Mindy's Book Journey

  Title: Screams from the Void Author: Anne Tibbets Genre: Science Fiction/Horror Published: May 18,2021 by Flame Tree Press I received a copy for review from Flame Tree Press through NetGalley. My Thoughts: Raina is an Ensign Mechanic on the Demeter Spaceship for the United Space Corp in the year 2231. The Demeter's crew is picking up plant samples from many different planets when they discover an unknown biological creature is on board the ship. A creature is loose and is killing off the crew, but the creature is not the only monster on board. Raina must also deal with her abusive boyfriend as well.  I really enjoyed the setting of a small enclosed ship for creating a trapped claustrophobic backdrop for the horror to unfold. I also enjoyed the organization of the story. This story was told with alternating chapters where half the story is telling the story of finding out more about the creature, where it came from, its strengths and weaknesses, and how they can possible esca...

  Title: Your Turn to Suffer Author: Tim Waggoner Genre: Horror, Weird Fiction Published: Flame Tree Press on March 23, 2021 What's It About Lorelei's life is changed when she is pursued by an otherworldly cult called The Cabal. They say she has to "Confess and atone--or suffer." She has to endure unspeakable horrors as she tries to figure out how she should accomplish that before it is to late.  My Thoughts   From this synopsis you may think this will be a typical evil cult book, but that only touches the surface of what the book is about. Readers will find that this will be a strange read almost right away even though the setting seems to be in our world. Your Turn to Suffer delves into some very dark subject matter. We are talking the darkest of the dark. This book is full of imaginative yet morbid fantastical elements. These elements create vivid images in the mind. Lorelei's character is really well developed. We are given a full picture of her personality an...

  Title: If I Die Before I Wake: Tales of Nightmare Creatures (The Better Off Dead Series Volume 4) Published: February 8, 2021 by Sinister Smile Press Thank you to The Team at Sinister Smile Press for providing a copy for review. This anthology was published February 8, 2021. Overall Thoughts This was a fantastic short story anthology. The best anthology I have read so far in my life. Each story was very well written. I was impressed with how the authors could pull me in with only about 20 pages to do so. Different interesting creatures throughout made this a great reading experience. This is creature horror at its best. I would recommend checking out this anthology and all the others in the Better Off Dead Series. Thoughts on Individual Stories (Note: All these stories were very high quality. I designated the stories that resonated the most with me 5 stars.) Forward by Jeff Strand managed to be hilarious and creepy. It had me cackling out loud. 5...

Title: Fanged Dandelion Author: Eric LaRocca Published: December 31, 2020 by DEMAIN Publishing  Genre: Horror Poetry This is a wonderful short book of poetry that was written during the anxiety filled time of the pandemic lock down. This collection includes an amazing introduction by Sara Tantlinger who is also a writer of horror poetry as well as an introduction by the author himself. These 20 poems are emotional and visceral. Full of metaphors that are often organic in nature having to do with flowers. They explore the mind and harmful thoughts that can arise. I am not a seasoned poetry reader, and the meaning of the metaphors or the exact thoughts they represent wasn't always clear. What was clear was the emotions. I loved the lovely yet disturbing imagery these poems evoked. It was a beautiful and unnerving collection.     Thank you to the author and publisher for a copy for review.    Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

  Title: In Darkness, Shadows Breathe Author: Catherine Cavendish Genre: Psychological Horror Published: January 19th, 2021 by Flame Tree Press   In Darkness, Shadows Breathe by Catherine Cavendish is a psychological horror novel that follows the ghostly haunting of two women, Carol and Nessa. The first part tells Carol's story, and then we follow Nessa's story. They are tormented by an entity that sends them back to Victorian England in a hospital with a dark past. The time bending entity determined on possessing Carol and Nessa left me chilled. I love the atmosphere and setting of this novel when in Victorian times. This novel was really well written and easy to follow despite the frequent time hopping. In Darkness, Shadows Breathe is a time-bending horror novel that has plenty of chilling scenes. I recommend this novel to fans of psychological horror. Thank you to NetGalley and Flame Tree Press for the copy for review.   My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Star...

Title: The Whisper Man Author: Alex North Genre: Mystery/Thriller Published: August 20, 2019 by Celadon Books Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for providing me a copy for review. There are so many things to love about The Whisper Man by Alex North. It is a fast paced thriller involving a serial killer, Frank Carter, called the whisper man who whispers in the windows of children before he abducts them. A recent kidnapping looks like the work of the whisper man. However, Frank Carter was captured and imprisoned 20 years ago. A young boy named Jake receives warnings through an unusual and supernatural gift. Now, detectives Amanda Beck and Pete Willis have to stop the new murderer before it is too late. There is a supernatural element involved throughout the novel that works really well. The characters are well developed with flaws and backgrounds that make them very believable. There is a sense of dread and urgency throughout that makes the book hard to put down. If ...

Title: Superluminary Author: Olivia Rising Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy Published: August 1st, 2018 Previously published as two separate books: Anathema: Transition and Anathema: Escalation. Two years ago, The Pulse—a sudden shift in Earth's electromagnetic field—caused a global blackout and wiped a minute from mankind’s collective memory. This event introduced superhuman powers to our world and changed everything as we knew it. Now two young women are caught in the chaos of a changing world: Christina Chung, an antisocial misfit whose force fields are fueled by the social bonds she broke during the event of her transition. Former coke addict Sarina Baumann, whose reality-altering power forces her to abandon everything she holds dear. The girls find themselves entangled with the renegade hero Radiant and the authorities that made him. The three must find a way—and a place—to be the heroes they're destined to become. But sometimes, even the heroes fall... Goo...