Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror Book Reviews
“In Shadow of the Serpent John Houlihan has delivered another Lovecraftian masterpiece, a perfect blending of Bernard Cornwell and H.P. Lovecraft that combines the thrill of Napoleonic warfare with the multi-dimensional, unknowable horrors to be found lurking just outside of humanity’s perception.”
“Secrets and Sacrifices is not only one of the best Call of Cthulhu novels I’ve read in a very long time, I would go so far as to say it’s a masterful piece of Lovecraftian horror that demonstrates the direction that the genre should be heading. Cath Lauria has composed a story that not only makes full use of the Call of Cthulhu setting, but also stands out as a romance-horror novel that can easily be read without having to have a detailed knowledge of Lovecraft or Cthulhu
“Ultimately, Wrath of N’Kai is yet more evidence, were it needed, that Reynolds is the reigning master of the occult detective genre. There is no-one who does it better, and Wrath of N’Kai should take pride of place in anyone’s occult horror collection.”
“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.”
“Chilling, unsettling, often bizarre or transgressive, and always well-written, all three chapbooks demonstrate why Weird Horror is in such safe hands…”
“Tormentor is delicately-paced, atmospheric and wields a hefty and surprising emotional punch throughout its narrative, and should be considered an iconic version of a venerable (and often cliched) Horror fiction scenario; a classic that all future Haunted House titles should be measured against.”
“Tales From The Lake – Volume 5 is an absolute triumph, a wonderfully inclusive celebration of the best that the Horror genre can produce, unhindered by the constraints of themes or specific topics…”
“The cover art is gorgeous, the editing top-notch, and the anthology has so many stories that stand out for a variety of reasons, not least because of the variety and high level of quality on display…”
“there’s some impressive world-building and imaginative thinking going on, allied with an increasingly tense atmosphere as the fighting goes and the more explicit occult elements become involved…”
“A fascinating blend of military and occult horror – and with an ending that hints towards a move into alternate history-based horror – Hell Ship is a title that I can highly recommend…”
“Another brilliant anthology from Crystal Lake Publishing, Lost Highways: Dark Fictions From The Road is a title that the publisher, editor, illustrators and authors should be extremely proud to be involved in…
“The Thing in the Vault is a fantastic piece of hard-boiled detective fiction, perfectly blended with Lovecraftian creatures and threaded through with cosmic horror, and definitely left me wanting more…”
“If the Fleming estate, and all others involved in licensing Bond fiction, had any sense then they would immediately license April Moon Books to produce further titles in the genre. I can only hope that, if the stars align correctly, we will see further stories published….”
“The Elder Ice is a brilliant achievement by David Hambling, rich with atmosphere and a keen eye for characterisation…”
“It’s a deeply enjoyable anthology, with some fantastic cover art, and I’m a Good Person, I Mean Well, and I Deserve Better by J.R. Hamantaschen and The Drunkard’s Dream by Orrin Grey are the two star stories of the anthology; they are both brutal, haunting pieces of horror fiction, both deeply personal in their own ways, even transgressive at times, and these two alone justify purchasing the anthology.”
The Sci-Fi and Fantasy Reviewer 