Arts & Crafts | Book Reviews

I personally wouldn't categorize this as a "gothic" poetry collection. In fact, it read more like a list of things to be angered about (which I did, at times, agree with). It took a weird religious turn in the final few poems that left me confused, and the writing style made reading this a bit difficult. I'd say I'm probably not Tiptoe Thru The Twilight 's target audience—which sucks because the description reads as something I'd be into. However, there were some poems I did

Smilin' Sam's Corn Maze is everything one could want in a horror story— heartbreaking but full of heart, scary but yet there's still a small sense of comfort. I genuinely couldn't stop reading it once I started, and that ending will be haunting me for a while! Even more so, Scissom did a wonderful job in making me care for the characters. Amazing. No notes.

Growth is a stunning read! There were many beautiful, and hard-hitting, standout lines—I think Karin Cox's poetry in this collection is very authentic and raw. Some of my favorite pieces are: "Just a Word," "Writer's Block," "Old Photo," and "Cancer." "A stranger I walk among you, translucent as a spirit, dead as the Dreaming." (Homecoming)

The Cursed Mirror is pretty good, but I struggled to really get into it. I found it difficult to care about the main characters, Julie and Seth, but that may just be a me-problem. However, I did enjoy the horror elements, and the concept of a haunted mirror the way it's written in this short story! It's similar to the concept of the 2008 movie, Mirrors . "It was like being in a horror movie where someone’s looking in a mirror and turns away for a second. When the camera pan

The introspection of the narrator is something that feels familiar to me, and the more prose-like parts were wonderful. I also like that the title, The Day I Died , can have more than one meaning—depening on your interpretation. I was a little worried about how this would go, given the content, but it ended up being a really hopeful story!

I very much enjoyed this story, and did not see the twist coming at all, but as short as it is— Off with their Sleds definitely stays true to the crime/thriller format. (I think of it as "That thing/person you thought insignificant? Guess what, idiot!?") I loved reading the friendship dynamic between Williams and Reyes, and especially the focus put on Reyes' navigation of the world with his cane. There's a lot of humanness in this story, which was lovely to see. C.J. Daley h

"That's another thing they don't tell you life and death spring from the same thing: Cold." (Thunder Comes Knocking) This book is impossible to put down; it's probably genuinely haunted... (In a good way!) Night Life: A Folk Horror Poetry Collection by Alba V. Sarria is easily one of the most creative poetry collections I've ever read! The poetry is bone-chilling and insanely descriptive—it WILL feel like you are caught up in some sort of ritual. I loved the second-person na

[My rating on Goodreads: 2.5 stars.] Jericho Falls is well-written, but there are many factors that come into play with my rating, so hopefully this review makes some sense. The biological weapon/virus concept is very interesting and daunting—a lot of reality bleeds in, and that's what gives Jericho Falls its terrifying edge. The small-town vibes are eerie, and claustrophobic, which is something you want given the content. The only thing that tanked this novel for me is how

Joseph J. Dowling's writing is very descriptive and atmospheric, it had me feeling like I was right in the middle of it all. In that same vein, The Hanging Tree is beautifully horrific and haunting. I have so much love for how the characters have a moral grayness to them, and how the moments of reflection and forgiveness play into the centuries-old terror.

I fear I'm thoroughly obsessed with The Bodies by D.H. Parish! The writing is very descriptive, I found myself immersed in the tale. The ending WILL hit hard—even if you see it coming. The Bodies is the perfect blend of Thriller, and Sci-Fi, with a splash of Horror. You will definitely not regret reading it, and then subsequently being hit at the back of the head by it!

I thoroughly enjoyed the friendship and banter between the two main characters, Sean and Devon, as well as the classic concept of ghost-hunters finding more than what they bargained for! BestGhost by C.J. Daley is a great blend of fun and chilling!

The chapters of Mostly Dark are sectioned off according to the phases of the moon—lighter stories under chapters like FULL MOON , while the darker ones are under FULL DARK —which is something I found insanely creative! I also enjoyed the concepts Miranda Kate explored in the darker parts of this collection.

Vile Visions: Horror Stories by Riley Odell genuinely lives up to the title! I found the writing to be exquisite. It's descriptive, dark, and daunting, in all the best possible ways. The stories are, in my opinion, horror done right—but also were, at times, very uncomfortable to read. However, I suspect that was the idea, because as Odell wrote in the introduction: "The world sucks ." Some of my favorite Vile Visions include: GLITCH, INVERSION, BEES, SHOCK TREATMENT, and LON

Infestation by Miranda Kate is an apocalyptic short story where the central focus is on the, more or less, found family. While I enjoyed the more technical aspects (how to solve problems during an apocalypse with not much water and/or no electricity), the idea of a close familial bond, and some of the more descriptive parts— Infestation wasn't for me. I, personally, struggled to get into it as much as I would've liked. However, I think the virus-concept is interesting, and it

Clouds on the Ground by Autumn Williams is an immersive collection of poetry! The poems are thought-provoking, yet the book itself remains a fast-paced read. There are many lines that stood out to me, and I love how nature—the image of it all—plays a profound role on how the poetry is written, as well as the voice throughout the collection. I was also a big fan of the beautiful illustrations by Drew Clark, and how the book starts with the chapter "Fall" and ends with a second

Warding by Kev Harrison is a wonderfully haunting and witchy—yet somewhat homey—story to read! I adore the concept, and how intense the descriptions were at times. The ending is truly a heroic act on the main character, Kate's, part. I do wish, however, there was a bit more of her dog, Tigger, to be seen in the middle part of the story. Overall, I think Warding is a perfect quick read for October, when Halloween comes a-knocking!

I barely got past the first page, and I was already having flashbacks of dentist offices and the anxiety that follows—so reading the visceral descriptions of tooth-pulling really felt like it was my own mouth. I knew dentists weren't to be trusted! 😂 Speaking of anxiety, I feel like The Toothfairy by James Alexander can also be read as the perfect metaphor for building up the atrocities in your head when you have an appointment. Just me? Okay 🤣 I felt a little sick (in a co

I absolutely loved Rex's Diner by Damien Richard! This short story about vampires hits just right—the suspense, the gore, and the pacing are all wonderfully done. The descriptions are also very vivid; it feels like being right there. Definite recommend, from one vampire-nerd to another, if you want a quick story to feed on!

Gathered Here Today from Graveside Press is truly an incredible book! The poetry is dark and haunting, but at times light-hearted (even amidst the blood and bones). The art is just as amazing as the writing—so there's something for everyone to stare at and digest! I find the last line from the last poem in this book (WHAT WAITS BEHIND THE TINY BLACK DOOR – Joshua Dobson) to be very fitting: "Then it opened." This truly is an open casket of art and poetry to be devoured! Bel

First off, the main character and first-person narrator, Tom Dunjer, had no business being as funny as he was. I probably spent more time grinning at the book than I did reading it. Specterworld by Isidore Haiblum is an incredible, fast-paced, and very timely read. You'd be surprised (or wouldn't be, I suppose it depends) how well this story published in 1991 holds up! I enjoy Haiblum's style of writing, and his descriptions, in this book—more often than not—his words helped