Book Review: The Game Master’s Legacy by Michael D Bridges

Genre: LitRPG • Sci-Fi Fantasy • Cyberpunk Adventure

Tropes: Full-Immersion VR, Disabled MC, Sentient NPCs, Evil Corporation, Glitch-Walker, Virtual Reality Survival, Inherited Legacy, AI Consciousness

Spice Level: None

Format: ARC / eBook

Series: Potential Series Starter

    Kade’s real world is painfully small. Confined to a wheelchair and dependent on a ventilator for most of his life, his only true escape exists inside Aethelgard, the fully immersive VR world his father created before his death. In the game, Kade isn’t weak or fragile—he’s a legendary speedrunner and glitch-walker capable of bending the world’s rules.

    But now the corporation Neosy wants control of the system. And Kade refuses to let them take it. Aethelgard is more than just a game. It’s the only place Kade has ever truly felt free, and his father left him the keys to protect it. There’s just one problem: every code alteration comes with a cost under the Law of Conservation of Code. And Kade himself is the price.

    Meanwhile, Neosy has unleashed EGO to “optimize” the system and recover the mysterious soul-data hidden within the game. They won’t stop until they control everything—including the sentient NPCs who may be far more alive than anyone realizes.

    I received a complimentary ARC copy of this book from the author.

    As someone who absolutely loves LitRPGs and full-immersion VR stories, this immediately grabbed my attention—but what surprised me most was how different it felt from most books in the genre. Kade’s physical disability fundamentally shapes both the emotional core of the story and the stakes within the game itself. In most VR LitRPGs, the virtual world is simply an escape or power fantasy. Here, Aethelgard is deeply personal. It’s the one place where Kade can move freely, feel independent, and connect to the legacy his father left behind. That emotional weight made the story hit harder than I expected.

    The concept behind the “Law of Conservation of Code” was one of the coolest parts of the book. Any change to the game must be balanced with a cost, and because Kade is considered the most unstable variable, he absorbs the consequences physically. It added genuine tension to every major action and made the coding mechanics feel dangerous rather than convenient. That said, the phrase itself was repeated a lot throughout the story—twenty-three times, according to my count—and it occasionally became distracting. Similarly, Kade consistently referring to his father by his full name instead of simply “Dad” during emotional moments felt a little unnatural to me.

    But honestly? Those were very minor complaints in an otherwise incredibly engaging read. I finished the book within 24 hours because once it gets moving, it’s hard to put down. The battle scenes are intense, the emotional moments land well, and the sentient NPCs completely stole my heart. I will always love stories where artificial beings blur the line between programming and personhood.

    And the revenge? Absolutely deserved. Vane got off far easier than I personally would have allowed. The ending leaves room for future books with a small cliffhanger that feels intriguing without being frustrating, and I would absolutely continue this series if the author expands the world further.

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You’ll Love This Book If You Enjoy:

• LitRPG and VRMMO stories
• Full-immersion virtual reality worlds
• Disabled protagonists in fantasy/sci-fi
• Sentient NPCs and AI consciousness
• Cyberpunk corporations and conspiracies
• Emotional sci-fi adventures
• High-stakes coding and game mechanics
• Fast-paced action with emotional depth
• Ready Player One-style vibes
• Stories where virtual worlds truly matter

A fast-paced and emotionally grounded LitRPG that blends immersive VR gaming, corporate intrigue, and heartfelt character stakes into a genuinely compelling sci-fi adventure.

This book will be published June 1, 2026, but I do not yet have price points or if it will be available with Kindle Unlimited. I will update this page when I know more. 

Book Review: The Phantom Beast by K. B. Broas (The Seers Book 1)

 Genre: YA Sci-Fi Horror • Paranormal Thriller

Tropes: Teens with Powers, Hidden World, Small Town Horror, Psychic Abilities, Creatures in the Dark, Found Friendship, Cosmic Horror Vibes

Spice Level: None

Format: Paperback

Series: The Seers Book 1

    Jake is losing his mind. At least, that’s the only explanation that makes sense after watching his best friend literally fall from the sky and wake up buried in a golf course. Ever since surviving a cave collapse, Johnny has come back… different. He can see and manipulate mysterious forces he calls strands.

    Now Jake and Johnny's girlfriend are being pulled into a hidden reality where people can alter perception, manipulate emotions, and bend the world around them in terrifying ways. But Jake’s abilities are unlike the others. Instead of flying or controlling objects, he can make people feel disgusted —or force their attention to slide right past him entirely. And once you become aware of the strands, you also become visible to the things lurking in the dark. Especially the creatures hunting Johnny.

    I received a complimentary paperback copy of this book from the author, and first off—the cover is absolutely gorgeous. It immediately caught my attention, and thankfully the story inside lived up to it.

    This is a fast-paced YA sci-fi horror novel that follows three teenagers as they uncover a hidden world tied to these mysterious “strands” and the terrifying entities connected to them. What starts as confusion and discovery quickly spirals into something much darker.

    I really enjoyed watching the characters go from ordinary high school students starting a new school year to kids trying desperately to survive forces they barely understand. Their shared connection to the strands initially brings them closer together, but the horrors stalking them slowly begin tearing those bonds apart. 

    The horror elements were easily my favorite part. The whistling creatures were deeply unsettling—especially the way they lure people into trancelike states—and the larger entity capable of tearing apart reality itself to reach Johnny added genuine tension and danger to the story. The deeper the group gets into this hidden world, the more oppressive and terrifying everything becomes.

    The pacing stays strong throughout, and the story constantly pushes you forward wanting to know what happens next. Even seemingly smaller moments, like dealing with school bullies, end up feeding directly into the larger horror unfolding around them.

    That turning point? Incredible. It’s the moment the darkness truly notices them, and from there there’s no going back. As soon as I finished the book, I handed it off to my high-school-aged niece, and she ended up loving it just as much as I did. This feels like the kind of YA sci-fi horror that could easily hook both teen and adult readers alike. I’d absolutely read more from this author in the future.

You’ll Love This Book If You Enjoy:

• YA sci-fi horror
• Teenagers discovering supernatural powers
• Hidden worlds and secret abilities
• Creepy creatures lurking in the dark
• Cosmic horror vibes
• Fast-paced paranormal thrillers
• Friendship dynamics under pressure
• Psychological horror mixed with action
• Stranger Things-style energy

A tense and imaginative YA horror story packed with eerie creatures, mysterious powers, and teenagers thrown into a terrifying hidden reality.

    This book is available on Kindle Unlimited or buy it on Amazon for $0.99 by clicking here. 

Book Review: We Are Legend by Daron Kappanauff

 Genre: YA Horror • Post-Apocalyptic Horror

Tropes: Apocalypse Survival, Monster Invasion, Teen Survivors, Creature Horror, Survival Camp, Cannibalism, Fast-Paced Horror

Spice Level: None

Format: Physical Book

Series: Standalone 

    Nine months after the goblin apocalypse began, a group of gifted teens are still surviving on their own. No adults. No real safety. And supplies are running dangerously low.

    If they want to survive much longer, they’ll have to leave the relative safety of their camp and venture back into a world overrun by flesh-hungry goblins. The problem? Every supply run could easily become their last. And even if they make it back alive… how long can this kind of survival really last?

    I received a physical copy of this book complimentary from the author. 

    First and foremost: check your triggers before going into this one. This YA horror contains a lot of teen death. Like… a lot. Child and teen death is usually an immediate DNF for me, and in this case I ended up skipping multiple scenes because it was simply too much for my personal tastes. That said, outside of that issue, the actual premise is incredibly fun.

    The book has a very strong Gremlins-inspired apocalypse feel. The goblins are chaotic, vicious little creatures with an appetite for human flesh, and the similarities in appearance to Gizmo were hard to miss—in the best way. The reveal surrounding how the goblins come into existence was fairly obvious early on, but the deeper explanation later in the story still worked well.

    The pacing is one of the book’s strongest elements. Once things start moving, the story barely slows down. Between the goblin attacks, survival tension, and moments of outright horror—including cannibalism—the book keeps the pressure high throughout.

    The author clearly has a talent for writing fast-paced creature horror and survival situations. I’d absolutely read more from him in the future… preferably with significantly fewer dead kids. At least let them turn eighteen first.

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You’ll Love This Book If You Enjoy:

• Gremlins-style creature horror
• YA apocalypse survival stories
• Fast-paced monster attacks
• Survival camps and scavenging missions
• Horror with constant tension
• Creature features with gruesome stakes
• Post-apocalyptic worlds overrun by monsters

A brutal, creature-filled YA horror with nonstop action, survival tension, and goblin chaos straight out of a nightmare version of Gremlins.

This book is available on Kindle Unlimited or buy it on Amazon for $0.99 by clicking here. 

Book Review: Fear Farm No Trespassers by S. J. Krandall

 Genre: Psychological Horror / Thriller

Tropes: Small Town Secrets, Unreliable Narrator, Disappearances, Serial Killer Threads, Short-Story Structure, High Tension

Spice Level: None

Format: Physical Copy (Signed Edition)

Series: Standalone

                Over the course of a year several people had gone missing from a section of deep country-side never to be heard from again. Rumors abound, but no one knows for sure what happened. A young woman obsessed with their fates begins to live them. Are they real or a figment of her imagination?

                I received a physical copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. That book was signed and even had a cute little photo of the actual farmhouse the author based the stories around.

 I like this book if you think of it like a series of short stories around one area. If you try to connect each chapter into one overall story that is where it gets confusing. I read it and reread parts and I still don’t know how they are connected. Outside of the murder bit.

That isn’t to say the book is bad, far from it. We have a high tension read where you never know if anyone is going to survive. Just because a story is from that person’s perspective doesn’t mean they will make it. I loved that part, because we usually know someone will live till the end.

The book is well written as a series of short stories. Each chapter has a new instance set in the same general area with the same murderer. That person may or may not be alive, but the risk is still the same. The stories had a very Twilight Zone feel to them and I would absolutely read more by this author in the future.

This book is available on Amazon for $8.99 by clicking here.

You’ll Love This Book If You Enjoy:

• Psychological horror with an ambiguous edge
• Anthology-style storytelling
• Small town or rural thriller settings
• Stories where anyone can die
• Twilight Zone–inspired tension
• Atmospheric horror over gore

This is a strong, well-written collection that thrives on mood and unpredictability. I would absolutely read more from this author in the future.

Book Review: The Tomb of the Black Pharaoh by Christopher Michael

 Genre: Historical Horror / Occult Thriller

Tropes: WWII Espionage, Nazi Occult Plot, Ancient Artifact, Academic Turned Spy, Lovecraftian Influence, Desert Tomb Discovery

Spice Level: 🌶 (Minimal – plot-driven, no focus on romance)

Format: Audiobook (also available in print/eBook)

Series: Standalone 

                Danforth, once a university scholar immersed in arcane studies, now works for the OSS during World War II. When intelligence reveals a Nazi plot to recover the Talisman of the Black Pharaoh, he’s sent to Egypt to stop them. Armed with his knowledge of the occult—and a strange personal pull toward the artifact—Danforth quickly realizes this mission is far more dangerous than simple wartime espionage. Because if the Nazis obtain the talisman? No one knows the full extent of the destruction it could unleash. And it’s best not to find out.

                I received an audiobook copy in exchange for an honest review, and while I genuinely enjoyed the story, the narration didn’t work for me. The delivery leaned heavily monotone, and several pronunciations—most notably “skeletal” pronounced as “skel-ee-tall”—pulled me out of the experience repeatedly. That said, this critique applies specifically to the audiobook performance, not the writing itself.

                Focusing purely on the narrative, this is a fast-paced, atmospheric WWII horror adventure. The author clearly has a deep appreciation for Lovecraftian themes—ancient tomes, forbidden knowledge, creeping dread—and blends them seamlessly with historical espionage. The worldbuilding is immersive. From the university halls where Danforth first uncovers the occult tome to the bustling streets of Cairo and the haunting silence of desert tombs, the settings are richly described. I could vividly picture the museum and the excavation scenes once the artifact hunt begins. The tension builds steadily, combining historical stakes with supernatural horror in a way that feels cinematic.

                As a WWII-era occult thriller with strong Lovecraftian inspiration, this story absolutely delivers. It’s immersive, well-written, and packed with tension and atmosphere. I would gladly read more from this author—especially in eBook or physical format, where the prose and worldbuilding can shine without distraction. There’s clear passion behind the storytelling, and plenty of room for more dark historical adventures.

                This book is available on Kindle Unlimited or buy it on Amazon for $2.99 by clickinghere.

🔥 You’ll love this book if you enjoy:

• WWII espionage with supernatural stakes
• Nazi occult conspiracy plots
• Lovecraft-inspired horror elements
• Academic protagonists drawn into danger
• Ancient artifacts with world-ending potential
• Atmospheric desert and tomb settings
• Fast-paced historical thrillers with horror undertones

If you’re drawn to historical horror that blends wartime espionage with ancient cosmic dread, this one is well worth exploring—preferably in print.

Book Review: Resurrection by Michael Totten (Resurrection Book 1)

 Genre: Post-Apocalyptic Horror / Zombie Thriller

Tropes: Amnesia, Infected but Aware, Found Survival Group, Supermarket Survivors, Hidden Secrets, “Too Good to Be True” Safe Haven

Spice Level: None

Format: Novel (Book One in a continuing series)

Series: Resurrection Book 1

    A virus has spread starting on the West coast and quickly crippling the world. Communications are down, governments are gone, and it is everyone for themselves against these zombie-like creatures. Once turned there is no redemption…or is there?

    Annie doesn’t remember anything from the last few months when she runs out of the woods covered in blood and is almost shot down. Will her memory comeback and if so will she keep her secret?

    Sometimes a girl is just in the mood for a good zombie book and this one more than handles it. I love the trope of zombie books where it is someone who turned then regained their senses. Bonus points if they have memories while they were zombies. We have checked all the boxes and I loved it. 

    We follow Annie as she meets up with the crew from the supermarket, are overthrown, and as they make their way to a place that seems too good to be true. You will love and hate most of the characters in the book at one point in time or another. 

    While the book doesn’t end on a cliff-hanger it does end at a point that makes it very obvious that there is still so much left for the group. I hope for good things and will likely read on in the series at some point. Great fall read. 

    This book is available on Kindle Unlimited or buy it on Amazon for $3.99 by clicking here. 

🍂 You’ll love this book if you enjoy:

• Post-apocalyptic zombie survival stories
• Amnesia-driven mysteries
• “Infected but still aware” character arcs
• Found family survival groups
• Power struggles and shifting leadership
• Suspicious safe havens
• Character-driven horror with moral tension
• Fall reads with eerie, end-of-the-world vibes

If you’re craving a zombie novel that blends classic survival horror with a compelling identity twist, this one more than handles it.

Book Review: Wolf at the Door by Joel McKay

Genre: Horror / Domestic Thriller

Setting: Canada (Thanksgiving – October)

Tropes: Dysfunctional Family, Holiday Horror, Locked-In Setting, Revenge Plot, Who-Done-It, Family Secrets, Graphic Violence

Spice Level: None (Graphic violence)

Format: Physical Copy

Series: Stand-alone

    Charlotte just wanted a peaceful Thanksgiving with family and a few neighborhood friends. It’s the first holiday since her brother-in-law was released from jail, and despite the tension, she’s determined to make it perfect. Her parents have already left for the day so she can finally wear the necklace her grandmother gave her—the one her mother hates. Everything should be fine.

    By the time the turkey is carved, everything is chaos.

    Her parents unexpectedly return—along with her mother’s sharp attitude. Her brother-in-law has slept with her best friend. Her husband announces that same best friend is getting divorced and her daughter is high.

    And then things get deadly.

    I received a physical copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

    I almost DNF’d early on because it briefly felt like the story might involve child death, which is an automatic no for me. Thankfully, that fear didn’t materialize. Once the horror fully unfolds, the tension escalates quickly. The reader knows from the beginning who is targeting the family, but the characters do not, which makes the slow dawning realization especially satisfying.

    One detail that briefly confused me: the book is set in Canada (though not explicitly stated). Thanksgiving occurs in October, which explains why Halloween is described as being “in a few weeks” instead of already passed. Once I realized it was Canadian Thanksgiving, everything clicked.

⚠️ Content Warnings:

• Graphic murder scenes
• Family dysfunction
• Implied threats toward children (no on-page child death)

    This is not subtle horror. The violence is graphic and unflinching, which fits the genre. The holiday setting adds an extra layer of tension—turning what should be a cozy family gathering into a claustrophobic nightmare.

    Overall, this was an intense, fast-paced holiday horror with plenty of gore, messy family drama, and a satisfying unraveling of secrets. I would absolutely read more from this author.

📚 Availability:

Available on Amazon for $4.99 by clicking here. 

⭐ You’ll love this book if you enjoy:

• Holiday horror (Thanksgiving setting)
• Dysfunctional family thrillers
• Graphic, gore-heavy horror
• Locked-in dinner party chaos
• Revenge-driven plots

Book Review: Black Friday by James Kaine

Author: James Kaine

Genre: Horror

Tropes: Survival Horror, Battle Royale, Deadly Game, Isolated Setting, Snuff Film, Dark Web, Countdown Clock

Spice Level: No Spice

Format: eBook

Series: Stand-alone

    After Thanksgiving ends, every shopaholic’s favorite holiday looms—and for a select group of desperate people, it becomes a nightmare. Each receives a mysterious, hand-delivered invitation instructing them to arrive at an abandoned mall and tell no one. Once inside, their participation is enforced by a sniper. The rules are simple: survive to become a millionaire.

    I discovered this book through a Facebook ad and downloaded it immediately. After reading so many romances, I was craving something purely horrific—and this absolutely delivered.

    A seemingly wholesome YouTuber known for children’s content hides a horrifying secret. He spies on people, lures them into a deadly competition, and live-streams their suffering to viewers on the dark web. The participants are free to use anything inside the fully refurbished mall, but only one can make it out alive. If you don't escape by 2:00 AM, the building will explode.

    There is zero romance in this story. The narrative jumps between characters as they are hunted—or become hunters themselves. It’s brutal, disturbing, and vividly descriptive. And I loved every second of it.

    I would read more from this author without hesitation. In fact, I hope he has many more utterly unhinged stories waiting in the wings.

⭐ You’ll like this book if you enjoy:

• Survival horror with high body counts
• Battle-royale–style stories
• Dark web and snuff-film themes
• Isolated, high-stakes settings
• Fast-paced, relentless horror
• Books that don’t pull their punches

This book is available on Kindle Unlimited or buy it on Amazon for $4.99 by clicking here. 

Book Review: Phantom by H. D. Carlton

Author: H. D. Carlton

Genre: Dark Romance

Tropes: Cheating, Abuse, Sexual Assault, Torture, Murder, Stalker Romance, BookTok

Spice Level: 🌶🌶🌶🌶 — very explicit

Format: eBook

Series: Stand-alone set in the Cat and Mouse universe

    Gigi has been married to her husband for over a decade, and together they share a teenage daughter. Her life has never been particularly exciting, but it was comfortable—and she loved him. That stability begins to crumble when her husband’s drinking and gambling spiral out of control, threatening not only their marriage but their home.

    Enter Ronaldo.

    What begins as a routine job—collecting information on a debt owed to his boss—quickly turns into something far more dangerous. Ronaldo becomes obsessed with Gigi, and from that point on, the story descends unapologetically into dark romance territory.

    This book does not ease you in. It opens with torture, immediately setting the tone for what’s to come. The content includes cheating, abuse, rape, murder, and graphic violence. Please, genuinely—check your triggers. No matter how compelling a book may be, it is never worth sacrificing your mental health.

    That said, if you can handle the content, this was a gripping read. I found myself conflicted about the cheating aspect until the assault occurred—after that, all moral lines were erased. Ronaldo is a stalker who repeatedly breaks into Gigi’s home, and somehow… I still loved him. If that sentence alone doesn’t tell you whether this book is for you, nothing will.

    The story exists within the Cat and Mouse universe, and fans will appreciate the deeper lore. The grandmother’s journal entries belong to Gigi, and we get to experience both the moments as they’re written and the events unfolding around them in real time. It adds an unsettling, intimate layer to the narrative.

    This can absolutely be read as a standalone, regardless of where you are in the Cat and Mouse series. While still very dark, it is slightly less brutal than Haunting Adeline. The ending is bittersweet—I personally wanted more, but it fits the story Carlton chose to tell.

You’ll love this book if you enjoy:

• Stalker romance
• Extremely dark romance
• Mafia-adjacent storylines
• Morally gray (borderline black) MMCs

    This book is available on Kindle Unlimited or buy it on Amazon for $3.99 by clicking here. 

Book Review: The Cursed by Harper L Woods (Coven of Bones Book 2)

     Grey betrayed her. Used her magic and opened a door to Hell. Never told her who he was and NOW he wants her at his side? Her entire life has been a lie. All the years of torture at her father's hands and she fell right into Grey's trap. 

    This book picks up immediately after book 1. I started this series because someone in one of my smut groups grabbed this book in the series and got as far as "Devil Worship" and was done. For clarity's sake, there isn't any actual devil worship going on. Unless you count worshiping his body...    

    This book still has the spice that is in book 1, but Willow comes more fully into herself. I still love both main characters and I still hate the same characters as in book 1. Although, they are dealt with in this book, so that's nice. 

    I love how descriptive this book is from raising the dead to keeping a familiar. Every instance it is like you can see the characters adventures unfold instead of just reading it. 

    The story is addicting and I was devastated when I got to the end only to realize book 3 hasn't come out yet. As with book 1 this does end on a cliff-hanger leaving you desperate for more. I cannot wait for book 3 and will likely read it as soon as it's released. (October 2025, if you're curious).

    This book is available on Kindle Unlimited or buy it on Amazon for $12.99 by clicking here. 

Books by this author: 

The Coven (Coven of Bones Book 1)

Book Review: 21 Dares by Stephen Barnard

     When a teacher retires due to the "bullying" of 4 teenage boys the punishment is for them to clean out his classroom hoarders closet. Inside they find a game of 21 dares stretching back into the towns dark history. If anyone completes the 21 dares they will bring back the loathsome serial killer, Black Jack McKenzie, and allow him to finish his spree. Can these 4 boys complete these increasingly disturbing and destructive pranks or will one be willing to throw in the towel?

    I got this book around Halloween last year and surprisingly enough read it shortly thereafter. A plausible horror novel that includes an autistic kid, a rich kid with serious psychotic tendencies, and two "bad boys". Each must put in something that they deeply care about and whoever completed the last task wins and keeps everything unless the dares are all completed.  

    I enjoyed how deep the speculation went as to the mystery behind the game as well as the progression of pranks. These are all things that could have been executed, although I don't suggest it. Then there was Black Jack which the power of suggestion. Love all of that. I will say that the book takes a minute to get into. It starts out with the dares pretty quickly, but it took me a while to actually get interested. 

    I liked the fact that all of the pranks had to be done at school during school hours, although the fact that the school didn't have cameras for most of the book seemed a bit of a stretch. That being said they couldn't have achieved most of this if they had. 

    This book is available on Kindle Unlimited or buy it on Amazon for $3.79 by clicking here. 

Book Review: The Harvest by Sara Clancy (The Bell Witch Book 1)

     A group of families has been cursed by a witch for decades. Each year she chooses one of the family members who are then gifted a box. She will do everything in her power to break them. Nothing will satisfy her but total extinction. Each of the chosen must travel to a small town in Tennessee where it all began, enter the forest where the witch was killed, and collect the keys to their boxes. If they survive they get to live another year and, hopefully, not be chosen again. Although the group enters, some with skepticism, will they all make it out alive or be claimed by the witches harvest? 

    This is a great book that jumps right into the action. We immediately start following the main characters as they are chosen and face their fears. I grew up on the Kentucky Tennessee border so the Bell Witch was something we all heard about. It was told again and again, yet I loved this rendition of it. It kept to the major backstory of the Bell Witch and her supposed abilities and the results of her harvest being just that, a good harvest. 

    I feel the characters, while some were a bit young, displayed a diverse background and varying opinions. It was great to see the skeptic have to slowly concede as the story progressed. Also, I loved the final forest. It was dark as anything, but that's the main reason I loved it. Each of their fears were played with in an attempt to break them and for them to die. 

    This is a book that you can absolutely read as a stand-alone without feeling like you are missing out on the plot. The story continues, I'm sure, with the tails left at the end of this book. However, if you decide not to read the end of this book covers all main plot points that developed throughout the story. 

    I really enjoyed the book and would likely read more by this author or in this series in the future. 

    This book is available on Amazon for FREE by clicking here. 

Book Review: Dogs by Mike Sullivan

     Tom had been gone for too long. After his mother's accident he just hadn't been able to come back home. Once in the last 5 years, but a text from his dad letting him know she was gone changed all that. He drove through the night getting home to a dark house. Once inside, something was going on. A message left on his mother's talking machine began a precursor to his worst day: Something is wrong with the dogs. 

    I received a physical copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This is a horror/thriller short story. I wouldn't consider it a book and it is hard to give an honest review without spoiling everything that happens. The dogs have went insane, killing seemingly everyone. We follow a man as he arrives in an area, is attacked, watches other attacks, and attempts to get some children to safety while forming hypothesis' along the way. 

    This story definitively had the thriller aspect and was great at drawing the reader in. I will say I absolutely almost stopped reading it. I will not under any circumstances read child death/murder, but we were good in this case.

    I don't know if this is a precursor to a bigger story by this author that is still in the works, but I would absolutely read something else by them that had more substance to it. 

    This story is available on Kindle Unlimited or buy it on Amazon for $3.99 by clicking here.

Book Review: Haunted: Perron Manor by Lee Mountford (Haunted Book 1)

 

    Sarah and Chloe inherit a house that is so far beyond anything they could ever had imagined owning. A sprawling manor that they hope to turn into a bed and breakfast, however the house has a dark past. Determined not to let the ghost stories, murders, or cult activities impact their dream the pair move in with Chloe's husband and young child in tow. Everything is going great until their boiler is set to be replaced and with it the minor activities in the house spiral. 

    I found this book from a Facebook ad. It suggested it, I was mildly interested, then I proceeded to see it every time I opened my app for the next week. So, I downloaded it. There were zero regrets. I will say I started to have some regrets towards the end of the book, but my concern didn't come to fruition, so it was fine. I draw a very hard line at child death and would have DNF'd it. But, all was well. 

    The child in question in the book, Emily, was on track for her age in some aspects and severely behind in others. At least in what I have seen with my 3 children as well as the other children I have been around at this age. Still, it was a minor detractor from the book, and didn't play a part in the actual plot. 

    As for the plot I loved it. One of my favorite books and movies will always be The Shining and this book does a great job of a haunted manor. Sprawling floorplan, cult room, ghosts, and a demon. Who couldn't love this. It's like someone took Rose Red, The Shining, and Thirteen Ghosts and decided they would make a great mashup. I have absolutely zero complaints about this book's plot and will definitely read more from this author. 

    I will say that this is book 1 of 9 in a series called Haunted. Personally, I think everything in this book wrapped up nicely, even with there being a technical reason to return to the house. If we are moving on to another place and even all new characters I would read on in the series. Sticking with the characters in this book as they complete their new vengeance doesn't hold a lot of personal appeal, though. 

    This book is available on Kindle Unlimited or buy it on Amazon for  $4.99 by clicking here. 

Book Review: Midnight Screams by Sara Clancy (Banshee Book 1)

     For the last few years every time Benton sleeps he is cursed to see someone's death. Sometimes he knows them, other times he only knows a way to contact them once he wakes up. Everyone tells him it isn't real. There is some other explanation and he just needs to take his medicine. When he becomes an outcast after he tells people about his dreams his parents pack them up and move to a new town. It has always been a big city, but this town is so small that everyone knows everyone and he's already seen someone's death.

    This is an intriguing YA horror/thriller. We follow a teenager as he struggles fitting in with others and being unable to sleep. When he does sleep he sees someone die, but that isn't the worst of it. Instead of just seeing a death, which would be traumatic enough, Benton is forced to view things from the killer's perspective. He feels what they feel. When he gets to the new town he causes a car crash, which thankfully everyone is unscathed from. This prompts the meeting with a peppy and excitable girl around Benton's age who quickly becomes a second main character. 

    There is absolutely zero spice in this book nor romantic aspects. That being said, I could see a relationship forming later in the series. I enjoyed trying to figure out what was behind everything with Benton and his new friend along with discovering that there was more to Benton. My biggest complaint is that the name of the series gives away the closest guarded secret within the book. Otherwise, character building is great, as is setting and descriptions. 

    This book is available on Amazon for $6.99 by clicking here. 

Book Review: Neon Nights by Anna Mocikat (There's No Murder in Paradise Book 1)

     Detective Siro Ferreira-Nunes has transferred from Olympias 1 to 3, which was always his goal. However, when he arrives he quickly discovers that his first assignment may be his hardest, and most gruesome, yet. In the heart of Oldtown with a new partner with a giant spider on her head, Detective Spader, the duo must uncover the culprits behind a mass grave and a murdered celebrity. The brass want answers and The Dragon has given them a week to solve it. 

    I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. I have said it before and I will say it again. I love Anna Mocikat books. No, I am not just saying that because after having done reviews for her for years she has become someone I consider a friend and that I talk to regularly. I love each of the worlds that she builds and the descriptors used. Each time you read one of her books, no matter how long it has been since you last read one, you are instantly transported right back to where you were before. 

    That being, while this series is set in the Behind Blue Eyes universe and features two of the characters from said series it is not in line with book 4 of BBE, which was the last one of that series I had read before jumping into this one. Book 4 of BBE technically takes place after Neon Nights 1 since Neon Nights starts on Siro's first day in Olympias 1. I will say that when I started reading Neon Nights the scene was so similar to the scene where Siro and Spader find the mutilated Angel I messaged Anna and asked if it was the same scene. She told me that it was intentionally set up like this and to keep reading. Was glad I did as the scene turned somehow even more macabre than the mutilation. 

    Like I mentioned, the author does an amazing job of transporting the reader to the scene. It is easy to see the characters in the book as well as the things they are having to bear witness to. You meet some new characters that are not mentioned in the BBE series as well as mentions of ones we know well. I really enjoyed getting to see more into Siro and Kate as I loved them in the BBE series. Them getting their own spotlight with their more interesting cases is going to be fun. 

    While this book is book one in a series it seems that this series will be set up more to be one book resolutions just containing the same characters unlike in some of the other series. I will go into a bit more detail on that in my review for book 2, which I have already read. There are only currently two books in this series, but I am sure that there will be more adventures with this duo in the future both in this series and, of course, in BBE. If you haven't already read BBE you CAN read this book in the series without spoilers. 

    That being said, all of these Sci-Fi adventure books are on Kindle Unlimited. They are well-written, exciting, and full of action. And cyborgs.     

    This book is available on Kindle Unlimited or buy it on Amazon for $2.99 by clicking here. 

Books by this author: 

Shadow City (Shadow City Book 1)

Dark City (Shadow City Book 2) 

Level One (Cyber Squad Book 1)

Level Two (Cyber Squad Book 2)

Level Three (Cyber Squad Book 3)

Nephilim Volume 1 (Nephilim a BBE Origin Book 1)

Nephilim Volume 2 (Nephilim a BBD Origin Book 2)

Nephilim Volume 3 ( Nephilim a BBE Origin Book 3)

Behind Blue Eyes (Behind Blue Eyes Book 1)

Fallen Angel (Behind Blue Eyes Book 2)

War Games (Behind Blue Eyes Book 3)

Last Stand (Behind Blue Eyes Book 4)

The Tigress (Behind Blue Eyes Book 5)

Space Punks (Space Punks Book 1)

Nightingale's Song (Space Punks Book 2)

Neon Dreams (There's No Murder in Paradise Book 2)

Neon Fever (There's No Murder in Paradise Book 3)

Book Review: The Haunting of Gordon's Lake by Danny Gunn (Van Diemen's Valley Book 1)

     Brad is forced to spend the last weeks of summer with his aunt and uncle, but he is promised lots of fun. Crickets, swimming, and barbeque. While his cousin doesn't initially seem very interested in hanging out, the friends he slowly begins to make warn of ghosts in the area. He doesn't believe it at first, but he may just lose his life the same way a group of kids did years ago if he isn't careful. Will he join the eternal playground or go home with his family at the end of summer?

    I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This is a middle grade horror novel that is well done. Just in case you can't handle child death you might want to be leery of this one. A group of teenage kids die in this book. It doesn't go into a lot of detail about that and it is something that happened years before the book begins, but it is mentioned throughout multiple times. 

    We start by following a young boy as his parents drop him off with his aunt and uncle while they have to travel. Everything seems normal about them, including a surly older cousin, and the cabin they go to seems nice enough. The longer he is there, however, the more weird things begin to happen. While his aunt and uncle assure him that his cousin was only teasing with her warning of ghosts in the area, some things aren't adding up. Following along as Brad decides who is real and who is a ghost out of each he encounters. 

    The truth behind who is a ghost was a bit obvious to me, but it didn't take away from the story. Again, this is a middle grade horror. Still, it is well written and engaging. 

    This book is available on Kindle Unlimited or buy it on Amazon for $3.99 by clicking here. 

Book Review: Keystone by Sadie Mason (The Made Book 1)

     Oriana knows the Others are coming. They have been outside her window every night and she knows she can't fall asleep or they could get her. Others are dangerous, but usually only if you enter into a deal with one. In her case, she didn't. When she wakes up in a tunnel surrounded by bodies she knows she has to get out and make her way home. Her family has to have noticed she is gone by now. When she gets out and goes to the police she can tell them everything about the abduction, but nothing about who she is or where she lives. Now her only option is to trust an Other to try regaining her memories and her life. There is more at stake than just abduction, this time, though. 

    I received a copy of this eBook from the author in exchange for an honest review. This is kind of a Young Adult Fantasy as it has the fantasy aspect of Others. Others can be fae, demons, dwarves, or most anything else. The main character in the book, Oriana is technically an adult, but only just. There is a romance aspect to the story, but it is very PG. 

    From the start of the book to the very last page you are looking forward to what is going to happen next. Does Oriana get taken? Does she escape? Does she remember her past? Does she trust the Other she has to go to? Will she go back to her family? The author does an amazing job of keeping you on the edge of your seat and engaged in the story. I enjoyed every second of it, even if it did end on a bit of a cliffhanger. 

    The characters are amazing in this book. Everyone had an important role to play and you didn't see certain aspects until the author wanted you to. I don't want to say too much here about the characters and give one fun aspect away for the readers. 

    This book is available on Kindle Unlimited or buy it on Amazon for $2.99 by clicking here. 

Book Review: A Bleak Remedy by DS LaLonde

     After the successful capture of a live vampire in South America a team of scientists are intent to learn just how to use this genetic makeup to cure diseases, preferably without turning people into vampires in the process.  Still, nothing is without risk, and this institution takes some of these risks both knowingly and unknowingly to make a healthier tomorrow. Will any human results have adverse side affects, such as an insatiable thirst for human blood? 

    I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. In this book we jump perspectives from the vampires in question to those who work in the facility. We are able to see the gradual changes in the humans with the added DNA as well as how others are dealing with everything. While the reader is never kept in the dark as to who is doing what you don't miss the mystery of who did it, because you're curious where the story will end up. 

    I enjoyed this book, although I will admit to skimming on some one the science parts since it didn't hold my interest. I really liked the fact that we get to see from multiple points of view so we aren't just learning about things happening around one person. It worked well for the storyline, allowing the reader to be more invested in the story. There is a lot of blood and some gory scenes in the book, but you won't hear a complaint from me about that. I will say that the book took a while for me to get invested in. When the characters were just learning about the vampire and being careful it was slow and didn't hold a lot of interesting points for me. Once human testing began was where it became a great read. 

    There is also the fact of the original vampires in the story. Unlike a lot of the other working theories of vampires that abound this was just a bat-like creature that was born from regular humans. They have great healing abilities and, of course, drink blood. The humans affected by their DNA are closer to the vampires we are used to, in varying degrees of violence. 

    This book is available on Kindle Unlimited or buy it on Amazon for $4.99 by clicking here. 

Book Review: The Manic Mission by C.J. Simone (Children of the Mob Book 1)

     Gabe Giodarno has to make up for all the bad things his father has done. He isn't perfect...Hell, he isn't even close. In fact, he is basically the fuck up of the family. Still, he is intent on making a difference. His music is his passion, Savannah is his love, and the girls? Well, they need him and if he won't help them, who will? But, his own penchant for screwing everything up has him losing the girl he has loved his entire life, getting into someone who is completely dark and punishes him. Still, he deserves it for everything he has done. With tighter restrictions and his father moving them out of town, Gabe is still intent on doing whatever it takes to save these girls....even if it means sacrificing his own freedom. 

    I received a copy of this eBook from the author in exchange for an honest review. I am very behind in reviews and I can't even tell you with any accuracy when I finished this book. Still, I am generally very good about remembering the important parts of the books I read. 

    I enjoyed most of this book, although it is VERY dark. There is a child prostitution ring, rape of both sexes, and abuse. Just a heads up before you go any farther with the review. In addition to those not so wonderful points above Gabe is bipolar and has a lot of depression issues. Given everything that has happened in his life, it does not surprise me. Still, if you try to avoid books with those things in them, this is your warning. 

    Despite everything Gabe genuinely does try his best to be a good person. No matter how much he hates himself he self destructs versus taking it out on those around him. For the most part. To get the full picture of everything that is going on in his life the author changes perspectives between him, his siblings, his ex girlfriend, and the young girl next door who has a crush on him. Each of these people give us more details on what is going on without the sometimes clouded mind of a person who has seen too much. 

    The book is well written and you hope the best for most of the characters throughout. Although, I can't say I wanted the best for Gabe's father at the end, but I will leave you to draw your own opinions on that one. That being said, although the book is good, I don't think I'll be looking for any more in this series in the future. 

    This book is available on Kindle Unlimited or buy it on Amazon for $4.99 by clicking here.