Something Wicked Fall - Horror Book Review Roundup

Here are (mostly) short reviews of the horror novels I've read so far this year. Most were posted on Goodreads. My "read in 2024" list is here.

List order - most recent first

Fast read. Brutal and thrilling. This kind of "apocalypse" would rate right up there with a zombie apocalypse...probably even worse. Note: This was WAY better than Zoo by James Patterson. I couldn't even finish that one because of the cliched writing.

Wow...this book! SO good. Victor LaValle never ceases to amaze me. This one though is now my favorite of his books. There's something about the melding of horror with historical fiction...it takes real skill to pull it off. So, not just a fascinating (and bloody and horrifying) read, but interesting in its exploration of women in history, and particularly women of color. Read this book!

Reviewed on Castle Macabre - read the review here.

I am a fan of Nevill's novels. Of the ones I have read, this one is now my favorite. I love folk horror and he knows how to write it. The ball got rolling in the first 12 pages and it didn't stop until the terrifying end.

There was a passage around halfway that really spoke to the cult mentality. I could not help but draw parallels, if you get my meaning.

"There's what, seven billion of us?...Who gives a fuck? They don't. You's all going. You is, yeah?

She'd not understood much of the idiotic jabber either and thought it a half-understood version of what the bearded oaf had been told by someone else: knowledge he believed fervently that had enabled him to perform such inhuman acts upon a stranger. She'd truly entered a land of psychotics and met its crazed inhabitants."

So yes...terrifying AND insightful. I can't wait to read the next one, which for me will be Cunning Folk.

I don't know what to say. The first quarter or so, I was like "Creepy, creepy, creepy!" Arriving at the end, I can't really say how I feel. It was compelling for sure. Something kept me reading and I didn't want to put it down. But there was no payoff or true resolution at the end. Hence the three stars.

This was my kind of book. (Obviously...I finished it in less than four days.) With a premise steeped in folklore, but also an almost sci-fi vibe, I was mesmerized. Though I did figure it out, this did not deter me from enjoying it. Now I'm excited to see the film directed by one of my favorite directors, M. Night Shyamalan's daughter.

For some reason, I didn't review this one, but I loved it because I gave it five stars. This is the sequel to The Descent which is also really good. Read my review of The Descent here.

Reviewed on Castle Macabre - read the review here.

I would actually give this 3.5 stars, if it was possible. I was really enjoying it. The part with the creatures was quite frightening at times. Then he decides to go in the cave from whence they came. Idiot! That part was quite harrowing. Suddenly, it descends into the world speeding up, the sun dying, whatever else was going on (this is the part where it borders on science fiction). A lot of pages covering that period which I felt did not need to be that drawn out. But what do I know. Still, it's an impressive work in its own right. I can't deny a feeling of dread while reading parts of it.

It's so satisfying when an author's debut novel is this striking. It takes a deft hand to bring across true horror while infusing the story with emotion. Often the monsters are not some supernatural beings, but are actually people we would expect to treat us with kindness and care. The horrors these monsters inflict I think are much worse because we are expecting good and fair treatment. That being said, there are supernatural beings here. Their appearances are frightening, to say the least. With a mystery, and a twist I didn't see coming, the book is a riveting read...one you just might finish in one sitting.

Was Janz channeling Poe? I think so! This novella is a must-read if you love Gothic books/movies. I couldn't help but picture Vincent Price as the diabolically evil Count Richard Dunning. Thoroughly impressed, not only with the horrific doings, but with the authentic depiction of the time period. Nicely done!

Reread - reviewed on Castle Macabre - Read the review here.

I've always been fascinated with H.G. Wells' The Island of Doctor Moreau so when I saw that one of my favorite contemporary authors had written a reimagining, I knew I had to read it. I was not disappointed. Moreno-Garcia tells the tale from the viewpoint of Doctor Moreau's daughter, Carlota, and Montgomery (a character who is in the original story and other incarnations of it). However, Montgomery is far different from the man in the original story. He is a broken man, but he is also compassionate, and treats the hybrids with respect. I really liked his character. Carlota is also compassionate, and though not a doctor herself, she holds firm to the idea of the Hippocratic Oath...Do No Harm. She is conflicted. She loves her father, but she also feels his attitude toward the hybrids is unfair. Of course, a lot more happens in the book, but I'm not giving anything away. It's a rich and compelling retelling and I commend the author for giving the hybrids dignity and humanity, something I have not seen in other versions.

I did not think I was going to like this as much as I did. That changed very quickly. I won't say too much...I'm not big on rehashing the plot, etc. I will say that this would be a great movie. I mean seriously. It's a relatively self-contained story so I would think filmmakers wouldn't mess it up too much, but then again, we know how that usually goes.

That ending though. Wow. Excellent!

I watched the Netflix film adaptation of this when it came out in 2020. I hated it. I still wanted to read the book because I knew it would be better. It is. That being said, it is a difficult read, but something compels you to keep reading. It's not outright scary, but there are creepy moments that are quite unnerving. Incidentally, I watched the movie again...still hated it.

There were a couple of great quotes I thought I'd share.

"Forfeiting solitude, independence, is a much greater sacrifice than most of us realize. Sharing a habitat, a life, is for sure harder than being alone. In fact, coupled living seems virtually impossible, doesn't it? To find another person to spend all your life with? To age with and change with? To see every day, to respond to their moods and needs?"

"There's grace in doing the right thing, in making a human decision. We always have the choice. Every day. We all do. For as long as we live, we always have the choice. Everyone we meet in our life has the same choice to consider, over and over. We can try to ignore it, but there's only one question for us all."

I know it might be cliche to say this, but I could not put this one down. I'm a huge fan of found footage horror films and this book kind of had that element. A documentary filmmaker travels with her team to scout the location for her planned film...a village where over 60 years ago, the entire population of 900 people mysteriously disappeared. No filming at this stage so no found footage per say, but still a similar vibe. The author talks about mental illness and her characters in the foreword. The book does a great job of touching on how mentally ill people can be perceived, and how they can be treated because of their illness. In all, a solid premise for a subtle horror novel. Atmospherically creepy, with some downright scary moments.

When it comes to short story collections, I generally only read them in the horror genre. Not sure why. I guess part of it is because I feel that horror is well-suited to the medium. I credit this belief in no small way to TV series like The Ray Bradbury Theater, Twilight Zone, Tales from the Crypt, Tales from the Darkside, and movies like Creepshow, The Twilight Zone movies, Tales from the Crypt (1972), etc. Of course, I can't forget my love of Ray Bradbury's collections, especially The Martian Chronicles I read and loved as a kid (more science fiction, but horrific in its own right), and my favorite of all time, the short stories of Edgar Allan Poe.

This collection of stories, all written by black authors, is one of the best I've read. They touch on racism, civil rights, social justice, artificial intelligence, and more. Each topic is woven into mesmerizingly horrific and disturbing stories. Just the way I like my horror.

My favorites:

"Eye & Tooth" by Rebecca Roanhorse

"The Other One" by Violet Allen

"The Rider" by Tananarive Due

"Dark Home" by Nnedi Okorafor

"The Most Strongest Obeah Woman of the World" by Nalo Hopkinson

"The Norwood Trouble" by Maurice Broaddus

"An American Fable" by Chesya Burke

"Hide & Seek" by P. Djeli Clark

Damn good book! Labyrinthine. Keeps you guessing until the end. I normally do not read the next book immediately upon reading the first book, but may have to make an exception here. Maybe not right away, but soon, Hell Bent.

Not at all what I was expecting. SO damn good! You'll think you've figured it out, but you never will until the very end...when all is revealed. Be sure to read the Afterword. It made me love the book even more. Definitely a favorite read this year.

I love a good haunting story, especially when it blurs the line between "is it an actual haunting, or is the protagonist just bonkers?" A little bit of both works for me. Throw in some Beowulf, which is my favorite Old English epic, and I'm there. This is my first time reading one of Simmons' older novels. "The Terror" was my first discovery of his work (another excellent read). This is number four in his Seasons of Horror series, of which I also own book two, "Children of the Night." I will definitely be reading it sooner than later.

I'm not going to gush too much because, unless my friends have been living under a rock, everyone knows I love his books. But man, this collection of novellas...suffice it to say, every one of them winners. Each one touches on a fear I think pretty much everyone has. He sums it up pretty well in his author's note: "...they conspire to create a tapestry of mounting dread." That right there is what I love about his books. That delicious mounting dread you can only get from great horror.

What horror books have you been reading this year? Recommendations?

This post is part of...

Jonathan Janz's Children of the Dark 2: The Night Flyers - Review

The long-awaited sequel to Children of the Dark is finally here! It was worth the wait. Once again, we are gifted with creatures of our nightmares...The Children and the equally horrifying Night Flyers. Most importantly though, it's the characters, with the spotlight going to Will, the good brother and loyal friend. It's sad that he blames himself for everything that happened in Book One, and continues to do so in this book. Clearly, how can any of it be his fault? But that is what trauma can do to a person. Unfortunately, Will isn't given the opportunity to heal due to bureaucrats more worried about a cover up than his recovery. 

Janz always writes with a nod to Stephen King. Particularly, the coming-of-age stories like IT and The Body. But there is also an element of Stranger Things. The kids fighting an evil beyond anyone's imagination. In no way though is he copying those styles. He has his own unique spin on the story. Because Janz knows family, and even if this is a horrific story, the very root of the story is the importance of family. Family by blood, and those who become our family. 

If you have been on the fence about his books, I suggest you remedy that right away. Because Janz has a catalog of excellent horror for devouring. My suggestion is to start your journey with Children of the Dark, and this, its sequel.

My reviews of other Janz works:

Children of the Dark

Wolf Land

The Dark Game

Buy the book on Amazon.

Visit Jonathan's website.

The Dark Game by Jonathan Janz #Review

The story immediately reminded me of the film, "The House on Haunted Hill." The 1959 version starring the incomparable Vincent Price, not the 1999 less-than-stellar remake. A group of people are invited to a notorious house by a famous and wealthy host. The last man standing, so to speak, wins the prize. In this case, the people are writers and it's a literary contest which promises riches and accolades to the victor.

Janz has done a great job of presenting a cross section of writers. Some are arrogant, while others suffer from crippling self-doubt. They all have one thing in common though. Each of them has something to atone for from their past. Mistakes were made, often tragic mistakes, and their host has big plans based on those mistakes. I can't say much more without giving away the scary, yet satisfying details.

This one was hard to put down. Being a writer myself, I identified with some of the characters and their struggles. I also have to to thank Janz for including a nod to Jack Ketchum, and an awesome "kick in the ass" quote from him..."Fuck fear," supplemented by a character saying:

"I'm talking about writing without fear. About sitting in front of the keyboard, and saying, To hell with it, I'm going to do this, and it's not gonna be perfect, and that's fine, it doesn't have to be. But I'm not going to sit here like a cowering dog. That's a sure road to failure. Writing without fear doesn't guarantee it'll be good, but it puts you in the game."

Words to write by!

If you have not picked this up yet, what are you waiting for? Janz just keeps getting better and better. Take my word for it.

Read my reviews of Janz's other work:

Wolf Land
Children of the Dark

About The Dark Game
Ten writers are selected for a summer-long writing retreat with the most celebrated and reclusive author in the world. Their host is the legendary Roderick Wells. Handsome, enigmatic, and fiendishly talented, Wells promises to teach his pupils about writing, about magic, about the untapped potential that each of them possesses. Most of all, he plans to teach them about the darkness in their hearts. The writers think they are signing up for a chance at riches and literary prestige. But they are really entering the twisted imagination of a deranged genius, a lethal contest pitting them against one another in a struggle for their sanity and their lives. They have entered into Roderick Wells's most brilliant and horrible creation. The Dark Game. FLAME TREE PRESS is the new fiction imprint of Flame Tree Publishing. Launched in 2018 the list brings together brilliant new authors and the more established; the award winners, and exciting, original voices.

Find out more about Jonathan Janz by visiting his website. Subscribe to his newsletter here.

Children of the Dark - Review #JonathanJanz

My thoughts
In a recent blog post, Jonathan Janz spoke of Stephen King being his favorite author. Not only that, he credited King with making him a reader. Well, all that reading paid off because Janz is showing his stuff as an author, and in this book, I was very much reminded of Stephen King's work. Now mind you, I'm not saying that this book is a copycat of anything King has written. Far from it. This is a unique, page turner of a book. What reminds me of King in this book is the small town feel, the camaraderie between Will and his friends, the palpable feeling of being bullied, and the underlying feeling of dread. I'm reminded of King's The Body (off which the film, Stand By Me was based). I could easily see this book being made into a movie. It's that good.

Janz thoroughly impressed me with his werewolf novel, Wolf Land (review). He has gone even further with Children of the Dark. The prose is smart and engaging. The real winner though...the characters. These are characters we really care about. Even the supporting characters are written so we care what happens to them as well. Throw in some pretty scary monsters and quite an interesting plot twist and we have one hell of a horror novel here. Hell, even non-horror fans can get something from this book. Because it's not just about the horrors of what might be lurking in the dark. It's about growing up and learning the hard lesson that the world is not always a very nice place, whether it may be because of cruel, ignorant people, sadistic murderers, or primeval monsters.

If you have not read Jonathan Janz yet, I suggest you get busy reading. I can't wait to see what he has in store for us next.

About the book

• Print Length: 293 pages
• Publisher: Sinister Grin Press
• Publication Date: March 15, 2016

Will Burgess is used to hard knocks. Abandoned by his father, son of a drug-addicted mother, and charged with raising his six-year-old sister, Will has far more to worry about than most high school freshmen. To make matters worse, Mia Samuels, the girl of Will’s dreams, is dating his worst enemy, the most sadistic upperclassman at Shadeland High. Will’s troubles, however, are just beginning.

Because one of the nation’s most notorious criminals—the Moonlight Killer—has escaped from prison and is headed straight toward Will’s hometown. And something else is lurking in Savage Hollow, the forest surrounding Will’s rundown house. Something ancient and infinitely evil. When the worst storm of the decade descends on Shadeland, Will and his friends must confront unfathomable horrors. Everyone Will loves—his mother, his little sister, Mia, and his friends—will be threatened.

And very few of them will escape with their lives.

About the author

Jonathan Janz grew up between a dark forest and a graveyard, and in a
way, that explains everything. Brian Keene named his debut novel The Sorrows “the best horror novel of 2012.” The Library Journal deemed his follow-up, House of Skin, “reminiscent of Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House and Peter Straub’s Ghost Story.”

2013 saw the publication of his novel of vampirism and demonic possession The Darkest Lullaby, as well as his serialized horror novel Savage Species. Of Savage Species, Publishers Weekly said, “Fans of old-school splatterpunk horror–Janz cites Richard Laymon as an influence, and it shows–will find much to relish.” Jonathan’s Kindle Worlds novel Bloodshot: Kingdom of Shadows marked his first foray into the superhero/action genre.

Jack Ketchum called his vampire western Dust Devils a “Rousing-good weird western,” and his sequel to The Sorrows (Castle of Sorrows) was selected one of 2014’s top three novels by Pod of Horror. 2015 saw the release of The Nightmare Girl, which prompted Pod of Horror to call Jonathan “Horror’s Next Big Thing.” 2015 also saw the release of Wolf Land, which Publishers Weekly called “gruesome yet entertaining gorefest” with “an impressive and bloody climax.” He has also written four novellas (Exorcist Road, The Clearing of Travis Coble, Old Order, and Witching Hour Theatre) and several short stories.

His primary interests are his wonderful wife and his three amazing children, and though he realizes that every author’s wife and children are wonderful and amazing, in this case the cliché happens to be true. You can learn more about Jonathan at www.jonathanjanz.com. You can also find him on Facebook, via @jonathanjanz on Twitter, or on his Goodreads and Amazon author pages.

Praise for Children of the Dark
“Jonathan Janz brings us a vicious tale of terror with the innocence of youth in a coming of age tale that should surely make Stephen King smile.” – Dave, Beneath the Underground

“Jonathan Janz has written the next definitive coming-of-age horror novel that is sure to be mentioned alongside those that came before it. Be on the right side of history and read it now, before it becomes a classic.” –Patrick Lacey, author of A Debt to be Paid

Praise for Jonathan Janz
“Janz is the literary love child of Richard Laymon and Jack Ketchum (with a little Joe Lansdale DNA in the mix), with all the terror that implies. Try him out. You won’t be disappointed.”
-Pod of Horror

“One of the best writers in modern horror to come along in the last decade. Janz is one of my new favorites.” –Brian Keene, best-selling author

“It’s the best of its kind I’ve read in years, such that I’d call it 'The Quintessential Haunted House Novel.' You’ve taken the old school traditions of the form which readers want and then have injected modern style, characters, and macabre, hard-edged mayhem into the guts of the story. THAT’S the way to do it, my friend!”
-Author Edward Lee on House of Skin

“Jonathan Janz is one of the rare horror novelists who can touch your heart while chilling your spine. His work offers incisive characters, sharp dialogue, and more scares than a deserted graveyard after midnight. If you haven’t read his fiction, you’re missing out on one the best new voices in the genre.” –Tim Waggoner, multi-published author

"Fans of old-school splatterpunk horror--Janz cites Richard Laymon as an influence, and it shows--will find much to relish." - Publishers Weekly on Savage Species

Purchase Links
Amazon

Also, check out Sinister Grin Press Website

Jonathan Janz's Wolf Land - Review and {Giveaway} #WolfLand

My thoughts
Boy oh boy, what a werewolf novel! We're not given long until we're served up a truly scary massacre by one monstrous werewolf. At that point, that's it...you can't put it down (or stop thinking about it when you must put it down). I keep asking myself, "Is this really my first Janz read? What the hell have I been waiting for!?"

Let me tell you though. He doesn't just do gore. Oh no. There is some serious character development here. So much so that you're either rooting for the good guy, or seriously hating on the bad guy. Also, he writes werewolves the way I think they would/should be. More like a man-wolf beast rather than a wolf in the traditional sense, a la Twilight or True Blood. But it's not just the look. The charisma and self assurance that I also feel would accompany a werewolf's physique is also here. We're treated to downtrodden characters with low self esteem suddenly becoming confident and enigmatic. Never mind that they're also becoming monsters. Good stuff!

Janz has written a good many horror novels that I will be scooting closer to the top of my to-be-read stack (or the queue in my Kindle). This novel, Wolf Land, is not only a true masterpiece of werewolf horror. It is also just a damn good novel. I can't help but think of Stephen King. You get the scares, but you also get great writing. This book definitely fills the bill. Read this one...now!

About the book
“A 10-year high school reunion is the catalyst for lots of furry, toothy scares in this gruesome yet entertaining gorefest.” –Publishers Weekly on Wolf Land

An unholy predator on the prowl!
The small town of Lakeview offers little excitement for Duane, Savannah, and their friends. They’re about to endure their ten-year high school reunion when their lives are shattered by the arrival of an ancient, vengeful evil.

The werewolf.

The first attack leaves seven dead and four wounded. And though the beast remains on the loose and eager to spill more blood, the sleepy town is about to face an even greater terror. Because the four victims of the werewolf’s fury are changing. They’re experiencing unholy desires and unimaginable cravings. They’ll prey on the innocent. They’ll act on their basest desires. Soon, they’ll plunge the entire town into a nightmare. Lakeview is about to become Wolf Land.

Praise for Wolf Land and Janz
"One of the best writers in modern horror to come along in the last decade. Janz is one of my new favorites." –Brian Keene, best-selling author

“It’s the best of its kind I’ve read in years, such that I’d call it “The Quintessential Haunted House Novel.” You’ve taken the old school traditions of the form which readers want and then have injected modern style, characters, and macabre, hard-edged mayhem into the guts of the story. THAT’S the way to do it, my friend!”-Author Edward Lee on HOUSE OF SKIN

“Jonathan Janz is one of the rare horror novelists who can touch your heart while chilling your spine. His work offers incisive characters, sharp dialogue, and more scares than a deserted graveyard after midnight. If you haven’t read his fiction, you’re missing out on one the best new voices in the genre.” –Tim Waggoner Reminiscent of Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House and Peter Straub’s Ghost Story, this should please readers who appreciate a good haunting.”
—The Library Journal

“Jonathan Janz is one of the rare horror novelists who can touch your heart while chilling your spine. His work offers incisive characters, sharp dialogue, and more scares than a deserted graveyard after midnight. If you haven’t read his fiction, you’re missing out on one the best new voices in the genre.”
–Tim Waggoner, author

“A 10-year high school reunion is the catalyst for lots of furry, toothy scares in this gruesome yet entertaining gorefest.” –Publishers Weekly

"Probably the best werewolf novel I've read in a decade."- Pete Kahle, author of The Specimen

"If you like werewolves, you will think you have died and gone to heaven. Highly recommended." -Confessions of a Reviewer

"This fast-paced read was a frenzy of carnality in epic proportions. Visceral and surreal, Janz has outdone himself with this newest title."
-Nikki, Horror After Dark

"For years now, the werewolf has been hijacked by the shifter romance genre. Well, Jonathan Janz has claimed a bloody morsel back for the horror genre!"
-2 Book Lovers Reviews

"Janz is the literary love child of Richard Laymon and Jack Ketchum (with a little Joe Lansdale DNA in the mix), with all the terror that implies. Try him out. You won't be disappointed." -Pod of Horror

“Jonathan Janz has created a realistic world and peopled it with characters that could be people you know then introduces a whole new werewolf legend to rip them to shreds. I highly recommend this relentlessly fast paced story. A hair raising 5 star read.” –Horror Maiden Book Reviews

Buy the book

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Samhain

About the author
Jonathan Janz grew up between a dark forest and a graveyard, and in a way, that explains everything. Brian Keene named his debut novel The Sorrows "the best horror novel of 2012." The Library Journal deemed his follow-up, House of Skin, "reminiscent of Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House and Peter Straub's Ghost Story."

2013 saw the publication of his novel of vampirism and demonic possession The Darkest Lullaby, as well as his serialized horror novel Savage Species. Of Savage Species, Publishers Weekly said, "Fans of old-school splatterpunk horror--Janz cites Richard Laymon as an influence, and it shows--will find much to relish." Jonathan's Kindle Worlds novel Bloodshot: Kingdom of Shadows marked his first foray into the superhero/action genre.

Jack Ketchum called his vampire western Dust Devils a "Rousing-good weird western," and his sequel to The Sorrows (Castle of Sorrows) was selected one of 2014's top three novels by Pod of Horror. 2015 saw the release of The Nightmare Girl, which prompted Pod of Horror to call Jonathan "Horror's Next Big Thing." His newest release is Wolf Land, which Publishers Weekly called “gruesome yet entertaining gorefest” with “an impressive and bloody climax.” He has also written four novellas (Exorcist Road, The Clearing of Travis Coble, Old Order, and Witching Hour Theatre) and several short stories.

His primary interests are his wonderful wife and his three amazing children, and though he realizes that every author's wife and children are wonderful and amazing, in this case the cliché happens to be true. You can learn more about Jonathan at www.jonathanjanz.com. You can also find him on Facebook, via @jonathanjanz on Twitter, or on his Goodreads and Amazon author pages.

Giveaway

Enter to win ONE (1) print copy signed by Jonathan Janz of WOLF LAND! Click the link to enter. There are several things you can do to get multiple entries each day. Forward any questions to Erin Al-Mehairi, publicist, at hookofabook@hotmail.com.

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