Dreadful – Caitlin Rozakis

Amnesia’s never fun but it’s even worse when you come to in the lab of a Dread Lord sans eyebrows and there’s someone at the door. Imagine your horror when you discover that the Big Bad is you!

“It’s a pleasure to watch you work, my lord. The way you have of targeting someone’s deepest insecurities and just … eviscerating them. Verbally. Before you eviscerate them. It’s masterful.”

Gavrax has interesting taste in decor, questionable fashion choices and a princess locked in the dungeon. Every Dread Lord’s castle needs a dungeon, after all.

Gav has questions. Like, why is there a princess locked in the dungeon? Who chose these horrendous clothes? What happened to his eyebrows? And who is he if he doesn’t have his memories?

This is one of those books I knew I’d love. I was so convinced that I preordered a signed special edition when I’d only read a chapter.

The struggle of trying to figure out who you are when you’re weighed down by other people’s expectations has a whole other layer when you’re the villain.

“Do you think there’s a point where someone is just … irredeemably evil?”

I loved watching Gav navigate this for himself while encountering huggable squid, goblins that would prefer not to be BBQ’ed –

How did he possibly keep the castle running if he kept executing the staff?

– and the ever present threat of garlic breath.

Gav may have had a complexity I wasn’t expecting (and loved – I loved this about him) but it was the princess who stole the show for me. I’m not usually one for damsels in distress but it turns out I absolutely adore damsels who aren’t quite as distressed as advertised.

Which reminds me. Not that I ever planned on being all ‘yay, false advertising!’ but yay, false advertising! This book is not Dreadful after all. There are characters of the mwa-ha-ha variety planning deeds most dastardly. There are some ‘did you choose that outfit with your eyes closed?’ moments. The dreadfulness, though? It’s fairly limited to the menu. Sorry, Orla. You know I love you.

Bonus content: If you sign up to the author’s newsletter, you’ll get a copy of Here Comes the New Boss, Same as the Old Boss, a story that’s a prequel to Dreadful. It contains some spoilery bits so it’s probably best if you read the book first.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Titan Books for the opportunity to read this book.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Once Upon a Blurb

It’s bad enough waking up in a half-destroyed evil wizard’s workshop with no eyebrows, no memories, and no idea how long you have before the Dread Lord Whomever shows up to murder you horribly and then turn your skull into a goblet or something.

It’s a lot worse when you realise that Dread Lord Whomever is… you.

Gav isn’t really sure how he ended up with a castle full of goblins, or why he has a princess locked in a cell. All he can do is play along with his own evil plan in hopes of getting his memories back before he gets himself killed. 

But as he realises that nothing – from the incredibly tasteless cloak adorned with flames to the aforementioned princess – is quite what it seems, Gav must face up to all the things the Dread Lord Gavrax has done. And he’ll have to answer the hardest question of all – who does he want to be?

A high fantasy farce featuring killer moat squid, toxic masculinity, an evil wizard convocation, and a garlic festival. All at once. Dread Lord Gavrax has had better weeks.

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Cover Reveal: The Way Up is Death – Dan Hanks

I am absolutely thrilled to be part of the cover reveal for The Way Up is Death by Dan Hanks.

I usually try not to let my desperation show quite as much as this but I desperately need this book in my life. Why?

I still get waves of nostalgia for Swashbucklers (review here), even though technically it was Cisco’s trip down memory lane, not mine.

My introduction to this book’s existence was when the author described it on Twitter as “Lost meets Squid Game meets the Poseidon Adventure meets haunted houses meets some trees.” He said that in February. I’ve needed this book in my life since February!

Then, there’s the blurb…

When a mysterious tower appears in the skies over England, thirteen strangers are pulled from their lives to stand before it as a countdown begins. Above the doorway is one word: ASCEND.

As a grieving teacher, a reclusive artist, and a narcissistic celebrity children’s author lead the others in trying to understand why they’ve been chosen and what the tower is, it soon becomes clear the only way out of this for everyone… is up.

And so begins a race to the top, through sinking ships, haunted houses and other waking nightmares, as the group fights to hold onto its humanity, while the twisted horror of why they’re here grows ever more apparent – and death stalks their every move.

You definitely should be convinced this is the book for you by now. If you have any niggling doubts whatsoever, check out the cover!

The Way Up is Death cover image

Get ready to ascend with me!

The Way Up is Death will be published by Angry Robot on 28 January 2025, in Paperback and eBook.

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Dark Lord Davi #1: How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying – Django Wexler

Davi’s got attitude. But so would you if you’d done this over 230 times before and it ended with you being skewered or dissected or [insert your favourite manner of death here]. Every. Single. Time.

This time Davi’s trying something different. If you can’t beat them, become them?

“Hello, my friends! I am the next Dark Lord! Will you join me?”

I’m a big fan of time loops so I loved watching Davi try and fail over and over until she didn’t.

What I’m not a big fan of are books where the characters walk for a very long time, arrive at a destination, stay there for a bit for some action/drama, then walk some more. This meant there were entire chapters where, no matter who I met or what happened, my brain was on an ‘are we there yet?’ loop. My brain came back online once everyone stopped walking.

When I first read the blurb and decided that this was the book for me, I didn’t realise it was the first in a duology. This means you’re not getting all of the answers at the end of this book, or really any of the big ones. I enjoyed the end enough to want to keep reading, though.

I’m usually all for footnotes in novels and I was here too for a while. I continued to read them but they didn’t scream Bonus Content as much as I’d hoped.

What this book did scream was that the female main character was written by a man. I’m all for characters embracing their sexuality but Davi’s hypersexuality ended up making her feel more like a caricature than someone I could relate to.

Although the world literally revolves around Davi, I didn’t love her. Who I did love was Droff, a stone-eater who enjoys nothing more than counting.

I’m pretty sure I’ll end up being there for the second book. I’m hoping for more answers, less walking and more conversations with Droff.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Orbit, an imprint of Little, Brown Book Group, for the opportunity to read this book.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

Once Upon a Blurb

Davi has done this all before. She’s tried to be the hero and take down the all-powerful Dark Lord. A hundred times she’s rallied humanity and made the final charge. But the time loop always gets her in the end. Sometimes she’s killed quickly. Sometimes it takes a while. But she’s been defeated every time.

This time? She’s done being the hero and done being stuck in this endless time loop. If the Dark Lord always wins, then maybe that’s who she needs to be. It’s Davi’s turn to play on the winning side. 

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When I Look at the Sky, All I See Are Stars – Steve Stred

It takes a lot to disturb me. I’m disturbed. And that was from reading the author’s note before the first chapter. Besides disturbing me, it also made me more keen than ever to read the Father of Lies trilogy. Because disturbing me definitely doesn’t equate to stopping me coming back for more.

This is one of those books where I would recommend you read the content warnings. I’ll be quoting them at the end of my review. Had I read them first, I probably would have baulked at the “scenes depicting sex and sex acts”. Even now, my brain is interjecting, ‘Or whatever the hell that was!’

Despite wanting to scrub those images from my mind, I enjoyed this read. Okay, maybe I shouldn’t say enjoyed. Do you enjoy depravity and gore? Do you admit it if you do?

Psychologist Dr Rachel Hoggendorf has a new patient, David. If you believe him, though, he hasn’t been new for a long time. Not for centuries, in fact.

“He’s an interesting case.”

It’s not clear when Rachel meets David but I assume it was a few decades ago because Dissociative Identity Disorder is still known as Multiple Personality Disorder. David’s story is … let’s go with disturbing.

No matter how ick, ew, I’m not sure I want this image permanently etched in my brain thank you very much, the urge to keep reading won. If this book had been written by pretty much anyone else, I wouldn’t have even ventured past the content warnings, but it’s a Steve Stred book.

Steve’s taken me hiking in the Canadian wilderness. He introduced me to Bruiser. I’m so many books behind but he’s already cemented his place in my must read list. Even when it’s uncomfortable. Especially when it’s uncomfortable.

This book is absolutely worth all the stars. For the ick. For the what the fuck did I just read. For the disturbance.

Also, that cover is incredible! I would have read this book even if it wasn’t a Steve Stred book.

“Be careful. If it gets out … just be careful.”

Thank you so much to NetGalley and DarkLit Press for the opportunity to read this novella.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Once Upon a Blurb

Dr. Rachel Hoggendorf has seen it all. An accomplished psychiatrist, she’s always prided herself on connecting to the patients who’ve been brought to the facility, no matter how difficult or closed-off they are. That is, until David arrives.

At first, she listens to what David has to say. How he claims to be four hundred years old and possessed by a demon. She diagnoses him as having multiple personalities and approaches his treatment as such.

But as their time together continues, David begins to share details he shouldn’t know and begins to lash out violently. When Rachel brings in her colleague Dr. Dravendash, David’s behaviour escalates and it’s not long before they begin to wonder if David just might be telling the truth. That he’s possessed by a demonic presence… and it wants out.

A visceral, edge of your seat novella, When I Look to the Sky, All I See Are Stars is everything you’d expect from 2x Splatterpunk nominated author Steve Stred. Frantic pacing, hooves and horns and the growing dread that what lies beyond this plane is a land filled with ash and a place we never want to visit.

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Pavlo Gets the Grumps – Natalia Shaloshvili

Pavlo’s day looks a lot like my week. Someone suggests doing something fun, something we’d usually enjoy, and our response is essentially ‘Ugh!’ We’ve got the grumps and nothing you do or say is going to make any difference. Or is it?

Mama has plenty of good suggestions but there’s always a reason to not wanna. Honestly, why would you want to go to the park when “the slide is too SLIDEY!”

Unperturbed, Mama (who is vying for sainthood at this point) finally convinces Pavlo to leave the house. Pavlo learns that his family and friends will still be there for him when he’s having a bad day and that maybe, just maybe, bad days don’t have to last all day.

The illustrations are cute and clearly show Pavlo’s emotions.

Grumpy Pavlo

Be on the lookout for a bird that really wants ice cream and a frog that enjoys reading.

Thank you so much to Walker Books for the opportunity to read this picture book.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Once Upon a Blurb

A book-shaped hug that we all need on a day when everything just feels BLAH.

Pavlo does not feel like going to the park. Not today.
He does not want to go swimming.
He even says no to the cinema.
What’s going on, Pavlo?
Pavlo’s got the grumps.

This comforting picture book takes a look at bad days and big emotions, and reminds us that we all have grumpy days sometimes but no feeling lasts forever.

Natalia Shaloshvili’s expressive illustrations are sad and funny at the same time, reassuring little ones that we are loved by our family and friends even when we’re not our happiest selves.

Pavlo guides young children on their emotional learning journey and shows how joy is always just around the corner.

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Stitch – Pádraig Kenny

Illustrations – Steve McCarthy

Stitch didn’t come first. Henry Oaf, his best friend, did. They live in a castle with the Professor, although they haven’t seen him for a while. He asked not to be disturbed while he was resting. That was 328 days ago.

Now Professor Giles Hardacre and his assistant, Alice, have arrived at the castle and things will never be the same.

Stitch, a wannabe explorer who has never left the garden, is learning what he’s made of. Literally and figuratively.

“It doesn’t matter what you’re made from, it doesn’t matter where you came from, all that matters is that you’re a good person.”

Stitch’s story is one of loss and grief but it’s also about self discovery and standing up for what is right, even when it’s difficult. Stitch is an absolute sweetheart.

Steve McCarthy’s cover image is what drew me to this book in the first place, with its Tim Burton vibes and bats. I love the bats pictured throughout this book. The chapter heading illustrations are relevant to the chapter’s content and often mean more once you understand the context.

Even if you’ve never read Frankenstein, pop culture osmosis has likely done its thing, so you’ll be both expecting and dreading the townsfolk bearing torches scene. You’ll desperately hope it doesn’t happen, though, because Stitch is the kind of character that you want to throw yourself in front of the flames for.

He wears his heart on his sleeve, he’s loyal to his friends and he is so adorably innocent. The world is new to him and everything he sees is a marvel. He makes you want to see through his eyes.

“I’ll always be your friend, Stitch. Of that you can be certain. Henry Oaf and Stitch. Friends for ever.”

Thank you so much to Walker Books for the opportunity to read this book.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Once Upon a Blurb

Stitch is not a monster – he’s a creation.

He and his friend Henry Oaf were brought to life by the genius Professor Hardacre, and have spent all their days in a castle deep in the woods, far from humankind. But when the Professor dies and his pompous nephew comes to take over the laboratory, they soon find out that his sights are set not on scientific discovery, but personal glory. And Henry is his next experiment.

Can Stitch and Henry escape his clutches and make their way in a world they were never built for – and may never be ready for them?

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Knights and Bikes #3: Wheels of Legend – Gabrielle Kent

Illustrations – Rex Crowle & Luke Newell

This is the third book in a series that I’d never heard of. The series is based on a video game that I’d never heard of. I’m old, okay?

I knew neither of these things before I started reading. I’d read the blurb and thought it sounded like fun. Now I can tell you that this is a fun book and you don’t need to have read any of the other books in the series or played the video game to enjoy it. I’m helpful like that.

Depending on your perspective, this book will either introduce you to or reacquaint you with the four members of the Penfurzy Rebel Bicycle Club. Best friends Demelza and Nessa are joined by Demelza’s honky pet goose, aptly named Captain Honkers. Together they solve mysteries.

Penfurzy Rebel Bicycle Club

But wait, I hear you say. You said there were four members but you’ve only told us about three. Well spotted.

The fourth member is my favourite character, Sir Calenick, whose body may very well have a mind of its own. The mystery I most want to solve is how his body functions just as well without his head attached. His pickled head. I need to read the other two books so I can spend more time with this knight and learn his backstory.

But for now we’re here to solve a mystery.

‘Penfurzy, and maybe the world, depends on us!’

It’s been almost five months since their last big mystery so this one is overdue. Fortunately, a fair has just arrived that only comes to Penfurzy once every ten years.

‘Mark my words, there’s strange goings on whenever they comes to Penfurzy.’

A ghost train, toffee apples and a mystery to solve? I knew I was going to like this book. There’s also a woman with a powerful voice, snot goblins and a tale of long lost love.

Here to help solve the mystery is Jack, a new friend. You may be familiar with one of his ancestors. I’ve known them since I was a kid and, as we’ve already established, I’m old.

Kid me would have loved this book but definitely would have found the video game first. And read the books in the correct order. They also wouldn’t have had to worry about spoilers. Old me is busy being obsessed with the boombox, complete with cassette tape!

Rex Crowle and Luke Newell’s illustrations bring the action to life. The characters are expressive, with the possible exception of my favourite character. But if you’re either a pickled head or a body with no head attached most of the time, then your opportunities for a wide range of emotions are kind of limited.

The illustrations line up well with the game. I know because I checked. I now want to play the game. I’m also going to be on the lookout for the first two books.

Thank you so much to Walker Books for the opportunity to read this book.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Once Upon a Blurb

A new mystery has rolled onto Penfurzy island and the Rebel Bicycle Club are ready to investigate! Nessa, Demelza and Captain Honkers set off to explore a travelling fun-fair when things begin to get strange. With new friends and a new legend to uncover, the best friends do what they do best: SAVE THE DAY FROM A FATE WORSE THAN HOMEWORK. A mysterious adventure with twists, turns and gross-out caravan invaders guaranteed to make you laugh!

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When Among Crows – Veronica Roth

A man seeking redemption that he doesn’t deserve. Monsters that would be justified in taking their pound of flesh. An unlikely trio bound by pain and blood. What’s not to love?!

The Baba Jaga lured me here but I stayed for the curse, the longing and the body horror. Fear has never smelled so sweet.

This story works perfectly as a novella. I loved the story so much, though, that I want more. I loved all of the characters but I want to follow Dymitr for an entire series.

The less you know about this one going in the better. The blurb probably even gives away too much.

I devoured this in one sitting and it might have only been a couple of weeks since I read it but I am so ready to dive back in again.

“I know what haunts you.”

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Titan Books for the opportunity to read this novella.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Once Upon a Blurb

We bear the sword, and we bear the pain of the sword.

Pain is Dymitr’s calling. His family is one in a long line of hunters who sacrifice their souls to slay monsters. Now he’s tasked with a deadly mission: find the legendary witch Baba Jaga. To reach her, Dymitr must ally with the ones he’s sworn to kill.

Pain is Ala’s inheritance. A fear-eating zmora with little left to lose, Ala awaits death from the curse she carries. When Dymitr offers her a cure in exchange for her help, she has no choice but to agree.

Together they must fight against time and the wrath of the Chicago underworld. But Dymitr’s secrets — and his true motives — may be the thing that actually destroys them.

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The House That Horror Built – Christina Henry

I can’t imagine a day where I’ll reach my haunted house story limit. There’s something about a menacing presence causing havoc in the place that’s supposed to be safe, one where the harsh realities of the world aren’t supposed to intrude, that never gets old.

This haunting introduces us to Harry, a single mother with the weight of the world on her shoulders. She’s just gotten a new job cleaning the home of a reclusive horror movie director, a man whose work Harry is a fan of.

That door was always locked, and it wasn’t her job to be curious about it.

This is a story where the characters are as haunted as the house. It’s more character driven than I was expecting and I surprised myself by enjoying this, even when it seemed to be taking away from the haunting I picked up the book to experience.

I liked Harry, who’s doing her best to keep her head above water. Her love for her son, Gabe, and her efforts to give him a better life endeared her to me. Gabe, an absolute sweetheart, oftentimes seemed too good to be true but I had a soft spot for him as well. Mr Castillo, Harry’s employer and a man with a troubled past, was the one I kept wanting to know more about.

Much of the book unfolded as I expected it to but I definitely wasn’t right about everything. There’s the expected strange noises and other spooky goings on scattered throughout the book but it isn’t until near the end that things really heat up.

I had hoped for more scares but I have a pretty high threshold for horror so it takes a lot to rattle me. This isn’t my favourite haunted house book but it was a fun read.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Titan Books for the opportunity to read this book.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Once Upon a Blurb

Single mum Harry Adams has always loved horror movies, so when she’s offered a job cleaning for revered horror director Javier Castillo, she leaps at the chance. His forbidding Chicago mansion, Bright Horses, is filled from top to bottom with terrifying props and costumes, as well as glittering awards from his decades-long career making films that thrilled audiences and dominated the box office — until family tragedy and scandal forced him to vanish from the industry.

Javier values discretion, so Harry tries to clean the house immaculately and keep her head down — she needs the money from this job to support her son. But then she starts hearing noises from behind a locked door. Noises that sound remarkably like a human voice calling for help, though Javier lives alone and never has visitors. Harry knows that not asking questions is a vital part of keeping her job, but she soon finds that the house — and her enigmatic boss — have secrets she can’t ignore…

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Beyond the Bounds of Infinity – Vaughn A. Jackson & Stephanie Pearre (editors)

I have a weird relationship with anthologies. I usually find my way to them because they include a story by an author I love that I can’t find anywhere else. If I’m lucky, I find another couple of stories to enjoy, then drag myself through the rest. By the end, I decide it wasn’t worth the effort. Until the next time a favourite author is included in one.

It’s Mary SanGiovanni’s fault that I’m here. I’ve loved everything I’ve ever read of hers and couldn’t pass up the opportunity to read something new. It didn’t surprise me that I loved her contribution to this anthology. What did surprise me was that I didn’t find a bad one in the bunch!

Sure, I enjoyed some more than others but I didn’t dislike any! I don’t know if that’s ever happened before. It was actually difficult to pick my favourites. In the order you’ll find them in the book because they’re all so different and I can’t rank them…

Fractures of Her Reflection by Amanda Headlee

If Dava doesn’t tap her bedroom door three times, bad things will happen. Her therapist doesn’t understand this.

The horror when people with preconceived ideas don’t trust your judgement about what your reality looks like. When professionals believe that their expert opinion trumps your lived experience. When validation comes at a cost.

“Does this have something to do with awakening?”

Effigies of Monstrous Things by Pedro Iniguez

Mario just wants his kids to be able to live in a home without mould. It’s clear his landlord isn’t going to fix the problem so Mario has decided to investigate for himself.

The horror when, no matter how hard you try, you’re stuck in a loop. Of being a single parent and doing your very best but not being able to get ahead. The illusion of safety. The injustice when people in authority abuse their power.

“The sculpture is nigh complete…”

Cracks by Mary SanGiovanni

Billy shows his classmates the rock he found in the woods. It’s a pretty rock. His classmates also like looking at the rock.

The horror of being the only one who can truly see what’s going on, understanding the gravity of it and knowing that the someone who needs to do something about it is you.

“Don’t make it harder to play the games.”

I am so glad I read this anthology. I have renewed hope for the ones my favourite authors will make me read in the future.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Raw Dog Screaming Press for the opportunity to read this anthology.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Once Upon a Blurb

Welcome to a world of horror viewed through a kaleidoscope lens. Embark on a journey to untangle the writhing tendrils of human terror in a dimension where the possible and impossible blend; an unstable realm where comfort can be found in the coldest pits, and dark gods feast upon the sweetest suffering, where infernal sounds birth silent letters that drift along midnight shores and the unexplained lurks beneath crumbling urban structures. Step over the edge of what you think you know, and find yourself … Beyond the Bounds of Infinity!

Featuring stories by L. Marie Wood, S.A. Cosby, Jessica McHugh, and Mary SanGiovanni alongside newer voices like Cassius Kilroy, Jessica L. Sparrow, and Vicky Velvet, Beyond the Bounds of Infinity offers a collection of weird fiction and cosmic horror stories that are diverse down to the cellular level. From Taíno folk horror to the horror of identity in a world that just doesn’t understand, from cozy to apocalyptic, and everything in between, let these authors show you what fear really is, and what it means to them.

Are you brave enough to step into the madness that awaits within these pages?

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