Review: When the Night Owl Screams by Michael H. Hanson

When the Night Owl Screams by Michael H. Hanson MoonDream Press (October 2017) 154 pages, $12.95 paperback; $1.99 e-book Reviewed by Joshua Gage When the Night Owl Screams is a collection of dark fantasy and horror poetry. It’s a wonderfully designed book with a very appealing cover, and features some very clever ideas. The poems, however, are … Continue Reading! “Review: When the Night Owl Screams by Michael H. Hanson”

Review: Frankenstein in Baghdad

Frankenstein in Baghdad by Ahmed Saadawi Penguin Books (January 2018) 288 pages, $10.87 paperback; $11.99 e-book Reviewed by Joshua Gage Ahmed Saadawi is an Iraqi novelist, poet, screenwriter and documentary film maker. He won the 2014 International Prize for Arabic Fiction for Frankenstein in Baghdad, which was recently translated into English and published by Penguin. Frankenstein in … Continue Reading! “Review: Frankenstein in Baghdad”

Review: Zombie Apocalypse in Ditmas Park

Zombie Apocalypse in Ditmas Park by Kristine Scheiner CreateSpace (May 2017) 32 pages, $6.99 paperback Reviewed by Joshua Gage Zombie Apocalypse in Ditmas Park: A NYC Coloring Book Adventure for Ghoulish Hacks to Chillax is exactly what it sounds like. New York is invaded by zombies, and the rich blew up the bridges, so Brooklyn is left … Continue Reading! “Review: Zombie Apocalypse in Ditmas Park”

Review: The Lay of Old Hex by Adam Bolivar

The Lay of Old Hex: Spectral Ballads and Weird Jack Tales by Adam Bolivar Hippocampus Press (October 2017) 328 pages, $20 paperback Reviewed by Joshua Gage Adam Bolivar is a Romantic poet, specializing in the composition of metered and rhymed balladry, a traditional poetic form that taps into haunted undercurrents of folklore to produce spectral effects seldom … Continue Reading! “Review: The Lay of Old Hex by Adam Bolivar”

Review: Breathe, Breathe by Erin Sweet Al-Mehairi

Breathe, Breathe by Erin Sweet Al-Mehairi Unnerving (October 2017) 176 pages, $13 paperback; $2.99 e-book Reviewed by Joshua Gage Erin Sweet Al-Mehairi  is an author, writer, journalist, editor, marketer, public relations professional, and photographer. Her first collection, Breathe, Breathe, published by Unnerving Magazine, was released to wide acclaim. This collection of short stories and poetry reached #2 … Continue Reading! “Review: Breathe, Breathe by Erin Sweet Al-Mehairi”

Review: Diary of a Sorceress by Ashley Dioses

Diary of a Sorceress by Ashley Dioses Hippocampus Press (October 2017) 170 pages, $15 paperback Reviewed by Joshua Gage Ashley Dioses has established herself as one of the leading voices in contemporary weird poetry. Known for her meticulous use of rhyme and meter and her melding of the strange and the romantic, Dioses has gathered some of … Continue Reading! “Review: Diary of a Sorceress by Ashley Dioses”

Review: ‘Black Bottle Man’ by Craig Russell

Black Bottle Man by Craig Russell Great Plains Teen Fiction (February 2012) 176 pages, $9.99 e-book Reviewed by Joshua Gage Black Bottle Man is a young-adult horror story based around the traditional “deal with the devil” plot. Russell, however, makes the plot seem fresh with his historical take. He also twists the traditional roles of the devil’s … Continue Reading! “Review: ‘Black Bottle Man’ by Craig Russell”

Review: ‘The Damned Vol. 1: Three Days Dead’ by Cullen Bunn, Brian Hurtt and Bill Crabtree

The Damned Vol. 1: Three Days Dead by Cullenn Bunn, Brian Hurtt and Bill Crabtree Oni Press (March 2017) 152 pages, $9.99 paperback; $1.99 e-book Reviewed by Joshua Gage The Damned Volume 1: Three Days Dead can only be described as horror noir. It’s set during prohibition, when mobsters and criminal organizations build fortune peddling vice to the citizens of … Continue Reading! “Review: ‘The Damned Vol. 1: Three Days Dead’ by Cullen Bunn, Brian Hurtt and Bill Crabtree”

Review: ‘The High-Maintenance Ladies of the Zombie Apocalypse’ by Melinda Marshall and Christine Steendam

The High-Maintenance Ladies of the Zombie Apocalypse by Melinda Marshall and Christine Steendam Hazelridge Press (October 2016) 127 pages, $10.99 paperback; $2.99 e-book Reviewed by Joshua Gage The High-Maintenance Ladies of the Zombie Apocalypse is exactly what the title conveys, a humorous attempt to pit pampered fashionistas against brainless, flesh-eating hordes. Taken in that spirit, this book is a complete success. It … Continue Reading! “Review: ‘The High-Maintenance Ladies of the Zombie Apocalypse’ by Melinda Marshall and Christine Steendam”

Review: ‘Lilith’s Demons’ by Julie R. Enszer

Lilith’s Demons by Julie R. Enszer A Midsummer Night’s Press (December 2015) 64 pages, $14.95 paperback Reviewed by Joshua Gage For those who don’t know, The Alphabet of Ben Sirach is a medieval rabbinic text famous, amongst other things, for its reference to Lilith. Lilith is the woman that, according to Hebraic lore, God made before he made Eve; she … Continue Reading! “Review: ‘Lilith’s Demons’ by Julie R. Enszer”

Review: ‘Pinball Drugs Aliens Satan’ by Fiada Fey

Pinball Drugs Aliens Satan by Fiada Fey Furtive Labors (October 2015) 36 pages, $4.00 paperback Reviewed by Joshua Gage Fiada Fey (1980-2008) was a St. Paul-based novelist, short story writer and cut-up artist. His prose, while lacking in craft, shows a lot of passion for the bizarre horror genre. Pinball Drugs Aliens Satan is his posthumous collection. Readers … Continue Reading! “Review: ‘Pinball Drugs Aliens Satan’ by Fiada Fey”

Review: ‘Eyes Like Lighthouses When the Boats Come Home’ by Dane Cobain

Eyes Like Lighthouses When the Boats Come Home by Dane Cobain CreateSpace (June 2016) 170 pages, $11.99 paperback; $3.49 e-book Reviewed by Joshua Gage Eyes Like Lighthouses When the Boats Come Home is a self-published collection of poetry by British performance poet Dane Cobain. It shows a lot of enthusiasm and potential, but ultimately fails due to a number of basic … Continue Reading! “Review: ‘Eyes Like Lighthouses When the Boats Come Home’ by Dane Cobain”

Review: ‘Quick Shivers About Bugs’ edited by James Leach and Janice Leach

Quick Shivers About Bugs edited by James Leach and Janice Leach Cosmonomic Multimedia (March 2016) 80 pages, $15.00 paperback Reviewed by Joshua Gage Quick Shivers About Bugs is a horror anthology based on articles published at Daily Nightmare. Each piece focuses on bugs in one way or another, though that term is taken as broadly as possible. Most of the … Continue Reading! “Review: ‘Quick Shivers About Bugs’ edited by James Leach and Janice Leach”

Review: ‘Where You Live’ by Gary McMahon

Where You Live by Gary McMahon Crystal Lake Publishing (November 2013) 266 pages, $12.99 paperback; $2.99 e-book Reviewed by Joshua Gage Where You Live is a varied collection of short stories by Gary McMahon. McMahon is an award winning author of both novels and short stories, and this collection gathers some of his best together. The bulk of this collection … Continue Reading! “Review: ‘Where You Live’ by Gary McMahon”

Review: 'Hot Blood' by Tony Richards

Hot Blood by Tony Richards Samhain Publishing (September 2014) 362 pages, e-book $6.50, paperback $17.42 Reviewed by Joshua Gage Hot Blood is the story of Tanya Merrit, a Ykraal. Ykraal are night based creatures who burn in the sunlight and require the blood of human beings for strength. They are not, however, vampires. Ykraal have a more symbiotic … Continue Reading! “Review: 'Hot Blood' by Tony Richards”