Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror Book Reviews
“Well-written, atmospheric and original in both tone and content – there should be more Horror titles set during The Troubles – Crown of Thorns is a tense and often unsettling short story that has a huge amount of potential that’s only been partially realised. If allowed to be further developed, and the supernatural elements of the plot more widely integrated, I firmly believe that Crown of Thorns could be a classic of the genre…”
“Farmington Correctional is an intense and multi-layered piece of Horror fiction that is most rewarding after multiple readings, and is a must-read for any fan of Weird Horror – or someone wishing for an insight into the brutality of the prison industry.”
“Yet despite its generally grim tone and often challenging content, I cannot think of another piece of post-apocalyptic fiction that I have enjoyed so much, and which has so fundamentally affected me as a reader. Ultimately, A Quiet Apocalypse reminds me of genre classics like The Children of Men and The Road, and I firmly believe that it deserves to be ranked alongside them.”
“…a hugely impressive and deeply unsettling tale of psychological and body horror that evokes the creepiest and most chilling aspects of the old 1980’s slasher movies, like Nightmare on Elm Street”
“The Hematophages is – in a single word – iconic. Masterfully written and skilfully encompassing multiple subgenres – psychological horror, body horror, even elements of splatterpunk – it takes everything we fear about the effects of space travel and then blends it together with some genuinely repulsive and entirely memorable monsters…”
“Freaky Tales from the Force – Season One is many things, all of them good. The stories it contain are all weird, surreal, action-packed, horrifying and often deeply insightful; above all it is a hugely enjoyable ride into the complex and rich universe that Jonathan Raab has created for Sherriff Kotto and his domain of Cattaraugus County.”
“Like the titular coffee brew itself, Green River Blend is the perfect concoction of supernatural, psychological and body horror, one that draws the reader in and refuses to let them go until they are addicted and don’t want to go anywhere”
“I have absolutely no hesitation in calling Skinwrapper not only a fantastic horror novella in general, but also the gold standard for the Space Horror subgenre itself…”
“Dawn of the Living Impaired is a first-rate collection that, in my opinion, cements Christine Morgan’s place as one of the best horror writers in the genre in the 21st Century.”
“…editor Nicole Petit has collected together a deftly-curated set of stories that intelligently and skillfully evoke the potent mix of racism, nationalism and cultural, social and political change that scythed through the United States (and other nations) in the 1950s, leading to some fantastic tales that cross multiple genres – from outright Horror to Fantasy and many others…”
“That results in a well-balanced and thoroughly enjoyable anthology that delivers equal parts bullet-riddled creature features and tense, atmospheric thrillers. Well worth the price of purchase, Severed Press have outdone themselves with Prehistoric, and I can only hope that it does well enough that the publisher moves forward with other anthologies.”
“Hugely accomplished and demonstrating a fresh angle on the genre, Tales of the Al-Aziz is a crucial Cthulhu Mythos anthology for those with even a passing interest in Lovecraft’s creations, and the genre as a whole.”
“The four stories found within its pages are superbly written and tightly plotted, and filled with psychological, supernatural and often all-too human examples of the horrors to be found in the context of that world-altering conflict…”
“…I’m confident in calling One For The Road an instant classic of the Horror genre that I have no doubt will stand the test of time.”
“Dulce et Decorum Est is a fantastic piece of Horror fiction from author Dan Howarth, and yet another triumph for Demain Publishing.”
The Sci-Fi and Fantasy Reviewer 