Can you believe it’s Sunday again!? It is. And it’s back-to-school time (FREEDOM!) for some many of us. How better to treat yourself than with piping hot reviews?
We hit the local kebab place with Reed and Lawrence, have some Splatterpunk Dreams, get into some creepy crawly shenanigans, and get a curse or too.
Let’s get into them.
BLOOD DONOR
By Ash Ericmore
Reed and Lawrence are supposed to making a statement. Never thought they would make one with a marionette. (Look, that is one of the most hilarious scenes I have read in a short, don’t come for me when you cackle uncontrollably.) What happens though when they thought they were safe but they were found quicker than they thought… and are stuck running from their potential killers in a kebab shop?
Classic Ash. I mean, this is quintessential Ericmore. It’s witty, dark humor soaked, and blood injected insanity. It’s so impressive he’s on his seventeenth story in this universe and still going strong. I love it. You will love it. We all love it.
A HIGHLY, HIGHLY RECOMMEND 5/5.
THE HORROR COLLECTION: SPLATTERPUNK DREAMS
Edited by Kevin J. Kennedy
There are fourteen stories so let’s jump into them.
Walter With an Axe by Steve Stred - Robby just wants to watch some perky boobs and please himself. Not fight for his life.
Sister Silence and Lady Strange by Gord Rollo - When a mute asylum patient begins to be the listeners of confessions, her secrets and reasons for the stay are anything but quiet. (10/5 starred story)
Crazy Horse by David Owain Hughes - Leanne lost it all when she walked in on her husband getting his oil changed wink. Can a game with an unknown host help her get back on her feet?
Easy Money by P.J. Blakey-Novis - Imagine a financially incentivized Battle Royals. Five people battle for 5000 pounds. (10/5 starred story)
Death by Pumpkin by Jason Nickey - Jimmy is constantly harassed by Paul and Jay. When one prank goes too far, the evil duo will see the error of their ways, but will it be too late?
Skin Game by Adam Millard - Gordy and twin brother, Bill, have a very important mission; find more material for their Mom and get the coveted prize.
The Digger by D.W. Hitz - Nigel is a grave digger but not the normal kind. Jo is expendable in more than one way.
Hard Headed by Kevin J. Kennedy - When a conscious having fighter begins to go against men on more than steroids, things get rough.
Scratching that Itch by Veronica Smith - Jane Hathaway sees a new produce on tv and has to buy it. But she never imagined it would be so… arousing. (10/5 starred story)
Hell on the Highway by Candace Nola - Sami, or Lollipop as she is known to her trucker brethren, is on the hunt for a killer and it becomes personal. (10/5 starred story).
Pig by Ryan Colley - A cross between THE JUNGLE and COWS. Working a weekend can be very rewarding and confusing.
The Birderer by Chisto Healy - Birds of a feather flock together but what happens when revenge and those wings take flight?
It’s a Good Day for a Sexorcism by Matthew Vaughn - The old adage, “good pussy can tame the devil”, is put to the test when two priests are called to perform an exorcism.
The Crew by Edward Lee - Candice, Britt, and Katie are just three ladies trying to make the world right… even if that means torturing. With the Sheriff hot on their trail, one mistake could end the cat and mouse game. (10/5 starred story.)
With an eclectic and variety of talented authors, this is an anthology to not miss.
A definite recommend 4/5.
Amazon.com: The Horror Collection: Splatterpunk Dreams eBook : Lee, Edward, Kennedy, Kevin J. , Rollo, Gord, Millard, Adam, Hughes, David Owain , Colley, Ryan , Nola, Candace, Stred, Steve, Vaughn, Matthew , Nickey, Jason , Smith, Veronica , D.W. Hitz, P.J. Blakey-Novis, Healy, Chisto, Keeran, Ann : Kindle Store
RED INSIDE
By Bridgett Nelson
Bethany is ready for another shift at the hospital with the evil Dee and a very tempting Michelle. When a doctor is brought onto Bethany’s floor by Alex from ER, things get a little hairy. It starts with the doctor and him throwing up on Trudy and then all hell breaks loose. The hospital becomes a ticking time bomb and the countdown is almost to zero.
RED INSIDE is creepy with the spiders (spoiler: it’s on the dang cover), the claustrophobia is stress-inducing, and the gore scenes cause the reader to cringe.
But unfortunately, this one missed the mark for me. The pacing was too quick, character’s motivations were off, and the dialogue didn’t feel real. I believe if this was longer, maybe another 100 pages or so, it could have been a stunner.
3/5.
Red Inside - Kindle edition by Nelson, Bridgett. Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.
BOTTOMS UP
By Barbara Benas
This one got me in the feels, which while not uncommon, it was different with a comic like this.
Suzette runs a recipe blog that has those dreadful life stories attached to the recipe. But her new invention, Interview Tiramisu, could nab her the job of a lifetime. The only problem is things get a bit hectic and compound into something fearsome.
Wow. Just wow. The ability to grind ourselves down so low and have nothing left for later really hit home with BOTTOMS UP. Suzette knows what she wants, how to get it, can almost reach it, and then realizes that maybe she’s a bit too overwhelmed. Who cannot relate to that? Even though the page length is short, it’s heavy on existential dread and the hard reality of life.
A stellar story. A HIGHLY RECOMMEND 5/5.
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