scary books

Zombie Mage (Book Review)

August 26, 2017 By Horror Palace Leave a Comment

Jonathan J. Drake strikes again with Zombie Mage, a tale of the undead gone wrong. Perspectives change and worlds get turned upside down in this humoristic horror novel, where Drake captures a perfect balance between plot and character development. At the same time, he maintains a good pace and ultimately delivers a ride with some very exciting twists. If you like zombies in a vulnerable position, this is the book for you.

Olligh is the poor soul that wakes up in a pit full of rotting corpses, only to discover his mouth has been sewn shut, and he has no memory of what happened. Nothing makes sense, and it does not get any easier when two guys try to put him out of his supposed misery. Little does Olligh know, he is a zombie with thoughts and feelings.

After mysteriously being transported from the pit into a room full of coffins and a half rotting old lady, begging him to take her with him if he escapes, Olligh makes his way into town, still unaware of his new undead status and trying to figure out what is going on. It is not until he comes across a blind barber, where he finally cuts the stitches from his mouth, and sees what he has become. Naturally, his new reflection opens up a whole lot of questions.

This is the second book I have reviewed by Drake, and I have to say, it is brilliant. While I enjoyed Barrow of the Damned, Zombie Mage is the book that really showcases what he can do. The pacing is a little slower and a bit more relaxed, the characters are more developed and provide more dimension, and the theme is not as targeted and complex. Even the humor, which was great with Barrow of the Damned, was taken up a notch with Zombie Mage.

Given the humoristic nature of the book, it is difficult to take the horrific side seriously. I am not saying that Drake does not write intriguing gore scenes, but his talent for making the reader smile tends to overshadow everything else. From start to finish, the book is fundamentally hilarious. But instead of waiting for laughing-out-loud-moments, you will be chuckling every few minutes or so. Although, there are some laugh-out-loud moments too.

In my personal opinion, this is the type of story I can see on the big screen, directed by somebody like Tim Burton. The strange and dark atmosphere is present from the first page, and the clichés perfectly twist into very unpredictable moments. And after reading the last page, I could not believe how captivating this eerie and humorous book turned out to be.

Ultimately, Drake has a great sense of humor, which is accompanied by a very active imagination. This combination has led to a story I will probably read two or three more times. If this book keeps you up at night, it will not be because you are scared. It will be because you are very entertained.

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

More Horror Book Reviews

Also by xyxyxy:

Kind Nepenthe (Book Review)

August 22, 2017 By Horror Palace Leave a Comment

To anyone who has ever contemplated living off the grid or for those who have already made the move, you will find Kind Nepenthe by Matthew V. Brockmeyer to be of incredible interest. Here, living off the grid can be a lot more challenging than what can be seen in a YouTube.com video. Kind Nepenthe takes you out of the safety of neighborhood living and will have you thinking about what is around every corner, at least for the next couple of days after reading the last page. Through his clear writing style, Brockmeyer ensures that you will experience an array of emotions while taking you on a horrific off the grid journey.

Rebecca is the young mother of five-year-old Megan, and all she wants is to buy some land from which she and her daughter can live from. Unfortunately, the only way this dream can materialize in the near future is if Rebecca helps her new boyfriend with a big weed harvest for Coyote, a tired and cynical pot grower. And while getting used to their seeming paradise with its notorious reputation for hauntings, Rebecca notices a significant change in the only person who means anything in her life, Megan.

At the other end of the spectrum is Diesel Dan, a grandfather trying to make amends for the parent he never was. He has seen the inside of a prison and the dangers that come with meth addictions, and he is hoping he can steer his son away from the same path. But just like Rebecca and Megan, he will face something that will make all his mistakes seem like a walk in the park.

This is the first time I have read a book by Brockmeyer, and there are two distinct things I noticed almost immediately. One is that he shows a very good understanding for living off the land so-to-speak. His characters speak with experience inside their surroundings, and the narration holds an experienced perspective, which really helps draw the reader in making the plot believable.

The second thing I notice is Brockmeyer’s crisp writing style. From start to finish, it feels like the flow is effortless and very natural. He conveys and describes the setting and the characters fluently while making the plot move along at a near-perfect pace.

As much as Kind Nepenthe is thrilling and truly horrific at times, it really does spark an array of different emotions. This is because Brockmeyer digs deeper into the superficial desires people create, which ultimately replace a healthy and fulfilling destiny.

Overall, I like everything about the book. The character and plot development is spot on, there is a good amount of emotional investment involved, and it will make you bite your lower lip until it bleeds through pure anticipation. It is not a predictable story, which is something all horror readers are going to appreciate, and Brockmeyer’s approach to writing makes you want to keep reading.

I recommend Kind Nepenthe to just about anyone who enjoys some measure of horror, and I look forward to the next opportunity to read a horror novel by the talented Matthew V. Brockmeyer.

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

More Horror Book Reviews

Bray Road (Book Review)

August 20, 2017 By Horror Palace Leave a Comment

Scott Newman is a new author on the horror scene, and he makes his debut with Bray Road, a re-take on some classic werewolf horror. While Newman was quite brave to take on this particular theme out of the shoot, he did a good job of keeping the story fresh and interesting. Therefore, along with feelings of familiarity, you will experience some great twists and turns.

Detective Ben Thomas just lost his job in New York and returns to his hometown, Elkhorn. Obviously, this is not the ideal situation, and it is not something he can easily make peace with. But it seems he will not really have time to complain about getting fired because on his way into town he comes across the legend he thought he left behind.

A dead body near the scene where Ben almost went off the road leads to an investigation, and ultimately more mystery. To make things even more difficult, the werewolf is a legend that is not allowed to be discussed, placing ex-detective Thomas between a rock and a hard place.

As a new author, Newman shows a lot of potential. He pays attention to the details readers will most likely be interested in, and he does not hold back the pace when it is not necessary. But the element I find most appealing about Bray Road is Newman’s ambition to tell a good story. Albeit a re-make of classic mystery and horror, it is a very good attempt that leads to greater things.

The characters are colorful and show a lot of dimensions, especially the main characters, Ben and Rebecca. And the plot outline follows a very familiar feeling, for example, introducing the story with a victim, before introducing the hero. These are beats a good horror writer will follow.

Before getting into the more critical factors, I have to say I enjoyed the book. It creates enough suspense and interest to maintain reader attention, and I was constantly reminded of Newman’s passion to get his vision onto paper.

On the more critical side, there are some technical issues that influence the pacing of the book. It can also get a little distracting at times. And even though Newman does put a great spin on the old werewolf legend, he is lacking just a little where execution is concerned. The inviting story is there, the characters are developed and ready, Newman just has to refine the edges a bit and get into a rhythm.

When looking at shock-value, there is enough gore and guts to go around. Newman makes sure all the nasty details are included for the bloody harvest of human flesh, but he also uses some lighter moments that should bring your blood pressure back to normal.

All-in-all, Bray Road is an impressive debut novel, which werewolf and mystery lovers are going to enjoy. If you are a stickler for technical perfection, it might not be the book for you. But if you can appreciate a good horror story, do not be shy to pick up a copy.

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

More Horror Book Reviews

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.

More Horror Book Reviews

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.

More Horror Book Reviews

Weston Kincade Blogspot

Weston Kincade Facebook

Also by Weston Kincade:

scary books

Footer

Submissions