Shark & The Wolf: Predators and Prey by Daniel D. Shields Review

By Daniel D. Shields
ISBN: 978-1461092391
Review by: Shells Walter (Guest Reviewer)
Review posted 11/18/2011

When you think of sharks you think of vicious marine creatures that end up attacking humans in horror movies.

What about a shark that plays pool? Yes, that's right plays billiards. That is what the shark named Shark does in Shark & The Wolf: Predators and Prey.

Shark is playing in his favorite pool bar called Gills that is owned by an aged dolphin. He and his friend Dog Z are having some fun, some beer and Shark is trying to beat a hyena named Old Jack. At first Shark thinks that Old Jack is hustling him because the last wager seems a bit weird, win and get a post card from Shark's long lost love Vixen, a wild fox that has disappeared awhile ago.

However, Old Jack gives Shark the postcard that invites him to what seems half-way across the world on an adventure to find lost treasure and to be with his love Vixen.  When Shark and Dog Z arrive, they meet a bunch of interesting characters, Shark finds his lost love, but what awaits them is not only Vixen, but a whole lot of trouble that even a Shark, who by the way doesn't like water, might not be able to handle.

I read this story and suddenly felt the urge to play pool again, haven't in so long. Not only does this story bring true charisma to animals that have human characteristics, but an adventure like Indiana Jones would take.

I thought long and hard what I would do if I saw creatures such as these walking around playing pool and drinking beer. Once I got over the shock of it all, I think it be a great time. And that is what this book is, a great time.

If you love adventure and like something a bit different that isn't the same yuck, yuck, mainstream stuff that is out there, you will love this story. I guarantee you it is not Jaws, but it is also not Dr. Do Little and the thrill of reading it will be so worth it.

Severed In The Beginning By Darren Sant and Sam Lang Review

By Darren Sant and Sam Lang
Trestle Press
Review by: Rob Walter
Review posted 11/08/2011

While we don’t normally review short stories, we did read Severed In The Beginning by Darren Sant and Sam Lang.

The story starts out in a prologue with a bird flying overhead and switches to a description of the Zombie Apocalypse. “The end of the world came not with a bang or a whimper, but with the use of diet pills.” Hell of a way to start the description of the end of the world, eh?

The story then changes to a diary format following a boy named Zac coping with the Zombie Apocalypse the best he can as he becomes a man and a leader of a small band of survivors.

This is a good story that involves the readers without driving the story home with the normal “blood and guts” gore of your normal zombie tale. It has a more deft touch using the psychological impact and the readers imagination to carry the reader along.

I recommend this short story to lovers of intelligent zombie horror.

Fleshbags by Gerald Dean Rice Review

By Gerald Dean Rice
Review by: Dana Bell
Review posted 11/06/2011

Since Zombies are all the rage, this story capitalizes on the current trend with a slight twist - a virus is causing them to rise. Their stomachs are transparent, hanging down their torso and they contaminate others by spitting a clear fluid out their mouths.

The story opens with one being found and EMT's trying to transport it to the hospital. Boom. It blows up and spreads the contagion all over the scene. Afterwards several characters are introduced and the plot line twists between characters, the horrible events leading up to many of them dying, and eventually the open end with no real explanation on how it all came about.


Chapters are done by hours reaching ten after the epidemic starts.
Included is a short story about a little girl with hints of incest and more zombies.

Lastly, an excerpt from an upcoming novel with what looks like a murder mystery, an investment scam and mysterious tiny men in black looking for a Bible of all things.


What is done well is the sense of smell through out the work. The reader can almost taste the stench or the unwashed bodies. Also, there are many clear images adding a chill and a delightful shiver for those who are fans of the genre.


What is not done well is the constant shifting between characters which would work well in a film, but not so much in a work of prose. The action is choppy and unclear giving the reader no change to actually bond or care about any of the characters. They had horrible things happen to them. Many died. So what?


The gore and sex seem to the main focus of the Flesh Bags. Not to mention the disgusting side of humanity. Is it really important that a man farts? Or uses the bathroom?

 
All in all, probably a good read for those of the genre. It holds all the elements one would look for in a Zombie read. However, the lack of any redeemable character makes this a dry and unfulfilling read.

Darklands: A Vampires Tale by Donna Burgess Review

By Donna Burgess
Naked Snake Press
ISBN: 978-0982966518
Review by: Rob Walter
Review posted 11/04/2011

Darklands: A Vampires Tale is the first in a new series from Donna Burgess published by Naked Snake Press.

The book starts out with a bang of action when Susan Archer witnesses the killing of her twin brother and is attacked and bitten by a Deathwalker named Devin Mcree, but not totally turned. 20 years pass and we come to Susan, now married and working as a police officer recovering from being shot on-duty.  Devin returns to finish her becoming a vampire and reclaim the woman he has always loved. As the story progresses a crazed Nazi hunter named Jasper Jacobsen begins chasing them. The majority of the story is the two of them on the run as Susan learns what it is to be a Deathwalker. There is quite the interesting twist at the end that I won’t spoil for you, but it adds to the darkness of the tale.

Overall I was intrigued by the story. I was somewhat confused at first with the vampire lore used in the story, but not enough to detract from the story. The characters are strong and multi-dimensional which makes this not another “glittering vampire romance”. There is definitely violence as well as some graphical sexual content which adds to the darkness of the story.

I would recommend this story for readers looking for something more than a vampire romance. The story has heart and I look forward to the next in the series.

Kaptain Vamp by Joanne Lécuyer Review

By Joanne Lécuyer
Gilmore Printing
Review by: Gina Desory
Review posted 11/02/2011

Kaptain Vamp by Joanne Lécuyer, is about a young vampire named Allistaire. He lives amongst a world of humans and vampires who don't really get along.

Allistaire wants to help humans, but doesn't know how until he reads a certain comic book. Then he becomes 'Kaptain Vamp.'

This was a delightful read. The story of how Kaptain Vamp came about is endearing. Any child would be interested in Allistaire's adventure. I certainly was. And what makes this book even nicer was the wonderful illustrations that took a part in describing this young vampire's tale.

I could not be more happier than seeing where Allistaire was going next. And if you want your child to get a taste of something horror in fiction, but don't necessarily want them getting into stuff that maybe either a bit off or watching some kind of vampire glitter, then this is the book for them. There is no doubt that Allistaire's tale is one of a kind.

Soul Survivors Hometown Tales Vol 1 Edited by Shawn M. Riddle Review

Edited by Shawn M. Riddle
Knight Watch Press
ISBN: 978-0987691460
Review by: Terry Morgan
Review posted 10/31/2011

When you're thinking Halloween, you are thinking scary, spooky and downright frightening. That's what you have here in Soul Survivors Hometown Tales Vol 1 edited by Shawn M. Riddle.

In these 13 fitting stories, you come across a weird neighbor, who likes to eat dead flesh, fighting between family members, rabbits and clowns, plus more of the undead devouring people and cities.

Also, in this great collection of anything gore and bloody, you have introductions by David Moody and Joe McKinney.

A person could not ask for more in these tales. As I was reading it became apparent just how much the undead has become a popular source for fiction. It was a pure amazing adventure to read each and every page as yet another person has suffered their fate that was owed to them, or maybe even perhaps not.

I love Halloween, all the sights and screams it can produce. If you want to get that special someone a wonderful gift for Halloween to make sure they don't do any nasty tricks for a treat, get them this collection. You may just get through another Halloween.

Available here

Like Porno for Psychos By Wrath James White Review

By Wrath James White
Deadite Press
Review by: Ronnie Tucker
Review posted 10/16/2011

Like Porno for Psychos certainly has an apt title. It's a book of short stories that contain everything from explicit sex (both human and bestial) to gore, and everything in between. Suffice to say, I wouldn't like to be the authors wife as most of the stories seem to involve a woman getting raped or ripped to shreds!

But, don't worry, there's a couple of poems too, so that's OK. That makes it 'proper' literature.

Several of the stories have a Twilight Zone style twist to them whilst several just have someone getting murdered for no real reason. Although one story does have a giant orgy with people literally humping each other to death.

It's quite a short book, 100 pages which includes several pages of ads at the end, but I personally prefer short books and short stories as I like to drip in and out of them (no pun intended with these stories!) and not need to remember previous plot points.

The author, Wrath James Wright, definitely has an active imagination, and isn't afraid to write about taboo subjects (female bestiality with a lion anyone?) and for that he definitely gets my respect.

All in all, a good book. Just don't expect happy endings.