Review: Many Restless Concerns by Gayle Brandeis

Many Restless Concerns by Gayle Brandeis Black Lawrence Press (February 14, 2020) 160 pages; $17.95 paperback Reviewed by Joshua Gage Most horror readers are familiar with Elizabeth Batharoy, one of history’s most famous murderers and the source of much vampire lore. Much less is known about her victims, which leads readers and historians to a … Continue Reading! “Review: Many Restless Concerns by Gayle Brandeis”

Review: Last Dance by Hanna Schroy

Last Dance by Hanna Schroy Iron Circus Comics (January 2021) 200 pages; $11.99 paperback Reviewed by Joshua Gage Hanna Schroy is a cartoonist and illustrator living in Austin. She has participated in a multitude of self-published anthologies including Girls! Girls! Girls! curated by Alex Perkins and Thicker Than Blood curated by Mengmeng Liu. She is … Continue Reading! “Review: Last Dance by Hanna Schroy”

Review: Aftermath of an Industrial Accident by Mike Allen

Aftermath of an Industrial Accident by Mike Allen Mythic Delirium Books (July 2020) 238 pages, $15.95 Hardcover Reviewed by Joshua Gage Anyone familiar with horror and dark fantasy knows the name Mike Allen. He’s been a Nebula, Shirley Jackson, and World Fantasy Award finalist. He’s won three Rhyslings from the SFPA. He’s edited a number … Continue Reading! “Review: Aftermath of an Industrial Accident by Mike Allen”

Review: Meaningless Cycles in a Vicious Glass Prison: Songs of Death and Love by Anton Cancre

Meaningless Cycles in a Vicious Glass Prison: Songs of Death and Love by Anton Cancre Dragon’s Roost Press (October 2020) 114 pages, $9.99 Paperback Reviewed by Joshua Gage In Meaningless Cycles in a Vicious Glass Prison: Songs of Death and Love, Anton Cancre creates scenes of death and works to capture them in short, poignant … Continue Reading! “Review: Meaningless Cycles in a Vicious Glass Prison: Songs of Death and Love by Anton Cancre”

Review: Something is Killing the Children Vol. 1 by James Tynion IV and Werther Dell’Edera

Something is Killing the Children Vol. 1 by James Tynion IV and Werther Dell’Edera BOOM! Studios (May 2020) 128 pages, $13.41 paperback; $12.74 e-book Reviewed by Joshua Gage Something has been taking the children of Archer’s Peak. At first it was just one girl, and the police assumed it was a typical family kidnapping perpetrated by … Continue Reading! “Review: Something is Killing the Children Vol. 1 by James Tynion IV and Werther Dell’Edera”

Review: The Harrowing of Hell by Evan Dahm

The Harrowing of Hell by Evan Dahm Iron Circus Comics (August 2020) 128 pages, $15 hardcover Reviewed by Joshua Gage In Christian theology, The Harrowing of Hell is the story of Jesus Christ descending into Hell after his crucifixion and rising, triumphant, three days later on Easter. Evan Dahm has taken this story, as well as … Continue Reading! “Review: The Harrowing of Hell by Evan Dahm”

Review: Twelve – Poems Inspired by the Brothers Grimm Fairytale by Andrea Blythe

Twelve: Poems Inspired by the Brothers Grimm Fairy Tale by Andrea Blythe Interstellar Flight Press (September 7, 2020) 64 pages, $9.99 paperback; $5.99 e-book Reviewed by Joshua Gage Andrea Blythe is a well-recognized name in speculative poetry. She is a widely published author, as well as a podcast host. Blythe is most known for her work … Continue Reading! “Review: Twelve – Poems Inspired by the Brothers Grimm Fairytale by Andrea Blythe”

Review: On Quiet Earth: A Zombie Apocalypse Novel by Chris Kelly

On Quiet Earth: A Zombie Apocalypse Novel by Chris Kelly Severed Press (May 2020) 155 pages, $9.95 paperback Reviewed by Joshua Gage At first glance, On Quiet Earth reads like a typical zombie survivor novel. The plot is formulaic—survivors band together, try to outrun zombies, and live in a post-apocalyptic world. What makes Kelly’s take on … Continue Reading! “Review: On Quiet Earth: A Zombie Apocalypse Novel by Chris Kelly”

Review: A Route Obscure and Lonely by LindaAnn LoSchiavo

A Route Obscure and Lonely by LindaAnn LoSchiavo The Wapshott Press (December 2019) 60 pages, $7.50 paperback Reviewed by Joshua Gage A Route Obscure and Lonely is a unique artifact in horror poetry. It’s primarily in blank verse, and while formal horror poetry isn’t rare, what makes LindaAnn LoSchiavo’s poetry unique is that she doesn’t let … Continue Reading! “Review: A Route Obscure and Lonely by LindaAnn LoSchiavo”

Review: Tea with Death: A Gothic Poetry Collection by Abigail Wildes and Jeanna Pappas (Illustrator)

Tea with Death: A Gothic Poetry Collection by Abigail Wildes and Jeanna Pappas (Illustrator) Alban Lake Publishing (February 2020) 101 pages, $19.99 hardcover Reviewed by Joshua Gage Gothic poetry is an interesting concept. Originally a nineteenth century invention and an offshoot of Romantic poetry, Gothic poetry was pretty much any poem that had elements of gothic … Continue Reading! “Review: Tea with Death: A Gothic Poetry Collection by Abigail Wildes and Jeanna Pappas (Illustrator)”

Review: Bone Parish, Vol. 1 by Cullen Bunn (Author), Alex Guimaraes and Jonas Scharf (Illustrators)

Bone Parish, Vol. 1 by Cullen Bunn (Author), Alex Guimaraes and Jonas Scharf (Illustrators) BOOM! Studios (May 2019) 112 pages, $10.83 paperback; $9.13 e-book Reviewed by Joshua Gage Bone Parish is described as a “chilling necromantic horror story.” The Ash is a new, popular drug sweeping the underground scene of New Orleans. As with any new … Continue Reading! “Review: Bone Parish, Vol. 1 by Cullen Bunn (Author), Alex Guimaraes and Jonas Scharf (Illustrators)”

Review: The Bedlam Philharmonic and Other Poems by Steven Withrow

The Bedlam Philharmonic and Other Poems by Steven Withrow Lulu.com (March 2020) 52 pages, $6.99 paperback Reviewed by Joshua Gage Steven Withrow is a poet, author, and teacher from Falmouth. He is also a reporter for the local Enterprise newspapers. His poems for children and adults have appeared in journals and anthologies worldwide, including the National … Continue Reading! “Review: The Bedlam Philharmonic and Other Poems by Steven Withrow”

Review: Keeping Score: Angry Tanka by Susan Burch

Keeping Score: Angry Tanka by Susan Burch Velvet Dusk Publishing (December 2019) 46 pages, $8.99 paperback Reviewed by Joshua Gage Susan Burch is a prominent composer of English Language Tanka.  She began writing tanka in April 2013 after reading winning contest poems on the Tanka Society of America website. She loved the brevity of the form … Continue Reading! “Review: Keeping Score: Angry Tanka by Susan Burch”

Review: The Apocalyptic Mannequin by Stephanie M. Wytovich

The Apocalyptic Mannequin by Stephanie Wytovich Raw Dog Screaming Press (September 2019) 114 pages, $13.95 paperback; $4.99 e-book Reviewed by Joshua Gage The Apocalyptic Mannequin is a collection of poetry about the apocalypse, and those who survived. Wytovich attempts to tap into the emotions of survivors with her poetry, creating a cast of characters who explore … Continue Reading! “Review: The Apocalyptic Mannequin by Stephanie M. Wytovich”

Review: Sheet Music to My Acoustic Nightmare by Stephanie M. Wytovich

Sheet Music to My Acoustic Nightmare by Stephanie M. Wytovich Raw Dog Screaming Press (December 2017) 162 pages, $14.52 paperback; $4.99 e-book Reviewed by Joshua Gage Stephanie M. Wytovich is an American poet, novelist, and essayist. Her Bram Stoker Award-winning poetry collection, Brothel, earned a home with Raw Dog Screaming Press alongside Hysteria: A Collection of Madness, … Continue Reading! “Review: Sheet Music to My Acoustic Nightmare by Stephanie M. Wytovich”