horror

BOOK REVIEW: Cthulhu Comes to the Vampire Kingdom by Cameron Pierce

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Title: Cthulhu Comes to the Vampire Kingdom

Author: Cameron Pierce

Book Length: 172 pages

Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

Genre: Fiction, Bizarro Fiction, Horror, Fantasy, Lovecraftian, Vampires

Read Start Date: June 17, 2023

Read Finish Date: June 22, 2023

Brief Summary of the Plot from Goodreads: Franz and Lola are vampires in love. They live in a cottage near the sea with their little vampire baby.

Burn Girl is a lonely girl who walks along the bottom of the sea, constantly on fire. The water doesn’t put her fire out or soothe her burns. It only makes her feel like she’s wearing an itchy wool sweater.

Bruno is the buffest vampire. He is building Muscle Island, a floating fortress comprised of mussels.

The Vampire Science Council has been working for centuries to prevent the depletion of their arctic planet’s blood supply, but the blood has finally run out.

Cyrus Lugosi’s friends want to slaughter him as part of a ritual sacrifice that will raise Cthulhu from his tomb at the bottom of the sea. There are just two The closest thing to the Necronomicon they’ve got is a unicorn coloring book, and Cthulhu is more interested in his quest for the perfect hamburger.

Their fates will converge when Cthulhu Comes to the Vampire Kingdom .

My Review: This is a hard review to write. I got this book from the library, having never heard of it before. What called my attention to it at first was the name Cthulhu in the title. While I have several Lovecraft books on my shelf, I have not yet read them, and was intrigued about the author’s take on this Lovecraftian character.

I was pretty quickly turned off from the moment I started reading. Franz and Lola are a vampire couple, who have a vampire baby. In the first few lines, the baby is dead, Lola has drunk his blood, and the pair have dismembered the baby’s corpse. There was no emotions felt from either parent, and as a parent myself, I was not amused. I know its supposed to “bizarre” or whatever, but it just didn’t sit well with me.

Then they decide to use the baby’s body to summon Cthulhu in hopes of saving their dying planet. The results of the summoning are not what they expected, which leads to even more superfluous scenes of violence (like cutting up dozens of vampires to make one large mega vampire to fight Cthulhu).

There were many such scenes where I wanted to gag.

I am not a person who can put down a book once starting it, so I reluctantly kept reading, but it was slow going.

Stats: As of writing this review (August 8, 2023), this book has a 3.81 rating on Goodreads. My 2 stars therefore falls rather far from the average reader of this book. So, while I will not recommend it, that doesn’t mean it isn’t a good book, or that you might feel differently upon reading it.

Recommended? No.

BOOK REVIEW: The Stranger Times by C.K. McDonnell

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Title: The Stranger Times

Author: C.K. McDonnell

Book Length: 424 pages

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Genre: Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, Mystery, Crime, Magic

Read Start Date: May 28, 2023

Read Finish Date: June 15, 2023

No. of Book in Series: 1

Brief Summary of the Plot from Goodreads: There are Dark Forces at work in our world (and in Manchester in particular) and so thank God The Stranger Times is on hand to report them. A weekly newspaper dedicated to the weird and the wonderful (but more often the weird) of modern life, it is the go-to publication for the unexplained and inexplicable . . .

At least that’s their pitch. The reality is rather less auspicious. Their editor is a drunken, foul-tempered and
-mouthed husk of a man who thinks little (and believes less) of the publication he edits, while his staff are a ragtag group of wastrels and misfits, each with their own secrets to hide and axes to grind. And as for the assistant editor . . . well, that job is a revolving door – and it has just revolved to reveal Hannah Willis, who’s got her own set of problems.

It’s when tragedy strikes in Hannah’s first week on the job that The Stranger Times is forced to do some serious, proper, actual investigative journalism. What they discover leads them to a shocking realisation: that some of the stories they’d previously dismissed as nonsense are in fact terrifyingly, gruesomely real. Soon they come face-to-face with darker foes than they could ever have imagined. It’s one thing reporting on the unexplained and paranormal but it’s quite another being dragged into the battle between the forces of Good and Evil . . .

My Review: I had never heard of this book and found it sitting on a shelf at the public library. The synopsis was intriguing, so I decided to give it a shot. I am so glad I did. This book is freaking hilarious! It is not often that I find myself laughing out loud while reading, but I definitely did just that several times while reading this book.

Hannah, a newly divorced woman with no job experience, had quite a peculiar job interview for The Stranger Times, a newspaper that reports on the weird, extraordinary, and supernatural event. The editor of the paper, Vincent Banecroft literally shot himself in the foot with an old blunderbus while trying to get one of his employees not to jump from the building (something that he threatens to do every week). The bizarre occurrences didn’t end there, as she soon joined the eccentric team at the newspaper as the “new Tina” a.k.a the new assistant editor.

Hannah’s colleagues were a colorful bunch. Banecroft, known for his foul-smelling and foul-mouthed ways, lived in the office, along with Manny, who had an interesting dress code (if he wore clothes at all, that it). Grace, the office manager, had her hands full managing Banecroft’s temper. Stella, the young runaway teen taken in by Grace was a constant presence even if it wasn’t clear what she actually did at the paper. Reggie served as the paranormal consultant, and Ox was the ufologist and resident “general paranoid.”

Meanwhile, the man standing outside the building, Simon, desperately wanted to work for The Stranger Times but faced a peculiar hurdle with their “No Simon” policy. When he is killed under mysterious circumstance, and the police are left scratching their heads, the newspaper staff takes it upon themselves to solve the case.

In the greater Manchester area, Simon’s death is not the only strange occurrence that the police are investigating. Little does anyone know at the beginning, but magic is afoot and rules of the magical underworld are being broken, leading to chaos in the mortal realm.

This book has it all. Fantasy, crime, mystery and most of all humor. If you haven’t read this book yet, you must!

BOOK REVIEW: The Astronaut Dream Book by William Pauley III

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Title: The Astronaut Dream Book

Author: William Pauley III

Audiobook Length: 2 hours and 1 minute

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Genre: Fiction, Bizarro Fiction, Horror, Novella

Read Start Date: July 6, 2023

Read Finish Date: July 8, 2023

Number of Book in Series: 3

Brief Summary of the Plot from Goodreads:  A poisoned man dreams of astronauts.

My Reivew: I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. In The Astronaut Dream Book, we are granted a fascinating glimpse into the psyche of a poisoned man trapped within the confines of the enigmatic Eighth Block Tower. Through his dreams, we are taken on an otherworldly journey where he envisions himself as an astronaut, but these dreams are far from serene. Instead, the astronaut finds himself bombarded with negative waves, creating a haunting and surreal experience (including a weird church on an abandoned planet).

When the astronaut finally awakens from his reverie, the narrative skillfully transitions back to the Tower, seamlessly connecting with a familiar scene. Here, we encounter the young boy who was bitten in the first book, further deepening the interwoven nature of the stories. The tension mounts as the boy rushes to his mother, and we brace ourselves for a confrontation between her and the imprisoned man. The intricate web of connections within the Eighth Block Tower continues to unfold, captivating us with its strangeness.

One of the standout features of the book is undoubtedly the superb narration and masterful descriptions. The author’s ability to paint vivid and evocative scenes with words left an indelible impression on my mind. Each sentence is crafted with precision, immersing us fully into the surreal world of dreams and the ominous reality of the Tower.

Another highly recommended installment of the Bedlam Bible series.

Other Books in the Series (that I have read):

See my review of The Tower here.

See my review of Fight Tub here.

See my review of The Ballad of Old Joe Booth here.

Reviews Published
Professional Reader
10 Book Reviews

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

BOOK REVIEW: The Ballad of Old Joe Booth (A Song for Eighth Block) by William Pauley III

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Title: The Ballad of Old Joe Booth (A Song for Eighth Block)

Author: William Pauley III

Audiobook Length: 45 minutes

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Genre: Fiction, Bizarro Fiction, Horror, Novella

Read Start Date: May 23, 2023

Read Finish Date: May 23, 2023

Number of Book in Series: 5

Brief Summary of the Plot from Goodreads:  Some monsters are impossible to see. This is The Ballad of Old Joe Booth. An epic poem in four parts. A song for Eighth Block.

My Review: I received this audiobook from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is the 5th book in the Bedlam Bible series, but I haven’t read book 2 or 3 yet because they were archived on Netgalley before I had a chance to download them. In any event, it isn’t necessary to have read the previous books, as this one is stand-alone.

The Ballad of Old Joe Booth is a captivating tale narrating the genesis of the enigmatic cosmic horror entity known as Old Joe Booth. The Bedlam Bible, an extraordinary compilation encompassing every book in the series, holds the key to Old Joe Booth’s demise. Learning of its existence, and the potential fatal nature of the Bedlam Bible, Old Joe is prompted to embark on a relentless quest to eradicate this ominous tome. With its evocative descriptions and thrilling narrative, this eerie and delightful short story by William Pauley III is yet another resounding success.

Other Books in the Series (that I have read)

Title: The Tower

Author: William Pauley III

Audiobook Length: 2 hours and 23 minutes

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Genre: Fiction, Horror, Short Story

Read Start Date: January 27, 2023

Read Finish Date: January 31, 2023

Number of Book in Series: 1

Brief Summary of the Plot from Goodreads: Something is happening to the residents of Eighth Block Tower…

There’s radiation in the walls. Salt covers the hallways. The food and water are poisonous. A giant green brain pulsates under the roof, pumping electric venom throughout the apartment building. The residents are trapped and losing their minds.

Sanity is a myth. Sickness is life.

See my review of The Tower here.

Title: Fight Tub

Author: William Pauley III

Audiobook Length: 2 hours and 45 minutes

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Genre: Fiction, Bizarro Fiction, Horror, Novella

Read Start Date: May 6, 2023

Read Finish Date: May 8, 2023

Number of Book in Series: 4

Brief Summary of the Plot from Goodreads:  The story of a man who became his bathroom.

See my review of Fight Tub here.

Reviews Published
Professional Reader
10 Book Reviews

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

BOOK REVIEW: The Fungus by Harry Adam Knight

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Title: The Fungus

Author: Harry Adam Knight

Book Length: 192 pages

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Genre: Fiction, Horror, Science Fiction, Novella

Read Start Date: April 28, 2023

Read Finish Date: May 5, 2023

Brief Summary of the Plot from Goodreads: When a brilliant scientist seeking to solve the problem of world hunger tries to create giant mushrooms through genetic manipulation, what could possibly go wrong?

The mutated spores escape the lab and spread across all of England. Toadstools grow to twenty feet tall, and a case of athlete’s foot can mean a grisly and horrible death.

But those who die quickly are the lucky ones. Those who survive infection by the fungus will be transformed into something unthinkably monstrous …
​
With a perfect mix of nightmarish horror and black humor, Harry Adam Knight’s cult classic The Fungus (1985) will grow on you. This edition features a foreword by the author.

My Review: The Fungus is a 1985 science fiction horror novel by Harry Adam Knight, a pseudonym of John Brosnan. The novel tells the story of a genetically modified fungus that escapes from a laboratory and begins to spread across England, quickly mutating and becoming increasingly deadly.

The novel begins with the introduction of Jane Wilson, a brilliant mycologist who is working on a project to create a new type of fungus that can be used to produce food. She hopes to create a mushroom that will end world hunger. Wilson is successful in creating an enzyme that when coming into contact with fungus, grows it to enormous proportions. She accidentally lets it escape the lab, causing widespread panic throughout England.

As the fungus spreads, it begins to mutate even further. It grows to enormous sizes, and it becomes increasingly deadly. People who are infected by the fungus begin to suffer from a variety of symptoms, including hallucinations, fever, and skin lesions. Depending on the type of fungus that came into contact with people, some are entirely consumed, while others are forced into a grotesque mutation / symbiosis with the fungus. In most case, eventually, the infection kills them.

The British government is quickly overwhelmed by the fungus. The military is unable to contain it, and the country is soon in chaos. People are forced to flee their homes, and food and water become scarce. The government eventually decides to quarantine England, and the country is cut off from the rest of the world.

The novel follows the efforts of a group of survivors as they try to find a way to stop the fungus. The group includes Jane’s husband, a former mycologist named Barry Wilson, a psychotic soldier named Terence Slocock, and a woman named Kimberley. The group travels across England, on a mission to get to Jane’s lab to find her notes. They hope that if they can figure out how she created the fungus, they can find a way to stop it.

I had never heard of this book before I saw it on the shelves of my local library. The Fungus is a terrifying and suspenseful novel that will keep you up at night. At times, the depictions of the mushroom infested humans was grotesque and gag worthy. The novel is well-written and suspenseful. The author does a great job of building up the tension and creating a sense of dread. The characters are well-developed and believable. The novel is also very thought-provoking. It makes you think about the dangers of scientific experimentation and the hubris of man.

Even though written in 1985, the topic of world hunger and scientists trying to find a solution, is still relevant today.

Overall, The Fungus is a great read that will stay with you long after reading it. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys science fiction horror novels.

BOOK REVIEW: Fight Tub by William Pauley III

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Title: Fight Tub

Author: William Pauley III

Audiobook Length: 2 hours and 45 minutes

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Genre: Fiction, Bizarro Fiction, Horror, Novella

Read Start Date: May 6, 2023

Read Finish Date: May 8, 2023

Number of Book in Series: 4

Brief Summary of the Plot from Goodreads:  The story of a man who became his bathroom.

My Review:

I received this audiobook from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is the 4th book in the Bedlam Bible series, but I haven’t read book 2 or 3 yet because they were archived on Netgalley before I had a chance to download them. In any event, it isn’t necessary to have read the previous books, as this one is stand-alone.

In this book, we revisit the 8th Block Tower, the peculiar structure where individuals (strange and sometimes mutated) reside for their entire existence despite the radiation in its walls. The plot follows a cluster of office employees stationed within the building, who gradually transform into a bathroom.

The protagonist wakes up one morning to discover that he is changing into his tub. When he shows up to work covered in bandages, his colleague is convinced that he is part of some fight club (hence the book name, Fight Tub). What could be worse than turning into your bathroom? Merging with the toilet bowl comes to mind. The fact that this disease seems to be contagious is a close second. Soon, the entire office is infected and changing.

Throw in a little love story and a cantankerous boss, and you’ve got yourself a great story! This story may be bizarre, but it is also really fun and hilarious. How does the author come up with this stuff? Another great book by William Pauley III and a definite must-read!

Other Books in the Series (that I have read)

Title: The Tower

Author: William Pauley III

Audiobook Length: 2 hours and 23 minutes

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Genre: Fiction, Horror, Short Story

Read Start Date: January 27, 2023

Read Finish Date: January 31, 2023

Number of Book in Series: 1

Brief Summary of the Plot from Goodreads: Something is happening to the residents of Eighth Block Tower…

There’s radiation in the walls. Salt covers the hallways. The food and water are poisonous. A giant green brain pulsates under the roof, pumping electric venom throughout the apartment building. The residents are trapped and losing their minds.

Sanity is a myth. Sickness is life.

See my review of The Tower here.

Reviews Published
Professional Reader
10 Book Reviews

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

BOOK REVIEW: Hounds of the Underworld by Dan Rabarts and Lee Murray

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Title: Hounds of the Underworld

Author: Dan Rabarts and Lee Murray

Audiobook Length: 8 hours and 18 minutes

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Genre: Fiction, Horror, Paranormal, Crime, Mystery

Read Start Date: April 21, 2023

Read Finish Date: April 24, 2023

No. of Book in Series: 1

Brief Summary of the Plot from Goodreads:  On the verge of losing her laboratory, her savings, and all respect for herself, Pandora (Penny) Yee lands her first contract as scientific consult to the police department. And with seventeen murder cases on the go, the surly inspector is happy to leave her to it. Only she’s going to need to get around, and that means her slightly unhinged adopted brother, Matiu, will be doing the driving. But something about the case spooks Matiu, something other than the lack of a body in the congealing pool of blood in the locked room or that odd little bowl.

Matiu doesn’t like anything about this case, from the voices that screamed at him when he touched that bowl, to the way his hateful imaginary friend Makere has come back to torment him, to the fact that the victim seems to be tied up with a man from Matiu’s past, a man who takes pleasure in watching dogs tear each other to pieces for profit and entertainment.

Hounds of the Underworld blends mystery, near-future noir and horror. Set in New Zealand it’s the product of a collaboration by two Kiwi authors, one with Chinese heritage and the other Māori. This debut book in The Path of Ra series offers compelling new voices and an exotic perspective on the detective drama.

My Review: I received this audiobook from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Hounds of the Underworld is about siblings Matiu and Penny, who team up to solve a man’s disappearance. Penny, on the brink of losing her laboratory, is hired by the police for her services, and Matiu, her adopted Maori brother, tags along to the crime scene. Accidentally touching a bloodied bowl on the floor, Matiu hears a cacophony of screams in his head and wakes up his childhood imaginary friend, Makere. The siblings are thrust into a dark world of dog fighting, murder, and supernatural forces.

With respect to the audiobook recording, I really loved listening to the New Zealand accents of the narrators. The book includes a list of Maori terms that were used throughout the book, but I didn’t find it helpful in the audiobook version. With a paperback, you could flip to the back to see the definition, but by the end of the audiobook, it was already too late.

The dog fighting ring depicted in the story may be a trigger for dog lovers — it was for me. I was ready to cry at some points in the book and I was not happy that the authors didn’t do more to at least have a happy ending for a certain dog I have in mind.

The book starts off slow, focusing on the siblings’ relationship, but picks up pace in the last half and ends on a cliffhanger. Since this book was first published in 2017 (I think the audiobook format was just released), the 2nd and 3rd books in the trilogy are already published and available. I already have a long list of books on my “TBR” list this year, but I will definitely be adding the next books for reading in the future.

Reviews Published
Professional Reader
10 Book Reviews

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

BOOK REVIEW: The Sandman Vol. 4: Season of Mists by Neil Gaiman

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Title: The Sandman Vol. 4: Season of Mists

Author: Neil Gaiman

Book Length: 202 Pages

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Genre: Fiction, Comics, Fantasy, Horror, Graphic Novels

Read Start Date: April 14, 2023

Read Finish Date: April 17, 2023

No. of Book in Series: 4

Brief Summary of the Plot From Goodreads: Ten thousand years ago, Morpheus condemned a woman who loved him to Hell. Now the other members of his immortal family, The Endless, have convinced the Dream King that this was an injustice. To make it right, Morpheus must return to Hell to rescue his banished love — and Hell’s ruler, the fallen angel Lucifer, has already sworn to destroy him.

Collects THE SANDMAN #21-28.

My Review: In the prologue, Dream’s sibling Destiny calls a family meeting. During the meeting, the siblings squabble, and they call Dream out for basically being a jerk, and having sentenced his once lover Nada to hell because she rejected him. Morpheus’s reflections on the past, and a push from Death, lead him to realize that he has made mistakes in the past and that he needs to make amends. He decides to embark on a journey to Hell to confront its ruler, Lucifer, and seek a way to free Nada from her eternal damnation.

Dream heads to hell, only to discover that Lucifer has closed Hell, kicking out all the dead humans and demons and gives the keys to Morpheus. As news of Lucifer’s abdication spreads, various supernatural entities, including demons, angels, and gods, flock to Dream to try to persuade him to give them the keys. Morpheus must navigate through the chaos and decide who is worthy of ruling Hell.


This volume was much better than Volume 3. The storyline was full of imaginative and peculiar elements, and it was presented as a cohesive narrative that progressed seamlessly from episode to episode. The volume was structured more like a novel than Volume 3, which featured disjointed, unrelated stories. Additionally, the 30-year anniversary edition included an enjoyable fictional author and illustrator biography at the end of the book that added to my overall enjoyment of the volume.

Previous Books in the Series

Title: The Sandman Vol. 3: Dream Country

Author: Neil Gaiman

Book Length: 232 Pages

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Genre: Fiction, Comics, Fantasy, Horror, Graphic Novels

Read Start Date: April 9, 2023

Read Finish Date: April 14, 2023

No. of Book in Series: 3

Brief Summary of the Plot from Goodreads:  The third book of the Sandman collection is a series of four short comic book stories. In each of these otherwise unrelated stories, Morpheus serves only as a minor character. Here we meet the mother of Morpheus’s son, find out what cats dream about, and discover the true origin behind Shakespeare’s A Midsummer’s Night Dream. The latter won a World Fantasy Award for best short story, the first time a comic book was given that honor.

See my review of Volume 3 here.

Title: The Sandman Vol. 2: The Doll’s House

Author: Neil Gaiman

Book Length: 232 Pages

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Genre: Fiction, Comics, Fantasy, Horror, Graphic Novels

Read Start Date: March 27, 2023

Read Finish Date: March 30, 2023

No. of Book in Series: 2

Brief Summary of the Plot from Goodreads: New York Times best-selling author Neil Gaiman’s transcendent series SANDMAN is often hailed as the definitive Vertigo title and one of the finest achievements in graphic storytelling. Gaiman created an unforgettable tale of the forces that exist beyond life and death by weaving ancient mythology, folklore and fairy tales with his own distinct narrative vision.

During Morpheus’s incarceration, three dreams escaped the Dreaming and are now loose in the waking world. At the same time, a young woman named Rose Walker is searching for her little brother. As their stories converge, a vortex is discovered that could destroy all dreamers, and the world itself.

See my review of Volume 2 here.

Title: The Sandman Vol. 1: Preludes & Nocturnes

Author: Neil Gaiman

Book Length: 240 Pages

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Genre: Fiction, Comics, Fantasy, Horror, Graphic Novels

Read Start Date: March 22, 2023

Read Finish Date: March 26, 2023

No. of Book in Series: 1

Brief Summary of the Plot from Goodreads: New York Times best-selling author Neil Gaiman’s transcendent series THE SANDMAN is often hailed as the definitive Vertigo title and one of the finest achievements in graphic storytelling. Gaiman created an unforgettable tale of the forces that exist beyond life and death by weaving ancient mythology, folklore and fairy tales with his own distinct narrative vision.

In PRELUDES & NOCTURNES, an occultist attempting to capture Death to bargain for eternal life traps her younger brother Dream instead. After his 70 year imprisonment and eventual escape, Dream, also known as Morpheus, goes on a quest for his lost objects of power. On his arduous journey Morpheus encounters Lucifer, John Constantine, and an all-powerful madman.

This book also includes the story “The Sound of Her Wings,” which introduces us to the pragmatic and perky goth girl Death.

See my review of Volume 1 here.

BOOK REVIEW: The Sandman Vol. 3: Dream Country by Neil Gaiman

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Title: The Sandman Vol. 3: Dream Country

Author: Neil Gaiman

Book Length: 232 Pages

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Genre: Fiction, Comics, Fantasy, Horror, Graphic Novels

Read Start Date: April 9, 2023

Read Finish Date: April 14, 2023

No. of Book in Series: 3

Brief Summary of the Plot from Goodreads:  The third book of the Sandman collection is a series of four short comic book stories. In each of these otherwise unrelated stories, Morpheus serves only as a minor character. Here we meet the mother of Morpheus’s son, find out what cats dream about, and discover the true origin behind Shakespeare’s A Midsummer’s Night Dream. The latter won a World Fantasy Award for best short story, the first time a comic book was given that honor.

My Review: The Sandman Vol. 3: Dream Country is a collection of four standalone stories featuring the character of Dream, also known as Morpheus, who is the lord of dreams and one of the Endless.

The first story, “Calliope,” follows a struggling writer named Richard Madoc who has resorted to kidnapping and imprisoning a muse named Calliope in order to gain inspiration for his writing. Dream intervenes and teaches Madoc a harsh lesson about the consequences of abusing power and creativity.

This story was probably my least favorite in the collection. I was really disturbed by some aspects, especially the scenes of rape and imprisonment.

The second story, “A Dream of a Thousand Cats,” follows a group of cats who dream of a world where cats rule over humans instead of the other way around. As they share their dream with one another, they discover that their collective dreaming has the power to shape reality and create the world they desire.

I’m a big fan of cats, so this was my favorite in the collection. It really made me wonder whether the cats would succeed and become our overlords in reality (by being larger than humans). Even though anyone with cats can tell you that they are more or less our masters anyhow.

The third story, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” takes place in 1590s England and follows Shakespeare as he prepares to perform his play “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” for the first time. Dream offers to provide him with the best cast possible, including the King and Queen of Faerie, leading to a performance that is truly magical.

I found this story to be a little boring. It wasn’t as engaging or interesting as other stories in the Sandman series. However, the story’s focus on the theater and the performing arts may appeal more to others than it did to me.

The fourth and final story, “Facade,” is about a woman named Element Girl who was granted immortality by a mysterious benefactor. However, she soon realizes that immortality comes with a terrible price as she is trapped in an ever-changing, grotesque appearance. Dream offers her a way out, but it is not what she expects.

This story was okay, and while the premise that eternity can be a curse (rather than something to strive for / achieve) was interesting, I found the pacing rather slow, and there wasn’t too much action.

Other than the story about the cats, I didn’t care too much for the other stories, and the collection as a whole seemed disjointed. The stories varied in tone and plot and didn’t seem to carry the overall plot of Sandman forward.

I would still recommend reading it though if you intend to read on in the series.

Previous Books in the Series

Title: The Sandman Vol. 2: The Doll’s House

Author: Neil Gaiman

Book Length: 232 Pages

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Genre: Fiction, Comics, Fantasy, Horror, Graphic Novels

Read Start Date: March 27, 2023

Read Finish Date: March 30, 2023

No. of Book in Series: 2

Brief Summary of the Plot from Goodreads: New York Times best-selling author Neil Gaiman’s transcendent series SANDMAN is often hailed as the definitive Vertigo title and one of the finest achievements in graphic storytelling. Gaiman created an unforgettable tale of the forces that exist beyond life and death by weaving ancient mythology, folklore and fairy tales with his own distinct narrative vision.

During Morpheus’s incarceration, three dreams escaped the Dreaming and are now loose in the waking world. At the same time, a young woman named Rose Walker is searching for her little brother. As their stories converge, a vortex is discovered that could destroy all dreamers, and the world itself.

See my review of Volume 2 here.

Title: The Sandman Vol. 1: Preludes & Nocturnes

Author: Neil Gaiman

Book Length: 240 Pages

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Genre: Fiction, Comics, Fantasy, Horror, Graphic Novels

Read Start Date: March 22, 2023

Read Finish Date: March 26, 2023

No. of Book in Series: 1

Brief Summary of the Plot from Goodreads: New York Times best-selling author Neil Gaiman’s transcendent series THE SANDMAN is often hailed as the definitive Vertigo title and one of the finest achievements in graphic storytelling. Gaiman created an unforgettable tale of the forces that exist beyond life and death by weaving ancient mythology, folklore and fairy tales with his own distinct narrative vision.

In PRELUDES & NOCTURNES, an occultist attempting to capture Death to bargain for eternal life traps her younger brother Dream instead. After his 70 year imprisonment and eventual escape, Dream, also known as Morpheus, goes on a quest for his lost objects of power. On his arduous journey Morpheus encounters Lucifer, John Constantine, and an all-powerful madman.

This book also includes the story “The Sound of Her Wings,” which introduces us to the pragmatic and perky goth girl Death.

See my review of Volume 1 here.

BOOK REVIEW: How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix

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Title: How to Sell a Haunted House

Author: Grady Hendrix

Audiobook Length: 12 hours and 59 minutes

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Genre: Fiction, Horror, Paranormal, Thriller

Read Start Date: March 28, 2023

Read Finish Date: April 3, 2023

Brief Summary of the Plot from Goodreads: Grady Hendrix takes on the haunted house in a thrilling new novel that explores the way your past—and your family—can haunt you like nothing else.

When Louise finds out her parents have died, she dreads going home. She doesn’t want to leave her daughter with her ex and fly to Charleston. She doesn’t want to deal with her family home, stuffed to the rafters with the remnants of her father’s academic career and her mother’s lifelong obsession with puppets and dolls. She doesn’t want to learn how to live without the two people who knew and loved her best in the world.

Most of all, she doesn’t want to deal with her brother, Mark, who never left their hometown, gets fired from one job after another, and resents her success. Unfortunately, she’ll need his help to get the house ready for sale because it’ll take more than some new paint on the walls and clearing out a lifetime of memories to get this place on the market.

But some houses don’t want to be sold, and their home has other plans for both of them…

 My Review: After the tragic passing of her parents, Louise is forced to return home to handle their estate and confront her estranged brother, Mark. Despite being siblings, they have never seen eye to eye. Louise, the older child, feels her parents favored Mark, leading to resentment. On the other hand, Mark believes that Louise has always had everything handed to her while he’s been left with nothing.

Their parents’ will only exacerbates the situation, leaving everything to Mark except for their mother’s peculiar collection of “artwork,” including unsettling puppets and taxidermy squirrels. While Mark is eager to sell the house, Louise wants to prolong the process by delaying the removal of the “artwork.”

Amidst these family tensions, strange occurrences begin to happen in the house, such as scratching sounds from the attic, televisions turning on when no one is around, and the unsettling movement of the puppets. These supernatural elements set the stage for an unforgettable haunted house story.

The author, Hendrix, skillfully creates an engaging and atmospheric world that draws readers in. The horror elements are genuinely creepy, and the story has plenty of unexpected twists and turns to keep readers on edge.

Overall, How to Sell a Haunted House is a must-read for those who enjoy horror and paranormal stories.