Press Release: WE FEED THE DARK
Announces the Release of: WE FEED THE DARK: TALES OF TERROR, LOSS & THE SUPERNATURAL by William P. Simmons Horror has a price. Will you feed the dark? Fiction is the numinous side of truth. Writers and readers enact an insidious ritual, giving birth to terrible...
Book Review: THE LOST VILLAGE
The Lost Village Camilla Sten Minotaur Books (March 23, 2021) Reviewed by Ray Palen I have always been intrigued about civilizations or villages that just up and disappeared like the colony in Roanoke, Virginia, back in the day. Polish author Camilla Sten explores...
Book Review: STRANGE BEASTS OF CHINA
Strange Beasts of China Yan Ge Melville House (July 13, 2021) Reviewed by Ray Palen Yan Ge has created something I guarantee you have never read before. A surreal look at actual, monstrous creatures living amongst mankind during modern times—in this case, modern...
Book Review: WHAT BIG TEETH
What Big Teeth Rose Szabo FSG (February 2, 2021) Reviewed by Ray Palen One of the few good things to come out of the pandemic was a wealth of new fiction releases that includes many debut novels that really have made an impression. One of the best debuts of 2021 is...
Blu-ray Review: JAKOB’S WIFE
Jakob's Wife Director: Travis Stevens Stars: Barbara Crampton, Larry Fessenden, Bonnie Aarons Reviewed by Brian M. Sammons I love that 80s scream queen, Barbara Crampton, has returned to acting and horror in a big bad way. She's absolutely killing it, and never more...
Book Review: THE CHILDREN GOD FORGOT
The Children God Forgot Graham Masterton Head of Zeus (May 1, 2021) Reviewed by Ray Palen True master of horror Graham Masterton has been terrifying readers for decades, and during this time has created some of the most chilling horror and dark fiction in the genre. I...
Book Review: THE SHAPE OF DARKNESS
The Shape of Darkness Laura Purcell Penguin (June 1, 2021) Reviewed by Ray Palen British author Laura Purcell has quickly made a name for herself as a master of Gothic horror, and her latest release THE SHAPE OF DARKNESS continues that effort. Agnes is a silhouette...
Book Review: UNBURIED
Unburied: A Collection of Queer Dark Fiction Rebecca Rowland, Editor Dark Ink Books (May 29, 2021) Reviewed by Elaine Pascale My biggest regret is that I could not complete this review in time for Pride month. Perhaps that is a good thing, as Unburied is a powerhouse...
Book Review: MIRRORLAND
Mirrorland Carole Johnstone Scribner (April 20, 2021) Reviewed by Ray Palen The debut novel from author Carole Johnstone begins with quotes from two of my all-time favorite literary works—THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO by Alexandre Dumas and RITA HAYWORTH AND THE SHAWSHANK...
Book Review: THE GHOST FINDERS
The Ghost Finders Adam McOmber Journal Stone (June 4, 2021) Reviewed by Ray Palen Henry Coxton begins the novel THE GHOST FINDERS attempting to sort together a group of individuals with particular skills to help him form his occult detective firm. His first target is...
Book Review: THE DEATH OF AN AUTHOR
The Death of an Author S. L. Edwards JournalStone (June 25, 2021) Reviewed by Andrew Byers I didn’t know S. L. Edwards’ work prior to reading his newest collection of horror stories but after reading The Death of an Author, I’m a fan. This is quite an eclectic...
Book Review: YOUR TURN TO SUFFER
Your Turn To Suffer Tim Waggoner Flame Tree Press (March 23, 2021) Reviewed by Ray Palen Bram Stoker Award® winner Tim Waggoner’s latest release, entitled YOUR TURN TO SUFFER, is a work of classic, visceral horror that is certain to induce nightmares. I was sold right...
Blu-ray Review: HOUSE OF WAX
House of Wax (2005) Director: Jaume Collet-Serra Stars: Elisha Cuthbert, Chad Michael Murray, Paris Hilton Reviewed by Brian M. Sammons This is one of those in-name-only remakes that barely resembles the 1953 3D classic with Vincent Price expertly cast as the...
Book Review: NIGHT, NEON
Night, Neon: Tales of Mystery and Suspense Joyce Carol Oates Mysterious Press, 2021 Reviewed by Mario Guslandi I’m not sure if calling the stories featured in the latest Joyce Carol Oates collection “tales of mystery and suspense” is quite correct, but they are...
Book Review: HIS OWN DEVICES
His Own Devices Douglas Wynne Promethean (2021) Reviewed by Andrew Byers Jessica Ritter has her hands full caring for her ten-year-old son Gavin while her husband Matt is deployed to Afghanistan. Gavin’s a good kid, and is certainly technologically savvy, though like...
