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A Bleak Remedy by DS LaLonde Book Review
LaLonde twists the vampire lore into a thrilling biotech genre mashup. A secret lab harbors world's greatest predator: a vampire. The scientists are fascinating with this creature's ability to rejuvenate quickly and decide to study him in hopes of developing medical advancements for humanity. What could possibly go wrong?
This large ensemble scifi horror has many compelling moments. The action, fight scenes, and terror leap off the page and there is a desire to keep reading and discover how all the elements will eventually peace together; however, some readers will be daunted by the length. This isn't a quick read. In fact, it's upward of 500 pages, and when a book is that long, it's only natural to ask, "is every word essential?" Unfortunately, the answer for many will be no. While there's no denying that this is a fun premise with memorable moments, there is also a lot of background information and meticulous details (readers don't necessarily need to know everyone's outfits or what they're eating for lunch) that some readers will find a tad laborious to the reading experience.
Still, others will enjoy the opportunity to sink into a clever and imaginative twist on a familiar villain. The plethora of characters means there's someone for every reader to connect with and plenty of external and emotional stakes. Perhaps if it were streamlined just a bit, it would appeal to a larger audience, but for those who enjoy slow burns and hefty word counts, this is a dynamic and entertaining vampire tale!
BOOK CONTRACT SIGNED!
OPEN HOUSE COMING JUNE 2023
My haunted house horror novella entitled Open House will be published June 2023 by PsychToxin Press!
Caleb is a Realtor on his way to becoming a self-made millionaire. He has worked hard to leave his troubled youth in the rearview mirror. Enter a mysterious woman with her own wicked agenda. She shows up at his open house asking all the right questions, but something feels off. Before Caleb can pinpoint what it is, he finds himself locked in the home and at her mercy. To be set free, he must battle his inner demons, but Caleb isn't as innocent as he looks. The deadly truth will come out and someone is going to pay.
Annie Pilgrim by Eddie Generous Book Review
Annie Pilgrim Book Review
This is a blast!
Generous quickly captures readers' attentions with this quick paced coming-of-age horror. Annie and her mom live a quite life, but when an accident forces Annie to move in with her estranged father, everything changes. Annie is now faced with a new family, new school, and new household rules that rapidly cause friction. All she wants is to enjoy nature, be left alone, and smoke a few cigarettes, but ever since she moved into town, people have been disappearing. Now, Annie finds herself in the middle of an investigation with no one to turn to, except the voices in her head.
Annie is a well-developed character whose plight will instantly garner sympathy. She's the oddball, but her quirkiness is the very thing that makes her unique. Unfortunately, not many see and accept her for her true self. Readers will feel empathy towards her eccentric personality as she struggles to please her overbearing step-mother and survive high school. Organic dialogue and well-rounded characterizations help Annie come alive off the page, along with the rest of her adopted family. But if readers think this is a standard coming-of-age story, they will soon discover their mistake! Generous elevates the common trope to a completely unique level with wild horror elements that weave seamlessly into the plot, slowing heating to an epic boil point.
Themes of personal growth and self-acceptance shine bright. Creepy elements keep the tension and suspense high, entrancing readers and gluing them to the page. There are a few tiny editing issues, but nothing that deters from the overall reading experience. Horror fans looking for a fast paced read with a compelling female protagonist will quickly devour this frightful story.
Book Reviews from #TransRightsReadathon
Trans Rights Readathon: Book Reviews
From March 20 - 27th, I’ve been/ will be participating in the #TransRightsReadathon! As of today, I have read four books and I plan on completing one more before the end of the 27th. All my pledge money (will go to JustUs Oasis, a program-based organization in Tennessee that helps queer youth with housing, advocacy, and self-acceptance. Now, more than ever, it’s vital to stand with the trans community and provide support, resources, and allyship!
Here are the books I set out to read:
I’m currently reading Future Feeling, which will be my last pledged read.
Let’s break these books down a little deeper for anyone interested in reading them in the future!
PET BOOK REVIEW
My first read was Pet by Akwaeke Emezi . This book has been all over social media for the longest time, and it’s been on my TBR forever. Like many others, the readathon was the perfect opportunity to dust it off and dive in. I’m so glad I took the plunge!
This book is B-R-I-L-L-I-A-N-T! It’s about a young trans girl named Jam whose mother is an artist. One of her mom’s paintings spawns a creature named Pet, and that’s when the trouble really begins. Jam lives in the peaceful town of Lucille, where monsters don’t live. In fact, they were vanquished by angels before Jam was born, but Pet isn’t convinced. Pet ‘s mission is crystal clear: there’s a monster in Lucille that must be destroyed.
Jam is a beautiful young character and a positive trans representation in literature. Her transition is loved, embraced, and supported by her parents. Her dialogue and characterization is believable for a young girl who is beginning to realize the world isn’t as she’s been told. The story is packed with emotion, tension, and haunting moments. I wish this was required reading in schools.
DEPART DEPART! BOOK REVIEW
Next up was Depart Depart ! by Sim Kern, who inspired the entire trans rights readathon movement! This is about a trans Jewish man who is displaced after a horrible flood washes away his queer-safe haven community in Texas. Now, he’s stuck at the Dallas Maverick’s Stadium with a group of people he often avoids. Tensions and frustrations grow as the days tick by, and to make matters worse, he’s seeing the ghost of his great-grandfather who fled Nazi Germany.
This book is super short but crazy impactful. I’d consider it climate change/ speculative/ social justice fiction. It’s certainly not light reading, but it’s worth the emotional journey. I recommend for readers who want to dive deeper into queer culture as well as those curious about how the Jewish faith dissects gender.
CONVULSIVE BOOK REVIEW
Book three was a challenge for me. In my TikTok video review, I mention that I don’t feel smart enough for this book, which is true. Convulsive by Joe Koch is a literary horror short story collection filled with lyrical and poetic prose. The imagery and metaphors became a little challenging for me to follow, but I strongly believe others will enjoy sinking deeply into Koch’s beautiful worlds and imagination. Koch can certainly paint a picture and take readers on a quest towards inner growth and spirituality. There’s a lovely cadence to the words, even though I sometimes struggled to dive as deeply as I wished.
QUEEN OF TEETH BOOK REVIEW
Two words.
Vagina. Monster.
I mean, I could end the review right there, but aside from a tentacle monster with teeth (named Magenta) emerging from a vagina, this book is a powerful harrowing look at body autonomy. Yaya is startled to discover that there is something growing deep within. She blames AlphaBeta Pharmaceutical, a company who claims to own her and many others who underwent a procedure while still in the womb. Now, the growth is starting to get angry, and it wants out.
Piper is a fantastic creature of monsters. Magenta is rage filled, but equally sympathetic and beautiful. The plot moves quickly with tons of action and suspense. The characters are lovingly crafted and come alive, leaving readers feeling a sense of longing for them long after the final sentence. This is incredible prose!
The last book on my list is Future Feeling by Joss Lake. I was going to wait to post about the books I’ve read until I finished, but I wanted to put this out in time for those still interested in the readathon to find some recommendations.
I’m halfway through Future Feelings and it’s an extremely unique sci-fi that I can’t wait to finish! I’ll make sure to post a review later next week.
If readers are looking for further suggestions, here are some more possible books to consider! Yes, Depart Depart! is on this as well. It’s that good!
Remember to keep supporting trans books and trans authors! We will stand by them and won’t let their voices fade!
Pet by Akwaeke Emezi Book Review
Pet by Akwaeke Emezi Review
Emezi crafts a timeless tale of monsters, abuse, and denial in this fantasy/horror mash-up. Jam is a trans young girl who lives in the serene town of Lucille. Monsters aren’t real, at least, not since the angels defeated them. Now, she and her best friend Redemption live without fear of evil until one of her mother’s paintings comes to life. Enter Pet, a creature spawned from paint and blood who insists that a monster lurks in Lucille and must be destroyed. Together, Jam and Redemption must decide whether to believe Pet and hunt for a monster or rest faithfully in the knowledge bestowed by their families, that monsters no longer exist.
Jam is a dynamic young protagonist whose desire to remain a dutiful daughter weighs heavily against her need to secretly enlist in Pet’s mission. Her childlike innocence mixes with a maturing need to find the truth. The adult’s reactions to her claims mirror real-world neglect and denial turning this quick-paced fantasy into a timeless look behind the curtain at society and abuse culture. Jam’s courage resonates with readers of all ages as Redemption’s anger and pain will twist readers’ cores and not let go. Pet provides the flame to the burning tension that leads to a heart-wrenching climax. Emotion and passion drips from each word of this brilliant and haunting read.
Necessary Evils by Serena Jayne Book Review
Necessary Evils by Serena Jayne Book Review
Jayne weaves a deliciously frightful collection of eighteen short stories guaranteed to disturb. Stories range from short and wicked to longer tales of depravity and terror. Stalkers, slighted lovers, evil men, and venomous women lurk on the pages, ready to strike and fulfill their darkest whims. Whether set in Sin City, a grocery store during the Apocalypse, or darkened bedrooms, danger is never far. Readers beware! Sometimes, evil is necessary.
Speckled throughout the collection are short flash pieces that break up the intensity of the longer tales and allow readers a much appreciated chance to catch their breath. "Unlikeable" takes a quick stab at social media culture while "Banana Bread" delivers a peak into the world of an abusive husband whose days are numbered. Longer stories such as "Chet-Shaped Lure" stick with readers well after the final word, encompassing a world of torture and heartbreak, and "Darkside Effect" mixes science fiction and violence with horror and female empowerment. Additionally, readers will enjoy the unique format of "Best Friend Forever" where the plot is unraveled through personal correspondences between a lawyer and perpetrator. Overall, each story is well developed with memorable characters that will certainly remain firmly implanted into readers’ minds.
Jayne bravely doesn't hold back with disturbing and raw context. Themes of betrayal, abuse and retribution, heartache, lust, and greed are regularly featured. While some may find the violence against women excessive, others will recognize and revel the characters' resilience and determination to survive. The stories fly by as each does a fantastic job of digging deep into the reader’s brain and not letting go. Horror fans looking for twisted plots and wicked characters will enjoy this quick paced collection.
Format
186 pages, Paperback
Published
February 20, 2022 by Unnerving
ISBN
9781989206850 (ISBN10: 1989206859)
BUY IT HERE!
Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-Garcia Book Review
Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Review
Moreno-Garcia once again hypnotizes readers as she weaves a tale of sorcery, Nazi's, and magic into her new book Silver Nitrate. Montserrat is a sound engineer struggling in a man's world while her best friend Tristán, an actor looking to rise back into the spotlight, only seems to talk to her when he needs something. When Tristán tells her about an opportunity to work with a popular cult horror director, Montserrat agrees, but soon, they both realize the project isn't as straight forward as promised. Now, they must figure out a way to survive a hungry evil.
Montserrat is a brilliant character. She throws away old stereotypes of females in distress and stars as her own leading lady. Independent and brave, Monsterrat perfectly counters Tristán's tenative and fearful approach to the growing threat. Combined, the pair complement each other while serving a dash of romantic tension. But while they're relationship tumbles in the friend-zone, horrors come to life, and they must work together to find a solution. Their paring is well crafted and readers will cheer for their success.
While some readers may find the beginning chapters just a tad slow paced, they will quickly relish in the mystery behind the silver-nitrate film and the cult associated with it. Horror pops out of the shadows at the perfect moments startling fans of thrills and frights! Readers who enjoy sorcery, the occult, and a dollop of romance will enjoy this book.
Thank you to NetGalley for my free ARC!
Interview with Horror Author Red Lagoe
Interview with Horror Author Red Lagoe
1. First, a HUGE CONGRATS on your anthology Nightmare Sky making the Stoker Preliminary Ballot! As a fan of yours (I absolutely loved your Lucid Screams short story collection), I was THRILLED to see your name on that list! We’re going to talk more about that, but first, let’s step back in time. When did you first develop a love of writing?
Thank you, Nico! I was thrilled, too!
Even though I wrote a short story when I was eleven years old (and it was a horror story), I didn’t know I wanted to be a writer. I’m not one of those people who can say, “I’ve always wanted to be a writer.” That wasn’t me. I was the outdoorsy kid. The one playing sports and adventuring alone into the woods behind my house. But I have always had an active imagination. I spent a lot of time as a kid playing make-believe alone in my head. However, I’d play the same scenario over and over for days, changing the scenes, and upping the stakes for the hero. I was creating stories in my head and never writing them down. These imagined scenarios and stories matured with me into my teens and into adulthood, and I locked them away as my little secrets. It wasn’t until my 30s—maybe about a decade ago—that I realized I should start sharing those stories through writing. I fell in love with it as soon as I started.
2. What sparked your interest in the horror genre?
I grew up on 80’s slashers and Alfred Hitchcock, Tales from the Crypt, and Twilight Zone. When my mom was out, my brothers and I had full control of the VCR, and it was gore, gore, and more gore all night long. However, when I started writing, I didn’t gravitate straight to horror. I wrote and illustrated a children’s book first, and from there I tried writing in other genres, but everything I wrote ventured a little too far into the darkness. Once I realized I was writing horror stories, there was no turning back. Horror is in engrained in my psyche from those countless unsupervised hours in front of that big wooden box of a TV as blood splattered across the screen. It’s locked inside of me, brought on by life’s traumas that had been packed away and ignored for too many years. Writing horror is a release valve on all those feelings and the creativity that’s been bottled up.
3. Do you have a favorite author and if so, who and why?
The first author that comes to mind is Paul Tremblay. I’ve loved every book of his that I’ve read. The prose, the intensity, the pacing, and all those ambiguous endings make for a storytelling cocktail that I really enjoy reading.
Author Red Lagoe
But there are so many other authors whom I adore, and who inspire me. Sara Tantlinger’s prose is lyrical and dark. V. Castro has a voice that is so real and visceral. Josh Malerman takes creativity to another level. There’s a lot of great authors out there right now and I’m excited that I get to say I know them!
4. Okay, let’s focus on your anthology Nightmare Sky. For readers who have yet to experience this beautiful collection, can you tell everyone what this anthology is about and what your inspiration was?
Well… (cracks knuckles)… Astronomy was my first love. Long before writing, long before I loved any human, I loved the sky—I was fascinated by it. I won’t write twelve paragraphs about why, but I am the one always looking up the moment I step outside, about why I have a few telescopes for dabbling in amateur astronomy and sharing views of the sky through public outreach, or why it feels like I am tethered to the sky—it’s my constant in the ever-spinning-out-of-control world. People across the planet, since the dawn of humanity, have been looking to the sky for answers. We look to it for peace, for prayer, for science, for inspiration, for navigation and hope…and we look to it with wonder…and sometimes horror. That’s what I wanted Nightmare Sky to be. That connection we all have to the cosmos. What draws our eyes up? What terrible things lurk in the dark spaces between the pinpricks of light? What monsters creep through the shadows here on earth when we’re distracted by those lights? We are many different people with different stories living under one beautifully nightmarish sky, and I wanted the anthology to show that.
In its pages, there are a variety of subgenres of horror—psychological, apocalyptic, sci-fi…There are ghosts and witches and monsters. But all of the stories are deeply rooted in that human connection to the stars.
5. What was your reaction to seeing your name on the Stoker Preliminary Ballot? How did you celebrate this awesome achievement?
I was stunned. I know people say things like “I wasn’t expecting it.” But I mean it! There’ve been years past when I opened that list thinking my book or story probably wouldn’t make it, but secretly I was hoping it would. However, this time, I truly 100% didn’t even feel that twinge of hope. I’d accepted it wouldn’t be on the ballot this year. Not because I don’t think it’s on par with those other anthologies—I believe it is—but rather, because it just released in November. The TOC isn’t packed with a lot of familiar names, so it doesn’t sell that well. And it simply hasn’t had the time to make a splash in the community. So, when I was scrolling through, I was looking for my friends’ names. Then I saw Nightmare Sky, and I froze. I read it a couple times, like maybe I’d read it wrong. I was literally shaking (but it was cold in my office, so it might’ve been that, too.)
I shared the news with a few people, made a couple posts, but I’m not celebrating yet. I’ll reserve celebration for the Final Ballot if it makes it that far. We’ll see what happens. There are some epic titles on that list, and I’m so proud to have mine among them. I will say that I was proud of this anthology before it made the list, and I’ll be proud of it still if this is as far as it goes.
6. Out of the 256 submissions, you selected 28 for this collection. Can you tell us a little bit about the behind the scenes process of being an anthology editor and selecting which pieces got included?
It was a lot of work. I lost so many hours of writing time which were sacrificed to this project, but I’m okay with that because it helped me create something that I think is pretty darn special. Once submissions opened, I tried to keep up with them as they came in, reading several stories a day if I could. I kept three files: Yes, Maybe, Probably Not. After reading each story, I placed it in a file and moved on. But that wasn’t the final decision, because every file in the Maybe and Probably Not section got a second look—maybe not a full read-through, but at least a skim—to be sure I was making the right call. There’s actually one story (I won’t name it) that was originally in the file that would get a rejection, but after giving it a second look, it grew on me, and seeing how it would fit with some of the other stories that made it, it ended up in the acceptance folder. By the time I’d selected all the stories that needed to be in the anthology, I had about 60 stories—120,000 words! Which was far too much, so I had to cut out half of them. That was the hardest part. It was rough. In the end, I chose a variety of stories that touched on different themes, mood and tone. Each story title was written on an index card with the length, the underlying themes, the POV, the tone… and I put them in an order that flowed from one story to another without feeling abrupt. Each selected story had to feel like it stayed true to that central theme of our human connection to the stars. And I did have “Stoker eligible” guidelines in mind when creating this book—the length, the quality, the attention to detail—I wanted to set the bar high, and get as close as I could to that bar with what resources I had.
7. Is this the first anthology you’ve edited and published? What have you learned from the experience that you wish you had known beforehand?
It is the first anthology I’ve ever edited! That’ so wild, and I’m even more humbled to have made the list because of that. I gained a lot of experience from doing this, and I have zero regrets putting in the work. The open call, the reading, the curating, and editing…that all felt like I had it under control. It was a lot of work, but I was expecting that. Most of what I experienced on the editing side, I think I was well prepared for, aside from thinking I’d have more time for my own writing.
The big surprises came from the publishing side of things, even though I’ve published books before. I made a call to release two months early because I was so ahead of schedule on everything. I figured the authors wouldn’t mind another publishing cred right at the end of 2022. I kicked myself for that because that’s when I ran into roadblocks with printing the paperback which made me fall way behind schedule, I couldn’t even get review copies out before the publication date. However, if I hadn’t pushed it to November, then it wouldn’t have made that preliminary ballot this year! So…I guess it worked out.
8. Any plans to put out another anthology?
Another anthology is in the works now! I’m taking less of an editor role, and more of a publisher role on this one. It is a Virginia-themed charity anthology that’s kind of a collaboration of efforts between several Virginian authors. We’re just now finalizing the TOC, and announcements will come soon, but it will benefit the 501(c)3 organization, Scares That Care. Other than that, it might not be until 2024 that I’ll consider doing another anthology, just so I can fulfill other obligations.
9. What else is in store for you? Do you have any writing projects you’re able to share with us?
I am dying to share!! But there’s a couple things I can’t share quite yet. I will say that I’ve got a novel contract signed and the announcement for that should be coming soon. I’ve also been contracted to write a novella (which I’m working on now) that will be part of a project with a couple other phenomenal writers! That news should also be coming soon. My novella “In Excess of Dark” is currently being pitched. And I have a collection of 4 short stories that will appear in an anthology of collections with authors Sara Tantlinger, Jessica Ann York, and Cory Farrenkopf through Cemetery Gates Media releasing early this year.
10. Where can readers find you to learn more?
My website www.RedLagoe.com is a good place to start and I can be found across social media platforms, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok as @RedLagoe.
11. Finally, thank you so much for joining me! Is there anything else you’d like readers to know?
Thank you for inviting me! I’ll be at Authorcon in Williamsburg at the end of March 2023! So, if you’re there, and I look angry or unapproachable, please don’t be scared. That’s just what my face looks like; on the inside, I’m super nice and want people to come say ‘hello’.