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Maggie’s Grave by David Sodergren | Review
If you haven’t added Maggie’s Grave to you TBR, then why the hell not? This is in my opinion the best example of a witchy folk tale horror out there. It brings it all to the table, Sodergren slaps it all down, liquified organs and all. The first couple of chapters are usually enough to decide whether a book is going to be for you…the author nailed it in one. I had a keen sense of foreboding, that small time village feel, residents knowing everything about you, talking about you, judging you. Sodergren nails it. The shades of darkness is quite literally written on the wall. “Was this parenthood? Love…
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The Malan Witch by Catherine Cavendish | Review
The Malan Witch reminded me that I don’t read enough witchy stories. This story had the eerie creepiness that made you realise that witches aren’t so ugly old hag with warts on her face, a long misshapen nose, and a pointy hat. It was easy to imagine sitting around a campfire having this story read, it was cosy and mildly unsettling. The Malan Witch has central themes of grief and loneliness being at the epicentre. Robyn has lost the love of her life in the most traumatic of consequences. Her husband died of cancer. She had to endure watching him be fit and healthy and robust what seemed like one…
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The Balance by Kev Harrison | Review
The Balance epitomises everything that I love about folktale horror. It’s a story of balance, order, the coming full circle. There’s secrets at every corner, an unknown set of scales allowing harmony and control. What happens when humanity grasps for more control, more power? Will that balance tip and allow everything to come crashing all down? Time doesn’t exist whilst reading this book. Yes, you can hear it whittling down, each tick getting louder and louder until it beats furiously in your brain, making the tension all that more palpable. The balance is a work of art. This book crept up on me and felt like a sledgehammer on the…
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The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty | Review
The Exorcist. Those two words just strike fear into any adult that is of a particular age. Think about those words and scenes will crash into your head. Visions of a sweet and innocent little girl called Regan. Visions that will soon be replaced by those of a demon infested and quickly diminishing girl. Now quickly I realised that I was going to be scared more by the book than by the movie. I’ve seen the movie and its probably the generation I’ve grown up in but, I have seen far worse. The Saw Franchise or Hostel to name but a few. The Exorcist excels at atmosphere. The way the…
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The Institute by Stephen King | Review
The Institute, much like Sleeping Beauties felt like a trip back in time by Mr King. He’s back to that standard that his fans love. I’ve owned this book for over a year now and only just got the courage to pick it up. I am a mega King fan and hoped and prayed that this would be everything that I wanted and guess what the main man pulled it straight out of left field. The dynamics, the characterisation and the environment had me fist bumping the air…because you know, no-one around me likes reading and pandemic…gah! One thing you can almost bet your bottom dollar on is that King…
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Survivor Song by Paul Tremblay | Review
Well hold the mother-fucking door! Allow me to go on record and declare that there will never be a better time to read Paul Tremblay’s Survivor Song than 2020, and I managed it by the arse of my pants! Tremblay is a decorated horror novelist that I am ashamed to say have never read, until now. The guy has a huge responsibility on his shoulders, but he is still swimming, still telling stories that stay with the reader. This story is going to be one that I will remember and hold in regard to the year 2020. I’m waffling (not unlike the victims of the super rabies that have taken…
