Lisa Lee

Soul: A Paranormal Anthology is an absolutely brilliant anthology of ghosts, hauntings, possessions, and other dark, creepy, and spooky paranormal goings-on. I was struck by the diversity of the stories and the authors, the differences even in tales of similar theme. I was also struck by how much I enjoyed every story in the book. But those who know me should take note: this is not extreme horror. These stories range from thought-provoking to moving to suspenseful to horrifying, and there’s not a bad one in the lot. I could wax eloquent on the virtues of each, but with a whopping 23 stories in all, it’s not really feasible here. That being said . . . There are a few tales from the ghost’s point of view, which is something I find fantastic, and they are wonderfully nothing alike. There is one in verse, a la Edgar Allan Poe, beautifully done. There are myriad ghost stories ranging in impact and creepiness, each unique and compelling, and a handful of disturbing tales of possession told in startling different ways. Among those offerings I particularly enjoyed is a chilling piece presented perfectly in office correspondence, a horrifying story about ghosts of the forest (nightmare fodder, that one), and a haunting, evocative tale of the emergence of gallows in the Old West. This is an outstanding read. Many of these authors were new to me, but none of them disappointed. It’s absolutely a shelf-worthy book, and with 23 stories in all, it’s also an excellent buy. Highly recommended.

The powerful prose of Michael Allen Rose. The brilliant artwork of Jim Agpalza. The Last 5 Minutes of the Human Race is intense and provocative and so very dark and impactful. It is difficult to do justice to this deep and blatant look at humanity and society, our present, our future, and all the horrifying and realistic ways we might end, the ways we drive our own end. Some of these are dark and moving, like “L is for Life.” Some are disturbing and wrenching, like “B is for Baby.” And others are evocatively horrifying, like “N is for Nyotaimori.”  And each compelling piece is accentuated and magnified by an equally compelling artistic rendering. This book is food for the mind, a conversational coffee table piece, a treasure for the library, something you will want to look at again and again as the nuances impress themselves on your soul.

This is a fun and wicked read. Slipway Grey is a shark/creature/slasher homage by Mark C Scioneaux and Dane Hatchell, and the subgenre combo is brilliant and brilliantly done. It has all the elements of these fun themes, including a horrifying back story for the killer and a nod to Benchley’s giving the shark thought, emotion, and intent. Of course, there is also the obligatory violence, blood, gore, sex, booze, and partying young people because slasher and shark movies classically must have them. But there is more to this story than that. There is a fun amount of suspense and unpredictability in spite of the tropes. There’s some really good characterization driving the story. And there is the main character’s backstory, the basis for everything that happens. The character’s history, MO, and psychosis is an underlying but relevant and powerful element that I think some readers miss (no, it’s not feminism exploitation; I don’t know where other readers get that). The symbolism of the shark and his aspect is also important and easily missed. There is a lot here if you care to experience the depth. And if you don’t, it’s a great hardcore story on the surface. Slipway Grey is a fast, fun, and brutal read with a poignant underlying depth. It’s a lot of story you can enjoy on whatever level you choose, but extreme horror and slasher fans will love this tribute piece for its original presentation of classic themes. It’s a 5-star, shelf-worthy, must-read.

No Guilt of Bloodshed is a hardcore Splatter Western by John Baltisberger and the next installment in the Splatter Western books from Death’s Head Press. Jewish lore meets the bloody old West in this brutal story of demons, violence, sex, and severed body parts. But the extreme content and graphic presentation are an integral part of an engrossing and solid story. Baltisberger takes you on an action-packed and gut-clenching ride as antihero Malechai chases down evil with some unlikely companions you gotta love in spite of it all. The characters are vibrant, the dialogue is clever, the sex is steamy, and the action brutal. You never know what is going to happen next here. The unpredictability keeps the tension high, your insides tight, and your fingers turning the page. Baltisberger’s wordsmithing is poignant and compelling. No Guilt of Bloodshed is extreme horror at its finest and everything a Splatter Western should be. And seriously, that cover is amazing. This is a highly recommended read for discerning extreme horror aficionados.

Earworm by Aaron Thomas Milstead is a story that defies the boundaries of horror subgenre labels. It’s a story with heart and soul, horrors and humor, a bizarro-cosmic-sci-fi-psychological horror tale unlike any other. The synopsis simply doesn’t do it justice, nor does the creative cover, though the cover is also wonderfully symbolic and appropriate. Milstead’s characters are vivid, engaging, and supremely entertaining—all of them, even the minor ones―and the character interaction is everything. Riley is a regular guy with real world problems who gets thrust into a bizarre situation, and his uncertainty at times makes him very relatable. Bogart is a bit enigmatic, as he should be, but he will still make you both laugh and curse. And the dynamic between those two characters is brilliant. The story itself is a wild ride, so hang on to your knickers. The combination of horror and humor and social mirroring can make your head spin. But no detail is unimportant; things circle back around when you least expect it. Most importantly, the story is entertaining, suspenseful, unpredictable, a real page-turner. The plot is spectacular and the storytelling fantastic. Earworm is a complex tale that will make you laugh and snicker, cringe and scowl, gasp and exclaim out loud. It’s a story with something to say and a highly recommended read.

The Horror at Pleasant Brook by Kevin Lucia is relentlessly dark and driving. It’s a phenomenal story, and I found myself thoroughly engrossed in it. Lucia’s character diversity is impressive, and the characters themselves are vivid and believable. They quickly come to life, becoming real people you feel for, feel with, like or dislike or want to smack upside the head. This evocative characterization is one factor in making the story so immersive. Another factor is Kevin Lucia’s storytelling. I really enjoy his writing style; it is itself immersive. His classic and classical style use of parenthetical elements to create depth with brevity deserves a round of applause. As a reader, I enjoy the poignance. As an editor, I find it brilliantly done. And, of course, the other factor in The Horror at Pleasant Brook being immersive is that it’s an incredible story. A rising evil at Halloween is a classic theme (one I personally love), but Kevin’s take on it is uniquely his, as is his telling of it. The suspense and tension and unpredictable twists will keep you reading in spite of whatever else life demands—then keep you up at night pondering the brazen tale, the subtleties, the characters even, and whether or not a night light is in order. The Horror at Pleasant Brook is a gripping, gut-twisting, relentlessly dark story told with masterful skill. It’s a fantastic Halloween read and a highly recommended and shelf-worthy book in general. I loved it.