The best natural horror novel I've ever read!
937738
Its often that people start getting ideas about nature turning against man, and more often than not, these ideas end up as either brilliant or complete and total B-movie crap. I think everyones seen at least one of those movies where usually harmless animals end up as killing machines, and most times, these movies turn out to be cheesy, mediocre popcorn flicks.

Of course, nature turning against man is a very complex and intriguing idea at heart, and I have found an example of this in KAMAKAZO, a doorstopper of a novel by author Wes McCloud, of which I had the honor of receiving a signed copy.

The book tells the story of a hunting trip gone awry in a West Virginia forest by the name of, you guessed it, Kamakazo. where old hunter, Jessy Iville has discovered an anomaly: a meat-eating whitetail deer. Once he finds evidence of the animal, he gathers a group of deer hunters and sets out to destroy the creature. At first sight, this seems like a typical B-movie plot. Well, if you  think that, do yourselves a favor, get your hands on this huge book, and read it. It sent chills down my spine, had me actually bonding with the characters(the dialogue is really awesome, especially Jessys parts!), and had me thinking about what would actually happen if there were actually flesh-eating deers running about. The story of how it happened, as well as the backstory of how this creepy place got its name, are other strong points of the book. Be aware that this is a horror novel, so it contains gory scenes and tough language. Nevertheless, its a frightening backwoods epic thats sure to raise eyebrows and chill spines. 5 outta 5! Hell of a job, Mr. McCloud!
991343
Short version: I almost didn't read this book, but I'm so happy I did.

Long version. You can scare the crap out of me (Aracnaphobia), and I will love you forever. You can make me bite my nails in terrible suspense (Wait Until Dark, The Village) or throw supernatural at me (Poltergeist) and I will sing with praise. But the moment you do gruesome, the moment you start showing me entrails and organs, my discomfort level shoots through the roof.

And this is why I would not have finished  I Am Not A Serial Killer by Dan Well's if I had just picked it up off a shelf-because the main character is the son of a woman who owns a mortuary. We get to see him help process a mutilated body very early in the book, pumping fluids in etc., and Wells knows his craft so I was THERE. I'm sure it's not too gruesome for some, but I just have issues with organs. I don't know why. I also have an issue with clowns.

Clowns are, by far, the scariest things around. And this is not because I read the book IT by Stephen King as a wee lad because I didn't. It's because they're painted vessels of evil. End of story. They're perfect examples of the freakazoids that lurk in the uncanny valley.

Anyway, I'd heard Wells read a portion of this book that had all of us in the room crying because we were laughing so hard. So I read on, telling myself I had to at least get to that part. And I am so very happy I did.

I Am Not A Serial Killer is young adult story about a good-hearted teen named John Cleaver who is a sociopath with all the traits shared by serial killers. John's in counseling, but more importantly, he is convinced he can prevent himself from becoming a serial killer by keeping rules he's made for himself like not watching people for too long and complimenting someone when they make him angry. Such rules, he hopes, will keep him from feeding compulsions he won't be able to resist.  The problem is a real serial killer has come to town (but unlike any you've seen before). And John may be the only one who can stop him. Will he let go of his rules to save the town? Or will he keep his monster asleep while others die around him?

It's a fascinating situation (without a clown in sight, may the writing gods be praised). And Wells takes the reader on a journey through it that includes mystery, dread, and humor. In the hands of some other author, that would be enough. But Wells does more than entertain us. He gives us things to think about. He gives us great characters to boot-come on, when was the last time you read a book where the hero was a likeable sociopath? And there's poetry in it. You'll love how he used William Blake's Tiger Tiger and Little Lamb. Besides, most of the gruesome is up front anyway.

Read this book. Skim the body processing if you must. But you simply don't want to miss the rest. It was a fabulous read and I recommend it highly.
369841
I genuinely cannot rave enough about this book!
It has a fantastic concept, is superbly written, and is extremely realistic/terrifying!

Hilliard does an outstanding job juggling multiple, interesting characters - characters that you generally care about and want to learn more of.
Also, he does not hold back, at all, when it comes to the gore! (a particular nauseating autopsy scene comes to mind)

He brings to light, previously un-thought of (to me anyway) concepts, such as a corpse's eyes and mouth being sewn shut (rendering it blind and unable to feed) or, after a feeding frenzy, the victim's feet being left behind, due to them being tied up inside of boots, etc - things like that - brilliant!

This is the 'True Romance' of zombie novels. Buy this book either for yourself, or for your loved one - it will make a great Valentine's Day gift! ;-)
1695002
I was looking for new undead titles to review for The Zombiephiles, and this novel came up in my Amazon inquiry. I can't believe I found something this well-written through a random search. Not only are the descriptions quite vivid AND mixed well with the action, but this story contains all the classic elements of a great horror story: mystery/suspense, drama and terror.

I love how the book begins with the group in hiding from the infected, and then flashes all the way back to the beginning of their ill-fated adventure in the Amazon jungle. Knowing ahead of time that the group is going to be screwed big-time, and that they have already lost one of their fellow survivors, built up the suspense to a point where I felt I couldn't put the book down, at least, until I reached the part where they are in hiding. It proved to be an incredibly intense read.

Unlike many other authors, Rice does not depend on excessive violence or graphic sexual content to propel the story, but rather creates imagery and characters that will make readers feel as if they too are in the jungle. For the first time in my life, I was actually rooting for ALL the characters, and the ending left me devastated, but thoroughly entertained.

I'm sure there will be some debate on whether or not the infected could be considered zombies, but there is no doubt in my mind that zombiephiles will be pleased with the source of the infection. I also think this novel will appeal to horror fans in general, especially those who enjoy stories that feed on people's most basic fears.
2651399
I've enjoyed great horror most of my life and have found it lacking until I stumbled across Half-Made Girls.  From the get go Sam Witt yanked me into one of the most disturbing stories I've ever read.  Each chapter twists and turns you through the highs and lows of Pitchfork County either leaving your stomach churning or your mind with images you can't forget.  The writing is top notch, the character development is superb, and the story is freaky as Hell!

If this EVER comes out in book format, I want it signed and in my library at home!
3846090
I received a copy of this book in return for leaving an honest review.
I love the great outdoors, but with that said I definitely have a healthy fear for it and as always my surroundings. And this story is why. I have said this before about Darcy's books, they are a hit with me because they have a Supernatural aspect to them but the also have a major dose of reality. And the reality is what is terrifying and what makes a superb horror story. Dead Lake definitely met all the markers for an outstanding horror story. The descriptive writing alone is enough to suck you into the story. I swear I spent a majority of this book with all the fine hairs on the back of my neck standing on end. One of the things I love, which also probably makes me a bit of a sadist, is that there is no easy solution. Everything has to be fought for both with strength and strength of the mind. And thankfully Darcy is usually generous enough to leave us with a happy ending. And this book was one of those times. And thank god too, because after making it through this story I needed something happy. Darcy you are just simply brilliant and without a doubt one of the the greatest horror writers of this time.
3146370
What a wonderfully terrifying this book is!!! I had no idea what to expect as this is the first book Ive ever read by DelSheree Gladden, but I was pleasantly surprised by how great and detail oriented her writing is.

The Ghost Host tells the story of high-school senior  Echo, who has the hidden capacity of talking to ghosts and conveying their written messages to their dear ones, but unbeknownst to her, these messages are not always pleasant ones. After a frightening such as event left her emotionally scared, she enlisted the help of her best friends Holden and Zara, took further precautions when getting in contact with the spirits following her around and started a YouTube series, all in hopes that this way she can eventually be free of her ghostly stalkers. This is how Echo ends up meeting Malachi, a freshman at Georgia State University and their connection is instantaneous. They are both drawn to each other, but its so much more than just physical  attraction; Malachi and Echo are connected in the supernatural sense, the protector and the protegee, and even more than that.

Echo soon enough finds out the theres more to her power than she has originally thought  shes stalked by a rogue ghost, or so she thought, shes interviewed by the FBI and even gets an agent assigned to her case, moves across country because another ghost told her so, where she discovers secrets that will change her life forever. Echo, Holden and Zara, alongside Malachi and his friends, Kyran and Cerise and agent Morton get tangled up in a world full of incomprehensible truths, where theyll need one another to survive and give peace to all the lost souls wondering the world.

What a story this is  it was unpredictable from start to finish, full of grim moments that left me wondering what will happen next and if our heroes will see the next chapter. Not one time during reading  it, did I guess right  the villains of this story are extraordinary ones, and Im excited to read more about them.

Although The Ghost Host reminded me of Karina Halles Experiment in Terror series, these two couldn't be more different  this is truly a PRN book in the real sense of the world. I got chills while reading it and I felt compelled to look around and make sure the noise I heard in the back ground was indeed m dog snoring and not something out of the ordinary .

I adored that the author didn't focus mainly on getting Echo and Malachi together right away, but worked on developing them and giving them both separate stories before they became a couple. I also loved that the book stayed focused on Echos powers and what could come out of it, than making it a book full of contemporary romance cliches.

All in all, Id recommend The Ghost Host to everyone who loves a scary story, with a bit of romance and great friendships. Echos story has just began and Im more than ready for the next episode in this incredible sci-fi show.

***ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review

4.5 ghostly stalker stars
2564300
I loved this book from cover to cover.  I am not into the horror genre, but the book delivers so much more than just the obligatory fear factor.  There is thoughtful character development, and the author resists the easy, obvious routes.  I was scared when I was supposed to be, but I also really became invested in each one of the players in the novel and could not wait to dive into each of their individual stories.  Beautifully told.

Being a "Sammye" I was haunted by the drawn out, freaky "Saaaaaammy's" that echoed through the audio version of the book.  I still hear it in my damn head a couple of months later.

Highly recommend  this book for both those who love horror, and those who are on the cusp and enjoy a well developed story line and characters.
2371956
I love a good jungle adventure novel. I love a good supernatural horror novel. I love lots of cool death scenes. I love seeing characters I want to see die get it good, but I also like to have someone to root for. I love monsters and legends. Mayan Blue is the perfect combination of them all. It's fast moving and goes where you won't expect it to. Full of blood and gore, but story and lore too. Hard to believe this is a debut novel, but then again the Sisters have been writing short stories, reading horror and immersing themselves in the horror world and it clearly shows. Mayan Blue is an excellent example of blood and guts horror with story and purpose. Highly recommended!
3811788
In her first ever book, Natasha Troop relays a tale of a small Northeastern town haunted by a darkness that both threatens it and keeps it alive. We see through the many eyes of the town's inhabitants who relay their own inner musings of the mysterious dark shadow cast on the town, as well as their own lives. Ms. Troop has given us a very dark tale that is somehow both sad, frightening, and funny at the same time. All I can say is, bravo. It is a fresh breath in the world of horror, akin to many great horror authors. This book gets my highest recommendation, as it's astounding. Time is fleeting, so buy and read it as soon as you can, before the madness takes its toll.
1507232
I'm generally  not into fantasy, horror, or the paranormal, so to admit that this book grabbed me by the hair and wouldn't let go is quite a compliment! The prologue gives a hint of what is to come; otherwise, the terrifying revelations creep up slowly. I can only compare this book to my all-time favorite spine chiller, Rosemary's Baby, because much of the terror is psychological. The setting is firmly anchored in the reality of the Pennsylvania coal mining wastelands where huge black slag heaps are still smoking and burning, buildings suddenly sink down into the mine-riddled earth, and the dark caves left by the coal mining industry make a perfect underground cathedral for DANU'S CHILDREN. The characters spring to life, a lovely priestess who was "saved" by a mysterious god of the underworld, the reporter who comes for his cousin's funeral and stays partly because he's falling in love,and partly to investigate the corrupt developers who are destroying what is left of the land, those dedicated to preserving it, and the worshipers of an ancient god of the earth--but is it a benevolent deity or one of Satan's minions? You won't be able to put this book down!
1960539
Monsters, ghosts, daemons, torture, sacrifice, real-people-heros/anti-heros and hardcore final girls...all of it and more packaged up together in a haunted forest located in the middle of a desert where our protagonists take a Jurassic Park style adventure tour on Halloween! It really can't get much better than that!
Still, if you're like me and want a well written novel to go along with the mayhem, The Haunted Forest Tour was not a disappointment! The characters are well written and relatable with lots of witty dialog. There are tons of familiar horror and fantasy monsters as well as a generous supply of really creative unfamiliar ones. The central story is an original one (a rare treat) that flows smoothly from start to finish. There are also numerous side stories which tie in seamlessly and the ending was brought full circle, completing the story as flawlessly as the Saw, Final Destination, & Insidious movies. To have an interesting plot with likeable and fully developed characters while seeing to it that virtually every page is dripping with blood and gore, wow, we just don't get that everyday!
Trust me, if you live for horror (or just like it a little) you don't want to miss out on this one.
3440630
I've read some scary books in my time but this one is the scariest by 10 to the 100th power. Truly the scariest story I've ever read. And the most original. I've never even seen a review for a book that sounded any where's close to as scary. Stephen King, Joe Hart or any other horror author; eat your heart out and step aside, there` a new king (LOL) on the literary playground and he reigns supreme. I doubt I'll sleep nightmare free for many upcoming weeks, yes it's that scary. I am not easily scared but this one terrified me. I struggle with words to do it justice with out giving spoilers, which I try very hard to never do. Suffice to say; if it's scary monsters, ghosties, beasties and things that go bump in the night that scare you, those don't even scratch the surface. I didn't know an author lived that could think up the horrors that live in this extraordinary book. If you are squeamish, easily offended or tender hearted DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK or accept it as a gift or loan!!!! It could totally screw up a kid or even a teen; DO NOT let them read it. Definitely for adults and hard core horror lovers, and even you should read a sample before buying. That said it's a terrific book. All I can say is Bravo Mr`s Strand and Moore, it's a masterpiece of horror. Highly recommended.
4808973
This is one of the few novels that have ever made me feel genuinely terrified.  I was reading this alone in an empty house and had to stop because I felt so creeped out.  The novel is written in a deceptively simple style that soon had me frantically turning pages.  I read it in one day and then read it again straight after- it's that good.

I don't want to give anything away, but I will say that this novel is horrific and convincing.  It makes some of the cookie-cutter Hollywood `horror' novels (the ones where the girls with big boobs always get caught by the villain with the fish hook who always walks, never runs) look pathetic and childish.  The narrator of the story, Amanda, seems so real and normal that watching her life fall apart in such a horrible way made me feel deeply unsettled.

Overall, I recommended this for people who want a short novel that is refreshing, scary and unusual.  It's a quick read that packs a huge emotional punch and is very satisfying.  I don't normally read horror books, but found this one to be everything I expected and more.  The ending is macarbre and a real bone-chiller.  Enjoy!
1402033
I do not like graphic violence or sexual scenes, which is why I usually avoid dark fantasy. But when C. David Belt described this book as LDS horror, I was immediately intrigued. HOW do those two things go together? I had to read The Sweet Sister, but because I'm sensitive to graphic violence, I was sure I wouldn't last long.
Chapter one was shocking, but the author gives just enough details to make me understand the horrific scenes and makes them feel real, but backs off just before I've had too much. He maintained that careful balance in a way that didn't make me feel uncomfortable reading his book (which I'm grateful for). Chapter one gave me a taste of what I should expect later on and caught my interest.
From there, the story became so interesting! I found myself rooting for Peggy right away and formed deep-rooted opinions about each character.
The best surprise, which I can't say too much about without spoiling it, was the fairytale retelling woven in!
The ending chilled me to the bone and somehow tied up in a happy ending (though I struggled to sleep with the lights off for a couple weeks).
The characterization is so rich. Every character has a unique past and personality. I also love the research this author dedicated to this book. The history behind the fairytale retelling was so interesting and really added depth to the story.
For parents, this is not a book for kids. Though the author didn't go "too far" with the descriptions, there were some disturbing images and the book does discuss rape (in an appropriate manner). I'd recommend this for ages 16+
My FAVORITE THING about this book! When I asked the author how he managed to write an LDS horror novel, he had the perfect answer (I wish I wrote it down, but I'm paraphrasing): this book has LDS characters who experience horrific moments and must learn how to rely on their faith to overcome it.
How perfect is that? This is why I think C. David Belt has written such a wonderful book. We're often faced with overwhelming difficulties in life. Fairytales teach children how to overcome their monsters. I love how he tied LDS values into this story to show adults (with a fairytale) that our faith in Christ can help us overcome everything life throws at us.
C. David Belt's book was so refreshing. It's so nice to read a book that features LDS characters and isn't a romance. And it's AWESOME to feel like a character like ME, who is a member of my same religion, can be the heroine in a book!
754221
The best horror novel I've read in years. Scary as hell, but not at the cost of character development. Even though I was worried about reading it to close to bed, I didn't want to put it down. The characters are really well-developed, and the scares and relief all feel earned - there's no cheap scares here. If you like horror novels, I cannot recommend this one highly enough.
71754
CYCLE OF THE WEREWOLF was the first Stephen King novel that I ever read. I read it when I was 13 or 14 years old and found it to be quite scary. Just recently, my little brother read this book and loved it. And he also saw the film SILVER BULLET, the film King made out of the book. So I decided to get this book again and was thrilled with how great it is!

CYCLE OF THE WEREWOLF is a story laid out over one year with each chapter covering a month. During each month, citizens of Tarker's Mills, a sleepy Maine town, are falling prey to something terrifying, something almost human. And only a wheelchair-bound young boy survives and can stop the carnage!

The book is terrifying and smartly-written. The werewolf attacks are described with such precision that you don't want to put the book down. And the illustrations by Bernie Wrightson go along beautifully with the text! One day, I would love to make a TV-movie out of this book (most likely for TNT) and make it faithful to the book!