Scan barcode
drakaina16's reviews
2110 reviews
Plan 9 From Outer Space: The Novelization by Bret Nelson
Did not finish book. Stopped at 50%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 50%.
So. Bored.
Through the Ravenous Night We Ride by Calvin Demmer
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
The cover to this short story collection really drew my eye, and I had seen the book making the rounds in Books of Horror. This was my first experience with Calvin Demmer, and overall I'm pretty impressed. 3.5 stars
Motel Madness ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Lioness Must Hunt ⭐⭐⭐
Heartless ⭐⭐⭐.5
Through the Ravenous Night We Ride ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Scarecrow ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Love Electric ⭐⭐.5
Faster ⭐⭐⭐
Blackheart’s Traveling Circus ⭐⭐⭐.5
Angela ⭐⭐⭐.75
Xmas ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Motel Madness ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Lioness Must Hunt ⭐⭐⭐
Heartless ⭐⭐⭐.5
Through the Ravenous Night We Ride ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Scarecrow ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Love Electric ⭐⭐.5
Faster ⭐⭐⭐
Blackheart’s Traveling Circus ⭐⭐⭐.5
Angela ⭐⭐⭐.75
Xmas ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Necessary poisons by Andrea Blythe
dark
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Thank you to NetGalley for providing a review copy.
This is a collection of found poetry - poetry created from eliminating words in an existing work. In this case, it's an unfinished epistolary novel of Stephen King's called The Plant. I've always been interested in this style. It's amazing what can be reimagined from what already exists. The poetry is lush and evocative and I enjoyed the book a lot. 4 stars
This is a collection of found poetry - poetry created from eliminating words in an existing work. In this case, it's an unfinished epistolary novel of Stephen King's called The Plant. I've always been interested in this style. It's amazing what can be reimagined from what already exists. The poetry is lush and evocative and I enjoyed the book a lot. 4 stars
Antenora by Dori Lumpkin
challenging
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Thank you to NetGalley and Creature Publishing for providing a review copy.
The horror in this book is fairly subtle, but it's definitely there. If you have religious trauma, I'd tread lightly here, as the book deals with a snake handling Christian cult and two queer girls. The story is written as if it is in response to an inquiry into the events that take place. There is a strong sense of dread throughout the book and it is plainly, but beautifully written. 4 stars
The horror in this book is fairly subtle, but it's definitely there. If you have religious trauma, I'd tread lightly here, as the book deals with a snake handling Christian cult and two queer girls. The story is written as if it is in response to an inquiry into the events that take place. There is a strong sense of dread throughout the book and it is plainly, but beautifully written. 4 stars
MrBallen Presents: Strange, Dark & Mysterious by MrBallen
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Thank you to NetGalley for providing a review copy.
Unfortunately, I don't feel like I can fully review this book. The digital galley is missing 4 chapters (on purpose) and I have never encountered this before. I'm not sure how the publisher thinks anyone can review a book that they haven't fully read. None of this is the fault of the author or illustrator, so I went with 3 stars. The stories are entertaining and the art is superb. But I haven't read the whole book and do t feel comfortable fully reviewing something I haven't really read all of.
Unfortunately, I don't feel like I can fully review this book. The digital galley is missing 4 chapters (on purpose) and I have never encountered this before. I'm not sure how the publisher thinks anyone can review a book that they haven't fully read. None of this is the fault of the author or illustrator, so I went with 3 stars. The stories are entertaining and the art is superb. But I haven't read the whole book and do t feel comfortable fully reviewing something I haven't really read all of.
Man Made Monsters by Andrea L. Rogers
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Thank you to NetGalley for providing a review copy.
Ambitious in scope, this is a mosaic novel that follows one Cherokee family from the late 1800s into the not-so-distant future. There were parts of the novel that really worked for me, and other that fell a little flat. But I feel like that's going to happen in a story with so many interlocking but disconnected parts. The illustrations are absolutely beautiful and added a nice preface to each story. 4.25 stars
Ambitious in scope, this is a mosaic novel that follows one Cherokee family from the late 1800s into the not-so-distant future. There were parts of the novel that really worked for me, and other that fell a little flat. But I feel like that's going to happen in a story with so many interlocking but disconnected parts. The illustrations are absolutely beautiful and added a nice preface to each story. 4.25 stars
Suburban Monsters by Christopher Hawkins
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I read Christopher Hawkins' Downpour earlier in the year. I still think about that book all the time, so I was thrilled to read this collection of short stories. It was everything I hoped it would be, and there are two stories in particular (The Stumblybum Imperative and A Candle for the Birthday Boy) that will absolutely stick with me. 4.5 stars
Green Eyes ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Moonrise Over Water With Sargassum, 2022. Oil On Canvas ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Storms of the Present ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Origin Story ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Poppy ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Interlude ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Stumblybum Imperative ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Shadowman ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Carpenter's Thumb ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Swallow ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Ten and Gone ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Notice ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
A Candle for the Birthday Boy ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Moonrise Over Water With Sargassum, 2022. Oil On Canvas ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Storms of the Present ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Origin Story ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Poppy ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Interlude ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Stumblybum Imperative ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Shadowman ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Carpenter's Thumb ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Swallow ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Ten and Gone ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Notice ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
A Candle for the Birthday Boy ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Psychedelica Satanica by Sybil Oxblood-Pope
Did not finish book. Stopped at 33%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 33%.
This book is not very well-written and - though I realize it's an ARC copy - is in dire need of editing. Tons of misspelled words and awful grammar.
Ghostshow Live! by Christopher Degni
challenging
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Thank you to Ruth Anna Evans for providing a review copy.
This is a quick and nasty debut novella, full of disturbing imagery. I used to love watching ghost hunting shows, so it was also a fun bit of nostalgia for their heyday. Christopher Degni manages to pack a whole lot into a small package, and the book is very well-written. I'm looking forward to seeing what else he has up his sleeve in the future. 4 stars
This is a quick and nasty debut novella, full of disturbing imagery. I used to love watching ghost hunting shows, so it was also a fun bit of nostalgia for their heyday. Christopher Degni manages to pack a whole lot into a small package, and the book is very well-written. I'm looking forward to seeing what else he has up his sleeve in the future. 4 stars
Ruin Road by Lamar Giles
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Thank you to NetGalley for providing a review copy.
It would be easy to write this book off as another "deal with the devil Needless Things ripoff." This deal with the metaphorical devil is handled in a unique and interesting way. The ripples that happen because of the main character's inadvertent wish were so interesting. This book has a lot of heavy themes, but is short on violence until the very end. This would be a great choice for a middle or high school classroom library. 4.25 stars
It would be easy to write this book off as another "deal with the devil Needless Things ripoff." This deal with the metaphorical devil is handled in a unique and interesting way. The ripples that happen because of the main character's inadvertent wish were so interesting. This book has a lot of heavy themes, but is short on violence until the very end. This would be a great choice for a middle or high school classroom library. 4.25 stars