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Skeleton In The Closet and other Scary Stories (Book Review)

August 20, 2017 By Horror Palace Leave a Comment

From Russell J. Dorn, a fairly experienced young adult and children’s author (and illustrator), comes a collection of 23 short stories. The collection is called Skeleton in the Closet and Other Scary Stories. It is aimed at a fairly young audience. Each story has its own intriguing illustration to accompany it and telling from the style Dorn uses, it is plain to see he has done this before. Dorn is imaginative, original, and cleverly hides a few moral values in between the lines.

The collection is introduced by a story with the same name, and it sees a young boy trying to hide a secret from his parents. And while he is trying to hide this secret via the help of a skeleton hiding in the closet, his problems only get bigger.

In the following story, Beneath the Bathtub, the moral value is hidden until the very last sentence. It follows a boy who loves taking baths. But, unfortunately, his love for playing in the tub quickly turns into a phobia, thanks to a mysterious voice who wants to play along.

More short and entertaining stories follow, exploring different horror themes in very familiar places. There’s even a story where the new teacher makes a very disturbing first impression.

First of all, I was a little surprised after reading the first story. It’s not often that I get to review horror that’s aimed at such a young audience, which is quite a refreshing step backward. Dorn is brilliant in terms of his tone, and his style is incredibly comfortable. At the same time, he delivers quality and refinement, a sign that he still puts in a lot of effort, even though his readers are much younger.

The pacing is very quick, but once again, it works well with the audience Dorn wants to entertain. He has the ability to say a lot while using very selective words, which will definitely make him a hit among readers who don’t like investing themselves too much.

As mentioned earlier, Dorn shows a very creative imagination, and it becomes visible in the original plots and illustrations he conjures up. It takes him about one page to set a believable scene, and within moments the chills start. And the reason why I know he’s effective is because I had some chills tingling down my spine, and I’ve read some pretty graphic books.

Dorn doesn’t need crude words or high detailed guts to grab attention. His talent to focus on the elements that create the initial fear is what makes this collection so addictive. After the first story, you can’t really wait to read the next one, and this is coming from an adult.

Obviously, hardcore horror fans probably will not find what they are looking for in the collection. But for younger readers, or parents who want to surprise their teenagers with a very good horror story collection, I am definitely recommending Skeleton in the Closet. The stories are well written, they flow perfectly, and you should not be surprised if your kids become very reluctant to take a bath.

Reviewed by Damnetha Jules
Damnetha is a staff writer, horror book and movie critic.

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A Life of Death (Book Review)

August 4, 2017 By Horror Palace Leave a Comment

A Life of Death is not your typical horror novel, but it can definitely pass as a very suspenseful and sometimes gruesome read. Weston Kincade is the author of the series, A Life of Death being the first book in the trilogy captivates his audience by tapping into a slightly old-school style of writing. Kincade makes it easy to get lost in the pages and delivers thru on several hair-raising moments.

Alex Drummond is a teen outcast. He does not fit in at school, and with no thanks to his abusive stepfather and brother, he does not fit in at home either. For Alex, waking up from a nightmare is not all that satisfying. However, he possesses a gift that changes everything about his misfit life. He also befriends a girl named Paige, who ultimately comes to care for Alex a great deal, and brings a little hope into his life.

His gift is experiencing the last moments of a person who died, simply by touching whatever they held at the time of their death. And naturally, this begins to sound like a “calling” towards bringing some justice back into the world. The only problem is, Alex, cannot prove anything through his visions. However, making matters worse, he can tie a crime to the most influential people in town.

Off the bat, this was a very easy read. The pacing was consistent and Kincade keeps hitting the beats that make you want to turn the page. I have not read many supernatural detective books, but I have no doubt that A Life of Death is among the best ones. But is everyone going to agree?

While the book is very easy to read and seems to go by very quickly, it can feel a little more focused towards a younger audience at times. I have no way of telling whether Kincade wanted to attract a younger audience, but the way the plot progressed and the social issues it tackled along the way did have an “inspirational” undertone.

In terms of characters, Kincade is obviously experienced at making them believable, and it becomes evident after reading the first page. It does not take him very long to paint an image or perception of a character in your head as if they are real and living in your neighborhood.

As for plot originality, this is a 50/50 split. Even though I do find the plot original, I also noticed a familiar pattern and yes, one or two moments were a little predictable. But I think this balance was intentional because it was executed with great precision.

I would recommend this book to readers who love supernatural thrillers, instead of hardcore horror fans. As I said, there are enough thrilling moments, but the graphic side of Kincade is not as forceful or dark as most writers within the horror genre. He is incredibly talented and he tells an amazing story, but based on this book alone I think it borders on the lighter side of horror. Whether that is a good thing depends on the reader.

Either way, the book is very entertaining and speaks to many valuable lessons society needs to pay attention to.

Reviewed by Damnetha Jules
Damnetha is a staff writer, horror book, and movie critic.

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The Thorn Saga (Book Review)

August 3, 2017 By Horror Palace Leave a Comment

The Thorn Saga is a deep dark, five book series by Joshua Ingle, and what a dark saga it is. Even though it touches on so many familiarities, it still seems different and very original in so many ways. However, I suggest NOT tying any expectations to the book, unless they speak to the talents of Mr. Ingle. And I say this because the book does have a peculiar way of evolving.

Thorn is one of the several demons (fallen angels) roaming the earth, unable to enjoy the same pleasures humans do. Their purpose is to “guide” souls to the wrong side of the tracks by whispering directly to their thoughts and influencing their decisions. Murder, suicide and all that is evil has to be the end-message of the day.

The story plays out in Atlanta, where Thorn is higher up the food chain. He is the guy in charge of keeping the evil brewing until he finds himself powerless, alone and vulnerable. An old enemy has made his return, which means Thorn will have to fight his way back to power. The only problem is the changes Thorn is going through, making it difficult to decide between following his revenge or growing a conscience.

I have to say I love the concept of the book. Putting demons in a different perspective and making them connect with living people through a “mafia” type situation really works for me. But instead of an Italian crime lord, it is an ex-angel with a score to settle. So, in terms of being original, I am definitely giving Ingle two thumbs up.

I found Ingle’s style of writing and execution quite intriguing, and I want to say it leans more towards the type of author who gathers a devoted cult following, as supposed to going with a more relaxed and commercial tone. It is rather intense and it fits perfectly with the premise of the story, which is another solid point I give Ingle. If I have to sum up his style in one word, it would be “dramatic”, which can be good or bad depending on your personal taste.

Going over to character development, there is more than enough to go around, which is also why I asked in the beginning not to tie certain expectations to the theme or title of the book. As much as the plot draws the reader and as original as it is, I felt it was more of a character driven story. It is the internal struggle Ingle focuses on with extra attention, ultimately creating a very dark, intense, slow and bittersweet story.

In terms of length and pacing, the are many tiny details to consume page after page, and it can feel like it often creeps slowly along. Once again, this can be good or bad depending on what you like. I recommend this book to avid readers who love experiencing every minute detail. However, once the book gets going, it is hard to put down, noting that Ingle goes to great lengths to make his Atlanta believable.

On the other side of the coin, Ingle is very daring in the way he approaches religion. While I personally thought there was a very interesting showdown, which I will not discuss for fear of giving away spoilers, I do not think all readers are going to appreciate it as much.

At the same time, readers should be warned that the language, violence, and sexual content are intense and very crude. If you are sensitive to these elements, it is probably not the book for you. However, I did not expect anything less from Ingle, given the dark nature of the overall story. Ingle did not limit himself to our reality, while his story was taking place somewhere completely different. In other words, he did not try to change the natural order of things, because it will take away from the authenticity he has created.

Ingle focused on a specific crowd, and he definitely followed a story he has a lot of passion for, which is something I respect him for. He stayed consistent and delivered a very intriguing omnibus, even if it does maintain a dark intensity for the most part. It is definitely an omnibus I will be personally recommending to some particular people I know.

Reviewed by Damnetha Jules
Damnetha is a staff writer, horror book and movie critic.

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Come As You Are: A Short Novel and Nine Stories (Book Review)

August 2, 2017 By Horror Palace Leave a Comment

Come As You Are: A Short Novel and Nine Stories is a collection, featuring a short novel and several short stories. Steven Ramirez is the capable voice behind the supernatural gloom and thrills, and you will quickly learn that this author has a very subtle skill. His target audience for the short novel and I assume the anchor for the collection, is clearly young adults, although Ramirez does not shy away from the graphic details. He is clearly experienced in conjuring up a wonderful story, even if they are all drenched with innocent blood.

The collection starts with Come As You Are, the short novel based on a kid called Ivan. He is in the seventh grade and faces a daily routine of getting bullied with his best friend, Ollie. That is until Ivan comes across an old locker at school, and it holds a strange list. When Ivan starts reading from the list, the seats of power take a dramatic change. All of a sudden the bullies are taken down a step, with fatal consequences. Unfortunately, Ivan does not realize what he unleashed until it is too late.

The stories that follow are a blend of different horror/thriller themes, which I can not really connect other than by being within the horror genre. For example, Nailed It sees a writer waiting for his flight to take off, then gets bothered by a kid sitting next to him. The writer notices the kid is very organized and neat, so he tells him the story of a guy he knew with the same neurotic habit. The guy eventually went over the edge and did things I can not reveal without divulging any spoilers. Then there is A Bone in the Throat, which is based on a scam artist becoming the victim of a crazy surgeon.

All-in-all, the collection features ten powerful and very different stories.

I can start by saying all the stories move at a very quick pace. Personally, I love when an author knows what necessary detail to add while keeping the plot in motion. Ramirez came very close to perfecting this balance concerning my personal taste. At some points, I would not have minded if he lingered a little longer, but then I take into account the target audience. For young adults, the pacing will be very comfortable.

Like I mentioned in the introduction, Ramirez’s style makes every story an easy read. He is confident in the stories he wants to tell, and he knows how he wants to tell it. I am also impressed by his ability to channel the young character in Come As You Are, and selling it perfectly. His graphical depictions are spot-on and very intense, which I loved, and it was not as restricted as I initially thought the collection would be.

The plot for the short novel may not be the most original, but it builds on such a controversial and relevant issue that you can not stop yourself from reading on. As for the other stories, the plots were a lot more surprising and unpredictable.

Out of all the elements, I liked about the collection, it is the character display that stood out the most. Ramirez truly is a master at bringing his cast to life, and then binding you to their ordeal. Overall, I think it is a stunning collection many readers will enjoy.

Reviewed by Damnetha Jules
Damnetha is a staff writer, horror book and movie critic.

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Barrow of The Damned (Book Review)

August 1, 2017 By Horror Palace Leave a Comment

Barrow of the Damned is a young adult novel by Jonathan J. Drake, and it introduces a plot you will not typically read about. Live Action Role Playing (LARP) is the engine that drives the book into a dark place underneath the ground, where life is anything but a game. It is the first time I have read anything written by Mr. Drake, but off the bat, I can say he expresses a very relaxed tone and style while setting up a very entertaining story.

A group of friends, consisting of Dale, Jane, Katie, and Gavin, are LARP enthusiasts and players. And their passion for the game is going to take them on an adventure underneath the earth, putting them in a real-life fantasy situation. They are joined by other passionate players, and Mr. Stephens, the guy behind the setup.

What this team of young players does not anticipate is coming into contact with creatures lurking inside the Barrows, where their fantasy adventure is about to turn into a complete nightmare. Lives are lost, a lot of blood is shed, and some very disturbing twists find their way to the surface.

I have to say, I was torn after reading the ending of the book. And frankly, this is one of the more difficult books I have had to review because it appeals to a very specific audience. I say this because the first part of the book relies heavily on gaming lingo. Even a lot of the humor will be lost on people who do not know anything about gaming. This is by no means a bad thing, but it does create a type of shortlist of people who will really appreciate the book for what it is. However, on the flip side, this audience will likely greatly appreciate a book “for them!”

On pacing and overall delivery, Drake has no problem keeping a consistent flow of the story. And if it was not for the gaming lingo, it would have been a very easy read. Drake’s capability to describe action and horror scenes, especially those riddled with blood and guts, is spot-on. However, there were one or two moments when I felt the characters lost a little authenticity, but these moments were short-lived and definitely minor.

As much as the theme of the book is targeted at young adults with a passion for role-play gaming, it is also very original in my opinion. Of course, you will see all the typical horror beats that make it a thrill-ride at the end of the day, but you will also notice a very light atmosphere. Strangely enough, for a book that may be presupposed to be drenched in horrific darkness, there’s always some humor hiding in the distance.

While I do not view Barrow of the Damned as a mainstream horror best-seller, I do think there is an appreciative audience for it. Drake obviously has a natural talent for conjuring up a great story, and he knows how to portray it to his readers. In fact, I can tell that this book is more about expressing a passion rather than shooting for a special literary prize.

For hardcore horror fans, this book is going to fall a little short. But for readers looking for a lighthearted horror story with a silver lining, you will enjoy Barrow of The Damned.

Reviewed by Damnetha Jules
Damnetha is a staff writer, horror book and movie critic.

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