Those Who Came Before Review

Those Who Came Before by J.H. Moncrieff

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Those Who Came Before, the latest from J.H. Moncrieff, is part creature horror and part murder mystery. Moncrieff takes elements of Native American history and mythology and uses them to craft a highly readable book that brings gore and intrigue.

The story follows two main characters. One is a first person narrative following Reese Wallace in the aftermath of his friends being slaughtered, and the other is a 3rd person narrative following Detective Greyeyes as she investigates the crime. In addition to the two perspectives, Moncrieff also intertwines a time jump in the narrative which helps to explain the past behind the cursed land of Strong Lake.

Those Who Came Before has a lot to like for horror fans. It tells a super interesting story and features a brutal, vengeful creature that is, simply put, a thing of nightmares. The more I read this book, the more fascinated I became with the creature doing the killings, and was eager to learn about the history surrounding Strong Lake and the curse upon the land. The writing here for the most part is excellent, words flow easily and I found myself cruising through the pages. Despite this, I did come across a few things that bothered me. I found the actions of both main characters to not be very convincing in more than one instance. I couldn’t help but think that someone accused of murder wouldn’t act this way, and a Detective on a police force definitely wouldn’t do that. There were a few plot elements that didn’t really work for me and felt like a wasted opportunity, and I wasn’t a fan of the ending. I don’t mean this to sound overly harsh, I still greatly enjoyed the book, so much so that I still highly recommend it.

With her latest novel, J.H. Moncrieff has proven herself an author to watch. A terrifying creature and an excellent story premise rise above the few problems I had, making for a damn good time following the Strong Lake murders. I’ll be on the lookout for further releases from this author.

4/5 stars



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NightmareLand: Nightfall review

Nightfall by Daniel Barnett

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


What happens when the lights go out and don’t come back on? What happens to the mind when the world as you know it, ceases to operate the way that it always has? Nightfall, volume one of a post apocalyptic journey by Daniel Barnett offers a glimpse.

The story follows John Hawthorne on a morning which begins as usual, but quickly becomes anything but. In an instant, light fades to black, day to night. Nobody knows why, it’s unclear if the sun just gave out, or if something has caused this. John Hawthorne is a man who does what he must. It’s clear he’s got skeletons in his closet, what they are, we don’t know yet but I’m excited to learn what makes him tick. Very early on it’s clear that Hawthorne is the type of character who knows no boundaries in a terrible situation and this makes him interesting to follow. As you can imagine, hell breaks loose when the lights go out, when the world stops operating as it always has, people begin to go mad, making this a nightmare hellscape for Hawthorne to traverse.

I’d also like to note volume one stops at what feels like a natural point in the story. One reason I don’t typically read multi-book stories is I find the endings don’t wrap up the way I’d like. That wasn’t the case here.

Nightmareland volume one is an excellent opening to this apocalyptic road trip. It did what the first volume of any book should, set up some pieces, grab your attention and get you ready to continue the journey. I’m excited to see where Barnett takes us in future installments.



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Slash Review

Slash by Hunter Shea

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Since an early age, I’ve had a love for 80’s slashers. They’re what sparked my love of the genre. When I saw that Hunter Shea’s follow up to the phenomenal “Creature” was inspired by those classic films, my anticipation for “Slash” became as insatiable as the bloodlust of the maniacs in those films. I’m pleased to say that Shea’s latest doesn’t disappoint.

Slash begins 5 years after a maniac only known as “The Wraith” goes on a killing spree at an abandoned resort. The Wraith was never brought to justice, and final girl Ashley King has lived a broken existence ever since. In the wake of tragedy, Kings fiancé Todd returns to the Hayden resort looking for answers.

Slash, much like Creature, is an example of how Shea is capable of making you feel for his characters when he needs you to. The front half of the book is used to get to know the struggle Ashley has gone through, and to connect with Todd. In my opinion this pays dividends, as you now have a connection to Ashley and Todd, and have been made to feel for them. Because you care about these characters, you feel for Todd’s friends who’ve been dragged into this mess by way of friendship. There is a very specific point in the book where the action gets going and once this happens it rarely lets up, other than to set up the next sequence.

The story works well enough. One of the toughest parts of a slasher set in modern times is technology. The problem being how is this even possible when cell phones are everywhere, Shea uses a simple tactic to move past this, allowing madness to ensue. Another Excellent part of the book is The Wraith. Hunter Shea has come up with a surprisingly effective explanation for why and how the Wraith exists. It’s original, and it works. Speaking of The Wraith, he’s terrifying. When it’s all said and done, The Wraith stands tall amongst the great Slasher villans of the 80’s, Voorhees, Myers, and Krueger.

It’s fitting that I finished this book on Friday the 13th. Hunter Shea has written a worthy homage to my favorite horror genre, the slasher. If you’re a fan of the genre, the films from the 80’s in particular, this is a most own. Hunter Shea has proven himself to be one of the most valuable talents in Flametree press’ roster.

5/5




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Sour Candy Review

Sour Candy by Kealan Patrick Burke

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Sour Candy is my introduction to Kealan Patrick Burke. I was familiar with the authors name, and was sold on this particular Novella because of its beautiful cover. People can tell you not to judge a book by its cover all they want, I did, and it worked out perfectly.

Sour Candy tells the story of a man name Phil, who’s trip to the grocery store introduces him to a haggard looking woman and her creepy child. A seemingly chance encounter with the pair literally changes everything Phil has known about his life and calls into question his mental stability. I absolutely loved Sour Candy. It packs so much more into a tiny package than many 300 page books do, much like the candies it’s named after. This is a tough one to talk about without spoilers because of the length. I really enjoyed the story, I haven’t read anything quite like it before. I had no idea where Burke was taking me and that made it even better. One thing that often unsettles me in books and movies are creepy children, and it’s safe to say that Sour Candy delivers in that regard. This is a wonderfully written novella, Burke is very descriptive and really sets the atmosphere. Not a single word is wasted on the page.

Sour Candy is my kind of nightmare fuel. It’s a quick read and can easily be finished in one sitting. In the short duration it took me to read it, I found myself creeped out more than I have in a lot of books I’ve read lately. This one will have you glad you were taught not to take candy from strangers.

5/5



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The Class Reunion Review

The Class Reunion by Sean McDonough

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I’ve got two confessions to make. First, is that of all the horror sub genres, Slashers are my favorite. The second, is that despite the fact that I’ve been strictly reading horror for a while now, I haven’t read many Slashers. Naturally when I was given the opportunity to get my hands on a pre-release copy of The Class Reunion By Sean McDonough I jumped all over it.

The Class Reunion follows Vickie Fields as she tags along with her old friend Bridget to a party being thrown at the abandoned St. Regina Academy. She wants no part of the shenanigans. Vickie hated St. Regina Academy, and the people throwing the party were some of the students who were most cruel to her. Sensing Bridget wanted to go for a specific reason, Vickie ends up making the biggest mistake of her life, accompanying her friend to the party.
What McDonough does with his latest, is none other than the written equivalent of a modern B movie slasher. I don’t mean that in a bad way, the book was quite fun. Like any good slasher, you’re given just enough information and characterization to keep you hooked between each brutal murder. Many of the characters are genre tropes, but they are well done. They feel like real people and the dialogue between them feels natural. Part of the problem with many slashers in the modern era, is finding a way to work around the fact that help is a few button presses away thanks to technology. McDonough uses the setting to bypass that problem and create an arena perfect for the slaughter of 20 something year olds. Class reunion is a breeze to read and McDonough writes a story interesting enough to get you to keep turning the pages. The conclusion of the book was nicely done, something you don’t see often in slashers. I have one real complaint about the book. The Class Reunion has quite a few spelling and grammatical errors. I’m not usually one to really pay much mind to that, but there were enough of them that I took note.

I read Sean McDonough’s latest, The Class Reunion, in one sitting. It was the exact type of book I expected, a B movie slasher set in modern times. The setting worked, the characters were given enough life on the page to feel real and I had a good time reading it. I was left with a feeling similar to discovering a hidden gem on Netflix that you had no real knowledge of. If you’re into slashers, as long as you can get past the editing mistakes I think you’ll enjoy this one.



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The Fearing:Book 2 - Water and Wind review

The Fearing: Book Two - Water and Wind by John F.D. Taff

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Please, do yourself a favor. Before starting this review, buy book one of The Fearing, by John F.D. Taff. With that out of the way. OH MY GOD. How do you top the first book in this serialized novel? Ask Taff, because 2 days ago I didn’t think it possible. I said it before and it must be said again. This is a masterclass on serial novelization. It’s an event. It’s amazing.

Book 2: Water and Wind begins immediately where Fire and Rain leaves off. It continues the journey of the main characters from the first title as they navigate their way through this supernatural apocalypse. The characters you love and the ones you hate (Carli) all make a return, with the addition of two new characters, a reverend and a girl named Monday. Monday is mysterious, and based off of what the book gives you to use as speculation, i need to know more. Sigel is still a creep and book two lays the ground work for what I expect is going to be an interesting reveal for him down the line. It must be said, Taff is doing such an amazing job in the way he is writing this book. He has a way with words that really just lends a beauty to the page, even though what’s taking place in the print is utterly horrific. By the time book 2 ended, I discovered why Taff has been branded the king of pain. The book ends with a punch to gut. I was on my heels before, with the last two pages Taff knocked me on my ass. Book 1 is a one sitting read. Book 2 cut to the top of my TBR and book 3 will do the same.

In my previous review I had said that there’s no reason to expect anything other than greatness from the books to follow. What I didn’t expect, is for Taff to somehow top perfection. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. If you aren’t reading The Fearing you need to. School is in session. Taff is the professor and you all need to sit down and pay attention.

5/5 stars



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Creature Review

I tried to think of one word that jumped at me to start this review. I couldn’t. So here are a few words that come to mind as I reflect on what I just read. Powerful, sad, tense, brutal, and emotional. This book is all of those things and more. Creature is considered by many to be the best book by Hunter Shea, and while I haven’t read his other works to be able to speak on that, I CAN tell you that it’s one hell of an impressive book.

Creature follows Kate and Andrew, a married couple who’s lives have been put through the ringer due to a number of autoimmune diseases that Kate suffers from and the havoc the treatments wreak on her body. Daily pain and suffering had made every day a test of will for Kate while Andrew is tasked with caring for his wife and working an office job he hates for the medical benefits. Not everything is how it seems and illness won’t be the only monster the couple must face.

Creature is a slow burn of a novel. We spend a large portion of the book witnessing the horrors of Kate’s medical conditions and the physical and emotional toll they take on Kate and Andrew, not only as individuals, but on their marriage as well. This is most definitely a monster novel, but the most effective horror on display here is the daily agony Kate is forced to withstand. The time Shea spends developing these characters pays dividends, as you genuinely care about them and want them to pull through. The feelings you have for them turn out to be a double edged sword as they’re also the reason why agony experienced by Kate will literally cause the reader to wince in pain.  I’m no easy scare and I don’t cringe easily but there were a few parts of Kate’s ordeal that I can only describe as truly disturbing. This is all before the monster even shows up. When it does, the shit really hits the fan.

I was pleasantly surprised by Creature. I thought it would be a straightforward monster horror, instead what’s on display here is a deeply personal, horrific story of a married couple doing the best they can with the bad hand Kate was dealt. The real monster here is the litany of illnesses Kate suffers and the medical torture she endures to treat them. It’s worth mentioning that in the authors notes Shea mentions the story being inspired by his wife and it shows in the care and effort he takes telling the story of Kate and Andrew. This is a must buy for any horror fan.