Jeff

My god, Stuart Bray you are the f'ing man. I've been reading this subgenre for a while now and have never came across a book written quite like this. Usually you find in this genre that violence is there just to one up the last kill. Not this time, even though it was always a one up the story was very intriguing. I find myself rooting for June, even though she is a depraved individual that I would never want to associate with in reality. Lemual also has you rooting for him, even though he is always showing his true colors.
I'm going to read everything Bray has ever written, he is now my favorite author.

Just WOW!!! That's all I can really say about this book. First thing I have read by P J Thorndyke but definitely will not be the last. I'm a sucker for this style of storytelling and it was pulled off with such spectacular fashion. Bravo P J bravo.

if you're looking for a quick gruesome read that will leave you thinking after you're finished. Hallowed Be Thy Gore is the book for you. There are several trigger warnings here but if you're searching for this title I'm sure you're already aware of them.
The story starts off with a small church full of believers, a church goer that has his doubts, and a new pastor that has taken over after a peepee toucher scandal.
The new pastor is not exactly what he claims to be, he has a gift to “send people to heaven”. Not metaphorically, but literally. He has the entire congregation believing that he is spoken to by god to send someone to heaven, not just once or twice, but every frigging week!!!!
This story is batshit crazy and I loved every minute of it, the monster is horrifying, and once it is revealed what exactly the wet substance felt in the closet is, haha I'll leave it at that. It's great.

This is the first book I have read by this Author and I was given an eARC to read and I'm glad I did, definitely going to be following Nicholas Gordon from here on out.

What can I say about this newest offering from Otis Bateman. Not enough to do it justice that is for sure. It has everything one could ask for in a novel such as this. Humor (albeit extremely dark), gore, gore, gore, and even things that are so vile I cannot put into words.
The social commentary regarding social media influencers and what people will do for their own 15 minutes of fame is also there.

If you have a strong stomach, familiar with the seedier side of internet lore, what are you waiting for? Get this right now and read it. You won't be disappointed.

Fantasy is a new genre for me, but the pull of Norse mythology hooked me right away—and this story delivered. A fast-paced tale of gods, betrayal, and family conspiracies, it had me turning pages nonstop.

The action is well-written and truly epic in scale, much like the protagonists themselves. It's easily the highlight of the entire experience. The story grabs you—hook, line, and sinker—and doesn't let go until the last enemy falls.

If you enjoy character-driven epics rooted in Norse mythology, don't hesitate to pick this one up. It's absolutely worth the read.

Days later, the ending still lingers. What if the hero was really the villain? Would that change how we see the story—or even our own history? I'm still thinking about it, and to me, that's the mark of a great novel: it stays with you and makes you question what you thought you knew.

Good but gross

So gross, but let's be honest if you deasghefirsfoneyou know to expect more of the same. The ending was the only reason for a star subtraction.

What a gut punch.

A sinister radio transmission sweeps through Sinai, Illinois, twisting its citizens into monsters. The town descends into chaos, and the question looms: Who will survive the nightmare, and who will perish?

From the very first page, this book had its claws in me. The premise was electrifying—wholly original, unpredictable, and unnerving. I had no idea where the story was going, and just when I thought I had it figured out, it twisted again. It kept me guessing, right up to the final, harrowing moments. Because what do you do when you can't put a face to evil?

This book is not for the faint of heart. It's drenched in gore, steeped in body horror, and pulses with an unrelenting sense of dread—exactly the kind of dark, visceral storytelling I crave. And beyond the horror, there's depth. Despite its fast pace, the novel takes the time to develop its characters, making their struggles and fates hit even harder. By the end, my heart ached for Wilbur. I was desperate for his survival. On the other hand, I burned with hatred for Gayle, a character so wretchedly vile that I found myself wishing for her downfall.

Yet, for all its brilliance, there was one crack in its otherwise flawless surface. The ending. It felt rushed—too neat, too cliché for a story that had been so refreshingly unpredictable. This was the single reason I had to shave off a star, leaving my rating at a solid 4 stars instead of 5.

The cover, however, is nothing short of magnificent. The haunting eyes bore into you, setting the perfect tone for the horrors within. Still, given the nature of the story, perhaps ears would have been the more fitting choice... a minor observation, but one I couldn't ignore.

One final detail elevated this book even further in my eyes: the author and publisher's firm stance against A.I. in their creative process. No A.I. in writing, no A.I. in editing, no A.I. in artwork—just pure, raw, human storytelling. It's a rare commitment these days, and one that deserves recognition. Because of this, I'm adding an extra 0.5 stars, bringing my final rating to 4.5 stars.

So if you're hesitant about picking this up, let me be clear: Read it. It's short, it's fast, and it's unforgettable. You might survive this book, but it won't let you go unscathed.

One fateful evening, the Morris family's ordinary life is upended by the arrival of a mysterious man clutching a duffel bag. His presence casts an eerie spell over the household, rendering everyone—except the youngest brother, Mike—helpless under his trance. What does he want? What secrets does the duffel bag conceal? Why is a whiskey-bottle lamp that never turns off so significant? And who—or what—is “The Chicken Man,” whose shadowy power looms over this family? The answers lie in the pages ahead, but be warned: this is no gentle journey. Brace yourself for a heart-pounding ride that will take you to the edge of reason and back.

At its core, this is a tale of debts unpaid, ancient German folklore, the eternal clash between heaven and hell, and the boundless power of love. It is also the story of a father's desperate determination to shield his family from forces far beyond human comprehension. We follow Mike and his brother Don as they embark on a relentless quest for answers—answers that span decades, cross continents, and tear at the very fabric of their lives. The burning question at the heart of their odyssey: what truly happened to their older sister, Abby?

This book is not for the faint of heart. It brims with visceral gore, nail-biting suspense, and an ever-present spiritual undertone that cloaks the story in an air of the supernatural. Michael Park's masterful prose flows like a river, carrying you through every twist and turn with breathtaking ease. From the very first page, I was utterly captivated. I found myself snatching moments throughout the day to dive back in, desperate to uncover the next revelation, the next thread the brothers would unravel in their search for truth.

Yet, even the most gripping tales are not without their flaws. For nearly the entire journey, I was convinced I was holding a five-star masterpiece in my hands. But as the story reached its climax in the final three chapters, the narrative began to falter. What had been a tightly woven tapestry suddenly felt disjointed and rushed, as though the threads were unraveling too quickly. By the time I turned the final page, I was left with more questions than answers, unsure if I had fully grasped the ending. Perhaps this story demands a second reading to unlock its deeper meanings. While the ending still showcased Park's talent for beautiful prose, it lacked the cohesion and clarity that had defined the rest of the book.

Overall, this book earns a well-deserved 4 stars. Despite my reservations about the ending, it is an unforgettable journey that I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone who stumbles upon this review.

A special thanks to BookSirens for providing an ARC copy of this book. I am eager to explore more of Michael Park's works in the future—this story has left an indelible mark on me.

I was given this book as an eARC, and I have to say it was a, shall I say pleasure without sounding demented to read. It starts off way over the top, the entire first 30% of the book is completely off the rails. When the author states he wrote the book in a drug and alcohol fueled stupor I have absolutely no reason to doubt him. However that is what makes the book rock so hard. After almost giving up on it after the first ARC I'm glad I kept reading, it became a way better book in the last 2/3.
If you have no triggers, I suggest you give this a chance. If you do have triggers please steer very very clear of this title. You'll literally be offended from page 1 until the end.

Excellent Book.

A solid, blood-soaked entry in the splatterpunk/extreme horror genre.

Lexi, a horror-loving influencer, has stumbled upon a new favorite author—John Skulz (yes, that's his pen name). She's devoured everything he's written, reviewed his every release, and now has the chance to meet him in person for a signed copy of his latest work. She jumps at the opportunity.
And that's where she makes her biggest mistake.

What follows is a fever dream straight from hell—a relentless spiral of kidnapping, torture, demons, gore, and violence, all woven together so seamlessly that you'll be hooked from the first chapter.

Just when you think you've grasped where the story is headed, it rips the rug out from under you and leaves you standing on your head. The mid-book twist is one of those jaw-dropping moments that defies expectation. Somehow, impossibly, it works—and I'm still in shock trying to figure out how.

When you turn that final page, this one will linger in your mind. It might even make you reconsider the authors you idolize. How well do you really know someone you've never met? Does admiration blur the line between connection and obsession?

This book proves that you don't know the half of it.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – Highly recommended.

Just wow, this book hit a little close to home.
It's easy to lose sight of reality in this new world of instant communication and social media. Imagine reading an author and feeling so akin to what they are putting down that you develop some sort of delusional relationship in your mind. What happens when that relationship is not reciprocated, and you are unable to see past you're own ego and emotions. They might seem like they would be your best friend, but people do exist outside your own selfish world.
I've been in the authors shoes online, I read some of the authors in the Splatterpunk / Extreme horror genre and I can sometimes get caught up and relate to them on an entirely different level than just the superficial entertainment level, like they “just get me” or “we could be friends”. This book explorers what happens when you're unable to dial it back to reality and realize they are just people like yourself. How far would you take you're obsession.

PS make sure to stay after the story and read the afterword by Bateman, it answers alot of questions you may have had during your read.

Wow what a great book. A little bit American Psycho, A little like Exquisite Corpse. So glad someone recommended this to me as it was never on my radar. The Disney Princess theme was a nice turn of events.

This book had so much potential. I'm a sucker for meta horror and that is what this one started out as. A possessed film on some rare film stock. A cult leader trying to rule the world, how could this go bad. Well, just like Adam Neville's The Ritual it goes horribly off course in the third act. It goes from meta horror to some sort of Harry Potter magic fantasy type story. It was a slog to get through the last third of this book.
It was well written, just not written for me.

I picked this on up recently during the Terrify your Tablet event. I had no idea what I was getting into, I saw that it was a play, also involved dark web boxes. 2 things going for this already and I hadn't even cracked the spine yet.
That's where it falls apart. The first act was intense, creepy, had me on the edge of my seat. The entire premise however fell apart in the last act. It almost felt like the story wasn't completely fleshed out, it still was good enough to finish, just felt like it squandered the premise in the end.
I do recommend it, as the format is unique and it's creepy enough. The fact that it's a shorter read also plays to it's favor as there is no large time commitment involved.

Coffin Moon completely took me by surprise. I'm not usually drawn to vampire tales, but this one had me hooked from page one. The characters felt heartbreakingly real, and my heart aches for Duane.

Julia has endured far too much for someone just 13 years old. After losing her entire family, she's raised by her aunt and uncle—but when tragedy strikes again, she becomes consumed by vengeance. How far will she go to settle the score? And how far will Duane go to protect her in her relentless quest? You wouldn't believe me if I told you.

This book is brilliantly crafted. The prose felt unconventional at first, but by the third chapter, it hit its stride, and suddenly, it was full throttle to the end. By the time the extreme gore kicked in, I was absolutely ravenous for more vampire havoc.

An absolute must-read. 5 stars.

Excellent BOOK. Chizmar never fails to deliver, and he did this time in spades. Road trip, coming of age, satanic panic, cults, dark secrets, and demons. How could you go wring.

Disappointed, felt like a total bait and switch.

First off thank you Netgalley and Random House for the eARC.
What can I say about this book,
1. it was really well written, I cannot believe this is Nicky Gonzalez debut novel. The writing alone had me hooked and kept me engaged.
Herein lies the problem, I was engaged and really enjoyed reading the prose, however nothing every really happened. You would start piecing together what was going on, the atmosphere would become tense, and there was an extremely slow burn heading to something magical. Then it kind of fizzled out and turned into a bad LSD or Acid trip, I had to reread several passages of the last 15% just to make sure I could at least pretend to grasp what was going on.
Although I did not particularly like the story after the 85% mark, the first 85% was absolutely flawless.
I will definitely be adding Nicky to my authors to follow for no other reason alone than I really enjoyed the time I spent reading her artistic way of tying the English language together.

Very well written, not my preferred genre and I almost DNF'D. However I didn't and I'm glad I didn't. I give it four stars even though I have reservations and personal bias towards the mystery genre. Give it a read if this is your bag, I don't think you'll be disappointed.

No words for this book. I'm not even sure how I feel about. I enjoyed it, it was a thrill ride yet I'm torn. Recommend.

Gross I loved it

This short story made me squirm and uncomfortable. I loved every minute. Wouldn't recommend it to
anyone as they might wonder what is wrong with me. However 5 stars in secret.

Not sure how I feel about this one. On one hand it was a very easy read, had a great plot, and the letters were a great touch. On the other hand, I expected a horror novel. Yes this had some uncomfortable moments, I just think there could have been something else done with the “copycat” killer. I don't know.

Even though I'm still processing this book it is a solid 4 star read, and I do recommend it. Just go in with tempered horror expectectations.

A different take on the zombie genre. Like 28 Days Later on speed. I was unable to put the book down and now I have a new favorite author. Just can't wait to read the rest of the series to see what happens. Highly recommend.

Perfection, read the trilogy now if you have any intrest in this genre. Do not put it off.