It is great to see horror books progressing – especially one reviewed by HorrorPalace.com! Congratulations to Simon Law, author of The Damaged, for the Audible release of his book.
HorrorPalace Review of The Damaged
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Visions Through a Glass, Darkly (Book Review)
From the mind of David I. Aboulafia comes the thrilling story of “Visions Through a Glass, Darkly”. It combines two very familiar elements within the horror genre – a blurred reality and a short amount of time to put them to rest – and it delves deep into the mind of the protagonist. Aboulafia shows excellent control over his delivery, and he tells a very enthralling tale that might just inspire some readers to keep the lights on for a few nights.
Richard Goodmen is the central character in the story, and he seems like a typical, honest guy who doesn’t like to stir things up. He works at a special institute for disabled youth where he teaches the art of watchmaking, and for the most part, he enjoys what he does. But at the same time, Richard is haunted by gifts he doesn’t understand or control.
Unfortunately, Richard’s journey takes a turn for the worst when he finds out he only has a couple of days to live – less than three to be exact. On top of this prophecy, he has to deal with his gifts, which are more intense than ever, and a killer who is hell bent on destroying everything around him. As his time runs out and the demons at the Institute come to life, Richard desperately tries to stop the killer.
The book starts off with a taste of the ending so-to-speak, then leads into a rather detailed background about Richard and his father. From these pages, it’s easy to deduce that the author is a patient man. There’s no rush to present the dark side just yet. Instead, he takes some time to humanize Richard and make him relatable to the readers. When the character is sold, and the reader is confident on how they feel towards him, the psychological twists take effect. Overall there is a nice build-up of the tension and a solid plot is formed.
Regarding writing skill, I gained a lot of respect for Aboulafia throughout the book. His turn of phrase was ingenious at times, and he knew exactly when to use it. There was also a nice balance between “easy reading” and “academic” where his tone was concerned. I appreciate that he tries to tell a good story instead of show off his extensive vocabulary. Although it’s not the most original plot I’ve read, it has many unique elements that make it worthwhile.
From a purely personal point of view, the pace is slower than what I typically enjoy and this also means more detailed settings. In some instances, I felt the metaphors and comparisons were more than necessary, but for another reader, it’s the perfect book to blow your mind. In other words, it’s going to appeal to readers who love going deep into a story and living inside it while you’re there.
I am confident there is a fairly big crowd that will appreciate Aboulafia’s dark world.
Reviewed by Damnetha Jules
Damnetha is a staff writer, horror book and movie critic.
Island of the Dolls (Book Review)
Island of the Dolls is a thriller/horror novel by Jeremy Bates and it’s based on an actual island covered with dolls. The story takes the reader on a special trip to that mysterious, strange, and most of all, terrifying place. A very engaging Bates introduces an entertaining cast of characters while giving them life in a seriously dangerous environment. Sometimes a little over the top, the book skillfully presents a film type atmosphere.
A travel documentary team is about to investigate the strange island situated just outside Mexico City, called Isla de las Munecas. It is said to be haunted, which is exactly what the crew is going to discover for themselves. The crew consists of Jack, Pita, her brother Jesus and his girlfriend Elizaveta, along with Nitro and Pepper. With some tension between the guys, they set off on a boat towards the place that is known for all the dolls hanging from trees and huts.
Unknown to Jack, the skeptic, and the rest of the crew, the island has a troubled history. As they come across a dead body, the paranoia starts to sink in, and even Jack is forced to look at the possibilities that ghosts might truly exist. However, there is more than just a murderer on the island, because Pita has been keeping a secret from her husband to be. As things become more dangerous and mysterious, the tension continues building.
Off the bat, it was a very entertaining book. Bates spends some time familiarizing the reader with the characters, painting a vivid picture of their attitudes towards life. And after the stage has been set, he lets the animals loose in a manner of speaking. One of the main characters, Jack, comes with a natural cockiness that makes you hate and like him at the same time. Jesus, on the other hand, is much better at being unlikable.
Truth be told, I expected a little more in the “blood and guts” department, but the author chose a route with more psychological thrills. Is it still scary? Definitely. Bates knows how to creep into his reader’s mind and toy around.
I should also add that this is one of the more light-hearted horrors I’ve read, but not because of the storyline alone. It’s mostly due to the characters. As mentioned before, the book does have a theatrical style, which means the characters are larger than life. This is the case here. Every character you are going to read about has something definitive about them, and this gets exploited.
I had also envisioned a different ending, compared to most horror tales of this kind, but I was rather surprised. The question of who will like this book depends on your level of comfort. If you want a story that can easily be compared to a scary adventure, as opposed to horror gore, then you will find Island of the Dolls a great read!
Reviewed by Damnetha Jules
Damnetha is a staff writer, horror book and movie critic.
It Wasn’t a Prop
She strode so confidently into the party last Halloween, garnering a few nervous looks in the process. Perhaps it was her upfront personality, but more likely axe she wielded. She laughed at their fear, muttering ‘It’s just a prop’.
That was the truth, until her ex-boyfriend showed up with a hot new squeeze. Seething, she took to the bar.
As the couple left that night, they were unaware they’d been followed. She was armed with liquid confidence and had revenge on her mind. The axe hit him before he realised and his girlfriend was next, dead in a pool of blood.
It seems it wasn’t a prop after all.
Seven Feet Under (Book Review)
“Seven Feet Under” is a collection of seven short stories, written by Matthew Weber. He draws inspiration from America’s Deep South, which is the somber theme all the stories have in common. Other than the vicious nature of the stories and the region where they unfold, they are presented with diversity and creativeness.
The collection kicks off with “Bad Brunch in the Big Easy”, a tale of voodoo that enforces itself into the life of a man who can’t believe his good luck. He’s on his honeymoon in New Orleans with his beautiful wife when a chain of events brings his fairytale to a horrific end. Instead of enjoying the food and the music, he is forced to search for ways to save his wife.
This is followed by one of the shorter tales called “Daddy’s on the Way”, which sees a father desperately running towards his children. As the city gets destroyed by a giant creature all he can think of is getting back to them. Take note that it comes with a creative twist. A personal favorite is “In the Trees, the Shadows”. It was slightly darker than the rest, especially the way the violence was described. But I also enjoyed “Dammit, Mavis”, which is somewhat on the lighter side of horror.
Weber’s collection is rather impressive, and I base this on two factors, originality, and style. Although it’s not a full-blown, pull a disgusted face ensemble, I liked reading each story. With simplicity in mind, Weber sets out to create fictional realities that will appeal to a wide audience. The characters are relatable, colorful and entertaining, playing well into the plots.
After the first story, I thought I had an idea of what to expect, but my assumptions quickly disappeared after finishing the second story. There is no telling what Weber is going to come up with, or how it’s going to end. To make it better, he relays the stories in a language everyone can understand. Having the liberty of reading his previous collection, “A Dark and Winding Road,” I can confidently say that Weber is very consistent. Even though not every story blew my mind, there were several I’ll probably never forget. Every tale had its special way of exploiting a reader’s thirst for something unnatural.
Regarding reaching a wider audience, don’t expect foul language and too many gory details. In fact, there are two stories that border on inspirational rather than horror. I liked his work the first time around, and I appreciate the chance to do it again. Weber is an old-school writer who places a heavy focus on providing a story that flows without any hick-ups. His timing is spot on as well.
I wouldn’t suggest it to hardcore gore seeking only horror fans, but I do recommend it to everyone in search of a thrilling read. It’s the type of collection that speaks to a universal crowd, yet retains the ability to leave you shocked and appalled. Another Weber collection makes it onto my favorite list.
Reviewed by Damnetha Jules
Damnetha is a staff writer, horror book and movie critic.
Also by Matthew Weber:
A Dark and Winding Road – Book Review
Matthew Weber writes horror stories, political novels, and home-improvement books. He’s the author of A DARK & WINDING ROAD (collected short horror fiction, 2014) and THE BULL (satirical political novel, 2012). His short stories have appeared in such anthologies as BEST OF DARK ECLIPSE, GHOSTS: REVENGE, CREATURE STEW and more. He is an affiliate member of the Horror Writers Association and makes his living as editor-in-chief (and principal writer) of EXTREME HOW-TO home improvement magazine. Weber lives in central Alabama with his wife, two sons and canine companion. Check out his website at Pin Bottle Press.