Would you look at that! It’s that time of year when people start releasing their BEST OF lists and TOP READ lists! 

In the past, I’ve done a variety of things. Usually it ends up being top reads FROM the year and top reads from OTHER years that I read that year. Not so this year. This year, I’m purely doing a list of the books I loved in 2022 and I’ll have an Amazon link for each.

So, grab some popcorn, sit back, tune in, drop out and check out some rad reads!

(These are in no particular order!)

(Side note – I decided to not add in the re-reads I did of Andrew Pyper’s works this year to not have a hugely massive list. It’s safe to say though, being a super fan, that The Homecoming, The Damned, The Guardians, Lost Girls and Oracle all deserve to be read and easily could appear on this list!)

My Fav Reads of 2022:

Merlin’s Kurse by Joe Zito – the story of a young boy watching as his brother ascends to stardom in a rock band, Zito filled with with awe, emotions and nostalgia. Phenomenal read.

The Shadow of the Gods/The Hunger of the Gods by John Gwynne – Books 1 and 2 of The Bloodsworn Saga, Gwynn’s fantasy tale is filled with brutality, gore, death and creatures arisen from lore. Fantastic fantasy series thus far and can’t wait for the finale to arrive!

The Book of the Baku by R.L. Boyle – a novel telling the story of a young boy and his personal difficulties, managed to scare me as well as make me cry. Dark horror with a tinge of fantasy. Such a great novel!

The Root Witch by Debra Castaneda – in this fast-paced, creature-feature novel, we get returned to the 80’s when today’s technology can’t get people out of jam’s and the forest is fighting back.

Lost Girl by Adam Nevill – a novel that makes it impossible for the reader to breathe, Nevill transports us as only he can to rip out our hearts and keep us guessing until the end. A novel that’ll never leave my head.

Helpmeet by Naben Ruthnum – a doctor falling apart, a devoted wife, and a horrific body horror novella that’ll have you squirming.

The Haar by David Sodergren – perhaps Sodergren’s first romantic foray, but certainly one of his best emotive pieces he’s done. We get an old woman, a ruthless land developer and an odd ‘thing’ brought in from the sea. Powerful read.

In Search of the Nobility Tx, Wildman by Elford Alley – an interesting look at one man’s search for something he believes in and how his life was directly impacted by that.

The Last Storm by Tim Lebbon – America is scorched, while a young girl tries to create her device to bring the rain. Lebbon fires on all cylinders in this one.

Below by Laurel Hightower – a snow-ravaged road trip takes a turn when a stranger helps a woman and then an accident happens. But something lurks in the dark and snowy night. Great stuff.

Gross Out by Duncan Ralston – Indie Horror’s bad boy, Ralston returns with a tongue-in-cheek skewering of cliques, conferences and community. This one also has a nice ‘Woom’ side story that gives fans some answers.

Sunray Alice by Jeremy Hepler – Hepler can’t write a book that isn’t a page-turner. Following a young girl making a discovery during World War II, we get heartfelt moments, pulse-pounding events and ultimately a riveting novel about how things planted can continue to grow.

Bent Heavens by Daniel Kraus – a moving story about a young girl who’s dad believes aliens exist, only for him to disappear, this was a page-turner and one that truly will make you wonder if we’re alone.

The Year Under the Machine by Peter Danielsson – in this thought-provoking story, we see how life has continued on after things arrive and remain. Truly a book that needs to be experienced.

The Watchers/The Creeper by A.M. Shine – While unrelated, these two stories by Shine are phenomenal. In The Watchers, we see a woman try and make a routine delivery, only to be lost in the woods with darkness coming. The Creeper takes us to a remote village where local lore suggests things might be happening that simply shouldn’t be. Two phenomenal novels.

The Dunnie by Keith Thomas – It still boggles my mind that I’m not seeing this book in more places. A grandfather in the grasp of Dementia, a grandson discovering something is below the house. Chaos ensues. Fantastic stuff.

Episode Thirteen by Craig DiLouie – perhaps the first piece of Epistolary storytelling I’ve enjoyed, DiLouie takes us alongside a ghost hunting crew as they film a show and discover much, much more than they bargained for. 

A Strange Little Place: The Paranormal Secrets of Revelstoke, British Columbia by Brennan Storr – this second edition release of a prior version, Storr does a phenomenal job of educating the reader about Revelstoke’s history, while also sharing the stories that get told around the camp fires. Great stuff.

This Thing Between Us by Gus Moreno – I wasn’t too sure what I was getting into with this one, but we get a layered and complex story that genuinely is unnerving and claustrophobic.

Six Stories by Matt Wesolowski – all six of the Six Stories series is phenomenal and honestly MUST-READ. Following a podcaster who looks at different angles of strange stories, Wesolowski has crafted a masterpiece of storytelling and a batch of stories that’ll become all-time horror classics.

Moonfellows by Danger Slater – Slater’s most ambitious and poignant piece yet, we get alternative history told through an emotional lens by a talented writer at the top of his game.

The Grizzly King (A Romance of the Wild) by James Oliver Curwood – released in 1917, this story showcases nature like few others and is a moving and powerful look at two bears and their father/son adopted relationship. Breathtaking work.

Woodhaven by L.J. Dougherty – a father and daughter escape to the woods following government upheaval. Things aren’t always as they seem and when someone appears from the trees, all bets are off. Compulsive.

Oracle 2: The Dreamland Murders by Andrew Pyper – the sequel to his hit ‘Oracle’ audiobook, this features an ensemble cast as we meet back up with Nate Russo and his talent at speaking to the dead. Pyper fires on all cylinders and creates complex characters like only he can.

https://www.audible.com/pd/Oracle-The-Dreamland-Murders-Podcast/B09CLMJPJ4

Helicopter Parenting in the Age of Drone Warfare by Patrick Barb – a future world where screens have taken over and a father loses touch with the son he thought he knew. Very powerful, if ultimately gut-wrenching.

Seven Days by Patrick Senecal – a daughter goes missing, a suspect is identified and a father pounces. In this gripping thriller, ethical boundaries are pushed and ultimately revenge is sought. Outstanding.

A Time For Monsters by Mason McDonald – in his debut collection, Mason covers a lot of ground and showcases just how fantastic of a writer he is. 

The Talosite by Rebecca Campbell – in this alternative history novella, we see a daughter of a famous doctor try to further her father’s research, all while battling internal demons and external temptations. Body horror done perfectly.

The Reapers are the Angels by Alden Bell – in a world filled with zombies, we follow a teen girl as she tries to survive and makes an unlikely connection. A different take on the zombie trope and one that worked very, very well.

The Outsider by Stephen King – an impossible murder, a suspect that can’t physically be the suspect and total chaos when a discovery is made and a chase begins. I really loved this one, but I’m also a fan of Holly Gibney, which can be a make or break character in the King world.

The Road by Cormac McCarthy – my re-read of this was as brutal, bleak and depressing as the first time, just now elevated to a different level being the father of a young boy. The story follows dad and boy as they try and find the coast where they hope to discover a place to call home.

There we go, that’s what I’m going with. At the moment, we are into the third week of December, so anything I read and love right now, will slot into the 2023 best reads list for next year!

I hope you all had a great reading year!

We got ourselves a truly fun one today, friends!

Today’s guest is one of the nicest guys out there in the dark fiction community! He’s been involved in the HWA in various roles throughout the years, and, at the same time been writing and releasing some fantastic fiction!

Please, do welcome John Palisano!

Steve: What does your writing time look like? Do you try and write at the same time each day? Do you have a word count you attempt to hit?

JP: Writing time is sporadic and strange. Mostly I write in the early morning and late at night, primarily with Google Docs on iPhone for the initial drafts. Later, I go to a proper computer to do proper editing and cleanups. I travel a lot as of late so I also bring a moleskin with me. I use those a lot as they aren’t dependent upon wifi. I find I write differently by hand than on the computer. It’s slower, but I actually prefer it. Over the years, I’ve rarely had long uninterrupted times to write, so I do so when possible. I even used to write in the cars and vans when my bands did our micro-tours. On lunch breaks at work. Whenever!

 

Steve: You’re riding an elevator and BAM! It gets stuck. What two authors (one living and one dead) would you happen to find yourself stuck with?

JP: So, this would mean I’d be standing in a stuck elevator with an undead Shirley Jackson? M’kay. Wow. I’d ask her what being dead is like, as well as coming back to life. See if there’s anyone I can pass a message to. Anything she’d like to clarify to her readers and biographers. Then I’d thank her for her amazing body of work, through and through, and hope she doesn’t drain me of my essence so she can roam amongst the living once again. Or maybe the cosmos would think that’d be a pretty swell switch: send me to hell, get Shirley Jackson back.

Living? Look: I was the same age as the kids in Stranger Things in the 80s and grew up a rabid Stephen King fan. He even sent me a signed postcard note, which was stolen during my 16th birthday party. Yeah. Been checking eBay for years hoping it turns up. I still pretty much have it memorized. So, I’d love to just be able to thank him personally for his stories and for giving a weird little kid so many great books to hide inside while the world around swirled hell.

Steve: Tell me about your newest release (novel/story/poem/novella) and why someone should read it!

JP: GLASS HOUSE is my newest solo release. It’s a peculiar one that’s surprised me with how divided and what little reaction there’s been. It was going to be a novel but my Dad passed away in the midst and … well … there’s a not too subtle sequence in there reflecting that. It’s my most personal and experimental work. Dives into some uncomfortable territory. The antithesis of my pop-horror novels.

Steve: Bonus Question! If you were transported back in time, which Pop Band/Hit Band would you hope to find yourself a member of?

JP: My all-time favorite is Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. Growing up on the east coast, I got to see them several times right in New Jersey and even at Madison Square Garden. How many times have I dreamt of slinging my Strat and standing alongside the band and singing along with them to “Because the Night” or “Badlands”? Countless! Hey, there’s still the soul of that scrawny 16-year-old in me somewhere! I toured and played with bands for years, writing songs and weird stories all along the way, so it’s all intertwined. Recently, I did get to write an interview for one of Bruce’s cover artists Jimmy Wachtel for Backstreets, so that was pretty much all my passions in one place! Not much has changed, but then again?

Fantastic, John! How cool and what a great choice!

Thank you again for doing this! And to find more of John’s work – check the links!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/John-Palisano/e/B007EEH9JA

Twitter: https://twitter.com/johnpalisano

Website: https://johnpalisano.wordpress.com/

Fun 3Q’s today!

John Boden is known as an author who’ll transport you back to a specific time and place with each of his releases. He has been super encouraging and supportive to so many writers and I was really excited to have him come on down for the 3Q’s feature!

Please welcome John!

Steve: What does your writing time look like? Do you try and write at the same time each day? Do you have a word count you attempt to hit?

John: I do my best to carve out a sliver of writing time daily. Usually an hour or two, in the afternoon, depending on whether my after work nap overflows its banks. I work a 2am-almost noon shift so the nap is important to my survival. I try to add words to at least one of the few projects simmering at the moment. I don’t aim for a specific count just try to be happy with any wordage I’m able to cough out. I try to wrap up my office time by 4pm, that’s when the wife is done with her work and then we get to hang out most of the evening which is important. Been together as a couple for 32 years now and we still like to be together, nice, yeah?

Steve: You decide to host a writer’s retreat. One weekend in a luxury house on an island. What three other authors do you invite to come along?

John: First, I would never host it on an island. I’m scared of boats and water. But a big ass cabin in the woods…for sure. I’m going to say Chad Lutzke (because as close as we are we have never met in the real life world and I want that to happen more than anything.)  Stephen Graham Jones because I absolutely love his work and we could also talk about hair metal. Kelly Barnhill, because I adore her work and I’m still obsessed by her short story “Hush” and would love the chance to gush about it to annoying lengths. That’s my today picks. Ask me tomorrow and they’d be different.

Steve: Tell me about your newest release (novel/story/poem/novella) and why someone should read it!

John: Most recent release would be Wounds To Wishes: Dark Tide Book One from Crystal Lake Publishing. It’s actually a trio of novellas, one by Chad Lutzke, one by Robert Ford and one by me. They are all connected to one another, some strongly others with more fleeting thread.  We were the debut book in the series and were expected to bring the sad, which we did. But I decided to tackle a different kind of grief and structure. My novella, Suet, closes the collection its actually the first thing I’ve written in some time that anyone has said was creepy and/or that it gave them nightmares. Those are sweet nothings in the ear to a horror writer, yeah?

Steve: Bonus Question! You receive an invitation in the mail from one of these two people. The invitation invites you to have dinner and spend the night in their home. Do you accept the invitation from Victor Frankenstein or Dracula and why?

John: I’d go with Victor because being a doctor, scientist and a little left of sane, there’d be a guaranteed entertainment factor. And maybe real food. With Dracula all that would ensue is that’d I’d get all tired and sweaty trying to avoid being bled dry.  Actually, I’d probably just not respond and sit at home holding out for my invite from Dr. Phibes.

Ha! Excellent!

Thank you so much, John!
To find more of his work, check the links!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B00FJFDI8C

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JohnBoden1970

Boy, do we have a fun one today! Don Gillette was one of my earliest supporters and he’s frequently a supporter and advocate for so many authors out there. He’s been around the publishing world for many years and brings his wealth of knowledge to all that he does.

I’m so happy that I got Don to come and do one of these!

Please, welcome Don!

Steve: What does your writing time look like? Do you try and write at the same time each day? Do you have a word count you attempt to hit?
Don: You know, Steve, I would absolutely love to be able to say I have a routine because I think that’d make me more productive, but the truth is I write when the mood strikes me. Sometimes, it’s manic, like 30-40 pages or 3 or 4 short stories without stopping and sometimes there are periods of days where I don’t write a word. When I was a hired gun, deadlines were like gold. Nothing can pull me into a writing jag like a looming deadline. But since I quit that line of work, I like to really think about what I’m writing before I write it—analyze it, go over it in my head. So even though deadlines made me more productive, it’s nice to have the luxury of being able to plan the next day’s chapter or story or whatever without an editor breathing down my neck.

Steve: You’re riding an elevator and BAM! It gets stuck. What two authors (one living and one dead) would you happen to find yourself stuck with?
Don: Jacques Pépin and Julia Child. Nah, just kidding, that’s my appetite talking. I was thinking the obvious—Stephen King—and then I thought, “I don’t know him. What if he’s not all that interesting?” So I’m going with the devil I know—Gabino Iglesias. Very interesting guy who deserves the success he’s seeing. And if William Goldman could be in that elevator, too, I’d be good. Goldman doesn’t get much recognition as a novelist because of his great screenplays, but he was one helluva fiction writer. No, he’s not Cormac McCarthy or Kurt Vonnegut, but he never wrote anything I didn’t enjoy reading.

Steve: Tell me about your newest release (novel/story/poem/novella) and why someone should read it!
Don: The latest thing I’ve got out there is Collected Poems: 1970 – 2020. Most of the selections were previously published, but I also included several new ones. In 1970, at the age of 17, I published my first poem and that poem won me a creative writing scholarship to the University of Tennessee (Martin). The thing was, the scholarship only covered tuition and books and the school was 3 hours away, so room and board would have been a little pricey. I couldn’t afford to take the scholarship, so I went to a college closer to home. I do have an upcoming novel, Dark Voices, which will hopefully be out before spring. The editors have it now and they’re driving me into wall-punching fits. It’s a story of a regular guy who possesses the ability to sense the presence of evil and he’s taken it upon himself to do what he can to stop it. He’s not always successful, either.

Steve: Bonus Question! If you were transported back in time, which Pop Band/Hit Band would you hope to find yourself a member of?
Don: I’d rather play guitar for Gordon Lightfoot, but for an actual band, I would have liked to have been a member of Buffalo Springfield. I know that’s way before your time, but Stephen Stills, David Crosby, Neil Young, and Jim Messina were kind of amazing. And hey–Gordon Lightfoot and Neil Young are both Canadians. Shouldn’t I get extra points for that?

Great choice, Don! Such an amazing band!

Thanks again for doing this!

To find more of Don’s work, check the links!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Don-Gillette/e/B00ISD24HI

Twitter: https://twitter.com/dongillette

 

Today’s guest delivered a super engaging novella earlier this year and continues to churn out darkness. Rowan hill is supportive, kind and encouraging and even more exciting – she’s today’s 3Q’s guest!

Please welcome Rowan!

Steve: What does your writing time look like? Do you try and write at the same time each day? Do you have a word count you attempt to hit?

Rowan: Oh geez. Did I sleep well last night? Do I particularly need to exercise today? Does my lawn need mowing? No, there is no schedule, no rhyme or reason or word count. I will say this however for my chaotic process, when I get inspiration, I ride that sucker ’til it’s dead and buried and burn myself out in a fiery blaze and regret all my life choices.

Steve: You decide to host a writer’s retreat. One weekend in a luxury house on an island. What three other authors do you invite to come along?

Rowan: An island? Are we sure we can’t make it less Honeymoon and more Battle Royale? And if I am inviting authors I admire, I’m gonna give them some writing material out of this thing! So, now the question is who do I feel I could sufficiently maim or would be a good ally until we inevitably turn on each other at the last minute?

First, I am bringing someone I admire. Someone whose writing stirs fear, someone the others will naturally focus all their energy and blood lust on. You know, Gabino Iglesias. The arms on that guy, the pens he must just crush! He’ll probably be first to go (oh god, I hope).

Next I’m gonna have to go with a controversial choice. The matriarch of horror, Shirley Jackson. She’s gonna act all motherly, act like she would never hurt a soul, never would rip the wing off a fly. But I know her sick game, so I am immediately at an advantage. I’ll eat those peaches, Shirl.

Last, Kenzie Jennings. I love her and her Splatterpunk mind, she’s good and could easily take out the other two. Dy’all remember the boot through the head in Red Station? Superb. I winced. But let’s be real, she’s short. I’ve got the height advantage, a good foot I bet. She’ll never see my ax coming. 

Steve: Tell me about your newest release (novel/story/poem/novella) and why someone should read it!

Rowan: The latest piece I have out is with the wonderful, hard working Kristi Peterson Schoonover at 34 Orchard. Memory Foam is a 2nd POV of a touchy subject of carers for the long-term disabled. I enjoyed writing it and it’s a fast read, so maybe check it out? For bigger stuff, stay tuned. I love glamorous Hollywood slashers and my Southern Arkansas roots have turned gothic.

Steve: Bonus Question! You receive an invitation in the mail from one of these two people. The invitation invites you to have dinner and spend the night in their home. Do you accept the invitation from Victor Frankenstein or Dracula and why?

Rowan: What! I love this question. Why are we talking about writing schedules when we could ponder these wonderful hypotheticals!? Essentially, you’re asking whether I am intellectually motivated or if I want a ‘good’ night that may or may not lead to death. On one hand, I am a science nerd, and the old Doc is very tempting. Pick his brain for a few hours? Why did he go big on the first experiment, a gigantic man he couldn’t control!? Why not start with a cute, chimera bunny? And the balls on that guy! Frankenstein was a lot of things, but no one ever really mentions his brass balls. On the other hand, I could sample some superb and erotic vampire dick. I mean…

 

Great response haha! Thank you for doing this again!

To find more of her work, check the links!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Rowan-Hill/e/B092DG2CFX

Twitter: https://twitter.com/WriterRowanHill

Website: https://www.writerrowanhill.com/

Big time thanks for all of you who continue to read this series and support it so much! It’s been a ton of fun and I’ve loved seeing all of the comments from people who rave about finding new-to-them authors, which is one of the biggest reasons that I decided to even start doing this!

Today’s guest is a fun one! I connected with Angel Van Atta a while back over on FB and since then, it’s been a mutual support-fest! I’m super happy to have her as today’s Special 3Q’s guest!

Please, welcome Angel!

 

Steve: What does your writing time look like? Do you try and write at the same time each day? Do you have a word count you attempt to hit?

AVA: To be honest, I am a total night owl, and so most of my writing gets done at night, while the moon is high in the sky and the world is asleep around me. It’s the magical time. The secret time. And I think my writing is better for it. As if, maybe, some of that magic gets wrapped up in it. At least, I’d like to hope so.

Steve: You end up at an estate sale and discover an unpublished manuscript from an author you love. Do you keep it just for yourself or do you share it with the world?

AVA: I do love estate sales because I love drifting through times that have come before me. I love stumbling over items that show how much we have progressed, or regressed, as time has moved slowly, but steadily, on. And so if I were ever lucky enough to come across something as amazing as a long lost manuscript I would absolutely want to share that with the world! Though, I must confess, I would definitely spend some time with it first. All wrapped up in a comfy blanket with a steaming cup of chocolate coffee nearby. But then I would definitely pass it on. Anything I can do to spread some good will around, I try to. And what spreads joy better than books? They’re these magical items that transport us through time and space and allow us to have experiences we otherwise never could.

Steve: Tell me about your newest release (novel/story/poem/novella) and why someone should read it!

AVA: My latest novel is called The Paintings That Hung. It’s the third in its series and it really is about the powers within ourselves that we can tap into when we are needed by others around us. About coming together to fight against evil for the common good and about love and family and finding our potential. But, also, a lot of really messed up and gory stuff happens along the way. My first book was about possession and my second was my haunted house tale. This one is my wicked witch story and the one I’m currently working on, the one that will finalize the series as of now, is my take on vampires. Well, a vampire. It’s fitting because these were the tropes that meant so much to me while growing up. They were the things that went bump in the night and that peered out at me through shiny, beady eyes from within my closet door. Which always seemed to be just slightly ajar.

Steve: Bonus Question! You wake up in a comic book. What is your comic book character and what is your super power?

AVA: Oh, man, this is a great question because I love me some super heroes. If I suddenly found myself bitten by a radioactive spider or fell somehow into a giant oozing vat of bubbling green chemicals, I would probably be known as Anxiety Angel. My superpowers would include the ability to tell the outcome of things through lightning fast overthinking! Though out of the one million five hundred thousand and fifty three possible outcomes I would come up with, which one that would actually end up happening would be as big of a surprise to me as it would be to you. Anxiety Angel really would be basically the same as regular Angel, just with super cute pink spandex and those boots that go up to your knees.

Thank you so much for including me in this. It was a lot of fun and I’m honored to be chosen. It was a lot of fun!

Welcome! Thank you so much for doing this, Angel!

To find more of her work and follow along – check the links!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Angel-Van-Atta/e/B0B57FDMPY

Twitter: https://twitter.com/HouswyfWithAPen

Today’s guest is a super-talented writer, always supportive friend and someone who constantly encourages everyone around him!

I’m super happy to have Chris Kosarich today as my 3Q’s guest!

Welcome Chris!

Steve: What does your writing time look like? Do you try and write at the same time each day? Do you have a word count you attempt to hit?

Chris: Like many of us that also work full-time, I generally find time when I’m either enjoying a day off or a nice quiet morning for a couple hours before I go in for a shift. I don’t ever bother with a word count and I’m just pleased to get a few good solid hours of writing time in. Mostly mornings and afternoons work best for me.

Steve: You end up at an estate sale and discover an unpublished manuscript from an author you love. Do you keep it just for yourself or do you share it with the world?

Chris: *Evil chuckle* I’ll never tell…

Steve: Tell me about your newest release (novel/story/poem/novella) and why someone should read it!

Chris: So, I’ve finished up work on the third and final book in my Roseblood trilogy called Bloodlust, which I’m doing revisions on now and hope to have out be Halloween or shortly after. The Roseblood novellas haven’t been my best-selling horror novels but since these books spun out of my first ever published horror story called “Roseblood,” I’ve become quite attached to telling her blood-soaked story. And honestly, if it wasn’t for my editor Erin Al-Mehairi wanting to know more after she read a new Roseblood short story I’d written several years ago, and wisely suggested there’s more of a story here, I’d probably never have written these books. That’s credit to her!

Also, I’ve had a story called “Lizard Kingdom” appear in the just released Summertime horror anthology Dead Heat from Crimson Pinnacle Press that I’m quite proud of.

Steve: Bonus Question! You wake up in a comic book. What is your comic book character and what is your superpower?

Chris: Hmmmm. Tough one. I’m a big Marvel fan, love the MCU for the most part, so maybe like a badass shapeshifter that’s kind of a good guy but not always. Complex superheroes are much more fascinating to me.

That’s an excellent choice!

Thanks so much Chris!

To find more of his work, check the links!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Chris-Kosarich/e/B08ZMCKLQL

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CKosarich

Website: http://horrorgasms.blogspot.com/

Title: Left to You

Author: Daniel J. Volpe

Release date: November 10, 2021

We live in some strange times right now, don’t we?

The rise/return of white extremist terrorism and white supremacy. People being outwardly and despicably racist. And over the last number of months, significant anti-Semitism. We of course are currently dealing with a particular rapper whom is getting way more air time than he should be allowed to have and having his hateful views spouted all over major networks and social media. I’m not sure why people still support the guy, but I digress.

The reality is, we’re only 80 years removed from World War II and Nazi’s and their beliefs are far too prominent in day-to-day life. And, as a Canadian (and we are not that much better about his, or our treatment of Indigenous people and ethnicities), it blows my mind that this is happening in America. The country that previously was ‘the greatest country in the world.’ At least that’s what was hammered into me growing up in movies, tv shows and news stories.

Normally, I would’ve passed on this novel. But, ‘Left to Me’ is recommended to me weekly in DM chats. It’s been inching up my TBR for some time and I’ve always gotten on really well with Daniel. He’s a nice guy, solid writer, supports many and I’ve been meaning to check out something of his. Seeing as this is the one I get told to read the most it made sense.

But I went in with significant trepidation. About seven years ago, I went through two traumatic incidents. This led me to seek counselling to get my PTSD in check and give me tools to not become significantly depressed. I manage well, with my anxiety and anxiety meds under control. In one of the first meetings I had with the counsellor, he discussed my interests and knowing I liked to read, he suggested I read ‘Man’s Search for Meaning’ by Viktor Frankl. Released in 1946, it shares Viktor’s experience being imprisoned in a Nazi concentration camp. It was profound, awful, uplifting, horribly sad and a book that helped me gain perspective. Going into ‘Left to You,’ as I do with any books that involve Nazi aspects, I wanted to see how much of the novel revolved around that, versus any characters impacted and their story arc’s.

What I liked: Told in two time lines, now, then and back to now, Volpe unravels a story of a survivor of Auschwitz whom has inadvertently been saddled with a horrific truth. A hanger on that has allowed him to live longer than most. But his end is near and, after befriending a young man at the grocery story, Robert, he wants to pass this blessing/curse onto him, in the hopes that Robert will use it to save his mother, who is dying of Cancer.

Robert is the main focus of the beginning and the end, while Josef is the main focus of the middle/then portion. It plays off really well with each other and shows that the two do have a special bond and friendship. We get to see how Robert is struggling, dealing with two jobs, a woman he wishes to date if things were different and the reality that his mother doesn’t have long to live.

Josef, meanwhile, makes for an emotional foil, in that we see him delicately manipulate Robert and his friendship enough, to get him to ultimately agree to come over and discover the horrible truth of what Josef has been carrying around for many years.

I did like the ‘reveal’ and seeing what this thing was and how it was an even bigger manipulator than Josef had led us to believe.

The ending was good, even if I wished another element hadn’t been introduced, but it really showed the true power of this being.

What I didn’t like: Personally, I didn’t find the concentration camp aspect to be of an true necessity for the overall portion of the story. It could’ve been easily done in any other context, so I would’ve loved a foreword or afterword maybe explaining the ‘why’ or even if the author had a connection with this historical moment. 

I also hated the storyline of Sarah and what happens. She was a solid character and how Robert ultimately flipped was an odd choice and something that ultimately felt added in and unresolved.

Lastly, as I mentioned, the final element added at the end diluted Robert’s journey a bit. I would’ve loved to see it wrapped up with Robert, but alas it wasn’t meant to be.

Why you should buy this: If the real world issues that we’re dealing with are something you find horribly affecting to your day to day life, you may want to pass this one. If you’re looking for an escape and a survival story with some historical fiction mixed in, this may be up your alley. Personally, I really enjoyed the ‘now’ sections, which were intriguing and showed a son dealing with the finality of his mother’s life. The ‘then’ section didn’t add much overall for me. Which did dampen the emotional impact of Robert’s portion.

Overall, a solid read, if not a difficult experience based on real world events.

4/5

Greatly excited for today’s guest! Alicia Hilton is a fantastic author and poet and continues to release new and exciting work all the time. She’s always been super supportive and now, I’m happy to welcome her as today’s 3Q’s guest!

Welcome Alicia!

Steve: What does your writing time look like? Do you try and write at the same time each day? Do
you have a word count you attempt to hit?

Alicia: I don’t tend to write at the same time each day. My writing schedule depends on the projects that I’m working on and whether I’m traveling. I tend to be most productive when I’m in a quiet room, so I don’t play music while I write. When the words are flowing, I keep working—sometimes until past 3:00 AM. Rather than setting word count goals, I set project goals. For instance, today I edited one of my short stories and wrote a new poem.

Steve: You decide to host a writer’s retreat. One weekend in a luxury house on an island. What
three other authors do you invite to come along?

Alicia: That’s a tough question. There are so many fantastic authors that I’d like to invite! If I was compelled to narrow the list to three people, I’d invite A.C. Wise because of her vivid imagination, Jeff VanderMeer because of his appreciation for nature, and Joe Lansdale because of his wonderful sense of humor.

Steve: Tell me about your newest release (novel/story/poem/novella) and why someone should
read it!

Alicia: My latest release is Alternative Holidays, published by B Cubed Press. I co-edited the anthology and contributed a story and a poem. Alternative Holidays transports readers from the bottom of the sea to Mount Olympus, from shopping malls in hell to a bathtub in a cheap motel. Cthulhu awakens. Cupid becomes a vigilante. Santa grants deadly wishes. And that is just the beginning of your journey into visions of the holidays we know, love, and sometimes fear.

Steve: Bonus Question! You receive an invitation in the mail from one of these two people. The invitation
invites you to have dinner and spend the night in their home. Do you accept the invitation from Victor
Frankenstein or Dracula and why?

Steve: Could I resist an invitation from Dracula? Vampires are terrifying and alluring. Immortality, the power to shape-shift, the ability to fly—all are tempting reasons to succumb to a bite and become a bloodsucker, but I’d rather remain a mortal. If I dined with Dracula, I’d persuade the Prince of Darkness and his undead friends to keep their fangs away from my flesh.

Fantastic! Thank you so much, Alicia!

To find more of her work, check the links!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Alicia-Hilton/e/B07ZBMWM5G

Twitter: https://twitter.com/aliciahilton01

Website: https://aliciahilton.com/

Title: The Talosite

Author: Rebecca Campbell

Release date: October 4th, 2022

You know what always blows me away/freaks me out? When you read as much as I do, I have three books usually on the go – a pleasure read, a TBR read (my TBR is ordered for my OCD reading brain) and a review book. Well, what freaks me out is when those three somehow miraculously line up and share very similar narratives/aspects/story lines. Case in point. I just finished reading ‘Dark Days’ by D. Randall Blythe, where he shares his experience being incarcerated in an old prison in the Czech Republic. At the same time, I started reading ‘Left to You’ by Daniel Volpe, which focuses on something occurring in a Nazi Prison Camp. And here I was, diving into Rebecca Campbell’s masterful novella ‘The Talosite,’ which is set in an alternative history during World War I. Three random books, plucked from my Kindle shelves that line up. 

Anyways, let’s move away from the freaky aspect and talk about the freakiness within. I’m a bit ashamed to say – I’ve heard of fellow Canuck, Rebecca Campbell, but had not read any of her work leading into this. I had kind of had my fingers crossed I would’ve somehow gotten a hold of a digital ARC of this novella from Undertow, but alas, didn’t make the list. No worries – look at the cover, look at the synopsis and – considering two of my favorite novellas ever are from Undertow (looking at you Armageddon House and Helpmeet) – I bought this one and watched it rise up my TBR until reaching the top.

This one is almost a spiritual sibling to Helpmeet, in the sense of the dark, brooding, thing’s done in the shadows narrative and the body horror that is done so very, very well. But it’s Undertow – what else would you expect.

What I liked: The story follows Anne, daughter of a famous physician who has worked diligently to find a way to resurrect the dead and use them in the war to defeat the Nazi’s. At first. That is stage one. Ultimately, the resurrected would become part of modern society, working the menial jobs many don’t want to work as well as the harder, dirtier jobs. Think coal mines etc.

Campbell writes like how you might imagine Shelley writing Frankenstein. Smile on her face with maniacal laugh happening at the end of every third or fourth paragraph after she’s reread the absolute brutality she’s envisioned and brought to life. (I don’t actually know this, but the way the words flow from the page and paint a picture in your mind, it’s safe to say it was possible.) 

We also get to see how things are occurring in the world around Anne through her partner (though not an official boyfriend or fiancée, but more like a really good friend with benefits), Ned. Ned can’t believe the levels of derangement Anne is going to and it makes for some emotional moments, especially near the end and as things come to light.

I was really intrigued with where Campbell would take the ‘experiments’ and I have to say, the last quarter was fantastic and really creepy, to see just where Anne decided to go and where her mind followed.

What I didn’t like: There is a significant amount of ambiguity near the ending. I know it’s purposeful and I personally usually love ambiguous endings, but for this particular novella I was hoping for more definitive closure.

Why you should buy this: I mean, look at the cover. If that doesn’t make your mind think of ‘In the Hills, the Cities’ by Barker and get you excited, I don’t know what will. Then, look at the synopsis. Look at the publisher. And understand that this novella packs an entire historical re-imagining within its sleek 100 pages, where not a word is spared and where not a single breath from the reader is allowed. Just another phenomenal piece of dark fiction and I’m so happy to have read this one.

5/5