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Becoming by Glenn Rolfe
Becoming by Glenn Rolfe is a fun rampant creature feature. Rolfe in my opinion is one of the very best at creatures. You can always rely on him to bring action and horror in one tightly packed nightmarish sandwich. One thing about his stories is the knowledge that you’re in it until its over, each page leads you onwards – your snacks will go uneaten, and your coffee will go cold but the story burns bright through the minutes. Becoming can be categorised into a coming-of-age tale. I did enjoy it, but I didn’t think it was one of his strongest outings. There’s several different themes running throughout – difficult…
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Forsaken (Shadow Cove Saga #1) by J.D. Barker
Forsaken rattles along at a breakneck pace with a plot that outshines its expectations from just a few pages. I made a silent vow to myself that during 2023 I was going to read more from my TBR. I love reviewing for authors but I have neglected the books I’ve collected over the years. So, my first pick was Forsaken by J.D. Barker, and boy it didn’t disappoint. A story of a writer who has penned his best novel yet is so good that it comes to life. His life is turned upside down – with the details of his story coming to him, not only in dreams but in…
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A Sliver of Darkness by C.J. Tudor – REVIEW
A Sliver of Darkness is C.J. Tudor’s inaugural short story collection. I’ve always said that short story collections are always going to be difficult to rate. You’re not going to love every single story, but if at least a few resonate within you, then it’s a win. I’ve not had the opportunity to read Tudor’s work previously, I know, please don’t come for me! I will be changing that pronto. Each story was complex and atmospheric, and it didn’t take much for me to envisage myself in the protagonist’s shoes, it’s safe to say every story was fully immersive. A Sliver of Darkness feels a little like a treasure map…
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We Can Never Leave This Place by Eric LaRocca
We Can Never Leave This Place, I think probably I can’t. I’m trapped in a state of purgatory. How do you sum up a story that depicts such vivid imagery of neglect and trauma? I’m not going to lie; this book seems to be impossible to review with enough fervour to do it justice. It’s the kind of story that leaves you staring into space afterward. The musings playing around your consciousness like a never-ending loop. “When you’re given a gift, something else gets taken away.” Eric LaRocca is the king of trauma horror. Reading a story penned by this glorious author is always an experience. He leads you…
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REVIEW – Whitesands by Johann Thorsson
Whitesands is a mysterious, haunting, and exceptionally ambitious debut novel. It was tragic and lyrical. Johann Thorsson has various examples of excellent social commentaries running through the heart of the plot. Racial prejudice, spousal murder, and child abduction make for an ominous threat. It gave the reader the feeling of a threat hiding in the shadows, and I was willing to discover the stories’ secrets. Dip your toe into the grey waters, it’s not comfortable and it threatens to swallow you whole, there are moments where the subject matter is not enjoyable, but this is crime fiction…its darkness is where we feel at home. Thorsson delves into the human condition,…
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Review: The Shape of Night by Tess Gerritsen
The Shape of Night is a story about guilt and loss. It tells the story of Ava Collette, a woman that is running from her past. She distances herself from her family, her work, and predominately her memories. I don’t think you can outrun your past, you can just maybe stall it for a while. A food writer that has become hooked on alcohol to deal with her emotions. It all gets too much and she decides to rent a house, Brodie’s Watch, a large stately home overlooking the sea in a remote coastal peninsula of Maine. Will it provide Ava with the distance to get her head straight and…
