More epic reviews from one of the industry's best reviewers! Mike Rankin is here to discuss Brian Keene's THE RISING: MORE SELECTED SCENES FROM THE END OF THE WORLD, Duncan Ralston's HELLOWEEN, and THE DRYAD OF DUELING OAKS by Rowland Bercy, Jr.
Enjoy!
THE RISING: MORE SELECTED SCENES FROM THE END OF THE WORLD
by Brian Keene
- What corrupted flesh is living within the walls of Observation Room Number Six? There lies within, is the darkest of what nightmares are made of.
- Through the eyes of a Chihuahua, who sees its master has become infected. Not only does it sense the oozing smell of death, but it also comprehends…meat isn’t supposed to get up and walk around after it was dead.
- A family attempts to flee their home in search for a safer haven. As a new undead threat is newly discovered, the family realizes they have just jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire.
The Rising: More Selected Scenes From The End Of The World is the seventh book to take place within the setting of The Rising by Brian Keene. A husband and wife searching for sanctuary from undead insects to a plane crash where survivors possess post-traumatic stress minus the post, Keene’s undead franchise continues. However, this time, the level of decay comes in the form of short stories that qualify as an instant mind-blowing must read.
Brian Keene’s Introduction on how this collection of reanimated stories came to be is pretty amazing in and of itself. He allows the readers to witness the end of the world not only through the eyes of the uninfected but other life-forms as well. From a pandemic to something more supernatural, Keene keeps it real by providing that good ole gore and disturbing cannibalism. He also brings an unusual look into murderous corpses by way of buzzing flies, undead cockroaches and tens of thousands of centipedes.
I honestly can’t get enough of these “the dead began slaughtering the living” books. Somehow Brian Keene always finds a way to bring new ghoulish blood to his “when the world went to shit” crises. As I give this an enjoyable five star ️️️️️Horror Bookworm Recommendation, I can hear pounding at the door and the smell of decay while I am boarding up my windows and doors.
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HELLOWEEN
by Duncan Ralston
Unusual things are happening to the sleepy little town of Crooks Corner, New Hampshire. It’s the night before Halloween and strange cult like symbols have been appearing in the local woods just beyond the cornfields. Thus, adding to the myth and rumors of a cult within the town. Blood, chaos and carnage…something far more sinister than what the town imagined has arrived.
Buckle up, Helloween by Duncan Ralston is one wild ride. From a low-budget kidnapped scream queen to a mid-term project of a found footage movie, Duncan Ralston creates some of the most sinister shenanigans this side of Evil Dead 2 and Waxwork put together. (I loved Waxwork and its “what is fake becomes real” aspect, and Helloween has that same comfy horror feel to it.)
This hefty novel cleverly blends many different horror aspects into one unique entertaining reading experience. Scary spiders, creepy baby dolls, reanimated scarecrows and yes…let’s not forget the living hummels. These diverse morbid cast-members trigger what screams of terror are made of. Helloween is a place where the lines between real and unreal become heavily blurred and where Halloween costumes can consume you.
Duncan Ralston once again has created a well-developed narrative based on unexpected elements of death, faith, violence and homicidal “possessors.” I mean seriously, who doesn’t like to be surrounded by ritualistic symbolism or become a host that feeds on fresh blood. With plenty of full-frontal frights, Duncan has expanded the spooky season into a new menacing creepiness.
When you feel that humming vibration in the air while seeing stitched smiley faces with X’s for eyes, ya might wanna bring along that maroon-colored Bible with the gold foil lettering…anything might help. A five star ️️️️️ Horror Bookworm Recommendation.
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THE DRYAD OF DUELING OAKS
by Rowland Bercy, Jr.
The Dryad Of Dueling Oaks by Rowland Bercy Jr. Leaving a lifeless young man behind, a trio of friends have carelessly hit and killed an innocent bystander. The three make a pact, since there were no witnesses of the fatal hit-and-run, they vow never to speak of it again. Seeking retribution in order to right the injustice, an invocation to call upon an ancient entity to exact revenge has been summoned. What once lied dormant, has now been awaken…pray for all of those involved, fore there is no escape.
The Dryad Of Dueling Oaks is the brainchild of storyteller Rowland Bercy Jr. Set in the streets of New Orleans and with an otherworldly sacrificial flair, Bercy creates an eerie voodoo connection to energies of earth and air. Blending nature’s branches, twisting vines and savage creatures, a heavy taste for bloodlust is the primal desire for this intended revenge. Foliage of nocturnal nightmares righting a terrible wrong is the gruesome reality to Bercy’s unforgiving style of writing.
Rowland Bercy has a natural ability to create a landscape of twisted eeriness. But it doesn’t end there, his own stamp of blood-soaked gruesomeness is ever present within each and every page. The peculiarities of myth, mystery and lore of these two majestic oaks are what makes this story so surreal. Throw in an unflinching amount of unsettling moments and you have yourself one heck of a tour de force.
The emotions of grief and vengeance weigh heavy, as does the consequences of your actions. No amount of pleading or begging will be of value, this is the unspoken law of the forest. The Dryad Of Dueling Oaks both nurture and destroy, but once you crack open that beautiful Nicolas Rossius cover art…there is no turning back. A five star ️️️️️ Horror Bookworm Recommendation.
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