new horror releases

Wicked Prayers (Book Review)

October 4, 2016 By Horror Palace Leave a Comment

Strap in for some action-packed horror when you read Wicked Prayers by S. D. Moore. It’s a combination of intense thrills, dark creatures, some scattered humor and even a little erotica just for good measure. If there is one conclusion you’ll reach after reading the last page, it’s that Moore is wonderfully creative, even if the main perpetrator is the son of darkness.

In a small place called Autumntown, hell is about to unfold in the form of a baby. Elizabeth, the wife of John Holly and mother of Julia, is nearing the birth of her second child. She’d been having some emotional difficulties with this particular pregnancy, and she doesn’t anticipate that it’s going to get much worse. After being abducted by a “possessed” old man, she delivers the son of all evil. Julia is the first to realize that there is something wrong, but things spiral out of control as a nurse kidnaps the baby, and she leaves a few bodies while doing it.

Within a short amount of time the town is overrun with creatures created by Waed, Elizabeth’s rapidly growing baby. This amounts to a massive conflict between the townsfolk and the demons (leapers), which ultimately leads to the creation of a special, homemade weapon. Nothing or no one is safe as the prince of evil uses the town as his ultimate platform for worldwide destruction.

Moore doesn’t waste any time introducing the Beast, which is a good indicator of pace for the rest of the book. Don’t expect things to slow down, because the bad things just keep getting worse and more out of control. Even though it’s not the most original inception of the devil making its way onto the human plane, it’s done with great style and entertainment.

There’s simplicity in the style Moore uses and it’s no doubt done for the sake of maintaining the steady pace. The reader doesn’t have to reach for a dictionary every ten pages and Moore doesn’t spend too much time on unnecessary details. Her skills as director and producer shine brightly throughout the story because you won’t be able to associate any section with a lack of substance. Everything matters all the time.

You should also get ready to meet a lot of characters, which can be a little overwhelming at times. Many of them get introduced for the sole purpose of dying or turning into a creature, which is a nice premise for abundant bloodshed. After a while, you have to stop counting the bodies and horror fans are going to love this aspect. As for the more permanent characters, they show all the depth you’ll need to ground yourself in the situation.

Wicked Prayers is a wholesome dose of horror, given the lighthearted moments, but how exactly do you compare this small-scale demon war with goodness? What I can say is that I was thoroughly impressed with Moore’s capabilities. She has perfect execution, impeccable timing, great imagination, and I can’t compare her to anybody else. She’s a unique author with a unique talent, and chances are you’ll want to finish Wicked Prayers in one setting.

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

More Horror Book Reviews

Devils Maintenance (Book Review)

September 14, 2016 By Horror Palace Leave a Comment

Thaxson Patterson II is the author of Devils Maintenance, a psychological thriller based on a very interesting concept. It’s an all-out war of the minds with the trickiest creature in all creation, namely the Devil. The most attractive element of the book has to be the original plot. It gets the reader thinking and inspires many hypothetical scenarios of what could happen if this story held any truth.

Ray Peterson is an Assurance Technical Director who works for the American government. He is called to a remote base inside an abandoned submarine, which is where he comes face to face with the Devil. Unable to fathom the truth, Ray fights against all the information provided by his superior, who is also the only person the Devil has agreed to work with.

The Devil is a willing prisoner and he has vowed to help the American government with highly important information. However, his help comes with a heavy price. Ignorant and still very skeptical about the whole situation, Ray discovers that it is his turn to pay the price in order to save millions of people. The only question is, will Ray give the Devil what he wants?

As mentioned in the introduction, the most appealing part of the book for me is the Devil and the “help” he is willing to give to the American government. I haven’t come across any plots with the same foundation and it builds a great amount of excitement in terms of seeing how it ends. However, I was a little surprised at the execution Patterson used, because this is a “one-scene” book. Everything takes place inside the Devil’s cell, apart from Ray getting to the base and discussing the situation with Greg, his superior. It should also be noted that the focus only surrounds these three characters.

The author has a good grip on the subject, especially the technical parts concerning internet security, and he uses very realistic scenarios to ground the plot. For example, if the Devil doesn’t get what he wants he won’t reveal the location of nuclear bombs that are on their way to exploding. But the real kick comes in when Ray has to make the ultimate sacrifice and how he handles it. It makes you wonder if it’s possible to trick the master of deception.

In terms of style, Peterson sticks with the psychological aspect of horror. Instead of body parts flying around and blood splattering against the walls, it’s a mental challenge that systematically breaks the reader down. However, I did find the technical information and political references a little forced. Keeping in mind that the book is mainly based on these elements, all the information can get a little confusing for readers who don’t understand internet security lingo.

Overall it’s an interesting read, but instead of leaving you scared, or paranoid for that matter, it is more for the reader who likes challenging mind games with the Devil.

The Disembodied (Book Review)

September 7, 2016 By Horror Palace Leave a Comment

The Disembodied is a rather interesting horror novel by Anthony Hains, which balances the effects of psychological challenges with unexplainable terror. For readers who haven’t come across the thin line that separate the two, this book will get you there. There’s always a lingering question of what is real and what is simply manifested by a disturbed psyche.

Griffin is a thirteen-year-old boy who has been diagnosed with Depersonalization Disorder, a disorder that sees him feeling disconnected from his body at certain moments. The bouts of disconnection increase as he gets older and they also seem to become more difficult to cope with. Following the death of his abusive father, Griffin becomes haunted by a character from his grandfather’s stories.

While his mother wants to believe it’s just a side-effect of his condition, her religiously neurotic sister convinces her it’s much more than that. The only two people Griffin can really look to for any comfort is his cousin and of course, his grandfather. But the scenario escalates as a blizzard strikes, and Griffin faces a battle no normal kid should ever have to face.

The first thing that struck me about the book was the psychological depth of the plot. The author’s experience in the field really shines through and it provides a substance that can’t simply be pulled from thin air. For this aspect alone I really enjoyed reading the unfolding madness. The relationship between Griffin and his grandfather is especially touching, and Hains sells the rest of the cast with great precision.

But instead of a full-frontal horror novel, readers should expect a psychological thriller. Even though the plot goes beyond logical borders, it was mainly the actions of the “bad guys” that left me chilled at times. The extremes they put Griffin and Tanner (his cousin) through are more than just a little overwhelming, which is where I found the true horror.

In terms of style and execution, I couldn’t find any faults on the author’s part. He timed the climaxes well and the nuances of each character add to the story’s ability to suck you in. However, I should point out that the pace is fairly slow and there is a clear build-up to bigger and better challenges. In other words, it’s the type of book you want to start reading when you know nobody is going to be interrupting.

Nearing the end Hains picks up the pace and creates several scenarios where you can’t wait to turn the page, but through all the horrific events it’s the substance of the characters that ultimately establishes the true magic. It’s Hains’ talent to delve a little deeper and make them so much more convincing.

Overall it’s an easy book to get lost in. However, it’s not the type of story that will satisfy hardcore horror fans. From a personal perspective, I felt it leaned more towards a drama novel compared to the type of gore I’m used to, but this is definitely open for discussion.

Nevertheless, The Disembodied is a story that can touch a wide audience and I’m glad I took the time to read it. I may not have been scared afterward, but it was a memorable journey that left me shocked on more than one occasion.

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

More Horror Book Reviews

As the Blade Cuts (Book Review)

September 2, 2016 By Horror Palace Leave a Comment

For extremely dark poetry lovers, this collection by Eric Kapitan should soothe the aching beast. It’s called “As the Blade Cuts” and the poems within the pages are nothing short of stylishly gruesome. Kapitan goes on a journey with his internal struggles, passionate about everything associated with pain and mutilation. In fact, this collection allows me to give out a warning to a genre that’s mainly filled with hardcore fans. If you’re expecting love poems and rose pedals, think again.

Giving any type of criticism when it comes to poetry always involves a thin line, because it’s such a personal form of expression. It has to originate from a deep part inside the writer, and Kapitan has no problem digger deeper than most. In this case, the personal expression is mostly based on death, blood, horrific murder and from what I can gather, a sense of revenge. Kapitan’s style doesn’t leave much to the imagination, and unlike the typical poetry you’ll find, rhyming and metaphors take on a whole new meaning. With a very straightforward and modern approach, Kapitan remains very focused on expressing specific detail, such as the flow of blood or the killing process.

For the overall premise of the poems, which is usually some kind of vicious act that involves mutilation, Kapitan takes on a variety of topics. For example, he takes a stab at aliens hunting down a man like a deer in the woods. Then they continue to devour him right there. He also looks at vampires, but not in the innocent way used by television. He paints them as bloody monsters that will remain forever cursed. Then of course, Kapitan exposes some inner demons. My personal favorite has to be “Inner Demons”, mainly due to the way it ended.

Kapitan doesn’t hide behind any trite technique or far-off metaphors. Where many poets try to express a certain feeling through a general thought, he prefers to be more direct with the subjects in his poems. There should be no doubts about what is going on where it’s ultimately going to lead to.

My most objective opinion would be that this collection distinctly belongs in the darker side of horror. Even though it’s very creatively written, it’s not a collection that is easily read in one sitting. I can only presume that Kapitan aimed the poems at stirring raw emotions we don’t experience on a daily basis because that’s the message that gets through. While some of the poems linger on a distorted image of romance, they are usually dominated with a constant rage.

At the same time, I can say that the poems are truly haunting and the dark atmosphere that surrounds them really set the tone. Not once is there a glimmer of light, or at least a degree of hope, for the victim in the poem. Instead, it’s a vicious cycle from one individual to the next, experiencing their own private hell. Be warned that this will not be an easy trip to take. Kapitan is graphic and very determined to leave his readers at the mercy of some twisted tales.

Preorder – September 13

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

About Eric Kapitan

Eric Kapitan has a huge admiration for all things horror. He loves to tell stories that can both disturb and entertain a reader. His favorite horror film series is Phantasm. His favorite book is The Bighead by Edward Lee.

Eric currently lives in a small town in Vermont where he also grew up. He enjoys spending time with friends and family as well as drinking a nice, cold Vermont-brewed beer.

More Horror Book Reviews

The Canine Zombie Chronicles (Book Review)

August 13, 2016 By Horror Palace Leave a Comment

What will a zombie outbreak look like through the eyes of a dog? This is the question Derek Braxton answers in his short novel entitled, “The Canine Zombie Chronicles”. For the readers who were hoping to come across a zombie apocalypse book that’s approached from a completely different angle, you’ve found it. The only humans you’ll read about are perceived through the eyes of dogs. Now the question becomes, can this point of view amount to a solid story?

The date is 2022, two years after the first wave of infections struck Virginia. A doctor by the name of Johann Gibson has gathered twenty different testimonies, or rather first-hand accounts, of the spreading virus as perceived by dogs. Translators and transcribers were used to decode that language of the dogs, thus, giving them a human voice.

After the introduction by Dr. Gibson the interviews are laid open for the reader, with each dog sharing their horrible experience. As expected, it wasn’t a situation they really understood. All they could do is take their cue from their masters, if their masters were present, or follow their instincts to survive. Every interview hails from a different location and by the last one, which comes from a Dalmatian called Survivor, the end of the virus is in sight.

Braxton has a rather difficult challenge with the story, mainly because there aren’t any characters the reader can relate to. While it’s not impossible to build a good story around such a premise, it’s definitely not easy. In this case the author shows skill in connecting the reader with the possible thoughts of a dog, and effectively humanizes them. If I had to make a guess, I think Braxton has a great respect for them.

In terms of shock value and making the reader’s stomach turn, this isn’t that type of novel. Even though there is a good amount of suspense involved, I wouldn’t classify it under my “dark” favorites. Whether the author intended or not, I found the focus to be primarily with what the dogs go through instead of envisioning zombies feasting on human flesh. I should also say that the zombies are based on the slow versions, but they have some differences.

Braxton brings a degree of enlightenment to the table. How often do you see the world through your pet’s eyes? More specifically, what will go through their thoughts if a virus struck the masses? This is also the element of the story I’ll probably remember most. Another quality I appreciated was the pacing of the story, especially because there are so many “characters”, and it’s not in the same format as your typical book. For the most part Braxton has a clear and concise style, and he pays attention to detail in the moments that really matter.

I’d recommend this book to horror fans who prefer their reading material on the lighter side, and definitely to animal lovers. The zombie section has been suffering from a lack of original concepts, but with The Canine Zombie Chronicles you don’t have to worry about that.

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

More Horror Book Reviews

new horror releases

Footer

Submissions