No Way Out - Review

No Way out by MJ Ware Genres: Horror

     This book consists of 3 short stories which makes up about 1/3 of the book, an extended preview fills up about half the pages, followed by another preview.

     The three short stories were enjoyable enough and sufficiently suspenseful and eerie for halloween. As a free book it isn't too bad, but I'm glad I didn't pay for it.

     This book was still free on Amazon when I wrote this review, but as with all books on Amazon their prices fluctuate often so please double check the price before downloading the book.

Dark Angel - Serial Sunday Review

Dark Angel Book 4 in series by L.J. Smith Genres: Paranormal, Romance,   Young Adult

     This week's Serial Sunday review is a continuation of the Night World series from our featured author. Near death experiences often give people a new lease on life. To realize how one almost cashed in their chips can lead to reflection as to whether they have wasted their life or made the most of it. Gillian realizes that she is in the latter category. The fact that she returns to her life with an angel that has plenty of advice on how to reach her goals helps her immensely.

     In Spellbinder, Smith briefly touched on the theory that we can never have what we want most. As soon as we get what we want, we want something else. Smith exbounds on this theory through Gillian's desire to be popular. Many movies and books have explored the phenomenon of the "popular crowd" and that it really isn't all that it is cracked up to be. Many times those who strive to be popular end up losing themselves and their own personality as they try to fit in. Is this what happens to Gillian? You will have to read this story to find out, I'm not going to ruin it for you.

The Raven by Edgar Allen Poe - Saturday Short Review

The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe Genres: Classics, Poetry

     Poe had written this while his wife was terminally ill and it tells the tale of a sad and lonely man, a specter in the form of the memory of a lost love, and a creepy raven who repeats the same word "nevermore" which echoes the man's thoughts that he will see his love nevermore.

     While The Raven is often associated with felings of creepiness, I honestly found it more sad than eerie. Though I will share something a little creepy about this poem. As I sat down to read it this morning there was a tapping, tapping on my door. But it was a woodpecker and nothing more. I'm serious! It was quite bizarre and more than a little eerie!

     Even if you are not a fan of poetry you cannot help but to admire the rhythm and the cadence of this almost musical poem. I would have to admit that the Kindle version of this book is probably a bit disappointing. While there is a list of the illustrations that accompany the original text, the drawings are not included in he file. From the introduction before the poem, which is actually longer than the work itself, the illustrations are quite noteworthy on their own.

Review of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley Genres: Classic, Horror

     Frankenstein is just TOO good of an example of classic stories for Halloween for me to pass up, even if I have already reviewed it. Here is an excerpt of my original review and a link to it.

     Contrary to popular belief, Frankenstein was NOT a monster. The being that DR. Frankenstein created was never given a name. It can also be argued as to whether or not the being WAS a monster. Also contrary to popular belief Frankenstein is not a monster story. It is a story about prejudice and the emotions and behavior of mankind.

     During the times of the black plague, Dr. Frankenstein was surrounded by death. He discovered a way to create life, but it wasn't easy. He became obsessed with the idea, rarely stopping with his research and experiments to eat or sleep. He was so inamorate with the question of if he COULD create a living being that he didn't question if he SHOULD.

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Second Strike - Review

Second Strike by Ron P. Whittington

     Parker Glynn lost his wife, daughter, and self respect when the towers fell. His apparent goal in life was to drink heavily in an attempt to numb his pain. When he wakes up one morning after passing out on a remote beach in Florida, he sees something that will change more than just his outlook on life.

Read the entire review at A Goddess of Frugality.

Spellbinder - Review

Spellbinder Book Three in series by L. J. Smith Genres: Paranormal, Romance, Young adult

     In this addition to the series we get a detailed look into the lives of Thea and Blaise - the witch cousins of Ash whom we briefly met in Secret Vampire.

     Blaise is a wild temptress likened to the goddess Aphrodite. Her hobbies include toying with human boys, torturing human boys emotionally, and controlling human boys. Oh, she also enjoys making beautiful jewelry which are actually charms and/or spells to aid in her toying, torturing, and controlling of boys.

The Ouijiers - Book Review

The Ouijiers by Matthew Ballotti Genres: Science Fiction, Horror

     In all honestly, I didn't have very high expectations for this book. I had downloaded it out of curiosity because the author is a frequent caller on a pod cast that I listen to, and because it was free. But this book was incredible.

     Paul buys a Ouija board as research for the college paper he is writing for his occult history class. Strange things begin to happen immediately. This story asks the ages old question "Are Ouija boards truly doorways into another plane of existance?" Take this theory one step further and suppose that it is not a one-way doorway and you have the main plot of The Ouijiers.