novella

Review: Abyss by Nicholas Binge

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AbyssAbyss by Nicholas Binge
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

**3.5-stars rounded up**

Setting eyes on this cover for the first time, I judged and I wanted. Then I read the synopsis. I don’t watch a lot of shows, so have never watched Severance, but I know Lovecraft, and I certainly know corporate horror and existential dread.

Just check in with me any Sunday evening…

This novella follows Joe, who post-pandemic finds himself not living up to his potential. He’s been out of work, but he’s close to dire straights and it’s high time he found something.

Just when he’s thinking it’s hopeless he ends up securing an admin position with a company called Ponos. He’s not expecting much, the most he’s hoping for is a reliable paycheck every week.

Even though he’s filled with a nervous energy, on his 1st-day Joe successfully makes his way to the Ponos building and enters. Expecting the normal 1st-day at a new job song and dance. What he gets is anything but. What he gets is horrifying to think about.

If you ever wanted a book that feels like a post-apocalyptic version of The Office meets H.P. Lovecraft, this one is definitely for you. I did feel at times like it was quite heavy-handed on the commentary, but valid nonetheless and I wouldn’t say it impeded my enjoyment that much.

Personally, I enjoy when commentary is there, but allows the Reader to think more for themselves. With this personal preference aside, I see you, Nicholas Binge and I hear you.

Thinking about other Horror novellas, this was actually what I wanted Coup de Grâce to be as far as the creepy, claustrophobic vibes. I was given the want to escape; a need to flee. I was confused about what was happening and I walked away thinking, what the hell did I just read.

Spoiler alert: that’s a good thing.

I would recommend this to Horror Readers looking for something strange and oddly compelling with a solid nod to Lovecraft. Bonus if you love stark, desperate landscapes, whether inside or out.

Thank you so much to the publisher, Tor Nightfire and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review. This is the first I’ve read from Binge, but I’m definitely going to be picking up more!

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Review: Dead Weight by Hildur Knútsdóttir

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Dead WeightDead Weight by Hildur Knútsdóttir
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Dead Weight follows Unnur, who lives a rather solitary life until the day the black cat shows up at her door. Not wanting to let the poor little thing wander the streets alone, and possibly come to harm, Unnur takes in the cat and begins a desperate search for it’s owner.

As luck would have it, the owner’s identity is discovered and Unnur thinks this will be the end of it. Boy, was she wrong. Ásta, the cat’s owner, is a force unto herself. Unnur is oddly charmed by this mysterious young woman with such a vibrant energy.

When Ásta explains her situation to Unnur and asks if the cat can stay with her on a more permanent basis, until Ásta can properly take her back again, Unnur ultimately agrees. This agreement comes with regular contact with Ásta, as she comes for visits and to bring supplies.

The two women open up to one another over the course of these visits, learning more and more about each other’s lives. It seems to be a bit of a balm for them both.

Unnur comes to understand that Ásta’s life may not be as perfect as it first appears. In fact, she has a dangerous problem on her hands, and Unnur ends up being the only one there when Ásta’s life takes a violent turn. Unnur will do anything to help her friend, and the day she does is the day that both women’s lives change.

Dead Weight is a great novella; solid start to finish. I liked the writing a lot and the way the story unfolded kept me intrigued. It’s quiet in it’s delivery, but I found many ways to connect to Unnur’s perspective. She felt so very real to me.

I loved the fated-feel for the relationship between these two women, brought together by a cat of all things, and I appreciated the depth explored in such a short number of pages. I feel like this is a story that could be even more appreciated upon reread, and I wouldn’t be against it.

It reminded me of a German novella from the late-1950s that I read earlier this year, Killing Stella. That was a very subtle Domestic Horror story, following a housewife who is deeply impacted by a young woman’s presence in her life. The general vibes of that novella were the same ones that I felt here and I’m not mad about it.

I would recommend this to any Reader who enjoys Domestic or Psychological Horror that is more subdued in it’s approach, but ultimately packs a punch.

Thank you to the publisher, Macmillan Audio, for providing me with a copy to read and review. The narration by Mary Robinette Kowal was an excellent match for Unnur’s character and had me hooked!

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Review: The Swamps by Seraphina Nova Glass

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The SwampsThe Swamps by Seraphina Nova Glass
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Swamps is a Thriller Horror novella from one of my go-to authors, Seraphina Nova Glass. I very rarely read Thrillers in novella form, but since it was SNG, I absolutely needed to.

Unsurprisingly, I wasn’t disappointed by this one for a moment. Coming in at 200-pages, and rife with unsettling tension, I had no problem completing this in 1-sitting.

In this story we follow Ethan and Macy, husband and wife, who have a quickly-growing YouTube channel, Ghost Patrol. They’re paranormal investigators known for their batter, with him being the believer, and Macy playing the skeptic.

They’ve grown so fast, and had such positive buzz that Netflix is heavily considering them for their own show. Looking for something big to give them an edge with the popular global streaming service, Ethan and Macy assemble a small team and head to the bayou of Louisiana to investigate the disappearances of two local women.

Tasha and Max, another couple, who have worked with Ethan and Macy before, are the crew along on the shoot. They do behind the scenes stuff, such as filming and sound. Max’s brother, Robert, also ends up tagging along.

They rent a small cabin at the edge of the swamps that turns out to not be as advertised. That added with the stress of the bizarre landlady and her disturbing handyman, the excursion is not off to a strong start. Unfortunately, things only get worse from the shocking initial impression.

I was surprised by the direction this ended up going in. It dipped a toe into Horror territory much more aggressively than I had been expecting, and I couldn’t be more thrilled about it. I love Seraphina Nova Glass, so seeing her explore that space is a real delight for me.

I thought she did a great job of setting the scene and building the tension in such a short number of pages. I was gripped, just thoroughly entertained. I’m sure it won’t be winning any Literary prizes, but I don’t need it to do that. That wasn’t what I was here for.

The e-book also has great illustrations at the start of the chapters. I thought that was a nice touch. It helped bring the story to life in my imagination.

I would definitely recommend this for anyone looking for a quick, thrilling read. It doesn’t require big brain energy, but is sure to keep you engaged the whole way through.

Thank you to the publisher, Podium Publishing, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I thought this was a smashing good time!

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Review: The Cross (Eddie Flynn #0.5) by Steve Cavanagh

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The Cross (Eddie Flynn #0.5)The Cross by Steve Cavanagh
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

**3.5-stars**

The Cross is a prequel novella to Steve Cavanagh’s popular Eddie Flynn Legal Thriller series, recently repackaged and re-released by Simon & Schuster Audio Originals to match the beautiful new series covers.

Originally released in 2015, this series has aged really well. While listening to this, it felt as modern as any other Legal Thriller I’ve picked up in the last couple of years.

Eddie Flynn, the protagonist of this series, is an ex-con artist turned ingenious NYC defense attorney. In this case, Eddie represents a woman whose husband died in a confrontation with a police officer.

The dead man was himself accused of being part of a robbery gone bad. His widow, Eddie’s client, vehemently denies that fact, and through Eddie’s thorough investigations, he’s inclined to agree. Things aren’t adding up.

Eddie has a lot on the line with this case, as a loss could mean the collapse of his tiny, floundering law firm. The further he digs, the more corruption and deceit he uncovers. Is Eddie in over his head, or will he be able to successfully win this emotionally-charged case?

This was good. Coming in at under 100-pages, it did go very quickly. I feel like even though it was a fully-fleshed out case, in order for me to become more invested, I would have need about 100-more pages. Nevertheless, I knew what I was getting into going in and I did enjoy it.

I have read other, later books in the series, so this was nice to see the start of Eddie’s legal career. I think this series is a lot of fun. I love how twisted a lot of the cases get and I’m definitely planning to read them all.

Thank you to the publisher, Simon & Schuster Audio Originals, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I definitely recommend this series, and this audiobook, for anyone who enjoys fast-paced, engaging Legal Thrillers.

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Review: What Stalks the Deep (Sworn Soldier #3) by T. Kingfisher

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What Stalks the Deep (Sworn Soldier, #3)What Stalks the Deep by T. Kingfisher
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

**3.5-stars rounded up**

What Stalks the Deep is the 3rd-installment in the Sworn Soldier series by one of my favorite authors, T. Kingfisher.

I adore this series and have a soft spot in my heart for its protagonist, Alex Easton.

Kingfisher has yet again infused Alex Easton with the perfect amount of humor and frankness. Getting a story from Alex’s perspective, is like sitting with a friend while they tell you horrifying tales from their most recent vacation.

In this book, we follow along with Alex as they travel to the United States, and to West Virginia specifically, to visit a coal mine with a little something extra going on.

Alex has zero desire to make this trip to a purportedly haunted coal mine, but they feel compelled after they’ve been asked by their old friend Dr. James Denton. Denton’s cousin, Oscar, went missing while exploring the abandoned mine and he’s desperate to find him.

This was another very fun installment for this series. It really switched it up as far as the setting, and the type of mystery we were investigating.

I loved that it was set in West Virginia and that Kingfisher even included the journey there, because that journey helped pull me in even more to the story and got me fully invested.

The abandoned coal mine was definitely creepy for me, as caves or mines are one of my personal fears. They simultaneously fascinate me and terrify me.

I’m a bit claustrophobic, so even reading of these types of situations can get my pulse racing. Exploring it along with Alex though did make it feel a bit more safe, and fun.

Unfortunately, the way the truth of what was happening was delivered is sort of a pet peevey thing for me. I didn’t like it. I can’t really describe what I mean without spoilers, but it’s a kind of trope I just don’t care for, and I was a bit disappointed to find it here.

However, with this being said, this is 100% personal taste, and there were many other aspects of this story for me to enjoy. While the explanation and concluding bits weren’t my favorite as far as this series goes, it’s still a great read and I would recommend it to Horror Readers.

I’d also recommend the audiobooks for the entire series, should you have them available to you. They’re all narrated by Avi Roque, who has become Alex Easton to me. I love, love, love the way they deliver these stories, it’s just the perfect cadence and tone to bring them to life.

I’m still not sure how many books are planned for this series. This might even have been the last one, but I certainly hope it wasn’t. With this type of story, the possibilities are absolutely endless for the things that Alex could explore, and I’d be down for every one.

Thank you to the publisher, Tor Nightfire and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review. These punchy Horror Novellas are not to be missed!

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Review: Morsel by Carter Keane

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MorselMorsel by Carter Keane
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Morsel is a Horror Thriller novella that definitely packed more of a punch than I expected. This is also a debut and I was certainly impressed by the creativity of it.

In this story we’re following Lou, who on a work assignment ends up in the hill country of rural-Ohio. It requires the surveying of some land, so she’s on foot through some diverse terrain, but she’s got her dog, Ripley, with her, her truck and her phone. All should be fine.

She sees something horrifying in the woods though, and fearing for her safety and that of Ripley, she races them back to her truck, for what’s she’s hoping will be a fast getaway.

Unfortunately, her truck appears to have been sabotaged, so she’s not escaping this dangerous situation that way. From the plot goes places that I truly didn’t expect.

For a while, I wasn’t sure exactly where Keane was headed with this story. It felt a little odd in the beginning, but I trusted we were gonna get somewhere I was going to enjoy. The build-up was unsettling enough to lock me in.

Then around the mid-way point, an unexpected event startled me so much, it knocked me off my loafers. I was shocked and horrified. I didn’t see it coming. From there it was like I was buckled into a hell ride, holding on for dear life, praying Ripley would be okay.

As mentioned above, IMO Morsel is a really strong debut. While I wasn’t completely sold on every single aspect of the story, I did love that the author took it all the way. There were some great graphic descriptions and a few twists that took me completely by surprise.

If you’re going to deliver me gore, I want it all out and Keane delivered. They didn’t hold anything back, and I appreciated that risk. Overall, a super solid story with some toe-curling descriptions and intriguing social commentary.

Thank you to Tor Nightfire for providing me with a copy to read and review. I look forward to seeing what Carter Keane writes next!

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Review: Killing Stella by Martin Haushofer (Translated by Shaun Whiteside)

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Killing StellaKilling Stella by Marlen Haushofer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Killing Stella is a subtle Domestic Horror story, originally published in the late-1950s, which has recently been translated into English for the 1st-time.

I was intrigued by the premise and always enjoy exploring more Classic Horror stories. This is a novella, coming in at around 88-pages, and was very easy to get through.

The story is written in a sort of confessional-style, with our protagonist, Anna, relaying the tragic events that befell her family after she and her husband, Richard, took in an acquaintance’s teenage daughter, Stella.

I found this interesting and easily readable, though I wish it would have delved even deeper into the events that surrounded Stella staying with Richard and Anna.

It is very stream of consciousness, as again, you are reading this as a bit of a confessional from Anna. In fact, at the very end, she comments how she had been writing for 2-hours. It was like she needed to purge the events, and the subsequent guilt, from her body.

While I appreciated the topics explored by Haushofer, and I’m sure this was a bit risque at the time it was written because of those topics, I’m not sure how well it holds up in the modern Domestic Horror landscape.

I think this will be enjoyed most by Readers who enjoy the Classics, and also who enjoy more psychologically-focused, quietly-told, Horror stories.

At the end of the day, I’m glad I picked this up. I’m happy it was translated and that I got to experience it. I think it’s important to explore and appreciate the roots of Horror, my favorite genre.

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Review: Spread Me by Sarah Gailey

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Spread MeSpread Me by Sarah Gailey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Spread Me is an engaging, yet startling, SciFi-Horror novella from Sarah Gailey that contains quite a bit of, shall we say, surprising content. It certainly took me by surprise, perhaps you’ll be better prepared than I was…

I can hardly believe I am giving this 4-stars. It’s a strange novella. I’m low-key blushing thinking what y’all are going to think of me when you truly discover what it’s about.

This is one of those cases, rare, but here we are, where I don’t really like to discuss the plot. I want you to be as surprised as I was, because I think that’s half the fun. It’ll have your mind-spinning, trying to get your bearings, while your brain figures out how to respond to all this.

It has to be one of the most bizarre stories, as far as the more erotic/sexual elements, that I’ve ever read. It made me so uncomfortable, but I couldn’t look away; COULD NOT. I still don’t know what to think…

I have to applaud Gailey for their creativity and fearlessness. Honestly, I don’t think this was published with the aim of having big mass appeal. Authors willing to take that kind of risk, to write what they want, always impress me.

Spread Me is definitely niche, and I feel like it may have some serious messaging that I think I am picking up on, but maybe not? It’s tough. I’d love to see the author speaking about their thought process and goals with this one.

While I would recommend this to more seasoned Horror Readers, I would throw caution about the sexual elements. If graphic content, sexual in nature, is something that you don’t enjoy reading, you may just want to skip this one.

If you don’t mind those elements though, and just want to know what all the buzz is about, you should definitely check this out. The SciFi set-up, of this being in a research station, and the type of research the group was doing, that was all well executed and fascinating.

I enjoyed the claustrophobic feel of the station itself. The research group felt extremely isolated, and then when it was discovered what they were dealing with, even more so.

Because this is a novella, coming in at just over 200-pages, Gailey wastes no time getting to the action. In fact, there’s really no lull through the entire story. It’s quick, punchy and effective at making you squirm in a limited number of pages.

I suspect for some Readers the initial knee-jerk reaction is going to be distaste, because I really don’t see people going into this expecting what they’re going to get.

However, I also feel like this story gets in your brain, and the more you think about it, the more you realize how much it actually drew you and impacted you. Whether those feelings were super highs or super lows, it impacted you.

Overall, this is memorable. There’s a very solid SF-Horror plot here, that is somewhat overshadowed by the extreme nature of the sexual elements, but at the the end of the day, it somehow works. As strange as it may seem, it works.

Thank you to the publisher, Tor Nightfire and Macmillan Audio, for providing me copies to read and review. I look forward to Gailey’s next book!

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Review: Black Flame by Gretchen Felker-Martin

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Black FlameBlack Flame by Gretchen Felker-Martin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

**2.5-stars rounded up**

Black Flame is a Horror novella from Gretchen Felker-Martin. I’ve read two full length novels from GFM, Manhunt and Cuckoo, both of which I really enjoyed.

Unfortunately, this is my least favorite work from her and I can’t even really express why. It just didn’t quite hit the mark for me. I never felt like I connected with the story enough to know what the hell was going on.

In fact, in the synopsis it’s described as being a historical horror novel, and I don’t even remember it being so. The story does follow a woman named Ellen, who works, I believe restoring, or archiving old films.

Ellen starts working on an infamous exploitation film called The Baroness, which was long thought destroyed in a fire by Nazis. As Ellen works on the film, the scenes, the essence of the film, begin to poison her mind.

She becomes convinced the film is real, and that it’s happening to her. She’s having visions, hearing voices, and unsurprisingly, her life begins to spiral out of control.

That’s a great concept. I love the sound of it. As I was reading this though, it was very hard to follow. I did get snippets of what’s described above, but it was a challenge to track what was going on, and difficult to visualize what Ellen was seeing, feeling and going through.

As always, Gretchen Felker-Martin includes very heavy and important examinations of gender and identity, and those were certainly an important piece of this story. Ellen’s character arc feels like a real transformation over the course of the action, and I did appreciate that as well.

In fact, I buddy read this one with a friend, and commented when we were done, how I wished this had been longer, because the final bits were where it really started to come together for me. I wanted more of that clarity, not just for me, but for Ellen as well.

I guess the best way I can describe my experience with this would be uneven. I’m used to feeling more drawn in, and connected throughout GFM’s works, so I think that’s why I walked away a little unsatisfied.

Nevertheless, Gretchen Felker-Martin will always get extra points from me for her insane-levels of creativity and the fact that she always brings something new to the table. While not my favorite from her, I am glad I read it, and look forward to Felker-Martin’s next release.

Thank you to the publisher, Tor Nightfire and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with a copy to read and review. The audiobook was very well narrated by Dana Aronowitz. They definitely brought it to life!

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Review: Exiles by Mason Coile

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ExilesExiles by Mason Coile
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Exiles follows a trio of astronauts, Gold, Chief and Kang, on a mission to Mars. Their goal is to prepare the 1st-ever colony on Mars for eventual human habitation.

Previously, three robots had been sent to set up the base these astronauts will be staying at for their mission. When they arrive though, they find the new base half-destroyed and one of the robots missing.

The astronauts are forced to quickly try to get their bearings and figure out what happened to the base. On an uninhabited planet, their only source for knowledge is the robots, and the things they are told are highly unsettling.

The robots seem scared, relaying things about possible dangers lurking outside, and what may have caused the damage. But it’s more than that, the robots have named themselves and have taken on surprising behaviors and characteristics. The whole thing is just off.

The astronaut crew have been handed a mess, and they need to figure out what’s going on ASAP. In an environment as unforgiving as Mars, the absolute security of their base is a life or death situation. They need to learn what threats they’re facing, so they can tackle them head on.

Mason Coile, pseudonym for Andrew Pyper, may he rest in peace, has penned a brilliant SciFi-Horror with Exiles. It is so intense, and I appreciated how the story came full circle. Coile pulled off a lot in this one with very few pages.

This book, the concepts involved, is the stuff of my nightmares. This is the type of futuristic scenario that absolutely petrifies me. Just thinking about being in the shoes of Gold, Kang, or Chief, is enough to make me shiver.

It’s not just the deep space setting, and all the unknowns involved with that for me, it’s also the robots and AI technology. That’s like a double-edged sword. Anyway you turn it, it’s dangerous with the potential to kill.

This has a phenomenal set-up. It pulls the Reader in quickly, and then just hooks you. There’s no turning back. The intensity holds throughout the story and truly feels claustrophobic and dangerous.

Some of the action, and twists, they were diabolical and brutal. I was getting so stressed, but in the best way possible. In an entertaining way. I couldn’t put it down. I refused until the very end.

Clearly, I adored this. No notes. I highly recommend this to anyone who may be searching for a compelling Horror novella, bonus points if you love SciFi-Horror.

Thank you to the publisher, G.P. Putnam’s Sons, for providing me with a copy to read and review.

Andrew Pyper, writing here as Mason Coile, was such a talented, talented writer. I’m going to miss getting new stories from him, but he’s certainly left an impact.

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