Advent Ghosts: Can’t Even

A joyous Yule or other festival of choice to everyone. As in previous years, I am participating in Loren Eaton’s Advent Ghosts 100-word scary story project. This year, a little something to leave you shook: Can't Even According to JonAAAh it was the dankest meme ever like if chill but not chill was meta. Was …

Hold the Line by Baileigh Higgins

Higgins adds a new set of survivors, many from hospital or law enforcement backgrounds, to the existing cast, creating another instalment of decent realistic people facing the aftermath of a zombie apocalypse. Note: while the author is blessed with a spiffing surname we are unrelated by blood or marriage. This novel is the fourth in …

Into The Mist by Lee Murray

Blending the energy of giant radioactive spiders attacking a mid-west town and other classic sci-fi with the touchpoints of modern life, Murray creates fast-paced action that offers something to both those seeking nostalgia and freshness. Guarding scientists on a trip into one of New Zealand’s national parks isn’t usually the job of the army, especially …

Gourd Fortune to All!

As a member of an ancient West Country lineage, I will be celebrating today with that sacred and secret turnipial ritual The Mangling of the Wurzel. While I can't share the details of that with you, I hope you will join me in a pumpkin round: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVuToMilP0A

Wake the Dead by Baileigh Higgins

Higgins delivers another highly plausible tale of post-apocalyptic struggle that shows the biggest threat to life can be the absence of the infrastructure that Western society assumes will exist. Note: while the author is blessed with a spiffing surname we are unrelated by blood or marriage. This novel is the third in Higgins’ Heroes of …

End of Watch by Baileigh Higgins

Higgins blends the horror of a zombie plague with a positive view of human nature, creating an apocalypse story that is centred in cooperation and the drive to serve society. Note: while the author is blessed with a spiffing surname we are unrelated by blood or marriage. This novel is the second in Higgins’ Heroes …

A Single Bite

From obtaining a freely given invitation to the mere presence of a welcome mat, the requirements imposed in fiction on a vampire seeking entry vary wildly. However, the true limitation is potentially more onerous than any revisiting of traditional stories betrays: not merely a genuine invitation but an almost precipitously avid one by the right …

A Bit Batty

With the opera cape flaring wide behind his besuited arms Count Dracula seems almost to taunt the world with the obviousness of his bat-nature. Viewed purely as cinematography, the image is powerful and pleasing but would Dracula be so obvious? It is easy to suggest it comes from an overweening arrogance or a dissonance from …

Better Dead than Red by Nic Roads

Roads assembles zombie tropes into his own variant of the setting, creating a stripped-back tale that focuses on character and action rather than fancy trappings. After years living on the streets with no contact from his family, Brian Williams has a chance to see his daughter again. However, moving to the other side of America …

The Summer of Completely Usual Strangeness by Matthew S. Cox

Cox blends a nuanced spin on urban fantasy tropes with character-driven drama and fast-paced action, providing another engaging instalment of modern vampire story. This novel is the fifteenth volume of Cox’s Vampire Innocent series. Spoilers for previous volumes might cross your path ahead. Ashley’s decision to secretly become a vampire has freed Sarah from angst …