book reviews
Book reviews for horror fans; weather a sleepless night with literary accounts of hauntings, possessions, zombies, vampires and beyond.
- Top Story - June 2022
Varney the Vampire; or, the Feast of Blood
"The figure turns half round, and the light falls upon its face. It is perfectly white — perfectly bloodless. The eyes look like polished tin; the lips are drawn back, and the principal feature next to those dreadful eyes is the teeth — the fearful looking teeth — projecting like those of some wild animal, hideously, glaringly white, and fang-like. It approaches the bed with a strange, gliding movement. It clashes together the long nails that literally appear to hang from the finger ends. No sound comes from its lips. Is she going mad — that young and beautiful girl exposed to so much terror? she has drawn up all her limbs; she cannot even now say help. The power of articulation is gone, but the power of movement has returned to her; she can draw herself slowly along to the other side of the bed from that towards which the hideous appearance is coming." — From Chapter I of Varney the Vampire; or, the Feast of Blood
J.A. HernandezPublished about a year ago in Horror The Second House on the Right
Before you read: This story was originally a submission to a small newspaper that got rejected. I love this story since it veers away from my usual style and wanted to share it with you. It reads like a children's campfire story. Enjoy!
Chelsey LouisePublished about a year ago in Horror
The Haunted House Family memories of a haunted house and how it eventually was torn down
This book is full of such memories, as well as sadness. In fact, one of the things that struck me most about this novel was the way it captures how quickly things can change in the face of tragedy. It's an interesting story that I would recommend for anyone looking for something different from typical YA novels.
Michael EzekielPublished about a year ago in HorrorDid Anyone Else Have A Weird Experience While Reading The Exorcist?
After a lifetime of being told "The Exorcist" was an evil book I should never read, should never even think of reading for the demons within the pages would jump out to steal my soul, I decided to give it a go in October of 2019 in honor of "Spooky Season."
Samantha AlisPublished about a year ago in HorrorThe Dracula: Bram Stoker's Haunting Parable Of Humanity
The novel tells the story of Harker's time as a prisoner in Castle Dracula in Transylvania between 2 November and 31 December of 1889. Introduction to Bram Stoker's Dracula Bram Stoker's Dracula is one of the most influential horror novels of all time. Published in 1897, the novel introduced the world to the now-iconic vampire character of Count Dracula. While the novel was initially seen as a work of fiction, it has since come to be recognized as a haunting parable of humanity. The novel tells the story of Count Dracula's attempt to move from Transylvania to England in order to spread his curse of vampirism. In order to do this, he must first overcome the brave efforts of a small group of people who are determined to stop him. Along the way, the novel explores themes of good vs. evil, faith vs. doubt, and ultimately, the human capacity for both love and hate. While Bram Stoker's Dracula is a work of fiction, it contains many elements that are based in reality. The author did extensive research on vampires and vampire lore before writing the novel, and as a result, the book feels incredibly real and believable. This is one of the things that makes it such a timeless classic - even today, over 120 years after it was first published, readers can still be drawn into its world and be frightened by its characters The book and its origins The Dracula is one of the most well-known horror novels of all time. written by Bram Stoker and first published in 1897, the novel tells the story of Count Dracula's attempt to move from Transylvania to England so that he may find new blood and spread his curse of the undead. Although it was not an immediate bestseller upon its release, The Dracula has gone on to become one of the most popular and influential horror novels ever written, spawning numerous adaptations in film, television, and literature. The origins of The Dracula can be traced back to Bram Stoker's personal interests in vampire folklore and legend. Stoker was fascinated by the stories of vampires and other supernatural creatures, and he drew heavily on these myths in his writing. In addition, Stoker was also inspired by real-life figures such as Vlad the Impaler, a 15th-century Romanian ruler who was notorious for his cruelty. Combined, these elements helped create a truly unique and terrifying tale that has captivated readers for generations. The Characters in the book The original novel by Bram Stoker is a complex and interesting work, with a large cast of characters that each play an important role in the story. In this blog post, we'll take a closer look at some of the main characters in the book, and how they contribute to the overall story. Jonathan Harker: The novel's protagonist, Jonathan is a young lawyer who is sent to Transylvania to help Count Dracula purchase an estate in England. He soon realizes that he's a prisoner in the castle, and barely escapes alive. His experience with Dracula leaves him traumatized and he spends much of the rest of the novel recovering from his ordeal. Mina Murray: Jonathan's fiancée, Mina is a strong-willed young woman who is determined to help her husband recover from his ordeal. She also plays an important role in tracking down and eventually defeating Dracula. Dracula: The novel's titular character, Dracula is a centuries-old vampire who wants to move to England so that he can spread his curse of vampirism to new victims. He's a powerful and cunning foe, but ultimately he meets his end at the hands of Jonathan and Mina. What the book brings forth about humanity Bram Stoker's Dracula is not simply a horror story. It is, at its core, a parable about the human condition. The novel speaks to our fears and our desires, our capacity for both good and evil. In its pages, we see what we are capable of, both as individuals and as a species. The book is full of blood and violence, but it is also full of hope. In the end, the good triumphs over evil. That is what makes Bram Stoker's Dracula so hauntingly beautiful. It is a reminder that, no matter how dark the world may seem, there is always hope. Conclusion Bram Stoker's Dracula is not only a classic horror novel, but also a haunting parable of humanity. In the novel, Bram Stoker expertly weaves together the tale of Count Dracula and his attempt to control the world with that of the brave men and women who stand in his way. The result is a truly chilling story that will stay with you long after you've finished reading it.
Aashuu MughalPublished about a year ago in Horror
Reed's Literary Horror Review of 'Resisting Madness' by Wesley Shouthard (2019)
This was a fantastic collection of just... fucking weird stuff. I'm not sure if I can consider the collection splatterpunk. Yeah, there was some of that, but it was actually second fiddle to stories that were just grimly weird. I'd call the collection "Weird Horror" personally, but believe me that does not diminish from the punch it delivers.
Reed AlexanderPublished about a year ago in Horror
Cocaine, Sex, and Lizard People: A Look at Some of the Craziest Books by Christopher Pike
Mike Flanagan's adaptation of the Midnight Club is coming to Netflix and many people and a whole generation is about to be introduced to the madness of Christopher Pike for the first time. For those who don't know Christopher Pike is a popular Young Adult author who rose to prominence around the same time as R.L. Stine.
Jacob PeytonPublished about a year ago in Horror
Good Girl Gone Murderous
Background I read Jealous Broads Still Envy in March of 2019 as a part of the book review club, Paperback Pushers. Despite the fact that I had transitioned from active duty service as a military photojournalist, my trained eye was still at work. I read for leisure constantly but also found myself critiquing and correcting copy almost against my will. When I was invited to a book review group, I utilized that opportunity to relay my feedback directly to the authors themselves. My reviews through Paperback Pushers helped me gain the confidence to transition from reviewing to editing books. Editing books and then working in a book warehouse inspired me to sell books independently. Somewhere in here, The Book Doctor brand was created, and I began to surgically dissect stories down to the core words, sentences and ideas to create more powerful and clear expressions. As I begin to re-introduce myself as a bookseller, I wanted to share my thoughts and feelings about the books (and authors) that have made a major impact on my life.
Jymyaka BradenPublished 2 years ago in Horror
What Stephen King says about writing
I must admit that I haven't read Stephen King for a long time. I was always afraid that his horror story would keep me up late. However, after reading many term papers about this author, I finally asked my class to recommend one or two king stories that wouldn't scare me. To my surprise, I liked what I read.
15 Best Dark Fantasy Children's Books Of All Time
The novels on the best dark fantasy Children’s Books list, are more than you can imagine. The novels on the 15 best dark, creepy, humor/children’s books every kid should read list are beyond your imagination. Generally speaking, when it comes to fantasy, will give people a feeling of “relaxation” and “freedom”.
Muhiuddin AlamPublished 2 years ago in HorrorLooking For More Series Like R.L. Stine's Fear Street Series?
Many people think of Fear Street as Goosebumps for teenagers but it was more than that as the Netflix series as shown. Centering around Fear Street and the city built around it, the books often were often standalone stories with some having sequels or trilogies based on one set of characters. For those of you that have read the books or seen the show and want to explore more Young Adult horror series this list is for you.
Jacob PeytonPublished 2 years ago in Horror
Book Review : One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus
One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus is a Young Adult book about four high school students thrown together in detention, only to have one of them die.
