The Damage Done by Tony Tremblay

 Lured by a prank phone call to a local park, Choi Lee, a Korean high school student living in New Hampshire, is unwittingly pushed to her breaking point. Since she was little, Choi’s parents have instilled in her a need to check her emotions, emphasizing that the damage done if she lost control would be catastrophic. With that phone call, Choi, her boyfriend, and her classmates will discover just how catastrophic after Choi is provoked to the point of no return.

Everyone in the park—the guilty, the innocent, the bystanders—they all die.

Inspecting the bodies littering the grass, Captain Pendleton, new to the Goffstown Police Force, walks the grounds of Barnard Park. His men are calling this event a microburst, but Pendleton had never seen a microburst decapitate, flatten, or twist a body inside out such as this. While at the park, he receives more unsettling news. There is a fatal incident at the local tavern with several people unconscious and at least two dead. Arriving at the tavern, Pendleton wonders if things could get any worse. It turns out they can. His men discover more bodies in a house next door to the tavern that a Korean family owns. The only survivor – a young girl named Choi, who has been shot in the head.

In the coming days, the gruesome deaths pile up.

Captain Pendleton’s investigation leads him to the owner of a local pawnshop. Together, they attempt to piece together Choi’s involvement with the deaths in the park, her home, and at the restaurant. However, Pendleton and the pawnshop owner are dealing with unfamiliar forces, and Choi’s ties to the supernatural and Korean folklore test the resolve and sanity of both men. It was Choi who initiated the events that led to the death of so many townspeople, and she is the key to stopping more.

The thing is, Choi is technically alive, but her brain is dead.

Choi and her parents were whisked to the US under mysterious circumstances.

They have settled in New Hampshire where Choi is attending high school and trying to fit in. But she is not like the other kids and it is not because she is Korean.

Too bad the "mean girls" didn't know that before they decided to pick on her.

Terrible things happen any time Choi is angry or frightened. This time, a cruel prank has pushed her too far.

Characters I recognized from a previous novel "The Moore House" will reunite in an attempt to stop the death toll from climbing, but even they are not immune to the supernatural influence that can turn even the kindest people into sadistic monsters.

The Damage Done combines Korean folklore with gruesome body horror in a fast-paced read that pulled me in from the brutal opening to the heart-wrenching climax. I feel as if the author tied me to a pendulum where I swung nervously back and forth, one minute being afraid for the characters and the next being afraid of them.

5 out of 5 stars

I received an advance copy courtesy of the author.

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About the author

PsychoActive: Transformative Horror Novellas

 

Unleash the transformative power of horror with Transformative Horror Novellas, a chilling anthology that delves into the darkest recesses of the human psyche.

“Love is a Monstrous Death” by Ryan C. Thomas & Anthony The residents of Sunshine Spires, a dilapidated apartment building, are thrust into a nightmarish Valentine's Day party where survival means confronting sexually-charged parasites, mutated neighbors, and a relentless middle-manager.

“The Secret Eater” by Cody An Alaskan farming family discovers an addictive substance that triggers a catastrophic metamorphosis in their town, unleashing unspeakable dreams and bodily transformations.

“Black Rings” by Ed Kurtz follows an aspiring musician's quest to find her missing sister in a Connecticut red-light district, only to stumble upon a cryptic conspiracy lurking beneath the surface of a strip club and an hourly motel.

Discover the transformative horror of PsychoActive and embark on a journey through twisted narratives and spine-chilling suspense. Fans of Lovecraftian horror and dark fantasy will be captivated by these terrifying tales of metamorphosis and madness.

Dark Tide 16 will be published next week and I enjoyed my early copy. 

Psychoactive contains three grisly novellas in one gruesome book.

In Love is a Monstrous Death A dishonorably discharged veteran who enjoyed killing just a tad more than normal, along with other residents of an apartment building. take part in an experiment on how to love your enemy, If you're into body horror you'll love this one. 

Next up, a farming family finds that secrets are sometimes better kept when they unleash their special wine after their father dies in The Secret Eater. Body horror and folk horror combined made this one my favorite.

A young woman goes above and beyond to discover what happened to her missing sister in Black Rings. What she uncovers is an eldritch horror she may not escape from.

If you like your horror on the brutal and bloodthirsty side this is for you.

My thanks to Crystal Lake Publishing 

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The Haunted States of America by Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI)

 

Fifty two different stories. Fifty two different Authors. Endless fright for all ages.

Every state has an urban legend that evokes fear and curiosity in equal parts, and we've chronicled all of these logic-defying horrors here in the Haunted States of America anthology.

From the Jersey Devil to La Llorona, each story included introduces a new chill inducing, stomach churning monster, spectre, or poltergeist certain to keep you up at night. A broad ranging collection of authors, including seasoned veterans and some first timers making a fright-tastic debut, have all united to unearth the scariest lore from each state in the US, as well as D.C. and Puerto Rico. Make sure to strap in for this spooky cross country tour, but be extra careful not to let any of these terrors follow you home.

A perfect summer read for anyone who enjoys spooky thrills with milder chills.

These 52 short stories span the country with a haunting tale for each state. 

I had several favorites, but it was especially fun to read the story about my own state with local landmarks that I recognize. I think young readers will get a kick out of reading a spooky tale set in their own state too.

Most are local legends and ghost stories. I was especially delighted to read the vampire story which stood out among so many ghosts.

The target audience for this collection would be ages 8 to 12 but I know plenty of adults who still enjoy Goosebumps so I don't think there needs to be any cut off age.

My thanks to Godwin Books

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Killed By Death by Matthew Weber

 

Killed By Death 

These thirteen stories have appeared elsewhere over a span of ten years but now combine for a roller coaster of white-knuckle horror, featuring backwoods killers, murderous ghosts, otherworldly curses, and beasts that stalk the forest. You'll get madmen on the loose and tales from the outer limits, so hunker down in your storm shelter. Things are going to get hairy.

In "Men of Their Word," some things are best kept in the family — like vengeance.

The new waitress in town meets a local legend in the flesh during the "Incident at the Buttered Biscuit."

There's something weird down at the old fishing hole in "Dammit, Mavis."

Jaylen's new classmate has a magical talent that just might save their hide in "Let 'Em Have It."

..These are just a few of the most terrible things in Matthew Weber's Killed By Death!

Ghosts, curses, mutants, and clout-chasing psycho killers made for a tantalizing read in Matthew Weber's short story collection, Killed By Death.

Every story was a hit with me and I can't remember the last time that happened.

These dark tales have no happily-ever-after endings unless you count brutal vengeance, which for me, was a satisfying conclusion to several stories. In contrast, others tested my preconceived notions of who the bad guy really was with clever twists that shocked and appalled this reader in all the right ways.

I'm not very good with content warnings because not much bothers me. The few that I can think of that readers should be aware of here are child deaths, animal deaths, and a school shooting. As the title suggests, you will find multiple deaths here.

I was equal parts dismayed, horrified, and entertained by this collection. I hope the author will consider writing a second volume because he has a talent for short stories that few possess.

5 out of 5 stars

My thanks to Pint Bottle Press

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More books by this author

So Thirsty by Rachel Harrison

 A woman must learn to take life by the throat after a night out leads to irrevocable changes in this juicy, thrilling novel from the USA Today bestselling author of Such Sharp Teeth and Black Sheep.Sloane Parker is dreading her birthday. She doesn’t need a reminder she’s getting older, or that she’s feeling indifferent about her own life. Her husband surprises her with a birthday-weekend getaway—not with him, but with Sloane’s longtime best friend, troublemaker extraordinaire Naomi. Sloane anticipates a weekend of wine tastings and cozy robes and strategic avoidance of issues she’d rather not confront, like her husband’s repeated infidelity.  But when they arrive at their rental cottage, it becomes clear Naomi has something else in mind. She wants Sloane to stop letting things happen to her, for Sloane to really live. So Naomi orchestrates a wild night out with a group of mysterious strangers, only for it to take a horrifying turn that changes Sloane’s and Naomi’s lives literally forever. The friends are forced to come to terms with some pretty eternal consequences in this bloody, seductive novel about how it’s never too late to find satisfaction, even though it might taste different than expected.

 Sloane is dissatisfied with her mundane life, but she also feels safe in it. She hates surprises and doesn't like risks. She kids herself that she has forgiven her cheating husband but somewhere in the back of her mind she knows he won't change. She stays with him more from a fear of leaving than any sense of trust or love. When he surprises her with a long weekend getaway without him she is not that keen to go. Did he set this up so she could spend time with her best friend Naomi or did he just want her out of the house? The doorbell camera app on her phone has answers to that.

Naomi's life is anything but mundane but she too has grown dissatisfied with her relationship, work, and constant travel. What once seemed exciting is just exhausting now. When Naomi talks Sloane into partying with a group of strangers to celebrate her birthday, neither of them will ever be able to return to their old tedious ways of life.

So Thirsty is a vampire novel that will likely appeal to fans of True Blood and the Charlaine Harris books that launched Sookie off the page and onto the screen.

Themes of friendship and loyalty interspersed with domestic drama and lots of bloodshed kept me hooked on the story. 

I could relate to Sloane's feeling of being unseen as a woman getting older, no longer viewed as someone who matters, while the horror fan in me was enjoying the creepy vibe and carnage.

My thanks to Berkley Publishing 

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You Like It Darker by Stephen King

“You like it darker? Fine, so do I,” writes Stephen King in the afterword to this magnificent new collection of twelve stories that delve into the darker part of life—both metaphorical and literal. King has, for half a century, been a master of the form, and these stories, about fate, mortality, luck, and the folds in reality where anything can happen, are as rich and riveting as his novels, both weighty in theme and a huge pleasure to read. King writes to feel “the exhilaration of leaving ordinary day-to-day life behind,” and in You Like It Darker, readers will feel that exhilaration too, again and again.

“Two Talented Bastids” explores the long-hidden secret of how the eponymous gentlemen got their skills. In “Danny Coughlin’s Bad Dream,” a brief and unprecedented psychic flash upends dozens of lives, Danny’s most catastrophically. In “Rattlesnakes,” a sequel to Cujo, a grieving widower travels to Florida for respite and instead receives an unexpected inheritance—with major strings attached. In “The Dreamers,” a taciturn Vietnam vet answers a job ad and learns that there are some corners of the universe best left unexplored. “The Answer Man” asks if prescience is good luck or bad and reminds us that a life marked by unbearable tragedy can still be meaningful.

King’s ability to surprise, amaze, and bring us both terror and solace remains unsurpassed. Each of these stories holds its own thrills, joys, and mysteries; each feels iconic. You like it darker? You got it.

Darker is a subjective term and this book shows that the author's definition is not what I was thinking of when I pre-ordered this book. Even a 100-watt bulb is darker than a 150-watt bulb but you would not need a flashlight to see in it. 

The first story was not at all what I consider dark. It dragged on to tell the tale of how an author who was getting nowhere suddenly became a sensation in middle age. It bored me and some of the references thrown in did not seem to fit the time period the story was set in. I'm almost positive there was no Judge Judy show in those days. 

Thankfully, things took a darker turn after that for at least a few of the stories, although you may have read some of them in previous publications. I had not, so the second and third stories were new to me. They were more along the lines of what I was hoping for. Short, dark, and unsettling.

The fourth story about a man who has a vivid nightmare that leads him to discover the body of a murder victim dragged a little in spots and seemed to stretch more towards novella length. I think if a movie is made from this book as they so often are, this will be the story chosen for it.

My absolute favorites were On Slide Inn Road about an uncomfortable family road trip that goes badly on the way to see a dying relative. 

And Rattlesnakes, which was a novella length sequel to Cujo. If you ever wondered what became of Vic and Donna after that poor rabid dog entered their lives here are the answers. This is the story that deserves a movie but since the original book ended so differently from the film version, I wonder if that could work.

The rest was a mixed bag that reminded me why I no longer automatically buy every new Stephen King book. When I saw the title I thought this would be like his Full Dark No Stars but darker. It wasn't.

While I enjoyed much of this book, Stephen King has written many that are darker.

3 out of 5 stars.