The Murder Farm

The Murder Farm by Andrea Maria Schenkel

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This is a fictional account of a true story and is told in an unconventional way. Interviews are given to people who live near where a gruesome murder has taken place. Chilling accounts are given as we hear from the friend of the little girl that was murdered as well as other friends and neighbors of the family. The story gradually unfolds as we learn the fate of the entire family and their maid.

Its a short read but one that packs a punch. I was pulled in right from the beginning and couldn't put it down til it was finished. Definitely made me want to double check my locks at night. Creepy and scary its a must read for mystery fans.



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The Lunatic's Curse

The Lunatic's Curse by F.E. Higgins

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I love the Tales from the Sinister City. However, this is a bit much for the age group it was written for. Reminiscent of RL Stein or Ray Bradbury, this read is a dark and creepy. It contains elements of horror that children may not understand such as cannibalism.

The Lunatic's Curse involves the mystery of the madness and death of the famous inventor Grammaticus. The creepiness level is increased by setting the story at the local lunatic asylum. Murder and mystery abounds through this book as Rex and his new friend Hildred try to discover what's happening. With escaped lunatics and a monster in the bottomless lake, there is much mystery, adventure, and evil about.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. Once I started reading it I couldn't quit and was sorry to see it end. I want to know more about what happened and can't wait for the next installment. However, I think it is not appropriate for the intended audience of the younger persuasion with the underlying theme of cannibalism. Its not for the feint of heart to be sure.



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Zombie Fairy Tales

Zombie Fairy Tales: The Complete Collection by Kevin Richey

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.


Author Kevin Richey has done an excellent job of corrupting fairy tales that we have loved as children into something that will thrill us as adults. This is the entire collection of his Zombie Fairy Tales woven from tales such as Cinderella, Pinocchio, The Little Mermaid, and The Little Match Girl just to name a few.

All of the tales can be enjoyed separately or read in succession. Each one has something different to offer but all are well written and unique. They definitely keep your attention from start to finish.

If you love a good horror story, especially the zombie genre, then you should pick up this collection. All of the stories within are great reads, but due to the ick factor and violence of some of them I would say these are definitely not for kids.



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Medusa's Desire

Medusa's Desire by E.B. Black

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This was an unusual take on the myth of Medusa and Perseus. We get a plausible background story of how Medusa came to be the monster she was. How her life as a human girl was filled with trials and how she was blamed for actions beyond her control and transformed by Athena. She later meets Perseus as he was sent to kill her and that's where the story takes a turn for the strange (as if it wasn't strange enough) Perseus and Medusa fall in love an go on a series of adventures.

Medusa was definitely the strongest character. She kept her humanity despite all that happened to her. Perseus and Andromeda on the other hand were weak. He couldn't have accomplished anything without Medusa and Andromeda was definitely a spoiled princess. However, it was the relationship between Perseus and Medusa that seemed so implausible. How could he not know what she really looked like? How could she be a vegetarian? That didn't seem natural at all.

The story itself was a roller coaster of emotions. Parts were dark and sad and others were passionate and loving. The ending itself was dark and menacing too but fitting in many ways. I don't think it could have ended differently. Overall, it was a fairly good read, and definitely for readers over 18. If you like a bit of dark erotica you might want to pick this one up.



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The Dark Stone

The Dark Stone by Mark R Faulkner

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I received a free copy of this read for an honest review.


The Dark Stone is definitely a dark read. We meet Sam as his village is being ravaged by the plague and his family is decimated. Alone and in need of help he ventures into the village and comes across another that has been left alive. Joshua teems up with Sam as they learn to survive til Sam is rescued by Monks and Joshua is left behind. Sam finds the dark stone and only later realizes its powers.

The Dark Stone is told from Sam's perspective. We feel his anger and sadness as his family dies and then later when those he come to love are taken from him. Later when he loses his essence to the dark stone it was sad to see the changes in him and know all that he gave up to the darkness.

I love the flow of the story as we see Sam grow up and go thru so much turmoil. The story is both dark and punctuated with glimpses of hope. The ending is both expected and not expected as different aspects come together. If you love a dark and tortured world, then this is the read for you.



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The UnInvited

Uninvited: An Unloved Ones Prequel by Kevin Richey

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I recieved a free copy of this book for my honest review.

This is the second prequel in the Unloved Ones series and is very different from the first one Unpretty: An Unloved Ones Prequel. This book is much darker and is a twist on Freaky Friday.

Jackie is a perfectionist in every part of her life. She succeeds in everything from grades to her goals for the future. But boyfriend Todd dumps her because of her perfectionist ways and takes up with Becka who is her exact opposite. On her 16th birthday Jackie wakes up in Becka's body and decides to exact revenge.

Jackie's character is a bit stalkerish. She can't understand how she could not be good enough for Todd as she feels she is perfect. In many respects she is: perfect grades, perfect room (everything clean and in its place) ect. Becka on the other hand is a mess. She doesn't care about her grades, or being clean, or how she looks. But her family loves her anyway and Jackie has a hard time coming to terms with that. She doesn't understand what they have to be proud of.

Overall, I enjoyed this dark twist on Freaky Friday. And I am curious to see if Jackie ever learns to control this dark part of herself or has anymore out of body adventures. And I am absolutely looking forward to the next Unloved Ones Prequel.



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Unpretty

This is a new series coming from the creator of the Zombie Fairytales.

Unpretty: An Unloved Ones Prequel #1 by Kevin Richey

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I received a free copy of this book for an honest review.


LOVED,LOVED,LOVED!!! This is an awesome read. Katherine is a young, very obese girl who has even outgrown the large women's store. But on her 16th birthday everything changes with a wish.

Katherine is such a powerful character. I love how we see the world from her point of view. We really feel for her and see how it is to be her. And I loved her best friend Sarah who is chubby but not as obese as Kathy. She is so supportive and everything a best friend should be. I hope that we get to see more of her. Her mother is bitter and not supportive or forthcoming with answers to her only daughter. Its a relationship that is difficult to understand and you can see why her daughter has issues.

This book pulls you in from the very beginning. Its very well written and really hard to put down. I hated to find that I had come to the end. I love the intriguing mystery of what is really going on with Katherine, and who she really is. Loved this one and can't wait to continue this series.



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Sleeping Beauty Wakes in Hell

Sleeping Beauty Wakes in Hell by Kevin Richey

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I received a free copy of this ebook for my honest review.

This was by far my favorite in this series. Richey took the tale of Sleeping Beauty and gave it a wonderfully dark twist.

Philip and Princess Aurora knew each other as children in a world that was being encroached upon by the living dead. Aurora was taken by the Evil Queen and Philip grew up wondering if she was dead or alive. I loved the main characters in this one. The story of Philip and Aurora had a depth to them that was more than some of the previous stories. I also loved how former characters and other fairytale characters made appearances. And this one wasn't quite as gorey as some of the others.

All of the Zombie Fairytales have been wickedly fun reads, but this one was the best of all of them. I had hoped for a slightly different ending but I guess then it wouldn't have fit with the rest of the series. Overall, I loved this one and would suggest it to anyone who enjoys zombies.



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Veetu Industries Giveaway

Looking back on 2012, I saw that my reviews for this series had more views than any other. And after conferring with the author, she has agreed to give away one set of ebooks in your choice of formats. I really enjoyed reading both of these books and am looking forward to next one in this series. This is an international giveaway but due to explicit content this giveaway is restricted to those over 18.

 

 



This is the first book in this series and you can find my review here

This is the second book and is every bit as good as the first one. And my review for it can be found here. You can also check out my interview with author Rae Gee and find out further information about this series.

Both of these wonderful books will be given away to one lucky reader!



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Talulla Rising

Talulla Rising by Glen Duncan

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Loved this! as much as the one before it, The Last Werewolf. Talulla Rising doesn't pick up immediately where The Last Werewolf left off. Talulla is almost 8 months pregnant and is starting to have trouble with the pregnancy as well as full moon coming. In the throws of labor she is found by the vampires seeking her blood for the Helios project.

The Headless Horseman

The Headless Horseman by Kevin Richey

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I received a free copy of this book for review.

As usual Kevin Richey doesn't disappoint. This retelling of the Headless Horseman zombie style is one of my favorite of the zombie fairytales so far. Its full of the characters that you remember from the Legend of Sleepyhollow but with a twist that you don't see coming.

Ichabod Crane shows up in the village of Sleepyhollow along with the arrival of the Headless Horseman. The mystery of who is committing thsese murders plagues the town as they also fight to keep the horde of living dead at bay.

This was a fun, quick read that anyone that enjoys a good horror mystery will enjoy. It seems like each new Zombie Fairytale is better than the last and this one is one of my favorites so far.



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Oceans of Red Volume One

Oceans of Red Volume One by Willow Cross
Title: Rise Of The Demons: Oceans of Red Volume 1
Author: Willow Cross
Publisher: Self Published
Pages: 67

Blurb:

By 2015 the streets of Los Angeles have been transformed from a thriving metropolis to a hostile world ravaged by demons bent on assimilating the human race. Standing between this total apocalypse of humanity and their chance for survival is 19 year old Remy Martin.

The Little Mermaid of Death

The Little Mermaid of Death by Kevin Richey

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I received a free copy for my honest review.

I must say this is the most bizarre out of the collection so far but I don't think this story could have been told any other way. Kevin Richey did an excellent job of taking the elements from this beloved fairytale and adding a large helping of Zombie.

Ariel is a swamp zombie wanting to remember what its like to be human. The witch Ursula offers to help in exchange for Ariel changing her brother Eric so that Ursula would then be queen. As so often happens, things don't go as planned and Ariel must face who she really is.

Overall, this was a fun zomie read even though its a bit twisted. There were spots of humor amidst the gore that helped the fairytale shine through. If you enjoy zombies you should check this one out as well as the others in this series.



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Mars On the Rise

Mars on the Rise by Rae Gee

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I received a free copy of this for review.

This is certainly not a read for everybody, but I really liked it. This is the first steampunk novel that I have read and I found it very different than what I am used to. Its a completely different world set in Victorian times, full of fantastical machines.

The Curse of Peter Pan

The Curse of Peter Pan by Kevin Richey

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I received a free copy of this book for review.

This latest Zombie Fairytale is certainly not your children's bedtime story. Set in a fairtyale world full being overran with the zombie plague we find Wendy Darling wanting to die so she doesn't have to grow up. Enamored of Peter Pan she wishes to die and join his band of zombie children. Meanwhile, the townspeople are enlisting the aid of the Pied Piper to asist the town and rid them of this menace. As always, Richey does a wonderful job of blending these two stories along with the macabre and giving us a wonderfully horrible original tale.

As with the others before it, its not necessary to have read the ones before it to enjoy this one. There are elements from the previous stories that have been woven in so if you have read them you will notice. But if you haven't, you will still recognize who is who.

If you love a good zombie story or even enjoy horror you will like this series. This one appeals more to the child in all of us that wishes we didn't have to grow up.



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Hollowland by Amanda Hocking

5 Stars

" This is the way the world ends-not with a bang or a whimper, but with zombies breaking down the back door."-Remy

Revenge of the Little Match Girl

Revenge of the Little Match Girl by Kevin Richey

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I received a free copy of this for review.

The story of the Little Match Girl has always been so sad to me. This little girl that has been thrown away by society like so many children. Left to freeze to death because no one would take her in and there was no where for her to be. I can't help but think about all the kids that even today go to bed hungry and sleep on the streets. Kids that their families don't want them or can't provide for them.

In the Mailbox

Here are some new reads that have come my way this weekend.



Synopsis

First in a powerful new trilogy capturing the unbreakable spirit of a proud people. When an army of Spanish conquistadors descend upon the land that is now known as Georgia and South Carolina, the peaceful Muskogee are forced into captivity . . . and Calling Crow, their beloved chief, is enslaved. But he vows to free his people.

In The Mailbox

Here are some new reads that I have received this week. Both of these are author requested reviews.



Synopsis
A collection of seven short stories spanning a wide gamut of styles and genres, from ghost stories to historical fantasies to surrealist horror to contemporary fantasies.

Zombie Cinderella II

Zombie Cinderella II: The Ball by Kevin Richey

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I received a free copy of this book for review.

This is the second part of the Zombie Cinderella story. As with the other Zombie Fairytales, this is a definite twist on the disney version. The step sisters have made it to the ball and Cinderella is right behind them. The Prince is an evil character in his own right, altho I will refrain from saying why and adding a spoiler. Other zombie characters from previous stories make an appearance along the way as well.

For all its goreyness there is a thread of humor woven throughout the story. There are places that you can't help but laugh despite the horrificness of what is going on. Its definitely an entertaining, delightfully wicked tale that has a sense of justice about it. All the bad guys get their due so to speak.

I recommend this to anyone over 18 (simply because of violence) who loves a good zombie tale and is looking for something a bit different.



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