Forest of Shadows - Hunter Shea

Rating: 8 out of 10

I admit that I was sketchy at first when I read the premise, I was not too convinced I was going to buy this book. But after watching the author on his podcast 'Monster Men' with fellow author and pal Jack Campinsi, I felt like I could trust Hunter to deliver a good book. And trust me, Hunter delivers. I feel that this novel is similar to an old car. It has a few kinks and it is slow to start, but then this novel takes off and drives you to the end like a dream. First, Hunter crafts a web of characters and events. It takes some time to stew, not a whole lot of action, but I think it all adds meat to the story. It helps the story become not just another ghost story. Instead its a non-traditional family in a unique situation facing a town with a dark secret; oh and then there are some ghosts as well. I was skeptical at first, wondering if all of this characterization was necessary, but its the characters that help make this book stand out. I find the book akin to the movie 'Poltergeist'. Its not just about the ghosts, but about the strength of family. The only reason why I did not give this book 5 stars is because the novel features a lot of explanation on paranormal hunting and ghost-hunting science. From watching the podcasts of 'Monster Men', I can guess that Hunter is a just a huge dork when it comes to this topic. So when the main character becomes a paranormal investigator, I can see Hunter Shea leaking onto the pages. I find the topic interesting, but I also found that some of the explanations on the science of paranormal investigation made the flow of the story stumble. All in all, a great surprise and a great book. I recommend reading this book in a silent house. It will have your spine tingling and have you wondering if you are truly alone in the house.

Monster Hunter Alpha - Larry Correia

Rating:  8 out of 10

Let me tell you, I become a total geek when it comes to Larry Correia and his Monster Hunter series.  Ever since I was introduced to this author way back in 2009 by a random poster on the new defunct Keenedom; I was hooked into the storyline.

Correia's two previous novels Monster Hunter International and Monster Hunter Vendetta, follow Owen Pitt as he battles the supernatural and gets paid to do it.  Correia blends action, fantasy, mystery, and a lot of guns.  Correia is a self-proclaimed gun nut and yes it does show.

The latest novel follows Owen Pitt's boss, Earl Harbinger, as he heads to the UP of Michigan to battle an old nemesis and an even greater evil.

What I loved about this novel were the diary entries about Earl's background story.  I found his story intriguing to see how he came to be.  The story slows in some patches, but stick with it.  The characters and subplots all intertwine to an exciting conclusion.

Horror Book News - Kindle Dark

Hello to my fellow horror readers.

Just a quick tidbit of horror book news.  This especially pertains to those with e-readers such as the Kindle. On Facebook (an evil entity in of itself) there is a community page called Kindle Dark.  What I enjoy about this page is that daily it features different stories of dark fiction, suspense, and horror.  The great thing about this page is that any of these stories that are available on Kindle are under $5.99 and have 4+ star rating.  So anyone gets to enjoy new horror for a low price and possibly discover a great, new author.  Sometimes technology really is a good thing.

Please look them up and check them out for yourself.  If you are an author with a story that you wish to be featured on Kindle Dark, please contact the admin at:  KindleDark@nycap.rr.com


Happy Reading!


~SJB