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Friday 31 December 2021

Books Read in 2021


THE WIRED CITY
(Weird. Wonderful. Other Worlds 2):
Yolanda Sfetsos

HARROW LAKE:
Kat Ellis

RULES FOR VANISHING:
Kate Alice Marshall

MERIDIAN:
Amber Kizer

DEAD SILENCE
(The Body Finder #4):
Kimberly Derting

YOU MUST NOT MISS:
Katrina Leno

TWO CAN KEEP A SECRET:
Karen M McManus

IRONSIDE
(Modern Faeries Tales #3):
Holly Black

NONE SHALL SLEEP:
Ellie Marney

CRUEL SUMMER:
Juno Dawson

BEAUTIFUL DECAY:
Sylvia Lewis

THE SAD GHOST CLUB:
Lize Meddings

A DOWRY OF BLOOD:
ST Gibson

LORE:
Alexandra Bracken

OUTLAWED:
Anna North

Susan Hill

GIRLS WITH RAZOR HEARTS
(Girls with Sharp Sticks #2):
Suzanne Young

SHIVER:
Allie Reynolds

HIDDEN BODIES
(YOU #2):
Caroline Kepnes

A LINE IN THE DARK:
Malinda Lo

THE POWER OF THREE
(Charmed #1):
Eliza Willard

SLEEP LIKE A BABY
(Aurora Teagarden #10):
Charlaine Harris

THE FURIES:
Katie Lowe

DISAPPEARING NIGHTLY
(Esther Diamond #1):
Laura Resnick

DO NOT DISTURB
(Deanna Madden #2):
AR Torre

THE GIRLS I'VE BEEN:
Tess Sharpe

DOPPELGANGSTER
(Esther Diamond #2):
Laura Resnick

THE GRACE YEAR:
Kim Liggett

THE LEGACY OF MERLIN
(Charmed #8):
Eloise Flood

WHEN IT HAPPENS TO YOU:
Molly Ringwald

LATER:
Stephen King

SLENDER MAN:
Anonymous

JAR OF HEARTS:
Jennifer Hillier

UNSYMPATHETIC MAGIC
(Esther Diamond #3):
Laura Resnick

ARIADNE:
Jennifer Saint

LAST TIME I LIED:
Riley Sager

TENDER IS THE FLESH:
Agustina Bazterrica

THE HUNTED:
Gabriel Bergmoser

FLY ON THE WALL:
E Lockhart

IF YOU DARE
(Deanna Madden #3):
AR Torre

VAMPARAZZI
(Esther Diamond #4):
Laura Resnick

MONGRELS(DNF)
Stephen Graham Jones

EASY GO(DNF)
John Lange

MIDNIGHT RIOT
(Peter Grant #1):
Ben Aaronovitch

THE COCKROACH KING:
Andrew Cull

BOGUS TO BUBBLY
An Insider's Guide to the World of Uglies:
Scott Westerfeld

IMPOSTORS
(Impostors #1):
Scott Westerfeld

WALL OF DOLLS:
Yolanda Sfetsos

SHATTER CITY
(Impostors #2):
Scott Westerfeld

POLTERHEIST
(Esther Diamond #5):
Laura Resnick

THE PERFECT LIE:
Jo Spain

THE RETURN:
Rachel Harrison

KITTY ROCKS THE HOUSE
(Kitty Norville #11):
Carrie Vaughn

THE PASSAGE
(The Passage #1): (DNF)
Justin Cronin

MY COUSIN RACHEL:
Daphne du Maurier

CREEPSHOW
The Taker:
Elley Cooper

THE BEAUTIFUL ONES:
Silvia Moreno-Garcia

A VISION OF FIRE
(The Earthend Saga #1):
Gillian Anderson & Jeff Rovin

HOLY COW:
David Duchovny

THE STRANGE TALE OF MISS VICTORIA FRANK:
Kelly Evans

Bethany Clift

Carole Stivers

UNWELL WOMEN
A Journey Through Medicine And Myth in a Man-Made World:
Elinor Cleghorn

KITTY IN THE UNDERWORLD
(Kitty Norville #12):
Carrie Vaughn

THE MAIDENS:
Alex Michaelides

THE HUSBANDS:
Chandler Baker

CHILDREN OF DEMETER:
EV Knight

SLEEPLESS(DNF)
Romy Hausmann

Helene Flood

HEXED
Don't Get Mad, Get Powers:
Julia Tuffs

THE MENOPAUSE MANIFESTO:
Dr Jen Gunter

LOW MIDNIGHT
(Kitty Norville #13):
Carrie Vaughn

THE HOME:
Mats Strandberg

THE MISFORTUNE COOKIE
(Esther Diamond #5):
Laura Resnick

KITTY SAVES THE WORLD
(Kitty Norville #14):
Carrie Vaughn

BILLY SUMMERS:
Stephen King

MR CABLES:
Ronald Malfi

THE FINAL GIRL SUPPORT GROUP:
Grady Hendrix

THE IMMORTAL CONQUISTADOR:
(Kitty Norville #15):
Carrie Vaughn

GIRLS WITH REBEL SOULS
(Girls with Sharp Sticks #3):
Suzanne Young

Christopher Golden & Nancy Holder

THE SMALLEST OF BONES:
Holly Lyn Walrath

THE WICKED CITY
(Weird! Wonderful! Other Worlds! # 2):
Yolanda Sfetsos

THE BONE FACTORY
(Murder! Mystery! Mayhem! # 5):
Yolanda Sfetsos

Hank Green

WHEN THE CICADAS STOP SIGNING:
Zachary Ashford

KITTY'S GREATEST HITS:
Carrie Vaughn

WITH TEETH(DNF)
Brian Keene

VELVET WAS THE NIGHT:
Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Janet Evanovich

MONSTRUM POETICA:
Jezzy Wolfe

EXPOSED NERVES:
Lucy A Snyder

THE RABBITS:
John Marsden & Shaun Tan

THE ARRIVAL:
Shaun Tan

CRUEL FATE
(Cainsville #5.6):
Kelley Armstrong

IN DARKNESS DELIGHT:
Fear the Future:
Edited by Andrew Lennon & Evans Light

CERTAIN DARK THINGS:
Silvia Moreno-Garcia

CHASING THE BOOGEYMAN:
Richard Chizmar

THE TURNOUT:
Megan Abbott

PAYBACK'S A WITCH:
Lana Harper

THE SAD GHOST CLUB 
Volume 2: 
Lize Meddings

I SHOT THE DEVIL:
Ruth McIver

ATTACK FROM THE 80s:
Edited by Eugene Johnson

THE RAVENS
(The Ravens 1):
Kass Morgan & Danielle Paige

UNIVERSAL MONSTERS:
Little Golden Book (FunkoPop!)

THE BLACK PHONE:
Joe Hill

HEXIS(DNF)
Charlene Elsby

THE MONARCHS
(The Ravens 2):
Kass Morgan & Danielle Paige

THE BONE SPINDLE
(The Bone Spindle #1):
Leslie Vedder

THE ART OF GOOSEBUMPS:
Sarah Rogriguez & Tim Jacobus




Books Read in 2021: 110/110

( Number of DNF books: 11)

----------------------------------

Number of books read to catch up on series/duology/trilogy: 25

  1. DEAD SILENCE (The Body Finder #4) LAST BOOK IN SERIES
  2. IRONSIDE (Modern Faeries Tales #3) LAST BOOK IN TRILOGY
  3. GIRLS WITH RAZOR HEARTS (Girls with Sharp Sticks #2)
  4. HIDDEN BODIES (YOU #2)
  5. SLEEP LIKE A BABY (Aurora Teagarden #10) LAST BOOK IN SERIES
  6. DO NOT DISTURB (Deanna Madden #2)
  7. DOPPELGANGSTER (Esther Diamond #2)
  8. THE LEGACY OF MERLIN (Charmed #8)
  9. UNSYMPATHETIC MAGIC (Esther Diamond #3)
  10. IF YOU DARE (Deanna Madden #3) LAST BOOK IN SERIES
  11. VAMPARAZZI (Esther Diamond #3)
  12. BOGUS TO BUBBLY (Uglies Guide Book)
  13. SHATTER CITY (Impostors #2)
  14. POLTERHEIST (Esther Diamond #5)
  15. KITTY ROCKS THE HOUSE (Kitty Norville #11)
  16. KITTY IN THE UNDERWORLD (Kitty Norville #12)
  17. LOW MIDNIGHT (Kitty Norville #13)
  18. THE MISFORTUNE COOKIE (Esther Diamond #5)
  19. KITTY SAVES THE WORLD (Kitty Norville #14) LAST BOOK IN SERIES
  20. THE IMMORTAL CONQUISTADOR (Kitty Norville #15)
  21. GIRLS WITH REBEL SOULS (Girls with Sharp Sticks #3)
  22. KITTY'S GREATEST HITS (Short Story Collection)
  23. CRUEL FATE (Cainsville #5.6)
  24. THE SAD GHOST CLUB (Volume 2)
  25. THE MONARCHS (The Ravens 2)




2021 Goals

 

So, it turns out that after the hellish year that was 2020, we were kidding ourselves when we expected 2021 to be any better. 😒

We're still in the middle of an awful pandemic. Actually, I would dare to say that even though so many of us are now vaccinated (and even boosted), we're in a much worse position than we were this time last year. Several Covid variants have already spread all over the world and new ones keep popping up. And our hopeless governments have pretty much given up keeping us safe.

In NSW, our cases are higher than ever and our cruel government DGAF. This is what happens when the economy is put above health and responsibility. Seems to me like politicians have forgotten their roles/place in society. Ugh.

Anyway, now that I got the shit stuff out of the way, let's move on. I'm here to chat about my personal goals. Staying focused on my writing helped keep me busy. Especially since hubby went back to full-time work this year.

Here's how my goals turned out: 
  • Continue our daily walks and eventually (depending on pandemic status) introduce a second walk again: THIS IS SOMETHING WE WERE ABLE TO CONTINUE DOING THIS YEAR. SINCE HUBBY WENT BACK TO WORK, WE GOT BACK INTO THE ROUTINE OF TWO DAILY WALKS DURING WEEKDAYS (SOMETIMES THREE) AND LONG SUBURBAN WALKS ON WEEKENDS. I LOVE WALKING. IT HAS A LOT OF PHYSICAL, MENTAL, DIGESTIVE AND INSPIRATIONAL BENEFITS.
  • Keep doing yoga workouts and mix them up with the morning walking schedule: YEP. WE GOT BACK INTO OUR YOGA WORKOUTS. ALTHOUGH WE SKIPPED A FEW THROUGHOUT THE YEAR DUE TO VACCINES AND/OR BEING TOO BUSY/TIRED, WE'RE MOSTLY BACK ON TRACK.
  • Write between 100-200k words: ENDED UP WRITING 159,431 words & EDITED 6,109 pages. 
  • Read 50 books: READ 110 BOOKS. (11 DNFs.)
  • Finalise some (of the many) horror novel first drafts sitting on my hard drive: MANAGED TO GET 5 OF THESE PROJECTS COMPLETED. ONE OF THEM WAS ACTUALLY EDITED FOR PUBLISHING. THIS YEAR MY FOCUS WAS MOSTLY ON REVISING/FINALISING SOME OF THE (MANY) FIRST DRAFT NOVELS THAT HAVE BEEN SITTING ON MY HARD DRIVE FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
  • Write two new novels: SINCE I SPENT MOST OF THE YEAR WORKING ON REVISION PROJECTS, I ONLY WROTE 1 NEW (63,580w) NOVEL (during NaNoWriMo).
  • Write a novella or two: THIS WAS MOSTLY A FAIL, THOUGH I DID WRITE AND REVISED A NOVELETTE.
  • Keep writing short stories & subbing: I ONLY WROTE ONE SHORT STORY AND HAD THAT STORY ACCEPTED INTO AN ANTHOLOGY THAT WILL BE PUBLISHED NEXT YEAR. 
  • Take part in NaNoWriMoI  TOOK PART (of course!) & GOT MY 15th WIN! (This time I wrote a horror haunted house ghost story. 😁)
  • Keep up with the clutter/book/stationery sorting: TOTALLY DID! THIS YEAR I WENT THROUGH MY BOOK STACKS SEVERAL TIMES AND DONATED 454 BOOKS TO LOCAL STREET LIBRARIES! 👀
  • Actually play a game or two on my 2DS & Switch Lite (especially interested in Mr. DRILLER & Goetia): THIS IS A FUNNY ONE BECAUSE, WHILE I DIDN'T ACTUALLY PLAY ANY OF THESE, I DID START PLAYING ANIMAL CROSSING: NEW HORIZONS (ON MY SWITCH LITE) IN OCTOBER AND HAVE CONTINUED TO DO SO DAILY SINCE THEN. I ADORE THIS GAME! ❤

Well, that's it for my list of completed goals for this year! But I'm not quite done because several stories were published during 2021.
 
My first YA horror novel, Wall of Dolls, was published in October by Otranto House:


My cyberpunk novella was published in January by Demain Publishing! And both The Wired City + The Bone Factory were released in paperback in August:


I also had short stories published in several anthologies:


And ended the writing year by having a shortie accepted into a Creepypasta anthology that will be released next year from Cemetery Gates Media. You can actually read The Hags of Merricktown on their website right now. Yay!

Well. This year turned out to have plenty of challenges, but I achieved something I've put off for years. I got stuck into a bunch of revision projects and actually made a real dent. And because of these finished projects, I even started taking part in PitMad more often.

2021 Summary

Now it's time to come up with a 2022 Goals List...

Thursday 30 December 2021

THE ART OF GOOSEBUMPS by Sarah Rogriguez & Tim Jacobus

 

Beware: The Art of GoosebumpsBeware: The Art of Goosebumps by Sarah Rodriguez
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really like Goosebumps books. Not just because I used to read them to my daughter, but because I'd actually checked them out before she was born. They're cool and creepy, funny and sad. Always freaky and even silly. Some are totally awesome and others are quite ridiculous, but I enjoy checking them out.

So, when hubby ordered this book—because he's the best—and insisted this was something I had to add to my collection, I was ecstatic!

This is such a pretty book. It's a bright, large, hardcover full of fantastic artwork. Not just the iconic covers, but also the drawing evolution of quite a few of them. As well as insights from the main cover artist, Tim Jacobus, and quite a few tidbits from the always funny, R.L. Stine.

I had a blast checking this out and recommend this book to anyone who loves Goosebumps because it's definitely something you need on your shelf.



View all my reviews

Friday 24 December 2021

THE BONE SPINDLE by Leslie Vedder

 

Filore, a treasure hunter with a knack for riddles, is busy running from her own deadly curse, when she pricks her finger on a spindle. Bound to the sleeping prince Briar Rose with the spindle's magic - and chosen as the only person who can wake him - Fi is stuck with the prince's ghost until she can break his ancient curse and save his kingdom.
She's going to need a partner. A warrior huntswoman with an axe to grind (literally), Shane couldn't care less about curses and ancient texts. But instead of riches, the two girls find trouble.

Dark magic, witch hunters, nightmarish beasts - and of course, curses - all stand in their way as Fi and Shane undertake the dangerous journey into a forgotten kingdom where the sleeping prince's body waits.



Firstly, I want to thank Hachette Australia for sending me an advanced copy of this lovely book. 

Fi and Shane are treasure hunters. Fi is interested in the wealth that books, spells and knowledge provide. Shane loves the wealth in treasure. Together, they set out to find a forgotten kingdom where a prince lies asleep inside a tower waiting to be rescued. Fi has secrets and a curse, while Shane just wants to escape her past and collect payment. But what they find will test them every step of the way...

O.M.G. I absolutely loved this fantastic fairy tale retelling. It's the best kind of fantasy story. One that focuses on the strengths and flaws of different girls by treating them like people. Actually, one of my fave things about this happens to be how inclusive it is, and how everything just is.

I mean, Shane is referred to as a huntsman throughout. And her sexuality is never questioned or judged. It just is. I loved that!

In this tale, the girls save themselves and everyone else as well. There's nothing they're not prepared to tackle and I was there for every new obstacle, confrontation and surprise that stood in their way.

The story is told in the alternating POVs of Fi and Shane. And also includes a few snippets from Briar, which really rounds everything out perfectly. Through each narrator, we not only get to experience a thrilling, fast-paced adventure as everything unfolds, but we also get a glimpse of each character's tortured past. I especially liked finding out why each girl became a hardened treasure hunter. These flashbacks provided a wonderful thread woven into the overall tapestry of this intriguing tale.

The Bone Spindle is a magical wild ride full of adventure, interesting characters worth investing time with, a touch of intoxicating romance, and the worldbuilding is totally amazing. There are plenty of familiar tales included within the pages of this awesome book, but the overall plot stands out on its own and hooked me in right away.

I'm really looking forward to following Fi, Shane and Briar's next adventure.

Also, I love the very pretty cover. 



The Bone Spindle, January 2022, ISBN 9781444966145, Hodder Children's Books

Monday 20 December 2021

THE MONARCHS by Kass Morgan & Danielle Paige

 

The ultra-exclusive Kappa Rho Nu - the Ravens - are determined to restore balance to the world. After destroying an ancient talisman and barely saving their sorority in the process, they'll go to any lengths to keep their secret as Westerly's most powerful coven of witches.
Scarlett Winter, a legacy Raven, has finally gotten what she's always wanted: Scarlett is Kappa Rho Nu's newest president. Unlike her mother or older sister before her, Scarlett has a vision for a more unified Kappa, one where no sister falls to the forces of wicked magic. But the powers of the presidency have their own pitfalls. And with the pressures of alumni bureaucracy and past failures weighing on her, Scarlett finds herself at risk of losing the very thing that defined her: her magic.

As a new member of Kappa Rho Nu, Vivi Devereaux finally knows what it's like to belong. She has her Kappa Rho Nu sisters behind her and, with Scarlett's blessing, Vivi's happily dating her first college crush (who also just happens to be Scarlett's ex). When Scarlett assigns Vivi the coveted role of social chair, Vivi is determined to live up to her Big's expectations. But Vivi's studies in witchcraft take a deadly turn when she uncovers a new form of magic, one that has mysterious ties to Kappa Rho Nu's past and the vengeful demon once tied to their talisman.

With the weight of their newfound roles and the terrible price of destroying the talisman haunting them, Scarlett and Vivi must save their sisterhood when the forces of hell itself and a rival sorority threaten to unleash havoc on the Ravens.



Last week I had a blast reading The Ravens. And thanks to Hachette Australia, I already had the second/last book in this excellent duology waiting for me. 😊

After losing two members of their sorority, The Ravens return after break prepared to get back into their college and magical lives. Scarlett is now president but starts to doubt herself and finds it too easy to get distracted by other things. Vivi is ready to dedicate herself to her sisters and wants to impress them with her magic while spending time with her first real boyfriend. But there's a mysterious foe waiting in the shadows, one that threatens to destroy everything these witches have built... 

Wow. Amazing! This is how you write an excellent duology. Both books were interesting. Both introduce new things to the world. Both raise the stakes. And both deliver in equal parts.

As soon as I started reading, I once again got lost in the story and couldn't wait to find out how things were going to turn out after the betrayal and loss that devastated The Ravens. And what started to take shape very early on was dark.

This book moves quickly and doesn't take long to establish the wickedness these girls have to endure and face while still suffering the aftermath of what happened in the woods. Their sisterhood is threatened all the way through and each witch deals with this problem differently.

The story unfolds at a great pace. Scarlett and Vivi once again share alternating POVs that complement each other while moving the overall plot along nicely, as well as revealing their personal growth. Both characters are awesome and manage to entertain, even when their lives are going downhill fast. The way everything escalates really took me by surprise. The magical problems arise very quickly, and the world of these witches gets a lot bigger.

The Monarchs is not only a fantastic sequel, but also the perfect way to end this captivating tale of young witches trying to continue a long legacy. This tale about a coven masquerading as a sorority never stopped surprising me and I didn't lose interest at all. Actually, the more I read, the more obsessed I became with the story and looked forward to whatever was waiting on the next page, the next chapter. And although I loved the ending, I was sad when I got to the end.

I'm going to miss these girls.

Also, one last thing. This cover is as stunning as the first. So beautiful, and matches the story perfectly.



The Monarchs, January 2022, ISBN 9781529363883, Hodder & Stoughton

Wednesday 15 December 2021

Creepypasta Fun!

 

Hey! How are you today? I'm popping in to announce some really cool and awesome news.

My short story, The Hags of Merricktown, is one of twelve winners of the Nov/Dec 2021 Creepypasta contest held by Cemetery Gates Media

Yay! 🎉

Here's the announcement.

Also, you can read my story right now on their website! And it will also be published in their Creepypasta anthology coming out next year. SO EXCITING!!

I love urban legends and Creepypasta stories are creepy, so of course I wanted to have a go at telling one of my own. 😁

The strangest thing is that some of the tale is based on real people and true events. And I took all the photos myself. Anyway, I'll let you decide what's real and what's fiction...

Have a nice day!


PS. Watch out for those hags. 


THE BLACK PHONE by Joe Hill

 

The Black PhoneThe Black Phone by Joe Hill
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Since the movie will be released soon, I decided to read this short story today. It didn't take long because everything happens very quickly.

Boy is sitting outside a store drinking a can of his favourite drink. Man struggles to put his shopping in the back of his van. Boy tries to help. Black balloons make an appearance...

Yeah, it's quick and awful. What Finney goes through is scary, but this kid is a fighter. Really enjoyed how trippy the whole story turned out to be. Half the time I was trying to figure out what was real and what was illusion. Also, the actual black phone was an intriguing concept, but that ending was killer.

I really enjoyed this twisted tale of cruelty and murder because Finney's voice was strong and kept me interested. Looking forward to watching the movie because it looks like they changed quite a bit.

UNIVERSAL MONSTERS: Little Golden Book (FunkoPop!)

 

Universal Monsters Little Golden Book (Funko Pop!)Universal Monsters Little Golden Book by M.D. Brundlefly
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

As soon as I found this book on Amazon, I HAD to have it. The cover is adorable and I have several of these Universal Monsters Funko Pop! guys.

This book doesn't disappoint. It might be short, but it's definitely cheeky and funny. The illustrations are gorgeous and every page is super colourful. I smiled all the way through this little tale covering quite a few familiar monsters, and especially liked the ending because it's cute and so true!

Loved this. Glad I can add it to my monster collection. 😍

Monday 13 December 2021

THE RAVENS by Kass Morgan & Danielle Paige

 

The Ravens (The Ravens, #1)The Ravens by Kass Morgan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I purchased this book recently and couldn't wait to get stuck into it. I mean, not only is it a story about witches in college, but it's written by Kass Morgan and Danielle Paige. I LOVED Morgan's The 100 series and Paige's Dorothy Must Die series, so I was very curious about their joint venture.

Vivi has spent her life moving from place to place with her flaky mother, so she's excited to start college and finally spend four years in one place. Scarlett is in the mysterious Kappa Rho Nu sorority, known as the Ravens. Now, the Ravens are searching for new recruits, but there's something dark getting closer to these witches. Something capable of stirring up plenty of dangerous trouble for everyone...

Wow. Loved it.

This turned out to be such a refreshing and exciting book. I enjoyed every minute of it and enjoyed getting to know Vivi, Scarlett and their witchy sisters. The story is told through Vivi and Scarlett's alternating POV but there are a lot of secondary characters to round out this wickedly fun and spooky story.

The whole book was intriguing and hooked me from beginning to end, but those last seventy pages were so fast-paced and tense. I was on the edge of my seat as everything led to an unexpected confrontation.

Another thing I loved about this story was the atmospheric sense of location. It's set in Savannah and the details were so vivid I felt like I was there, on campus with these girls.

Also, I need to mention how much I love this beautiful cover. Those ravens really pop and look just about ready to fly off the book. So pretty!

I'm really looking forward to reading the next book.

Thursday 9 December 2021

ATTACK FROM THE 80s edited by Eugene Johnson

Modern technology has brought some new twists and turns to horror. Found footage, cell phone-based viruses, literal ghosts in the machines but maybe it’s time for a throwback. It’s time for some new tales of slumber party horrors, VCR monsters, and problems that can’t be solved with a smart phone. We want tales of unstoppable monsters, sewer-dwelling creatures, looming threats of cold-war chaos. Give us fear under the neon lights of an arcade, people fighting for their lives against the backdrop of a hot city night and a cheesy sax solo. Take us back to a time when latchkey kids had to fend for themselves and the only thing left to stop an unspeakable horror was a plucky band of high school kids. Make it bloody. Make it gnarly. Make it 80s!   



Firstly, I want to thank Erin Sweet Al-Mehairi and Raw Dog Screaming Press for sending me an eBook copy of this 80s-inspired horror anthology with a very rad cover!

Here are my thoughts about each story: 

TOP GUNS OF THE FRONTIER by Weston Ochse: What a clever little tale about two boys obsessed with Top Gun who find themselves on their very own dark adventure. One that shaped their futures. Creepy concept and great imagery. 

SNAPSHOT by Joe R. Lansdale & Kasey Lansdale: Yikes! Didn't expect this tale of thieves to descend into bloody and sadistic violence so quickly. Liked the twist ending. 

THE DEVIL IN THE DETAILS by Ben Monroe: A very interesting take on the satanic panic that swept through the 80s. Also, this tale definitely felt like it could've been written during that decade because it captured the musical, attitude and vibes of that period perfectly. Not to mention how well the horror aspect fit.

RETURN OF THE REANIMATED NIGHTMARE by Lisa Addison: The first poem was okay.

TAKING THE NIGHT TRAIN by Thomas F. Monteleone: I enjoyed this very peculiar story about the mostly unseen Ralphie and what he discovers during his adventures in the New York subway.

CATASTROPHE QUEENS by Jess Landry: Well, that turned out to be a total riot! Loved this one because it was SO MUCH FUN and made me laugh several times. Of course, it's also creepy and twists a bunch of 80s tropes into awesome twists and turns.

YOUR PICTURE HERE by John Skipp: I found this one quite ridiculous and vulgar, which I suppose was the desired effect. Either way, I was lukewarm about this bizarre tribute to Basket Case.

PERMANENT DAMAGE by Lee Murray: OMG. What a blast of a story! I had my hair permed twice during the late 80s/early 90s so this story of hair mayhem really appealed to me. And the way things turned out was totally cool, too. Plus fiery. Lotsa fun! 

SLASHBACKS by Tim Waggoner: A very interesting and well written story about an adult horror fan forever ridiculed for loving the genre and what happens one rainy night when he stumbles on a strange video store. 

MUNCHIES by Lucy A. Snyder: This turned out to be a hilarious and super fun story about a rampaging Republican monster (seriously) that attacks a town. But there's also a sad message behind it too. Really enjoyed this!

TEN MILES OF BAD ROAD by Stephen Graham Jones: Really enjoyed this feverish story about a guy so lost in thoughts of starring in his own metal music video that he actually gets lost in a very creepy junkyard. 

EPOCH, REWOUND by Vince A. Liaguno: Very clever poem that captured the essence of the 80s via some very cool pop culture, movie and music references.

DEMONIC DENIZENS by Cullen Bunn: A short and fast story about D&D kids at camp playing a different, much darker kind of game with real consequences.

THE WHITE ROOM by Rena Mason: I have to admit that I couldn't get into this one. The writing style was too head-hoppy for me and the story wasn't that interesting. The imagery at the end was cool, though. 

GHETTO BLASTER by Jeff Strand: Not a fan of this one.

HADDONFIELD, NEW JERSEY 1980 by Cindy O'Quinn: Interesting and nicely written.

WHEN HE WAS FAB by F. Paul Wilson: Couldn't get into this story.

WELCOME TO HELL by Christina Sng: Such a fantastic poem that turns some very familiar monsters in very cool and unique ways. Loved this!

PERSPECTIVE: JOURNAL OF A 1980s MAD MAN by Mort Castle: Nope. Didn't like this one.

MOTHER KNOWS BEST by Stephanie M. Wytovich: Wow. This is such a fantastic story. It's violent and creepy, full of bloody and nightmarish imagery that sent me on a surreal feverish dream I didn't wake up from until the last word. Memorable story. 

STRANGER DANGER by Grady Hendrix: I was excited to read this because I love all the Grady Hendrix books I've read. But this short story was a bit silly and I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would.

THE GARDEN OF DR. MOREAU by Lisa Morton: Really liked this clever story set in 1984 featuring a very familiar name and a creepy, totally nightmarish situation. I mean, even when you're trying to help, sometimes you actually make everything worse. 😬


Attack from the 80s is a super fun and nostalgic anthology full of dark tales set during a period when the world was awesome but at the same time was on a constant state of change and upheaval. A time when horror movies were available in your own home at any time of the day or night. Trust me, I lived it. 😁

The writing was great and the stories range from horrific and serious, to freaky and hilarious.

This book contains a lot of talented authors and is guaranteed to satisfy both horror and 80s fans.




Wednesday 8 December 2021

I SHOT THE DEVIL by Ruth McIver

I used to think that I'd escaped Southport . . . Now I realised, Southport had been coming for me all this time.

Erin Sloane was sixteen when high school senior Andre Villiers was murdered by his friends. They were her friends, too, led by the intense, charismatic Ricky Hell. Five people went into West Cypress Road Woods the night Andre was murdered. Only three came out. 

 Ativan, alcohol and distance had dimmed Erin's memories of that time. But nearly twenty years later, an ageing father will bring her home. Now a journalist, she is asked to write a story about the Southport Three and the thrill-kill murder that mesmerised the country. Erin's investigation propels her closer and closer to a terrifying truth. And closer and closer to danger.
 


This is a book that caught my eye a few months ago while checking out Hachette's monthly catalogue, but I've been so busy with my own writing that I didn't get a chance to pick it up until now.

When Erin Sloane was sixteen, a high school senior was murdered in the woods by his friends. These kids happened to be her friends too. Now, sixteen years later, she's a journalist and agrees to write a story about the Southport Three. But her investigation opens up old wounds and ultimately puts her in danger...

I really enjoyed this. It's a powerful and well-written story that unfolds at a good pace and features a narrator with many (many) flaws. She also has a tragic past.

Erin isn't a great person and keeps lots of secrets from everyone, including herself. She's only comfortable after swallowing pills with a sip of alcohol and smoking the days away, but once she embarks on this journalistic journey, she discovers how much of her life and memories are shrouded by lies.

After so many years of pushing away the painful memories of her childhood friends and family, she's forced to face everything head-on. She also has to accept her role in everything as she recalls all the terrible things she went through.

I also enjoyed the Resident Alien chapters because they filled in some of the gaps. Or did they? That's the thing about this book. Everyone lies.

I Shot the Devil is an addictive story. As soon as I started, I couldn't wait to uncover all the mysteries and experience the revelations with Erin. Our narrator is prickly, tormented by the past, mostly heavily intoxicated with a cocktail of prescription drugs and alcohol, but her voice is strong. Her trauma vivid. Her need for answers as shocking for her as it becomes for the reader.

Sometimes I felt sorry for her. And other times she made it hard to like her.

This crime thriller deals with abuse, addiction, murder and so many awful secrets. Too many things are kept hidden, but are there to be found if Erin dares to delve below the darkness.

Overall, I thought this was a great book but have to admit that the ending left me feeling a little hollow. Not sure what I was expecting, though.

Thank you Hachette Australia for sending me a copy.


I Shot the Devil, September 2021, ISBN 9780733642760, Hodder Children's Books

Monday 29 November 2021

THE SAD GHOST CLUB Volume 2 by Lize Meddings

 

Ever felt anxious or alone? Like you don't belong anywhere? Like you're almost... invisible? Find your kindred spirits at The Sad Ghost Club. (You are not alone. Shhh. Pass it on.)

When two strangers meet at a party and realise they both feel different from everyone else there, they start the The Sad Ghost Club - a secret society for the anxious and alone, a club for people who think they don't belong. 

But when a third ghost wants to join the club, things get a bit more complicated. Can the two ghosts overcome their insecurities and uncertainties in their new friendship, and find a way to welcome new members to the club?



At the beginning of this year I read a lovely book called, The Sad Ghost Club, about someone who was so lonely they were pretty much a ghost. And I just read the next installment in one sitting.

Sam and Socks met at a party neither would usually go to. They're so alike they decide to start a club for shy, lonely and anxious people just like them. So, they put up posters and hope someone will respond. But when someone does, new complications arise... 

Loved this! Like the first book, this is another lovely but very melancholy graphic novel. The story follows a new friendship between two lonely and very insecure people who find themselves falling into familiar cycles of anxiety and uncertainty almost instantly. The black and white illustrations enhance the essence of what's happening in every frame, on every page.

It was hard to watch Socks slide back into her insecurities and become exhausted by the effort getting to know anyone entails. It was nice to see Sam getting more confident and excited, but then lose himself in the prospect of more while almost forgetting what he just found. And it was nice meeting Rue, but sad to see her suffering too.

I really like how this series deals with these dark and consuming issues with so much care and attention. Magnifying the smallest of concerns to the point of exhaustion is how both Sam and Socks deal with life daily, hourly even. Learning to navigate these issues together makes them stronger and able to help others, even though it's a constant struggle. And I can definitely understand that.

The Sad Ghost Club, Volume 2 is a moving tale about what it feels like to be seen by someone after being invisible for so long. Sometimes, slipping back into unhealthy habits is a lot easier than daring to take the necessary steps to forge new friendships and this book captures all of those confused, erratic and fearful thoughts perfectly. 

Also, I still think that using ghosts to represent this state of mind is perfect. And the message was sweet too. 

Thank you so much, Hachette Australia for sending me a copy.



The Sad Ghost Club, Volume 2, January 2022, ISBN 9781444957549, Hodder Children's Books

Thursday 25 November 2021

PAYBACK'S A WITCH by Lana Harper

 

Payback's a Witch (The Witches of Thistle Grove, #1)Payback's a Witch by Lana Harper
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This book sounded like the perfect read to me because I love witchy tales. But pretty early on, I realised it really wasn't. I wanted to love this story so much, but I was bored so often that I couldn't get into the swing of things. 😩

Emmy is a witch who returns to her hometown for an upcoming spellcasting tournament and finds so much more...

See, this sounds like something I would totally enjoy because there was witchy and Halloween vibes everywhere. But the tournament stuff was so dull I ended up skimming most of it. The romance between Emmy and Talia started out promising before that also paled eventually. And the interactions between characters didn't seem sincere.

I don't know. I really struggled to get through this. Really didn't click with this story and would probably have enjoyed it a lot more if the focus was mainly on the Emmy and Talia connection, rather than the yawnfest that was the tournament and the founder family politics.

The Halloweeny atmosphere was probably my favourite bit. But even that seemed to get crowded by too much of everything.

Oh well.

Thursday 18 November 2021

NaNoWriMo: Week Three

Well, here I am again. How are you?

This week's NaNoWriMo post is a bit earlier because I reached The End yesterday. 

That's right. The first draft of STUCK is now DONE. Yay! 😁🎉 This makes me really happy. Not just because it's another NaNo to add to my list, but also because it feels great to complete a new novel after working hard on multiple revisions this year and not much else.

Anyway, here's how the word count went: 

Monday: 57,668 (added 5631w)
Tuesday: 61,162 (added 3494w)
Wednesday: 63,580 (added 2418w)

I  kinda/sorta wrote my way to the end of the story on Tuesday, but during my afternoon walk decided there were several things I needed to fix/rewrite. The imagery was so vivid, I had a blast changing things up for the better. I even added a short Prologue and two Epilogues. I'll only keep one, but had to write both because the scenes demanded to be written. Phew.

I also grabbed my Winner Certificate and badges from the NaNoWriMo website:


And these are the stats:


Plus the daily word counts:


BTW, this is the 15th time I've won NaNoWriMo! Cool.

Writing this story turned out to be quite a dark experience. There were a lot of weird things going on and these characters really surprised me with their complications and problems. There was enough drama and creepy stuff to fill the pages with horror, dread and ghostly situations.

I call this haunted house ghost story a mix between America Horror Story: Murder House and The Haunting of Hill House. And I enjoyed writing every wicked moment. 😈

Well, I suppose that's it for now. 

I'm looking forward to taking a few weeks off because my brain feels like mush. And I miss reading. I've been SO caught up in this story that I couldn't fit any others in. 😖 It happens every time, which is a good thing. LOL.

Hope you're all having an awesome week. See ya!

 

Friday 12 November 2021

NaNoWriMo: Week Two

Well, the second week of NaNoWriMo is now over. At least, it is for me because I'll be taking the weekend off. I need a bit of time to get all my story thoughts in a row. LOL.

Oh, and guess what? Today I reached the 50k word target. And that means that I've completed my 15th NaNoWriMo. Yay!! 😃🎉

I'm really excited because this also means one of my November goals is now done. 

During NaNoWriMo month I usually have two goals. This is the first one, and my next goal will be to actually finish the first draft. I'm not sure how many words I have left to write, but I'm at that stage where I know everything that's up ahead, I just have to get there. That could end up being another 10, 15 or even 20k. I'm not sure but if I had to guess, I would say this draft will probably end up being either just below or just above 60k.

Anyway, here's my word count for the week:

Monday: 31,154 (added 5877w)
Tuesday: 36,277 (added 5123w)
Wednesday: 41,347 (added 5070w)
Thursday: 47,125 (added 5778w)
Friday: 52,037 (added 4912w)

As you can see, there were quite a few over 5k-word days. The stuff that's happening in this story is unfolding fast. There were quite a few surprises, additional complications, and events I was looking forward to adding. And some days I just couldn't stop writing until I chased the scene/s to the end.

This haunted house ghost story is turning out to be quite the weird little screwed-up tale. 👻 This cast of characters aren't good or bad, most have a bit of both but some come across much worse than others. And the main character has surprised me from the beginning because I was sure I knew all about her. As it turns out, I only knew what was on the surface. Getting below this surface is turning out to be quite the dark adventure.

I love this subgenre, so I'm having a blast writing my own.

You know, asides from all this writing, the only other stuff I've been doing is going for walks with hubby, yoga and playing Animal Crossing: New Horizons. It's such a fun and adorable game. 😁

Well, that's about it. 

Have a great weekend!




Friday 5 November 2021

NaNoWriMo: Week One

 

Well, the first week of NaNoWriMo is over (for me) and I'm really happy with my progress.

This year, the very first day of November was a Monday, so that was a great way to start things off. Because by the time Friday (today) rocked around, I'd already squeezed in five days worth of writing. Yay! 😄

Anyway, here's the word count:

  • Monday: 4,416
  • Tuesday: 10,105 (added 5689w)
  • Wednesday: 14,301 (added 4196w)
  • Thursday: 20,788 (added 6487w)
  • Friday: 25,277 (added 4489w)   
This is definitely an awesome place to end the week.

I'm really surprised at how loud and ready this story turned out to be. As soon as I started typing, the characters spoke to me and everything that lay ahead slowly started to reveal itself. Some scenes were more vivid than others, but it wasn't hard to find the right path and embark on this dark journey.

Once I got past the first chapter, there were actually a lot of surprises. Things I hadn't expected, or planned for. Some things deepened the direction or introduced a different direction. I knew there were going to be familial problems, but didn't expect the relationship complications. This narrator is a little messed up. Hell, sometimes she's not very nice, but it all adds spice to the overall tale.

It's also quite weird, somewhat disorienting. There's plenty of weird shit going in inside and outside this creepy house, and I'm loving every minute of it.

I love getting this lost in a WIP.

So, that's about it for my first NaNoWriMo 2021 update. Since hubby's working this year, I'm back to taking the weekends off.

It'll make a nice mental break because between Animal Crossing: New Horizons and this first draft I'm working on... my brain is turning to mush. 😵

Have a great weekend!



Friday 29 October 2021

NaNoWriMo is almost here...

 


Since I signed up the other day, I thought I'd write my annual National Novel Writing Month blog post. 😅

I've been taking part in NaNoWriMo for a long time. My first time was way back in 2006. 😯 This is something I make room for every year because I enjoy it so much. 

Actually, this year I made sure to leave November clear of any revision projects so I can write a new first draft.

Anyway, here's my history:
  • 2006: UF (Angie)
  • 2007: SFR (Shade of Grey)
  • 2008: SFR (Shade of Blue)
  • 2009: Horror (Sinful)
  • 2010: Futuristic (Embracing Sunlight)
  • 2011: N/A
  • 2012: UF (Torn from the Shadows)
  • 2013: SFR (Dash)
  • 2014: UF (Willow)
  • 2015: YA Historical (MixedTape)
  • 2016: YA Horror (Haunted)
  • 2017: YA SF Thriller (Cosmic Girl)
  • 2018: YA Horror (Madness)
  • 2019: SF Historical Horror (Neon)
  • 2020: Horror UF (Destiny)

As you can see, I only missed one year since I started. That was in 2011 because I was working on edits for my first Samhain Publishing novella release, and couldn't do both.

Another thing you might notice is that I've written drafts in a variety of genres, which is something I love to do. Ideas come to me all the time and if they're strong and interesting, I never turn one away because of genre.

I also take this opportunity to write stories for myself. You know, those ideas that you purely write because you want to read them. Yep. Those.

This year, I'll be working on a haunted house ghost story that has been bubbling inside my head for a while, but has become two tales blended into one. Plus other odd bits and pieces, too. It's going to be a claustrophobic horror story about a beautiful big house full of dark secrets and plenty of creep.

Asides from letting my thoughts run wild until I officially start on Monday, the NaNoPrep is done. I'm excited about this story because the characters are getting louder and the spooky level is giving me goosebumps. 😅

Have a happy weekend!


PS. If you wanna be buddies, I'm YolandaS. 😁

Monday 25 October 2021

I signed up!

 

Hey! 😃

It's that time of the year again... and you know what that means, right? I finally signed up for NaNoWriMo 2021. Yay!!

I planned to take part months ago, because it will be a nice break from all the revision I've been doing this year. But I realised yesterday that I hadn't actually set anything up on the website. 😅

This year, I had four possible ideas to choose from but it didn't take long to narrow it down. This WIP is actually two ideas blended into one. 

Here's the description I posted on the website:

It's time to tell a haunted house ghost story... 👻🏡

Not much there, but this single sentence pretty much nails exactly what I want to write. This is going to be a haunted house story. A ghost story. Another story featuring complicated, dysfunctional family relationships. It's also the first story I'm going to dare mention the dreaded pandemic. 😲

I'm excited about this new WIP because the characters are starting to speak and snippets keep swamping my brain. And when that happens, it means the excitement is bubbling.

So, it looks like I've got a week of NaNoPrep ahead of me... 😊

Are you taking part? If you are, this is me: https://nanowrimo.org/participants/yolandas

Have a great week!


Thursday 21 October 2021

THE TURNOUT by Megan Abbott

 

With their long necks and matching buns and pink tights, Dara and Marie Durant have been dancers since they can remember. Growing up, they were trained by their glamorous mother, founder of the Durant School of Dance. After their parents' death in a tragic accident nearly a dozen years ago, the sisters began running the school together, along with Charlie, Dara's husband and once their mother's prized student. The three have perfected a dance that keeps the studio thriving.

But when a suspicious accident occurs, just at the onset of the school's annual performance of The Nutcracker-a season of competition, anxiety, and exhilaration-an interloper arrives and threatens their delicate balance.


This is another book that sounded intriguing and kept popping up all over the place so much, I couldn't wait to check it out myself. 

Dara and Marie Durant are ballet dancers. Dara is married to Charlie, who was a fellow dancer until he got hurt. Their mother was also a dancer but she passed away years ago. Together, the sisters run the Durant School of Dance studio in a building that is falling apart. And now, during the very busy annual The Nutcracker performance season, a man enters their lives who quickly becomes much more and threatens everything...

Well, that turned out to be a totally messed-up story. And I couldn't look away. 👀

The writing style stood out from the beginning. Each chapter is short and sharp enough to slice right to the heart of everything. But not deep enough to reveal what hides beneath the surface. Oh no, that's slowly and painstakingly revealed. Yet, the sense of something disturbing is there instantly and when the truth is realised, it's shocking but definitely not surprising.

This is the story of a family with many secrets. About two sisters who grew up in a dysfunctional home and now, still work together. Their connection definitely tips into creepy territory, and is very destructive. Dara is outwardly in control and comes across like a cold, emotionless ice maiden although she's inwardly insecure and really good at burying memories. Marie appears to be the caring, softer teacher but is secretly spiralling out of control because she's a mess and can't forget. And Charlie, well, he's physically and emotionally broken.

There's a LOT more to the story. Like Derek the contractor and all the trouble he stirs. The production of The Nutcracker and all the drama that causes with the ballet students. And so many secrets, surprises and all the bad luck.

The Turnout is an intense and addictive tale about two sisters, how everything between them has corrupted and turned so sour they only get themselves deeper into darkness. It's about the sacrifice of ballet dancing and the toll it takes. And also the kind of book that digs its claws deep and doesn't let go until the rotten core emerges hard enough to horrify.

I enjoyed this surreal fever dream as much as the raw and ugly approach used to frame the surface beauty.

Thank you so much, Hachette Australia for sending me a copy.


The Turnout, August 2021, ISBN 9780349012483, Virago

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