Souls of Darkness

Of course everybody who reads my reviews knows I am a big horror fan! The crazier and the bloodier, the better.
 I am usually extremely picky about horror movies, short stories, and novels, and I tend to either really love them, or really not love them. I don't know how to describe this other then it is a hit or miss with books like this with me. If there is 1 thing out of place, or something that seems to much like another movie or book, or short story, it tends to go downhill from there. I am just super critical of everything horror, fantasy, and I do love science fiction or anything in similar genres.
 Souls of Darkness was certainly a huge, HIT! I was actually not expecting to really, really, really like the stories as much as I did. I have to admit, short horror stories sometimes end way to fast and leave all of the good stuff out. This was not the case here by any means. Which makes this all the more splendid, since this is a collaboration of short stories, 3 authors, 15 stories, published by Fishcake Publications.
(Btw, I love Clive Barker, however, I never cared much for his short stories, SHHHH) I just thought I would throw this in here, lol, I have a Pinhead tattoo on my back, and have been a long, long time fan.But, his short stories, bleh. I think my point is that I am highly critical, and sometimes I think, who am I? But, then I remember, I , well, we, are the readers and the people who do matter. So, I am not trying to sound like I am better then any of these authors, I am just the goofy 38 year old, who loves Halloween and horror for almost all my life.
 Ok, so back to the book, here we really have, original stories by 3 very talented authors.
 I was impressed and would love to read more by them!
Here is the introduction, taken from, Souls of Darkness, :
 This illustrated book shows exactly what can happen when you take three very different horror, fantasy and sci-fi writers, dismember their work, and then fiendishly stitch it back together in the form of an anthology of their compiled short stories. A contorted mixture of sinister sci-fi horror, ghostly goings on and true-life terror, carefully combined within the cover of this book.
 That was plenty for me to get all giddy and jump right in! The next cool thing about this book, are the illustrations! Martin Rothery and Warren Lee, Extraordinary work!
You get to read stories by, Kenneth Frank, Damon Rathe and Louise Hunt.
The first story, River of Dreams, by Louise Hunt, is enough to make you shiver, and an excellent choice for the first few pages. She has a neat, straight to the point way about her writing, and is cleverly descriptive. Decent shock value in her stories too.
 Damon Rathe paints quite a few vivid pictures of some insanely twisted events in, Community Spirits. I like stories that make me think they would make a great movie someday, especially science fiction!
To Play the Game, by Kenneth Frank, is a brilliant short story, one that makes you think, and embraces a deep, dark, twisted side of reality and is truly sinister. I can honestly say I enjoyed every short story in this book, particularly the stories by, Kenneth Frank, I would love to see this book in print, and I will be buying this one.
I love being able to read online, but I love real hard copies even better, and this is one that I would buy and put on one of my bookshelves.
 I have very many favorites in this book, I have to say, To Play the Game, Geoff, Lady Luck and Bramble Cottage are my very favorite stories!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Dark Mind by Jennifer Chase

I was thrilled with how this story starts out, and how it never seems to die down, always fast paced and definitely heart pounding!
Jennifer Chase has a twisted imagination, (a 5 star imagination;), and a fascinating writing style, that keeps you wanting more! I guess it helps a bit that this is certainly my speed, my most favorite genre of all. The story was perfect, very different setting, place then what I am used to, and the terror was genuine! I am not however much into series books, at least when it comes to detective stories, FBI, although this didn't bother me one bit. It sure isn't Nancy Drew, or for the faint of heart!
The story really moves and is filled with vicious descriptions, so if you aren't one to read a serial killer book that also goes through the eyes of the killer, you may not want to pick this up! (although you are missing out on a thrilling ride!) I have to say that I haven't seen this writing style before, and I was real impressed with the adjectives used, how they were placed and the blood curdling screams that I could actually hear while I read it. I particularly enjoyed the explicitly detailed descriptions of the killer, his thoughts, his tools,and the chapters that start out with the women who he was hunting, running, and trying to get away. You could feel and smell every tiny section of the victims mind, fear, what they saw, you have to almost wonder how in the world did someone write this in such a horrific way!!
The characters all fit, there was a rhyme and reason, and the chapters were brilliantly placed along with the story, I loved how they would bring you down at the end of each chapter as if you just came down to, just about a halt, from the 3 crazy, upside down, heart attack loops on a steel coaster, only to be ripped back up again and when the next chapter starts, you're going 70 mph back through those loops, but now backwards!!
I wanted so much to give this book 5 stars, and I just couldn't, the only issue I ever have with books like this is that there are so many I have read, that sometimes the actual story seems like I read it before. Or seen it before, (Kind of like Cold Case, CSI type stuff). Which is nothing wrong and sure doesn't take from this book! I believe the problem with the issue I actually have with "hearing or seeing this before" is that there are so many crime shows, serial killer mini series, books, that it is pretty hard to not have a story that is 100% original. Jennifer Chase chose the perfect place with good characters, and her writing style is well beyond the average for this genre. I have to recommend this to any fan of horror, detective, FBI, cop shows, movies or books, or anybody fascinated with the macabre, twisted, brutal mind of a killer.

** I received a copy of this book in return for my honest review **

Six Scary Tales Volume 1 by Rayne Hall

You always see books and movies that have Scary, in the title. You never really know though, are they scary? What level of scary? Scary to who? You would at least, (I hope), know the difference between a cover like this one, or a Goosebumps book. So you know who probably shouldn't be reading them!
This cover is very classy, and definitely shows right up front, that this is probably a pretty scary book! ( I apologize, I have found you sometimes have to explain this to some). So, if you are NOT in any way, a fan of horror, or very scary, actually, terrifying stories, you may not want to read this, but pass it along to a friend you know who loves this stuff!!
I was very impressed with this book, being a horror fan for almost all my life, yep, even as a kid. I used to watch these scary shows that were on Saturday nights. (weekends were always cartoons, and Kung Fu theater, lol), then it was those real corny scary shows, they weren't corny back then, but now my husband and I laugh like crazy at all the dorky shows we used to watch!! Anyway, I am a big fan, the scarier the better! That's why I was so thrilled to review this book! I was even more thrilled, when I read the stories and actually was like, "Wow!!"
There are 6 stories in this book, and I like them all, a LOT! I do have a favorite, Four Bony Hands, that was quite a good story, and it is a story I wouldn't mind watching a movie about. This is how all of the stories in this book are, all have a good creepy plot, off the wall shock value, and when you start the stories, there isn't any wait time, you start to read, and BOOM! You are right there. Definitely another reason I really , really like this book!
The author really doesn't waste your time, and she sure knows how to scare people! Brilliant use of adjectives, and I love when authors like this one, use the appropriate and most fitting descriptions and words, so that is paints a very vivid picture in your mind.
I will be reading more from this author! If you check on Amazon, there are many more available!!