horror – Page 2 – M J Mallon YA Author and Poet

Guest Author: K. M. McFarland – Ghostly Writes Anthology 2018

It is my great pleasure to welcome K. M. McFarland to my blog today. Fellow author, and contributing participant in this year’s Ghostly Writes Anthology:

The Thinning Veil (A short story by K. M. McFarland from Ghostly Writes Anthology 2018.)

When you make a deal with Papa, he always keeps his end of the bargain,
but you better be damn sure you’re willing to pay the price.

MEET THE AUTHOR: K. M. McFarland made her way to the Big Easy in middle school by way of Nashville, Tennessee, and the Florida beaches. She immediately became intrigued by its ambiance. Stories of Voodoo, vampires, ghosts and haunted houses have been her inspiration as well as her fascination with New Orleans’ colorful history. When she isn’t writing or roaming the French Quarter researching her next book, you will find her spending time with her family, shopping online, or marathoning a good TV series. Photography, music, art, traveling, reading, coffee, and wine are among her favorite things.

Sex, Blood, Rock ‘N’ Roll, and Vampyr by K. M. McFarland
Series: The Bloodline Series, Book 1
Release Date: January 3, 2017

K. M. McFarland, Author
Act4Publishing
New Orleans, Louisiana
act4pub@gmail.com

Website: www.kmmcfarland.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kmmvampire/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kmmvampire
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vampyralley/
Amazon Author Page: http://bit.ly/KMbooks

Rock stars, vampires, nightlife, romance, and chaos set the tone for this intriguing vampire family saga in New Orleans’ French Quarter…

When West Side’s frontman, Quinn Forrester, mysteriously vanished in 1989, the band’s lead guitarist, Jeff West, suspected foul play. With no evidence, Jeff was never able to convince the authorities. It never occurred to Jeff that Quinn was turned into a vampire that night and hid away in the dark shadows of New Orleans.
Years later, Quinn and his daughter formed a local nightclub act. Finding himself back in the public eye, ageless and immortal, Quinn reinvented himself as his son.
Twenty-five years after Quinn’s sudden departure from the band, the opening of an art gallery brings Jeff to New Orleans. A beautiful artist, Quinn’s lookalike son, a vampire tour, romance, mayhem, and a series of events lead Jeff to Quinn. Finally, face-to-face with his long lost best friend, will Jeff uncover the shocking truth in this fast-paced character driven story?

Praises for Sex, Blood, Rock ‘N’ Roll, and Vampyr:
“K.M. McFarland may have just made a big contribution to the massive amount of vampire lore and books that have been created in the wake of Anne Rice.” —Ray Simmons -Readers’ Favorite
“The title says it all…set in New Orleans, an immortal character itself.” — Bookworks
“The New Orleans setting is exciting and filled with mystery.” —Jack Magnus -Readers’ Favorite
“A horror book in the way of Twilight. McFarland does a great job in bringing the reader to a whole new area of vampires and the location she picks is perfect.” —Blood Moon Rising Magazine

Purchase Sex, Blood, Rock ‘N’ Roll, and Vampyr:
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2nPYEIG
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/2nl751R
Other Books by K. M. McFarland:

Song of the Vampire (The Vampyr Series, Book 1):

Purchase Sex, Blood, Rock ‘N’ Roll, and Vampyr:
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2nPYEIG
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/2nl751R

Rock Star Quinn Forrester mysteriously vanished in 1989. His now grown up daughter, Nadia Forrester is playing a deadly game with alcohol, promiscuity, and an abusive relationship. When you’re living on the edge, reconnecting with your long lost father and discovering he is an immortal may not be such a bad thing.

Buy Link: http://amzn.to/2meK3d9

Under a Bourbon Street Moon (The Vampyr Series, Book 2):

Country singer Amber Rose arrives in New Orleans from Nashville hoping to reconnect with former rock star Quinn Forrester whom she has learned is her biological father. But there are a lot of things she doesn’t know about her father, and she soon finds herself caught up in a world of vampires, ghosts, and Voodoo.

Buy Link: http://amzn.to/2n0Reop

Masquerade (The Vampyr Series, Book 3):

Quinn Forrester has his hands full dealing with a new romance, his vampire daughter, his mortal daughter who sees dead people, his spiritually connected vampire ex-girlfriend who is her mentor and his not so dearly departed ex-wife that just won’t stay dead. Is his mansion big enough? Being undead can get complicated.
Buy Link: http://amzn.to/2nPUAYS

Author Q & A:
What made you choose to write in the paranormal genre?
I live in New Orleans and I have always been fascinated with the New Orleans legends of vampires and ghosts. Our city was built on a swamp, so we don’t bury our dead. Instead, they are interred above ground so we won’t meet up with them in the next hard rain. Our cemeteries are tourist attractions, but there’s something romantic about them. Voodoo is also a part of our culture whether we believe or not. Our history is colorful and intriguing. If you walk down Bourbon Street on any day/night of the week, you can see how easily vampires could blend in. But in this age of technology, vampires would have to be able to blend in with humans and play nice with them. That idea was the beginning of the Vampyr series.
What is your favorite paranormal creature and why?
I would have to say vampires. I started reading Anne Rice novels when The Vampire Lestat was first published, and Lestat is responsible for my obsession with vampires. My vampire novels also feature ghost stories so vampires followed by ghosts.
Anything specific you want to tell your readers?
Yes. Thank you for your support. Thank you for reading. Your kind reviews and words make it all worthwhile. I write to entertain, so when someone reads my work and feels entertained, it makes me happy. Thank you.

PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release:
A New Orleans author’s new book receives a warm literary welcome.
Readers’ Favorite announces the review of the Fiction – Paranormal book “Sex, Blood, Rock ‘N’ Roll, and Vampyr” by K. M. McFarland, currently available at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MQPJ9TS.
Readers’ Favorite is one of the largest book review and award contest sites on the Internet. They have earned the respect of renowned publishers like Random House, Simon & Schuster, and Harper Collins, and have received the “Best Websites for Authors” and “Honoring Excellence” awards from the Association of Independent Authors. They are also fully accredited by the BBB (A+ rating), which is a rarity among Book Review and Book Award Contest companies.
“Reviewed By Ray Simmons for Readers’ Favorite
Some time in 1975 or 1976, Ila Bosarge gave me a copy of Interview With The Vampire, written by some author I had never heard of called Anne Rice. I wasn’t too keen on reading it because I’m not into horror so much. But I was into Ila. She was and is one of the great friends of my life and she was a very smart girl so I read the book. It changed my perspective on vampires. I think it changed the world’s perception of vampires. Bram Stoker might have written the book on vampires, but Anne Rice rewrote it. K.M. McFarland may have just made a big contribution to the massive amount of vampire lore and books that have been created in the wake of Anne Rice. Some of these I have read, some of them I just can’t get into. I got into Sex, Blood, Rock ‘N’ Roll, and Vampyr. I look forward to seeing more of The Bloodline Trilogy series.
I love that Sex, Blood, Rock ‘N’ Roll, and Vampyr takes place in New Orleans. It is the perfect setting for a vampire story and, since I grew up a two-hour drive away, I am intimately familiar with the city. I like K.M. McFarland’s take on vampire lore. Every writer has a different approach and I like hers. I like her characters. Lestat might have been a very interesting vampire, but he was sometimes difficult to like. I like Quinn. I like his family. Family is something Lestat could never get right. It seems to me that without a functional family, being immortal would become a chore. The writing is good. The plot works, and the vampires are fashionable and friendly. If you are in the market for a new vampire book, try this one.”
You can learn more about K. M. McFarland and “Sex, Blood, Rock ‘N’ Roll, and Vampyr” at https://readersfavorite.com/book-review/sex-blood-rock-n-roll-and-vampyr where you can read reviews and the author’s biography, as well as connect with the author directly or through their website and social media pages.
Readers’ Favorite LLC
Media Relations
Louisville, KY 40202
800-RF-REVIEW
support@readersfavorite.com
https://readersfavorite.com

I’m so thrilled to be discovering new and exciting authors via this anthology. I love vampire stories!

Please support all the amazing authors involved in the Ghostly Writes Anthology. More about that here: https://kyrosmagica.wordpress.com/2018/10/27/ghostly-writes-anthology-2018/

Halloween is fast approaching. Enjoy! There are a fair few Halloween blog parties going on… Why not visit Donna at Yadadarcyyada and Sally Cronin…

https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2018/10/22/smorgasbord-invites-you-to-a-halloween-fancy-dress-party-on-wednesday-31st-october/

https://yadadarcyyada.com/2018/10/26/the-more-the-scarier/

The Ghostly Goodbye by M J Mallon
The Ghostly Goodbye is a paranormal love story about a young woman called Iris who can’t get over her husband’s death. She is mourning him so much that she feels dead inside. Her husband Ed sends her a ghostly message from beyond the grave via an old forgotten garment in her wardrobe. She responds by dragging herself from her tomb-like bed and he draws back the curtain of death to visit her in a most unusual way.

Buy Book: myBook.to/TheCurseofTime

Social Media Links:
Authors Media Kit: https://kyrosmagica.wordpress.com/2018/02/13/media-kit/
Collaborative Blog: https://sistersofthefey.wordpress.com
Twitter: @Marjorie_Mallon and @curseof_time
#ABRSC: Authors Bloggers Rainbow Support Club on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1829166787333493/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17064826.M_J_Mallon
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mjmallonauthor/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mjmallonauthor/

Author Feature: Mary R.Woldering – Ghostly Writes Anthology 2018

A warm welcome to fellow Ghostly Writer – Mary R. Woldering who like me is one of the authors in this year’s Ghostly Writes Anthology which releases on Halloween!

Thank you to Mary for this interesting anecdote about Raemkai’s Stairs to whet your appetite…

I’ve often been asked how I came up with my characters. When I was a college student in Memphis, TN, I and several friends were amateur psychic researchers. One spirit we encountered was a wolf spirit known as Raemkai who had been mysteriously confined to a staircase in an old house and seemed somewhat demonic (but more of a trickster) in nature. There were two other spirits. I decided to tell their story – adding a bit here and there.

And by the way Raemkai became an important anti-hero in my Historical Fantasy series of Ancient Egypt and the gods Children of Stone because there was so much more to him that we originally thought.

Here is how the story starts:

Raemkai’s Stairs.
His head rose from his crossed paws and his dark snout sniffed at the air.
Is that smoke? Is the house on fire? Did the wiring in this old place finally spark out? the wolf rose and padded around on the upper landing. Then, looking down the stairs, he saw the wild-haired man slouched and warming his hands over a low, licking flame. A discordant yowl rose from his weaving and rocking form:
“Bebe Lie mie fiyah…cmon bebe lie mie fiyah…”
A drunk broke in from the cold to warm his hands. I was only going to tease him for provoking my rest, but now the bastard gets the full visual for the fire.
Materializing from the head down, the wolf spirit slowly altered his shape. He became a red furred hellhound with oversized glowing green eyes and saber teeth. With a howling growl, he extended his clawed hands, seized the man’s ragged shoulders, lifted him high overhead and flung him to the floor beside the pile of smoldering papers.
“My house!” he shrieked. “My stairs! Put out the damned fire and get out!” he zipped around and lunged at the scrambling man who whimpered and swatted the flames with his hands. As the sparks flew and died, the man kept screaming, kicked his empty liquor bottle, and ran.

Sounds terrific doesn’t it?

CLAIRE PLAISTED HOPES TO HAVE THE BOOK FREE WITHIN A WEEK OF PUBLISHING ON AMAZON.
THE ANTHOLOGY WILL BE FREE ON THE 31ST OCTOBER ON NOOK, KOBO, APPLE etc. The link below is the pre-order ebook. The ebook will be priced at 99p/99c until Amazon agree to make it FREE as on other sites.

To find out more about the anthology follow this link:

https://kyrosmagica.wordpress.com/2018/10/27/ghostly-writes-anthology-2018/

And more from Mary R. Woldering…

Have you started the Journey?

CHILDREN OF STONE
1)Voices in Crystal 2) Going Forth By Day 3)Opener of the Sky 4) Heart of the Lotus 5) Lake of Memory – coming 2019-20

EMOTIVE, EXOTIC & BEAUTIFUL!!
WALK WITH THOSE WHO ONCE BECAME GODS.

The Mystery of Ancient Egypt RETOLD – in a combo of fantasy, real history, mythology and magic. Like GAME OF THRONES in Ancient Egypt – With ALIENS

Like ancient superheroes, those touched by the Children of Stone wander through the reality of ancient legends, RESHAPING myth and history.
Unforgettable people and their stories of mysticism, magic and never-ending love.

Mary’s links:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2DMvkKJ
Page/Group: https://bit.ly/2ubYwv1
Author Page: https://bit.ly/2x1PZJe
Website: https://www.maryrwoldering.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maryrwoldering/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7398194.Mary_R_Woldering
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChildrenofStone

Mary’s Author Page on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Mary-R.-Woldering/e/B00OND7QMU/

Hope you have enjoyed discovering more about Mary and her story Raemkai’s Stairs.

Bye for now,

Social Media Links
Authors Media Kit: https://kyrosmagica.wordpress.com/2018/02/13/media-kit/
Collaborative Blog: https://sistersofthefey.wordpress.com
Twitter: @Marjorie_Mallon and @curseof_time
#ABRSC: Authors Bloggers Rainbow Support Club on Facebook
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17064826.M_J_Mallon
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mjmallonauthor/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mjmallonauthor/
Tumblr: http://mjmallonauthor.tumblr.com/

Buy Book: myBook.to/TheCurseofTime

Ghostly Writes Anthology 2018

I’m thrilled to announce that I am one of the participating authors in Plaisted Publishing House’s Ghostly Writes Anthology 2018.

There is a #Giveaway – $20 Amazon Gift Card: https://gleam.io/vYVi3/plaisted-publishing-house-2018-ghostly-writes-anthology-giveaway

A compilation to haunt, intrigue and scare you – it releases on Halloween!

Here is the Youtube video with all the teasers from authors:

Look at these amazing titles…. Don’t they just make you want to find out more…
Monster At My Door by Karen J Mossman – https://www.facebook.com/karensmagicofstories/
At Midnight by Chandra Trulove Fry
Not Only Clothes Hang in Your Closet by Donna Walo Clancy
Primrose Point Part 2 by Mara Reitsma http://itybityqt.wixsite.com/marareitsma
God’s Pebbles by Dan McAteer
The Gift by Jane Risdon https://janerisdon.wordpress.com/
A Heart of Gold by Michael Lynes
Necropoli by Adam C. Mitchell
The Basement by Wendy Steele: https://wendysteele.com/
The Thinning Veil by K. M. McFarland: https://www.kmmcfarland.com/
Wingreen Possessions by C L Williams: https://writer434.wordpress.com/
Ghostly Goodbye by M J Mallon (Me!)

Raemkai’s Stairs by Mary R. Woldering:

https://www.maryrwoldering.com/

https://www.facebook.com/ChildrenofStoneNovels/

Iris by R. M Demeester
Soul Man by Claire Plaisted:

https://plaistedpublishinghouse.com/

https://claireplaisted.wordpress.com/

The Eyes of The Apple Tree by C A Keith:

https://virgodragonwritersblog.wordpress.com

Facebook books: @ca.keithwebstories

The Black Cat Bookstore by Pamela Silva
A Cat For Christmas by Eve Merrick-Williams
Detour by M. E Hembroff
Dead Man’s Divorcee Club by J G Clay
Funhouse of Horror by Cassandra Jones
Underneath The Mirrors Surface by Adele Marie Park: https://firefly465.wordpress.com/
Haunted North Street by Michelle Hughes

and a poem – Midnight Moon by Kyrena Lynch

WE HOPE TO HAVE THE BOOK FREE WITHIN A WEEK OF PUBLISHING ON AMAZON.
THE ANTHOLOGY WILL BE FREE ON THE 31ST OCTOBER ON NOOK, KOBO, APPLE etc. The link below is the pre-order ebook. The ebook will be priced at 99p/99c until Amazon agree to make it FREE as on other sites.

Amazon UK:

The anthology is also available on Amazon.com…

Hope you will enjoy!

Buy Book: myBook.to/TheCurseofTime

Social Media Links
Authors Website: https://kyrosmagica.wordpress.com
Collaborative Blog: https://sistersofthefey.wordpress.com
Twitter: @Marjorie_Mallon and @curseof_time
#ABRSC: Authors Bloggers Rainbow Support Club on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1829166787333493/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17064826.M_J_Mallon
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mjmallonauthor/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mjmallonauthor/

#BookReview of #Horror #Anthology – Dark Visions – Compiled and edited by Dan Alatorre

This second installment of The Box Under the Bed series, Dark Visions, is filled with strange and creepy stories sure to keep your heart racing. Enter into a dark world of the macabre, the mystical and the malevolent, featuring 33 spine tingling tales that just may keep you up at night. Edited and compiled by Amazon bestselling author Dan Alatorre, this anthology of horror stories brings together the minds and pens of twenty seven authors:

34 stories by 27 authors. A few bestselling authors on that list, and quite a few prize winning authors.

Prologue: Now Comes Death, part one
1. The Corner Shop – Dan Alatorre
2. The Stranger – Allison Maruska
3. The Right Time To Move On – Jenifer Ruff
4. Devil’s Hollow – Adele Marie Park
5. Where The Black Tree Grows – MD Walker
6. The Storm – J A Allen
7. The Bloody Dogwood Tree – Dabney Farmer
8. Ghosts Of Tupelo – Sharon Cathcart
9. Cabin 5 – Heather Kindt
10. Bella And Button – Allison Maruska
11. Doll’s Play – Bonnie Lyons
12. Spirit Lake – Sharon Connell
13. Ice Cream – Geoff LePard
14. A Glimpse Of The Monster – Anne Marie Andrus
15. A Best Selling Lie – Christine Valentor
16. Normal Things – BA Helberg
17. Roadkill – Ernesto San Giacomo
18. Behind The Leather Apron – Alana Turner
19. Clicking And Clacking – Nick Vossen
20. The Haunting Of William – Robbie Cheadle
21. Where The Power Hides – Anne Marie Andrus
22. Nightmare Man – Betty Valentine
23. The Willow Tree – Robbie Cheadle
24. The Changeling – Christine Valentor
25. What If – Geoff LePard
26. Swimming – Frank Parker
27. The Call – Juliet Nubel
28. La Garconniere – Bonnie Lyons
29. Lucifer’s Revenge – Christine Valentor
30. The Nightmare – Lori Micken
31. Who Am I – Chuck Jackson
32. The Documentary – Ellen Best
33. The Doctor’s Walk – Betty Valentine
34. Excavation Murder – Victoria Clapton#

Epilogue: Now Comes Death, part two

My review of the first installment of The Box Under the Bed can be read here: https://kyrosmagica.wordpress.com/2017/12/09/my-abrsc-review-of-the-box-under-the-bed-anthology/

Book Review

I received an ARC from Dan Alatorre in return for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This is a fantastic compilation of horror and ghost stories and I would definitely recommend picking up a copy to get you in the mood for Halloween.

I enjoyed all the stories very much but my personal favourites were:

The Corner Shop by Dan Alatorre (The ending is just so foul.. but in a good way!)

The Right Time To Move On by Jennifer Ruff. (Oh my!)

Devils’s Hollow by Adele Marie Park. Horror absolute, fantastic story.

The Bloody Dogwood Tree by Dabney Farmer – Loved the black humour in this.

The Haunting of William by Robbie Cheadle. Oh!! What a tale!

What If by Geoff Le Pard. If you’re a writer you will relate and love this so much!

Ice Cream by Geoff Le Pard. This author should be locked up. What an macabre imagination.

Ghosts of Tupedo by Sharon E. Cathcart. This is a bit different, (think Elvis Presley) and that’s why I enjoyed it so much.

The poetry prologue and epilogue were a lovely touch and both excellent.

My rating 5 stars – highly recommended.

Social Media Links

Authors Website: https://atomic-temporary-67364188.wpcomstaging.com
Collaborative Blog: https://sistersofthefey.wordpress.com
Twitter: @Marjorie_Mallon and @curseof_time
#ABRSC: Authors Bloggers Rainbow Support Club on Facebook
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17064826.M_J_Mallon

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mjmallonauthor/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mjmallonauthor/

Tumblr: http://mjmallonauthor.tumblr.com/

#SundayBlogShare Writespiration #146 52 Weeks in 52 Words Week 51

untitled

I haven’t had much chance recently to have time for writing. Oh, that makes me so sad! So I thought it would be nice to have a go at Sacha Black’s Writespiration by writing a story in just 52 words.

The prompt – Write about the night you spent in a cemetery really got me thinking…

This is my entry… Be prepared … this ended up being definitely in the horror/dark humour genre!

Marti and I didn’t want to appear chicken, so we accepted a dare – A night in a cemetery, alone, partying with the dead. Nothing creepy happened or so we thought, until I awoke with a freshly dug grave next to me with the inscription: Dig Marti out quick, if you dare, Chicken.

To join in Sacha’s Writespiration follow the link below:

https://sachablack.co.uk/2017/12/20/writespiration-146-52-weeks-in-52-words-week-51/

Sorry that wasn’t very Christmassy! Lol… I did get my writing analysed ages ago and it said I wrote like Stephen King (I wish! So this is just my tribute to him!)

Wishing you a very Happy Christmas and Joyful New Year. No walking late at night in cemeteries folks!

Oh, by the way my YA Novel is currently on special offer … on Amazon Kindle.

Christmas Promotion

Bye for now,

bitmoji708432289

My Social Media Links:
Fellow Administrators of our Authors Bloggers Rainbow Support Club #ABRSC on Facebook, myself, my good friends – Colleen Chesebro and Debby Gies

Author/Blogger Rainbow Support Club on Facebook

Author/Blogger Rainbow Support Club #ABRSC Read and Review – Goodreads

25437149_1520191521434349_1574510664_n

Goodreads

Instagram

Twitter: @Marjorie_Mallon and @curseof_time

Facebook

Tumblr

My Kyrosmagica Review of Glimpses by Hugh. W Roberts

Goodreads Synopsis:

After publishing some of his short stories on his blog, Hugh W. Roberts, who suffers from dyslexia, received numerous requests to publish his short stories in a book.

Here, at last, are 28 short stories that will take your mind on a rollercoaster of a ride into worlds that conceal unexpected twists and turns.

‘Glimpses’ allows the reader a peek into the lives of everyday people who are about to have life lead them on an unpredicted path. From a mysterious deadly iPad app, to a hole in the fence that is not all it seems, to a strange lipstick that appears to have a life of its own, you will encounter terror, laughter, sadness, shock and many other emotions on journeys which promise a thrilling and gripping climax.

If you are a lover of shows such as ‘The Twilight Zone’ and ‘Tales Of The Unexpected’, then you’re in for a real treat with this first collection of short stories from Hugh.

Dare you take a glimpse into the lives of these unsuspecting characters?

“If you’re looking for a thoroughly entertaining read, Glimpses is the book for you. Each story has been cleverly crafted; through Hugh’s wonderful imagination, he has the ability to whisk you away to many different worlds, past, present and future. Every story makes a compelling read and just when you think you know what’s going to happen next, Hugh masterfully reveals a brilliant twist. With bite-size and longer stories, Glimpses is a must-read. I loved it.” – Esther Newton, Writer, and Author.

My review:

Welcome, this is my first review of 2017. Happy New Year!!! Happy Reading!!!

This is undoubtedly an excellent collection of short stories from Hugh W. Roberts.

In my opinion, short stories are so difficult to write as the author has to encapsulate so much into such a rigid format and end on an engaging twist too. Hugh effortlessly manages to introduce us to such a wide range of well-crafted stories, encompassing several genres, ranging from Science Fiction, Supernatural, Thriller, Drama, Humour, LGBT, to Horror, with something for everyone in this entertaining compilation.

When Hugh jokingly remarked that his horror stories might give me nightmares I really didn’t believe that this kind-hearted chap could write that scary a horror story, but I was so wrong!!!! The particular one that stays in my mind the most is undoubtedly Needles, which definitely made me wince a lot and with a title like that it’s no wonder! Other favourites of mine in the horror category are The Easter Bunny, The Gingerbread House, and Lipstick. You can see I do like to read horror! I also have a soft spot for The Cake Decorator, (Thriller) and The Last Train to Aldwych (Ghost). Every single story in the compilation is a little nugget of imagination. Hugh may be dyslexic but he certainly has no difficulty on the imagination score! His powers of imagination and creativity are first class. Often dyslexic people are amazingly talented, and Hugh certainly is.

My advice:

Glimpses is highly recommended for all short story enthusiasts. Go get a copy!!

My rating:

4 stars.

Competition Time….

To celebrate the launch of Glimpses Hugh is offering six wonderful Amazon gift prizes. Follow the link here to find out more: Hughs Views and News Competition

Do check out his most recent post about this as Hugh has kindly given us a clue!

A clue from Hugh – Glimpses Competition

Please do support Hugh and buy a copy of his book, and if you could share a review even better…

DISCLAIMER: “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.”

My opinions are my own and any reviews on this site have not been swayed or altered in any way by monetary compensation, or by the offer of a free book in exchange for a review.

Amazon buying link:

Universal buying link for Glimpses: http://hyperurl.co/42ou22

I recently interviewed Hugh on Kyrosmagica. Here’s the link:

Hugh W. Roberts Awesome Author Interview

Have you read Glimpses? Do leave a comment below and let me know…

Soon I will be reviewing Ruth Hatfield’s The Colour of Darkness, the second book in the Book of Storms Trilogy, so keep a look out for that.

Bye for now, back to my books…

312de992-fdae-4619-a140-279eec2d8b59

Glimpses

My Kyrosmagica Review of Horns by Joe Hill

untitled

Goodreads Synopsis:

Ignatius Perrish spent the night drunk and doing terrible things. He woke up the next morning with a thunderous hangover, a raging headache . . . and a pair of horns growing from his temples.

At first Ig thought the horns were a hallucination, the product of a mind damaged by rage and grief. He had spent the last year in a lonely, private purgatory, following the death of his beloved, Merrin Williams, who was raped and murdered under inexplicable circumstances. A mental breakdown would have been the most natural thing in the world. But there was nothing natural about the horns, which were all too real.

Once the righteous Ig had enjoyed the life of the blessed: born into privilege, the second son of a renowned musician and younger brother of a rising late-night TV star, he had security, wealth, and a place in his community. Ig had it all, and more—he had Merrin and a love founded on shared daydreams, mutual daring, and unlikely midsummer magic.

But Merrin’s death damned all that. The only suspect in the crime, Ig was never charged or tried. And he was never cleared. In the court of public opinion in Gideon, New Hampshire, Ig is and always will be guilty because his rich and connected parents pulled strings to make the investigation go away. Nothing Ig can do, nothing he can say, matters. Everyone, it seems, including God, has abandoned him. Everyone, that is, but the devil inside.

My review:

I began reading Horns after James Fahy Author tagged me on Instagram: #backofthebook – Horns Joe Hill.

Horns is one of those books that captures your attention right from the start in a spectacular way. The main protagonist Ig, wakes up after a night of drunken debauchery with more than a mighty hangover. He finds a set of horns attached to his head, and these act like antennae giving him the ability to coerce people to tell him their darkest, most deeply hidden secrets. Time and time again the result is unequivocally shocking, making the reader reel at the depths to which people will have a hidden dark side. It makes us question just how much we really know our dear neighbours, friends, and family, who we love so much. Undoubtedly, we are all flawed human beings even the ones amongst us who we look up to are wretched sinners.

Horns is in part a love story, a tragic one, as Ig’s girlfriend, Merrin has been raped and murdered, and Ig is the prime suspect. Through the antennae effect, we get to learn the true reaction of his family, friends and the community to his possible culpability.

Horns isn’t easy reading and at times I definitely flinched. But it’s one of those books that draws you in and keeps you reading even though you want to look away. The villain is well crafted and engagingly horrible. If you have a phobia of snakes I don’t recommend you read this novel! It will give you nightmares!

The faster pacing of the earlier chapters gives way to a slower mid section that explores Ig’s relationship with his long-term girlfriend Merrin, who by all accounts is his soul mate, the love of his life. Given her importance to the narrative, this weightier middle section is understandable but does slow down the pace of the novel somewhat.

There is a reveal with regard to Merrin which ties some of the loose threads together in a very interesting way. But I am still a bit unsure about the ending…. perhaps this is a novel that would benefit from a second reading. I did feel that the ‘happier’ ending didn’t quite fit with the rest of the book, but I wonder if it was added as a device to make it less grim and more marketable – particularly with regard to a potential film contract – the film was released in 2014.

I’d definitely read more from Joe Hill, and it’s not just because he’s Stephen King’s son! This is ‘my first,’ Joe Hill novel. With this introduction, I can see that he weaves a wonderfully enthralling tale that explores the darker side of humanity, which continues to fascinate me.

Would I recommend Horns? Yes, most definitely but only if you like novels that explore the darker, murkier side of life.

My rating: 4.5 stars.

Bye for now,

untitled

85978B3EEB2A2F45468E6707CEAFE70D

My Kyrosmagica Review of Stephen King’s Revival

WP_20160731_09_35_26_Pro

Goodreads Synopsis:

A dark and electrifying novel about addiction, fanaticism, and what might exist on the other side of life.

In a small New England town, over half a century ago, a shadow falls over a small boy playing with his toy soldiers. Jamie Morton looks up to see a striking man, the new minister. Charles Jacobs, along with his beautiful wife, will transform the local church. The men and boys are all a bit in love with Mrs. Jacobs; the women and girls feel the same about Reverend Jacobs — including Jamie’s mother and beloved sister, Claire. With Jamie, the Reverend shares a deeper bond based on a secret obsession. When tragedy strikes the Jacobs family, this charismatic preacher curses God, mocks all religious belief, and is banished from the shocked town.

Jamie has demons of his own. Wed to his guitar from the age of thirteen, he plays in bands across the country, living the nomadic lifestyle of bar-band rock and roll while fleeing from his family’s horrific loss. In his mid-thirties — addicted to heroin, stranded, desperate — Jamie meets Charles Jacobs again, with profound consequences for both men. Their bond becomes a pact beyond even the Devil’s devising, and Jamie discovers that revival has many meanings.

This rich and disturbing novel spans five decades on its way to the most terrifying conclusion Stephen King has ever written. It’s a masterpiece from King, in the great American tradition of Frank Norris, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Edgar Allan Poe.

My review:

Revival is without doubt a very good read – it’s bound to be – but somehow it falls a tiny bit short of a great read which is a bit of a disappointment for a Stephen King novel. Of course there is wonderful writing a plenty, particularly with regard to first love, loss, heartbreak, and death, but the slow middle section makes the narrative drag a little. The conclusion’s on the right track but ends up being so bizarre, (even though I could see what King was trying to say,) that I couldn’t quite take it on board at first reading. The ending benefits from a second reading if you can stomach it! I’ve read through various reviews debating the final conclusion – what lies beyond death – a lot of readers found the ending pretty disturbing. In my opinion it kind of is, (nobody wants this outcome to be the truth,) and isn’t, because it’s verging on being too fantastical, talk about tripping! I expect that’s the point…. the final trip… electricity style!

Overall, I’d say do read Revival but be aware that it might or might not reach your exultantly high moon struck King expectations. If you have an addictive personality this book is for you! Reactions vary. Nevertheless, Revival is certainly an entertaining read, portraying the main protagonist’s journey from childhood, and youth to middle age, in a heady eclectic mix of music, (Jamie’s years playing guitar in a band,) family life, religion, love, sex, and loss, and Jamie’s downfall into drugs. As well as addictive drugs we are introduced to pastor Charlie Daniel’s obsession with electricity, his moving away from the church (after his young family die, in horrible circumstances – this is the pivotal point that shapes the story,) resulting in his experimentation into the darker side of electricity, (with side effects that would make prescription drugs look pretty lame,) until he commits the ultimate terrible act against nature, and God.

I particularly enjoyed the dark humour reflections on getting older… just check these quotes and you’ll see what I mean:

“The three true ages of man are youth, middle age, and how the fuck did I get old so soon?”

“On the way home I remembered a bit of old folklore about how to boil a frog. You put it in cold water, then start turning up the heat. If you do it gradually, the frog is too stupid to jump out. I don’t know if it’s true or not, but I decided it was an excellent metaphor for growing old.”

“When I was a teenager, I looked at over-fifties with pity and unease: they walked too slow, they talked too slow, they watched TV instead of going out to movies and concerts, their idea of a great party was hotpot with the neighbors and tucked into bed after the eleven o’clock news. But—like most other fifty-, sixty-, and seventysomethings who are in relative good health—I didn’t mind it so much when my turn came. Because the brain doesn’t age, although its ideas about the world may harden and there’s a greater tendency to run off at the mouth about how things were in the good old days.”

See what I mean, King really does understand how the body ages but the brain stays forever young. Cruel or what?

Music outlives us all…. see this quote and you’ll know what I mean…

“Music matters,” he told me once. “Pop fiction goes away, TV shows go away, and I defy you to tell me what you saw at the movies two years ago. But music lasts, even pop music. Especially pop music. Sneer at ‘Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head’ if you want to, but people will still be listening to that silly piece of shit fifty”

My rating:

A difficult one to rate, on first reading – 4 stars. Might benefit from a second reading – the more I think about this one the more it intrigues me!

Have you read Revival? What did you think of it? Are you a fan of Stephen King?

Bye for now,

untitled

My Kyrosmagica Review of Dark Room by Tom Becker

Goodreads Synopsis:

When Darla and her feckless dad, Hopper, move to Saffron Hills, Darla hopes it’ll be a new start for the both of them. But she stands no chance of fitting in with the image-obsessed in-crowd at her new school. Then one of her classmates is brutally killed when taking a photo of herself. A murder Darla herself predicted in a bloody vision. When more teens die in a similar fashion it appears that a serial killer is on the loose – the ‘Selfie Slayer’. Darla alone is convinced that the murderer might not be flesh and blood.

I’ve been participating in the #redeyereadalong on Goodreads, and this is the last book in the series, read during the week 26th October 2015 – 31st October 2015.

I joined in the readalong with mixed feelings as I am a bit of a novice horror reader – I tend to be a trifle scared of reading frightening stories – but astonishingly I have found it really fun and totally enthralling throughout. I whipped through those pages reading five books in super quick, heartbeat time! There have been moments when certain passages I’ve read have turned my stomach, or left me hugging my duvet for comfort but it has been such a positive experience overall. So thank you so much to Chelley who blogs at Tales of Yesterday and Heather from Heather Reviews for including me in this readalong.

My overall favourites are without a doubt, Frozen Charlotte from week 1 and this final book Dark Room from Week 5! So the best were first and last as far as I was concerned!

My review:

Dark Room certainly started off dark and sinister and that’s a fact. The Prologue tells the tale of Walter West, a rich young chap, but don’t be fooled this, he is no sweet boy next door! If you are friends with Walter West and you’re young and pretty, don’t pop over to visit, well not unless you want to be viciously murdered.

In Chapter 1 we are introduced to the main protagonist a sixteen year old girl called Darla whose life has been hard, with a capital H, she certainly hasn’t had a fairy-tale existence. Her dad hopper is a drunken, hopeless fellow who runs from one unhappy experience to another. Her mother Sidney killed herself. Darla runs away from yet another bout of trouble with her dad Hopper to Saffron Hills. She finds that Saffron Hills has its fair share of beautiful people, is obsessed with looking good, and is home to the Miss Saffron beauty pageant. Not exactly a place to make Darla feel at home as she is a fairly plain looking girl.

There are a bunch of mysteries to solve in this book so at times it came across more like a murder mystery than a horror story. Though there are elements of horror in Dark Room, the visions that Darla experiences are certainly horrible, and this sense of terror is amplified by Darla having no control over these frightening and disturbing visions. As the story unfolds she starts to try to take control of these visions, but more about that later…

Darla meets with her artistic neighbour Annie, who befriends Darla and Hopper. Annie is a fascinating character too with a hidden aspect to her personality that is revealed later in the novel.

When more beautiful kids are killed Darla’s personality changes, she becomes this courageous kid investigating, trying to stop another murder from being committed. That’s when I really started to love Darla, undoubtedly she is the best character in the book, the one that you can’t help but root for.

Photography is used in a creative way as a device in this book, to reveal the next murder, but is also used to suggest the nastiness of the beautiful crowd. In one particular scene TJ takes a selfie with Darla to ridicule her and other plain girls like her. Natalie, Gabrielle, Ryan, TJ, Carmen are beautiful on the outside, but inside they are mean, unlikable, thoughtless bullies. That is not a criticism of the book, the beautiful kids are meant to be portrayed this way, a message is intended to come across. Beauty is more than outward appearance it is what you hold in your heart. The cruel message finally gets through to one of the beautiful kids, who eventually turns over a new leaf.

Darla’s friend Sasha is an interesting but flawed character. She is pretty but in a non-conformist, punk style of way. She is also quite unlikable, and comes across as pretty uncaring, and glib, until one of the kids who she is secretly fond of in the beautiful clique gets murdered. Frank appears to be Sasha’s errand boy, but even Frank has a side of him that is kept a mystery.

So a very intriguing story, full of mysteries, secrets, it kept me wondering, guessing… I guessed the murderer then I changed my mind, then I guessed again… Lots of excitement.

The ending was good but perhaps a bit far fetched so instead of a 5 star read I’ve reduced it by half a star!

Would I recommend reading this?

Absolutely, if you can stomach it! The murders are visually gruesome, made me flinch in parts but nevertheless I found Dark Room very absorbing. So go out and get a copy… Just don’t do any selfies for a while…

Warning: Not For Younger Readers.

My rating:

4.5 stars

DISCLAIMER: “As of 13th September 2017 we are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.”

My opinions are my own and any reviews on this site have not been swayed or altered in any way by monetary compensation, or by the offer of a free book in exchange for a review.

Buying Links:

Amazon UK Kindle: http://amzn.to/2xfFm5r

Amazon UK Paperback: http://amzn.to/2w5vRUV

Links:

http://talesofyesterday.co.uk/2015/09/tales-post-red-eye-read-along-october-2015/

http://talesofyesterday.co.uk/2015/09/tales-qa-with-tom-becker/

http://www.welcometodarkside.co.uk/index.tao?PageId=Biography

Bye for now.

Do comment I’d love to hear your opinions. Have you read Dark Room or any of the other books in the #redeye series?

Marje @ Kyrosmagica xx

#Redeyereadalong: Dark Room by Tom Becker

As you’ll know if you saw my previous post re: Bad Bones, I’m joining in the #readeyereadalong: The Red Eye series of books from Stripes Publishing, this event runs from September 28th to October 31st and is hosted on Goodreads.

There are five scary titles to get you in the mood for Halloween!

Frozen Charlotte, Sleepless, Flesh and Blood, Bad Bones, and Dark Room.

Dark Room is the next scary book I’ll be reading for the #RedEye readalong from:

26th October 2015 – 31st October 2015

Wait a minute – 26th October, that’s today. Can it really be the final week? How time flies when you’re having fun.

It is the final book in the readalong!!!! Dark Room by Tom Becker.

It’s been a blast such eerie, scary excitement all the way, there’s never been a dull moment.

Here’s the Goodreads Synopsis of Dark Room:

A fellow WordPress blogger Heather is running the goodreads readalong with Michelle Toy from Tales of Yesterday blog. There are lots of fun activities on their blogs so do check them out:

http://talesofyesterday.co.uk/2015/09/tales-post-red-eye-read-along-october-2015/

https://heatherreviews.wordpress.com/

Have you read Dark Room? Do you dare to? Let me know if you have!

Bye for now,

Marje @ Kyrosmagica xx

Share this:

Share this:

I’m thrilled to announce that I am one of the participating authors in Plaisted Publishing House’s Ghostly Writes Anthology 2018.

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: