Tony Burgess

US – https://www.amazon.com/Pontypool-Changes-Everything-Tony-Burgess-ebook/dp/B00B0SA85I/

Lost Girls by Andrew Pyper

US – https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Girls-Novel-Andrew-Pyper-ebook/dp/B0055DKS90/

The Night Wanderer by Drew Hayden Taylor

US – https://www.amazon.com/Night-Wanderer-Native-Gothic-Novel-ebook/dp/B00GC4HE5M/

Bonechiller by Graham McNamee

US – https://www.amazon.com/Bonechiller-Graham-McNamee-ebook/dp/B007JC6LC8/

The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong

US – https://www.amazon.com/Darkest-Powers-Book-Summoning-ebook/dp/B0031TZ9N0/

The Sleep Experiment by Jeremy Bates

US – https://www.amazon.com/Sleep-Experiment-edge-your-seat-psychological-ebook/dp/B07SC83P32/

Wasps in the Ice Cream by Tim McGregor

US – https://www.amazon.com/Wasps-Ice-Cream-Tim-McGregor-ebook/dp/B0BRLDM5TZ/

The Doom That Came to Mellonville by Madison McSweeney

US – https://www.amazon.com/Doom-that-Came-Mellonville-ebook/dp/B09DN6GRJR/

We All Fall Before the Harvest by C.M. Forest

Link – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61057388-we-all-fall-before-the-harvest

Episode Thirteen by Craig DiLouie

US – https://www.amazon.com/Episode-Thirteen-Craig-DiLouie-ebook/dp/B09ZB6C8TV/

Old Man Rider by Beau Johnson

US – https://www.amazon.com/Old-Man-Rider-Bishop-Book-ebook/dp/B0B8JZQT5L/

Peel Back and See by Mike Thorn

US – https://www.amazon.com/Peel-Back-See-Mike-Thorn-ebook/dp/B09H6B8372/

The Kind to Kill by Tessa Wegert

US – https://www.amazon.com/Kind-Kill-Shana-Merchant-Novel-ebook/dp/B0B4P47CVG

How to Make a Horror Movie and Survive by Craig DiLouie

US – https://www.amazon.com/How-Make-Horror-Movie-Survive-ebook/dp/B0CK8BTKK8/

Soft Places by Betty Rocksteady

US – https://www.amazon.com/Soft-Places-Betty-Rocksteady-ebook/dp/B0BKH4CWP2/

Death Trap by Ayralea Lander

US – https://www.amazon.com/Death-Trap-Ayralea-Lander-ebook/dp/B0CV5V79RX/

Bad Blood by Tobin Elliot

US – https://www.amazon.com/Bad-Blood-First-Book-Aphotic-ebook/dp/B0BGM62XNK/

Tales From the Parkland by Ronald McGillvray

US – https://www.amazon.com/Tales-Parkland-Collection-Supernatural-Stories-ebook/dp/B0CXZS2R4F/

Crystal Moth Conspiracy by Konn Lavery

US – https://www.amazon.com/Crystal-Moth-Conspiracy-Born-Book-ebook/dp/B0C4QV15TM/

Into the Storm by Shane Kroetsch

US – https://www.amazon.com/Into-Storm-Shane-Kroetsch-ebook/dp/B0867ZHCF2

Those Who Came Before by J.H. Moncrieff

US – https://www.amazon.com/Those-Before-Fiction-Without-Frontiers-ebook/dp/B07XPDNFL2/

Claw by Katie Berry

https://www.amazon.com/CLAW-Canadian-Thriller-Katie-Berry-ebook/dp/B081R1SND1/

A Noise Downstairs by Linwood Barclay

US – https://www.amazon.com/Noise-Downstairs-Linwood-Barclay-ebook/dp/B0776JC5PN/

The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James

US – https://www.amazon.com/Sun-Down-Motel-Simone-James-ebook/dp/B07S1K42R2/

I’m Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid

US – https://www.amazon.com/Thinking-Ending-Things-Iain-Reid-ebook/dp/B017I25CZU/

The Only Child by Andrew Pyper

https://www.amazon.com/Only-Child-Novel-Andrew-Pyper-ebook/dp/B01M2BRJ6G/

In That Endlessness, Our End by Gemma Files

US – https://www.amazon.com/That-Endlessness-Our-End/dp/0578759764/

Hearts Strange and Dreadful by Tim McGregor

US – https://www.amazon.com/Hearts-Strange-Dreadful-Tim-McGregor/dp/0578840510/

The Residence by Andrew Pyper

US – https://www.amazon.com/Residence-Andrew-Pyper-ebook/dp/B084GBDWJ8/

The Restoration by J.H. Moncrieff

US – https://www.amazon.com/Restoration-J-H-Moncrieff-ebook/dp/B08Z3C2PJQ/

Darkest Hours by Mike Thorn

US – https://www.amazon.com/Darkest-Hours-Expanded-Mike-Thorn-ebook/dp/B09H66PLFK/

Find You First by Linwood Barclay

US – https://www.amazon.com/Find-You-First-Linwood-Barclay-ebook/dp/B08FKGG1HS/

The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James

US – https://www.amazon.com/Book-Cold-Cases-Simone-James-ebook/dp/B097B3MDXJ/

Never Look Away by Linwood Barclay

US – https://www.amazon.com/Never-Look-Away-Linwood-Barclay-ebook/dp/B003ALA6HI/

The Children of Red Peak by Craig DiLouie

US – https://www.amazon.com/Children-Red-Peak-Craig-DiLouie-ebook/dp/B085C788FB/

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

US – https://www.amazon.com/Handmaids-Tale-Margaret-Atwood-ebook/dp/B004GHN8I4/

All of Them to Burn by Beau Johnson

US – https://www.amazon.com/All-Them-Burn-Beau-Johnson-ebook/dp/B08366P9TR/

Terror in High Water by Joe Powers

US – https://www.amazon.com/Terror-High-Water-Joe-Powers-ebook/dp/B0F8J914ZY/

Beneath the Rising by Premee Mohamed

US – https://www.amazon.com/Beneath-Rising-Premee-Mohamed-ebook/dp/B083ZG22LG/

In Dreams We Rot by Betty Rocksteady

US – https://www.amazon.com/Dreams-We-Rot-Betty-Rocksteady-ebook/dp/B0CSPTT3P3/

Book Review: Sisters DeRosa by L.J. Dougherty

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Title: Sisters DeRosa

Author: L.J. Dougherty

Release date: August 1st, 2025

*Huge thanks to L.J. for sending me a digital ARC of this one!*

Over the last number of years, Dougherty has worked hard to create himself a horror-niche that I could only describe as European Giallo-esque. With his espionage trilogy, as well as his novel, ‘Daughters of Cruelty,’ L.J. has cemented his styling as that with well detailed, Euro set pieces and engagement, while also utilizing fantastic amounts of 70’s flair. Harkening back to a time where every alley housed a criminal and every woman carried a set of Double D’s with a pistol strapped to their garter belt.

And you know what – it works. It really works.

And I say that as someone who never liked spy or espionage stuff growing up. I wasn’t drawn to the James Bond world or the action adventure thrillers where a heist takes place and the race is on to track down the bad guys.

But somehow, Dougherty has managed to wrap his fingers around me and make me not only read and enjoy these books, but to also love them. The outlier of his bibliography is, of course, ‘Woodhaven,’ which is a phenomenal piece of isolation/dystopian horror, and I highly recommend you give that one a go too.

But with ‘Sisters DeRosa,’ Dougherty took what he built in the finale of his trilogy, in ‘Blood Opus,’ and ramped it up, churning out a demonic-cult horror novel that was equal parts erotica and espionage. This novel really showcases Dougherty’s screenwriting sensibilities as we get a novel ripe for cinematic adaptation.

What I liked: The novel follows Viv, a young woman struggling to find her way in New York. She was going to art college, but had to drop out due to cost and now works as a barista. She was born in Italy, but a moment as a youngster in a church sullied any desire she has of ever returning. But return she must, as her brother is now married and expecting his first child and has invited her over for a visit.

After checking into her hotel, she hears an argument in an alley outside and intervenes, inadvertently stepping into the deep end of something she could never have predicted. It’s here she meets Luna, who has run away from a convent, after discovering it’s not really a place for women to become nuns, but rather a front for a demon worshipping cult. She’s now set on returning and rescuing her younger sister.

Dougherty sets things up well and we see Luna and Viv connect, while also seeing a bunch of moving parts reveal themselves. The cult runs deep, infiltrating every avenue of the world around them and as they get closer to finding Luna’s sister, we begin to slowly learn the truth about what happened in that church all those years ago. A moment that’s forever stained Viv.

The final quarter of the novel is one big explosive finale. Frankly, it was awesome. We see truths revealed, loyalties tested and how Viv and Luna must make huge sacrifices in order to remain together and keep each other safe. I think it’s fair to say that while the first seventy-five percent of this was influenced by 70’s and 80’s religious horror, the final twenty-five percent was a Clive Barker comic book splattered across the written page. It was gloriously insane.

What I didn’t like: As odd as this sounds, I wasn’t overly fond of the epilogue. I’m not sure if it was the location where it takes place – and staying spoiler free means I can’t reveal that – but it felt like there was a marked attempt at ‘elevating’ the way some of the characters spoke and, for me at least, it just didn’t hit home like I think it was supposed to. Saying that, I liked where things went, I just wasn’t a fan of the dialogue adjustment.

Why you should buy this: Much like S.J. Shank has worked his magic on historical/fantasy/horror and Joseph Sale has revamped fantasy/imaginative/horror, Dougherty has really cemented himself as a leader in 70’s influenced Euro/Giallo horror. Between him and David Sodergren, we’re getting some phenomenal entries into a world that seemed to fade away from the written page, while going through a revival on film, but Dougherty has brought it back full force.

This book was dark, delicious, uncomfortable and brutal, all in equally pleasant doses.

I can’t recommend this one enough. It was phenomenally captivating.

https://www.amazon.com/Sisters-DeRosa-L-J-Dougherty-ebook/dp/B0FB48FSHL/

Book Review: The Fovea Experiments by M.J. Mars

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Title: The Fovea Experiments

Author: M.J. Mars

Release date: July 4th, 2025

*Huge thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a digital ARC of this!*

I’m a huge fan of what Patrick and Wicked House Publishing have been doing and the books they’ve been releasing have been a ton of fun so far. I’ve had my eye on Mars ‘The Suffering,’ which came out a few years ago, but haven’t managed to get to reading it yet.

After taking a break for a bit from Netgalley, recently I’ve been jumping back on and when I saw this one, I hit request super quick. I’m a huge fan of the ‘sleep experiments’ trope of Reddit/Urban Legend/ Creepy Pasta type stories. The Russian Sleep Experiment is probably the one that’s spread the most of the years, and seeing that this one was based on a sleep experiment gone wrong, I was stoked to dive in and see what Mars conjured for us.

What I liked: Set roughly twenty years after a sleep experiment went wrong, teen girl Nala, is trying to find her space in the online webisphere of blogging. She’s created a true crime channel and sneaking a look at her mom’s case files – her mom was a detective but after a traumatic incident is now a private investigator – she gets some content. One such file sticks out – about the sleep experiments gone wrong AND it looks like the prime suspect from all those years ago, just happens to be Nala’s current high school teacher.

Naturally, she makes a video and posts it with no regard to what anyone will think and it goes mega viral. Her teacher, Josh, meanwhile has been dealing with sleep issues ever since he was the lone survivor of that prior experiment gone wrong. Now, he needs confront the literal demons he’s been keeping at bay since all those years ago.

Mars dives in with all the grace of an atomic bomb. It’s one blast after another of revelations and jagged deaths. A new sleep experiment is taking place, and it’s being lead by the daughter of the doctor who did the previous one Josh was in. Things go crazy quick here and we see just what horrors lie in the darkness when the participants close their eyes and the blackness forms into a shape.

The final quarter of the book is a full on occult-demon assault that ramped up the creepiness and the body count. It all lead to the terrifying conclusion, which was spot-on perfect.

What I didn’t like: There was a few things that kind of stuck out to me. For the depth of the story that was within, I just don’t think it was explored enough. It would’ve benefited from being another one hundred or even two hundred pages long. That would’ve given it the time to explore the occult back history, give us more depth of the first experiment and would’ve allowed the second experiment participants to not be characters I never really cared for or connected with.

As well, there’s a major, major death that happens involving a focal point of the book and the lack of any sort of real reaction just didn’t work – for me at least. I would’ve expected a surviving character to be crushed and break down and they weren’t. They just kept kind of plodding along and it didn’t feel like a natural reaction.

Why you should buy this: This slotted nicely into that Creepy Pasta world and was a ton of fun. I think for many of the voracious readers out there, this will be an unsettling, occult, one-sitting read that will keep them awake at night and question every shadow. Mars did a wonderful job of setting up the pins and knocking them down, which made for a very engrossing read.

https://www.amazon.com/Fovea-Experiments-Novel-MJ-Mars-ebook/dp/B0FBMNQL5X/

Brief Update

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Hey all! I realized I’ve not given any sort of update on writing and things here in some time and that’s 100% because of something I’ve changed, but didn’t really post about it here!

I’m using this site as more of a page to post my reviews and update my bibliography etc.

So, if you’re wanting to see my writing updates and other jazz – head to my Patreon – it’s FREE – and sign up there!

Patreon.com/SteveStred

There, you’ll find my weekly updates, book reviews as well and just other random stuff. I’ve never really had a ‘newsletter’ officially, so I’ve started using that in a similar way!

Take care!

Book Review: My Name Isn’t Paul by Drew Huff

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Title: My Name Isn’t Paul

Author: Drew Huff

Release date: November 18th, 2025

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

Having previously read and greatly enjoyed Drew’s novel ‘The Divine Flesh,’ when they reached out to me about asking if I’d be down to check out this cosmic horror novella, I was very intrigued. The synopsis is, frankly, an odd one. Mirror people – things that are not human buy kind of cosplaying as humans. Or to quote from the synopsis, “…a hyper-empathetic eldritch abomination.” Interesting. Honestly, when reading this synopsis, about these abomination’s that take the form of people by wearing their skin and then having a breeding season, I didn’t know what to expect at all. Then, Drew throws in the mental breakdown, cross country angle two sentences later and I thought of the hilarious movie, ‘Paul,’ with Seth Rogan. With all that said, I still had no idea what I’d find within these pages, but that never deters me!

What I liked: The story follows Paul, though not Paul. Paul was a guy – a complete dick, as it turns out – who died in a car crash, only to have our main alien character come across his body and slither within. Over the last decade, this alien’s lived nicely within the skinsuit, real Paul’s wife coming to realize it wasn’t him that came back from the road trip. You see, real Paul was a travelling salesman, selling vacuums etc. and so this alien takes up that job and continues to go about their life as though they are actually Paul. But that all changes when one of their alien pals takes their own life and alien Paul gets thrown into heat and needs to breed. Got it? Keeping up?

From there, we get a mix of introspective examinations and external carnage. It works on a purely shock level of ripping and shredding, but also metaphorically over big life changes. I found with the way the alien beings were described, that this would work very well as a trans person’s look at what society expects and believes and what they want for themselves. We get a constant badgering of ‘when are you going to have kids?’ and ‘why wouldn’t you want to be what your were born?’ alongside the Paul alien discussing what makes them happy and what they want to achieve in their life. I might be off on it, but that sentiment seemed to really ring out, and though I say a trans person’s outlook, I could see it applying to immigrants and LGTBQ folks as well.

The final quarter sees the storylines merging together and we learn what kind of ticked Paul off into this crazy trip he went on and we see where things will go from there. It’s a solid wrap up, even with real Paul’s wife and how the Mirror People are more tuned in with the wider world than it at first seems.

What I didn’t like: I do often struggle with significant perspective changes and that’s really what Part 2 was. Part 1 and 3 are based on Paul and part 2 is based on the other alien bug things. It made for a jarring shift, so if you struggle with that, be warned, but it worked well to give us some back story and some fill in on what was happening while Paul brokedown.

Why you should buy this: While it’s listed as a cosmic horror novella, this one is hard to peg down into any one genre. It’s got elements of sci-fi, bizarro, splatterpunk and erotica. Its kind of a melting pot of ideas that merge together to form this batshit crazy story that was a lot of fun to read.

Go into this one with a grin on your face, because when you finish, that grin will be a massive smile plastered across the entirety of your face. What a ride.

https://www.amazon.com/My-Name-Isnt-Paul-Novella-ebook/dp/B0F87WT171/

Book Review: The Knave of Graves by S.J. Shank

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Title: The Knave of Graves

Author: S.J. Shank

Release date: July 24th, 2025

*Huge thanks to S.J. for sending me a digital ARC of this one!*

It was only last August of 2024 that I read Shank’s debut novel, ‘Mountain Fast,’ a historical fiction horror novel about a group of soldiers heading to a fortress where nobody wants to go.

It was really well done, very densely layered and the atmosphere Shank created was top notch. Amazingly, I got to meet up with Shank at DreadCon later in the year and we chatted like old friends.

Fast forward to early this year and I saw Shank announce his next novel, ‘The Knave of Graves.’ The cover looked great and the synopsis was intriguing and when he reached out to see if I’d give it a go, I was very excited. He warned me that it wasn’t horror, but I love to read pretty much anything, so that wasn’t a concern.

And, while ‘Knave…’ isn’t horror per se, it walks the line very closely, especially with the supernatural elements.

What I liked: The novel follows Jeppo, caretaker of the graves within the town, as well as the sacred bones that lie within. He left the town when he was younger to train at the Academy, but has returned without completely his teachings after his father has died and he needs to take over for him. The town has paid his way to go to the Academy, so he has a debt owed to pay off. That doesn’t mean he isn’t without some magical powers, and these powers help him within his job. On top of that, he’s developed a tentative working pact with the witch who lives near, trading things when needed and overall he’s built himself a solid and stable life, though one that he finds lonely.

It all changes when an outsider visits from a large city and wants to hire Jeppo to manufacture him knock off Academy jewelry that has charms infused within. Jeppo can see a better life for himself by doing so, but he suspects something is off with the man and soon enough we learn his instincts are right.

Shank does a wonderful job of fully forming Jeppo, creating a character you connect with, want to see better himself, while still knowing that there are secrets within the man that will only be revealed over time.

Those secrets are slyly teased out when this stranger reveals what he really is and wants to collect the skull of the Saint buried within the graveyard. This is a problem, for Jeppo has already promised the skull to two others, including the witch, and this is when the battle of good versus evil begins and we see Jeppo try to work all of his tangled mess together into some way to save the town and those within it.

Along the way, Shank infuses this with a lot of wry humor, including a hilarious angle of a flock of geese accidentally falling in love with Jeppo.

Throughout, I really connected with what Shank was trying to do and how the character of Jeppo was a study in an individual fighting internal desires with external realities.

What I didn’t like: I will say, because of the historical nature of this one, and the thoroughness that Shank writes with, some of the dialogue did feel stilted and a bit dry. It made sense as to ‘why’ they spoke like that and said things how they did, but for this reader, some of it was didn’t have the impact it should’ve.

Why you should buy this: This read closer to a ten-episode HBO series than a novel. Shank does a wonderful job of creating this world and the characters within and from start to finish you feel fully immersed in the land you find yourself in.

Shank has easily carved himself a slot in the historical fiction world and readers who love those settings will find themselves very happy with this one.

https://www.amazon.com/Knave-Graves-S-J-Shank-ebook/dp/B0F68GKJ1G/

Book Review: If You Knew Me by S.P. Miskowski

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Title: If You Knew Me

Author: S.P Miskowski

Release date: September 23, 2025

*Huge thank you to S.P. for sending me an advanced digital copy of this one!*

Fandom.

Six letters that when put together in that way form a work that seems to hold so much more weight than it should. I should know. As – perhaps – the world’s most prominent fan of Canadian author Andrew Pyper, I’ve seen the stereotypical idea of how people view fandom with almost every single Pyper post I make. And I get it. Stephen King’s Misery set the table for what horrible rabid fandom can look like and with the rise in stalking and obsession that has seemingly ramped up over the last decade (which I presume is directly related to the proliferation of social media), I understand why people post Annie Wilkes memes/gifs or send them via DM’s when I post stuff.

And that perfectly highlights the double-edged sword of fandom. There’s an expectation now that people go too far, that people grow obsessed and with unchecked mental health issues often associated with extreme fandom, not only does it become an expectation, but it also becomes an ‘I told you so’ mentality after the fact.

Case in point is ‘If You Knew Me.’ This book is a powerful examination of what unchecked mental health issues multiplied by obsessive fandom looks like. It reminded me a lot of the movie ‘The Fan,’ which starred Robert de Niro and Wesley Snipes. If you’ve not seen it, I highly recommend you do.

In that movie, it’s a fan obsessed with a sports star. In this book, it’s a fan obsessed with a former TV star. And with the way this one unfolds, Miskowski does a phenomenal job of unsettling us readers.

What I liked: The book follows Parker, a recently unemployed woman who longs to be a writer, but hasn’t found that story yet. While housesitting at her aunt’s place, who formerly owned a large online magazine company, she finds a story pitch that was sent in and unopened. Inside, she finds Ann Mason’s story, detailing something she did as a teen, something awful, but she only told one other person – the former lead in a short-lived detective show that she loves.

From there, Parker travels to Ann’s place in Arizona in the hopes of interviewing her. Once there, Ann’s left and Parker begins to find cracks in Ann’s story.

Miskowski deftly interweaves Ann’s dictated storyline with Parker’s interviewing of those around Ann – a neighbour, a former employer – and it works far more efficiently than a lot of mixed media/epistolary style books have for me. It allows the reader to effectively see the chaos inside Ann’s head, while also connecting with Parker.

The first half of the book smoothly rolls along. But the second half. The second half is a full sprint towards an ending that seems foretold but unexpected. I kind of knew what would be coming, but all the while Miskowski kept things so schizophrenic on Ann’s side, that I just didn’t know for sure, wasn’t 100% in what I thought I knew and that amplified the tension.

The ending/epilogue was also a really great use of mixed media but also a snarky look at online commenting and internet trolls.

What I didn’t like: There were two things of note for me. The first was that it took me a minute to get into the epistolary aspect of the novel. I often struggle with storytelling in this style and it took a bit for my brain to get on board.

The second was that there’s a bit later on about Parker’s grandma that is necessary to the story and Parker’s narrative, but for me at least, it seemed to take some steam off the train that was thundering down the track.

Why you should buy this: I for one can’t wait to see this book all over Tik Tok. I can’t imagine this won’t be in every second video about what psychological thrillers had the poster up all night finishing it. This is a book that could be categorized very easily as ‘propulsive.’ It never lets up, never allows you to take a breather to figure out all the chess pieces that are moving in the background and the fact that Miskowski describes a half dozen episodes so fully of a fake TV show shows the depth and detail that go into everyone of her novels.

This one is a taut, nerve-wracking thriller that absolutely blew me away and reinforces why Miskowski is a living legend. Get on this one, you’ll not be disappointed.

https://www.amazon.com/If-You-Knew-Me-Novel-ebook/dp/B0DW4J5K83/