Tag Archives: monsters

August 7, 2023 · 7:00 am

Haunted House: Day & Night by Jaybie D (Book Review)

Embark on an enchanting journey with Mandy as she bravely confronts her fear of the dark during a thrilling family trip to a haunted house! In this captivating children’s picture book, readers join Mandy on an exclusive daytime behind-the-scenes tour, discovering the intricate inner workings of the haunting spectacle. Marvel at the meticulously placed, spine-chilling props that bring the eerie atmosphere to life. Peek behind the curtains to unveil the fascinating interplay of costumes, make-up, lighting, security, and electrical systems that add a touch of magic to the haunted house.

As night descends, a whole new level of enchantment unfolds. Mandy and her family immerse themselves in an extraordinary evening experience where the previously observed prop stages burst into vivid life. Prepare to be mesmerized by a symphony of special effects that will enchant your senses, casting an otherworldly glow over the surroundings. Vibrant colors dance in harmony with haunting melodies, amplifying the eerie atmosphere to its fullest.

Throughout the pages of this book, Mandy’s journey takes her into never-before-seen rooms that will captivate and ignite the reader’s imagination. It’s an unforgettable tale of bravery, imagination, and self-discovery as she discovers the transformative power of overcoming her fears.

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

 

Haunted House: Day & Night was a visual masterpiece! Jaybie D.’s graphic design skills knocked my socks off. Words glowed on the pages. Objects glowed as well, breathing life into unanimated objects. The lanterns, flashlights, twinkling lights, jack-o’-lanterns, moon, ghosts, the strange beast spitting fire, each illuminated object captured my attention, and it will capture your child’s too. They’ll be mesmerized by the swirling fluorescent orbs of lights, the sparkling night sky, and the fog that appears to be lifting off the pages so much they might forget there’s a story to read. Oh, they should read the story! 

Besides its enormous visual appeal, the book captures all the excitement and spookiness surrounding a haunted house. During the day, a behind-the-scenes view of a haunted house is quite remarkable. The author shows readers what it takes to pull off a scary night. Costumes, make-up applications, setting up props, scary sounds, display monitors, it’s quite the production. The house you just saw during the day takes on a new form when the sun sets. You must remind yourself that it’s all fake like Mandy did. 

If your family loves Halloween and haunted houses, you must read Haunted House: Day & Night. With radiating words, words written in wacky fonts, and wavy lines, young readers will love practicing their reading skills using this spooktacular story. Teachers and parents will love that the story blends beginning sight words and advanced text. Everyone will love the illustrations. 

Haunted House: Day & Night is a thrilling read for children five years and older. It’s the ideal book for October. If you have a child under five who understands monsters are not real, I would also share this book with them. It’s not scary, and I’m sure they love the pictures and storyline! Outstanding from beginning to end (family photo). 

 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤❤❤
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Meet the Author

It is a privilege to write and illustrate children’s picture books, encouraging them to explore their imagination! It fills my soul.

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August 4, 2023 · 7:00 am

Monsters Need Breaks Too! by Stacie Green (Book Review)

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery.  I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

 

Children will always be afraid of monsters, whether they lurk in the shadows, the wilderness, or in the waters. Stacie Green (author and illustrator) presents a different side to “monsters.” She shows kids they have nothing to fear with the mythical, fictional, or supernatural beings in the storybook. Well, except for the Kraken, it seemed to sink ships for no reason at all. 

The “monsters” in the whimsical tale had feelings, just like you and me. For instance, the ghost worked hard to make their house the creepiest on the block, and they get upset when children trespass on it. It only scared away the neighboring children because they thought it was rude the children were coming onto their property uninvited. Little do the kids know, the ghost would rather listen to music than spend the night saying, “Boo.” Oh, and Poor Lock Ness Monster; it doesn’t want to dive deep into the water’s muddy floor. It has to, though, because they fear being discovered by humans. At least Nessie can wash the harrowing day away with a warm bath filled with bubbles and rubber duckies. 

Monsters Need Breaks Too! features seven “monsters” children won’t be so scared of once they read the book. They’ll realize that these “monsters” have feelings and struggle to deal with them. They also come to understand the importance of taking time for themselves and doing something that makes them happy. Children will laugh when the swamp monsters take a dance break or when Bigfoot stops for tea. Even the illustration of the Kraken will make kids smile! 

Monsters Need Breaks Too! is a fun, inventive story with humorous illustrations. I must acknowledge some editing mistakes, but they didn’t dampen the flow of the story. Amazon’s recommended age is four and older. That is the ideal age for children to embrace, and not fear, the monsters in the book. 

 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤❤

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

Meet the Author

Stacie Green, an illustrator living in Durham, North Carolina, is known for her whimsical and playful designs. Combining fabric patterns she designed with mediums like watercolor, colored pencil, oil pastel, and digital art, she creates colorful and fun illustrations that bring joy and laughter.

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May 15, 2023 · 7:00 am

A Wretched Little Book of Poems: Remastered by Allen Isom (Book Review)

This Wretched Little Book is a must-read for fans of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark and Where the Sidewalk Ends. It promises to leave you both delighted and frightened. Embark on a spine-tingling journey through the pages of this book, featuring 10 brand new poems and eerie illustrations crafted by artificial intelligence in this remastering of the original.

Explore the bone-chilling tales of the Man in the Mask, Squid Face Girl, and The Depths, as you immerse yourself in the haunting and poetic stories of this collection. With a perfect blend of macabre terror and spooky fun, these poems are bound to stay with you long after you finish reading.

So, beware of the Little Beasties and other malevolent entities that may be Waiting in the Woods. And, above all, never look Behind You! Each page is filled with dread and suspense, keeping you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

Get ready to uncover the horrors that lie within your closets and under your bed, and experience the thrill of this illustrated horror poetry.

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery.  I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

 

We’ve all heard the familiar statement, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” I judged A Wretched Little Book of Poems: Remastered by its, and my assessment proved accurate. Every image would please horror, supernatural, paranormal, or occult fans. His poetry contained the right blend of suspense and horror, making me thirsty for more. 

My favorite selections revolved around the living dead. “The Deadwoods” was one of my favorite poems. I also enjoyed the horde of the “walking dead” image that followed “Zombie Town.” Each made me itch to watch a zombie flick. 

“Squid Face Girl” was hauntingly sad. Kali, the girl with tentacles on the lower half of her face, never felt love. She’s never been kissed. Kids were horrific towards her. Poor Kali was alone and only wanted someone to look past the squid face and see the beauty within. “Squid Face Girl” illustrates how the real monsters are the ones who look normal to the naked eye. 

“Dream Come True” was phenomenal. It gave readers a horrific twist on the power of a genie and how one should take great thought into stating a wish. The mother/monster image also scared the holy heck out of me! 

“Something Ate Me” gave me goosebumps, especially the line, “At least it cannot eat me twice.”

I’ll never look at my daughter’s rock collection after reading “Pet Rock.” NEVER! 

While many, MANY drawings sent shivers down my spine, one will definitely haunt my dreams tonight and many nights in the future. The severed head that accompanied “Old Severed Head” had a realness quality to it. It didn’t look like a creature straight from hell. It looked like an everyday man whose path crossed with the worst evil imaginable. Wait until you see the drawing…seriously, SHIVERS! Further into the book, the writer drew an axe-wielding man who reminded me of Jason from Friday the 13th. Again, images that show plausible monsters are the scariest (in my opinion). 

“What’s for Dinner” made me think of tall tales centering around “witches” capturing children to cook and eat them. The writer’s picture of the person sitting in the pot of boiling water made me shift nervously in my seat. His eyes seemed to stare at me, and I almost expected him to jump out of the book and grab me, bringing me into the bubbling cauldron with him. 

If you loathe bugs, you’ll want to avoid “Timmy’s Tummy,” “Creepy Crawlies,” and “Infestation.” The images are cringe-worthy! 

Allen Isom’s spine-tingling poetry book needs to be transformed into several 30-minute episodes. His creative mind designed drawings that any special effects artist (make-up and digital) would jump at the chance to bring to life. 

Poem after poem, drawing after drawing, each page is more haunting than the last. Evil lurks everywhere, even in space.  

Grab a copy of A Wretched Little Book of Poems: Remastered and step into the world of the strange, the frightening…YOUR worst nightmare!

 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤❤❤

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

Meet the Author

When Allen Isom isn’t conjuring up spine-tingling tales of terror, he can be found lurking in the shadows, cackling maniacally and muttering to himself. Born in a haunted house, Allen Isom has always had a fascination with the darker side of life. His writing is a twisted mix of horror and humor.

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May 10, 2023 · 7:00 am

Invitation to a Nightmare: Short Stories of the Macabre by CLIVE OWEN BARRY (Book Review)

From the pen of Clive Owen Barry comes a collection of terror.

The likes of the repentant grave robber, to the single mother who inadvertently sought refuge in the home of a serial killer, or the wealthy wine merchant, possessed by the image of a beautiful woman.

Shadows that haunt the darkest corner of your imagination, to the violence inflicted by a deformed lunatic, severing body parts within the city slums.

These together with so many other gruesome tales of the macabre, can be found haunting the pages of this single volume of short stories, ready and eager to torment your peaceful slumber.

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery.  I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

 

Invitation to a Nightmare houses a collection of haunting tales focusing on the unexplained, the unimaginable, and even plausible scenarios. 

While the synopsis states this is an anthology of short stories, that is not an accurate characterization of the contents. Five of the fourteen works read more like poems or one-page inner thoughts. “Nightmare” begins the collection and is a prime example of what I would consider a poem rather than a short tale. This poem and the others created will get your heart racing. They’ll have you flicking on lights, making you notice every noise in your home. They were frightfully well-constructed. The short stories, though, had a more profound effect on me. 

Serial killers are real. People are capable of horrendous, hideous acts of violence. “Does The Bogeyman Live Downstairs?” is a work of fiction, but the real possibility that such evil might reside in the world, might your neighbor amped up the fear factor of this story. Taxidermy always creeped me out before the story. My feelings regarding it have not changed. Thanks to this cringe-worthy story, I will never look at a stuffed animal the same way again. 

Another realistic story that gave me the shivers was “Dark Shadows.” How frightening it must be to question your own sanity. To discover that your nightmares have become a reality. I felt every bit of Claire’s anguish. Her pain was undeniable. I would commend her on her powerful performance if she were an actress. 

Other short works had a different effect. “The House In Belvedere County” contained a shocking twist, but this story lacked genuine emotion. The narrator spoke of brutal murders in the same tone one would talk about the weather. The only saving grace to this tale was the mic drop moment. 

Monotone is how I’d describe most of the works in the anthology. Sure, pieces like “The Hangman,” “Torment,” and “Portrait” were creepy, but they were one-dimensional. They didn’t wow me. I wish more material resembled “We Wish You A…” It’s the type of supernatural story that has you feeling a character’s confusion and fear. Plus, what an ending! 

The foundation for the anthology was good. The author does have a vivid imagination. They know how to tap into the supernatural and real-world equally well. However, they were several editing mistakes, and most characters and stories felt lifeless, like the corpses in the stories. 

This anthology does have good bones. Many readers will find some of the stories terrifying. And, the author does give you what they promised, stories that will “torment your peaceful slumber.”

 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

 

Meet the Author

Clive Owen Barry is a British author living in the north east of England. Together with short stories of dark literary fiction he has independently published adult crime novels, as well as mid-grade fantasy novella’s and more recently a collection of short stories of the macabre.

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April 22, 2023 · 7:00 am

Gladiator (The Arena Book 1) by Casey Lea (Book Review)

One Arena. One Love. ONE DAY.

Happy-ever-after is never guaranteed but that’s the gladiator’s mission. It wasn’t his plan to fight to the death, but plans change. When Harvesters steal his wife, he tracks them down. The hunt takes all of his money and most of his self-control, but she’s worth it. He joins her as a slave forced to fight for his life without hesitation.

His wife is a deadly warrior, so it’s too bad she doesn’t know him. Memory stripped and struggling to survive she has no interest in the fool claiming to be her husband. He’s just another target standing between her and freedom, but not for long. She’ll take down anything and anyone in her way.

Can the gladiator live long enough to win his wife’s love? Unlikely. It’s the end of the season and the final day of fighting. They’re about to enter the Carnival of Death which leaves only a single survivor.

One of them must die.

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(review request submitted by the author for an honest critique) 

 

Imagine waking up and not knowing who you are, what species you are, where you are, or how you got there. That’s how Gladiator (The Arena Book 1) by Casey Lea begins. Haze’s com (nicknamed Connie) informs him that he is on the slave-trading planet Vertigo. It claims he’s seeking work in the arena as a gladiator. Haze is confused. Nothing makes sense. 

Slowly, snippets of who he is resurface and, with it, a name. Silk is his wife, and he’s on a mission to find her. The path takes him to the Carnival of Death, a battle where many walk in, but only one will leave…alive. 

Haze will do anything, sacrifice anything to ensure Silk makes it to the center of the area (the maze) and claim the prize, the knife. However, there are several obstacles in Haze’s way. For one: the other contestants vary in size and species from an enormous dragon to a scrawny guy. Two, he has to face non-contestants who love to snack on the fighters: eels and wolves. Thirdly, there’s Umpyre, the guard of law, who is a stickler for following the rules he made up. And finally, the most challenging obstacle of all, Haze’s wife, Silk, doesn’t remember her hubby. 

The cards are stacked against Haze, but he is a tenacious S.O.B. He will battle creatures, contestants, and even his wife’s stubbornness. I won’t disclose what Haze is, but he’s not your typical lawyer. He puts fear in many, and you’ll understand why once you see him lose control. 

Many shall enter. Only one is supposed to win. The road to victory was hard. The fights were intense, bloody, and brilliantly written. 

There were several shocking developments as the day came to a close. I did not see the twists coming. I was left stunned, like the characters in the book. 

Who survives 24 hours of hell, aka the maze cut out of stone? That question will only be answered by reading the book. So read it! 

The story did end with a set-up for a sequel. I can’t wait to read it as well!

 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤❤1/2

Purchase Link

 

 

Meet the Authors

Casey Lea is the pen name for a mother and daughter creative duo, dedicated to sharing their passion for all things sci-fi and fantastical.

A doting grandmother with too much time on her hands took the opportunity to put pen to paper.  Her older daughter kindly placed the resulting scribblings in one of those new-fangled so-called “computing machines” and a writing partnership was born.

The Lea (pronounced Lee) half of Casey Lea now spends her days wrestling with words and her memory while reading aloud to any cat careless enough to settle nearby. Daughter Casey edits the results while wrangling her adorable offspring.

After a decade on the rollercoaster ride of indie publishing their shared passion for epic love and grand adventure, spiced with advanced tech and ancient magic, remains undimmed.

 

You can find us at:

Sci-fi Fantasy Authors / Caseyleabooks.com
Casey Lea | Facebook
 Casey Lea (@CaseyLeaBooks) / Twitter

 

 

 

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