Only 18 days until Halloween! Will I be able to reach my goal of 31 books? Stay tuned…
What I’ve Been Reading
Monsters on the Couch: The Real Psychological Disorders Behind Your Favorite Horror Movies by Brian Sharpless — 4.5/5 out of 5 stars
(H 10/31) Nonfiction. Have you ever wondered if there really could be werewolves, zombies, or vampires living amongst us? Brian Sharpless, a licensed clinical psychologist, takes a look at some famous and not-so-famous horror movies and and examines the real life phenomena that may have influenced, or at least is reflected, in these stories. For example, Sharpless draws similarities between the notorious Nightmare on Elm Street franchise and various forms of real sleep paralysis. I loved this book for the accessibility and dark humor, and my inner science nerd enjoyed the factual content and research. Highly recommend, but fair warning: the chapters on necrophilia and cannibalism are pretty ewww.
Forgotten Sisters by Cynthia Pelayo — 4 out of 5 stars
(H 11/31) Novel. Sisters Anna and Jennie live in their family’s historic bungalow, one that is shrouded with dark secrets. There is also a killer on the loose, leaving the victims in the nearby Chicago River. What is going on, and how are these things related? Combining the folklore of the power of rivers, the mythology of mermaids, a haunted house, and unsolved mysteries, Pelayo weaves a multi-layered tale that is beautifully written and almost dream-like in nature (many other reviewers have described it as a “fever dream” and I totally agree). If you’re looking for a modern gothic-style tale to keep you up late at night reading, be sure to check this one out. Highly recommend.
The Inhuman Condition by Clive Barker — 3.5/4 out of 5 stars
(H 12/31) Short story collection. I’ve read several of Barker’s longer novels, but I have found some of his best work in his short stories. The Inhuman Condition is, I believe, book four of his Books of Blood short story collection series he put out in the ’80’s. These five stories are unique and range from darkly humorous to deeply disturbing (in my notes, I described one story as “horny monkey genetics in humans goes wrong.” If that doesn’t pique your interest, I don’t know what will, lol!). A good starting point if you are new to Barker’s work.
Midnight Monster Madness: Outrun the Reaper/Power Play by Vincent Cava and James Sabata — 4 out of 5 stars
(H 13/31) Short stories. This monthly publication offers two very different tales from two talented horror authors. Cava’s Outrun the Reaper takes us on a journey along the Pacific Coast Highway as our MC finds out the drag race he is in is for his very soul. I’ve interacted with Sabata online over the years (great guy), and it didn’t surprise me that he used his pet tarantula, Ocho, as inspiration for Power Play. I loved Sabata’s creature feature, The Cassowary, and this new one did not disappoint.
Midnight Monster Madness: Otter Madness/Gas Station Dick Pills by Vincent Cava and James Sabata — 4 out of 5 stars
(H 14/31) Short stories. Once again, Sabata takes the reins with this edition’s creature feature. It was probably wrong for me to laugh at a cute otter ripping the face off of an unsuspecting swimmer, but I couldn’t help myself. This one ticked all the boxes for good creature horror. I can’t say much about Gas Station Dick Pills other than it was as crazy as you would expect from something with a title like this. I’m looking forward to reading more of this series from these two authors.
Through the Scarlet Threads by Nicolas Francis — 3 out of 5 stars
(H 15/31) Short story. A retired porn star riding the train to her new life encounters strange phenomena and takes matters into her own hands. I almost gave this 1-2 stars based on the dialogue alone, but the story itself was pretty decent. Plus it was a freebie so I can’t complain too much.
The Elementals by Michael McDowell — 5 out of 5 stars
(H 16/31) Novel. Combine an eccentric family with a haunted house, throw in a heavy dose of Southern gothic and some snappy dialogue, and you get this modern classic. I loved all of the characters, and the horror elements were terrific. I was so immersed in the story that I could feel the heat and humidity, as well as hear the grains of sand as they fell from the ceiling. I truly loved everything about this book; highly recommend.
Blood Relations by Kristopher Triana — 4 out of 5 stars
(H 17/31) Short story collection. These ten stories are great examples of why I enjoy Triana’s writing so much. They show his vast range, from more traditional scary stories to his well-known splatterpunk style (there’s even one that I would say borders on sci-fi). I liked some more than others (a given with any collection) but really not a bad one in the bunch.
Freaky Folklore: Terrifying Tales of the World’s Most Elusive Monsters and Enigmatic Cryptids by Freaky Folklore and Carmen Carrion — 3.5/4 out of 5 stars
(H 18/31) Nonfiction. While the previous book on cryptids I read focused on the United States, this one takes a look at various monsters from around the globe, categorized by continent. There was a lot I liked about this book, namely the illustrations and the history behind each creature. What took it down a bit for me was the story-telling. It seemed like the author had three or four plot lines that got recycled throughout the book, with names, locations, and creature being changed out accordingly.
Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle — 3 out of 5 stars
(H 19/31) Novel. Chuck Tingle is known for his humorous LGBTQ erotica with some of the best titles on the planet (My Macaroni and Cheese is a Lesbian Also She is My Lawyer, Slammed in the Butt By the Living Leftover Chocolate Chip Cookies From My Kitchen Cabinet,…you get the idea). Mr. Tingle veers from his usual fare with Camp Damascus, a story about the survivors of a religion-based gay conversion camp, and the true horror behind the unusually high success rate of the camp. I was intrigued by the plot, but I felt the writing to be a bit disjointed at times, and by the end I just felt something lacking in the overall story. More background perhaps? If you’re looking for some religious horror, though, this certainly fits the bill.
Until next time, stay safe and Happy Reading!
All Dragons Read 