BOOK REVIEW: SOUR CANDY BY KEALAN PATRICK BURKE

“Is this how it’s going to be now? Am I a prisoner in my own home, in my own life?” – Kealan Patrick Burke, Sour Candy NOW, WE’VE all found ourselves in a public situation where we suddenly hear that piercing shriek, that unmistakable wail of a child in the throes of an unrelenting tantrum. […]

BOOK REVIEW: THE DANTE CLUB BY MATTHEW PEARL

“I prefer the society of one faithful person to an association of rapid talkers, who more than anything else seek admiration from one another.” ― Matthew Pearl, The Dante Club The Dante Club marks Matthew Pearl’s debut novel, and it’s impressive. The craftsmanship displayed here is akin to that of a seasoned author. Each page […]

BOOK REVIEW: ECHOES OF THE FORGOTTEN BY MICHAEL NUNN

“Will knew, although he couldn’t always see it, the man wore a menacing smile that raised higher on one side. Will referred to him as The Crooked Man.” – Michael Nunn, Echoes of the Forgotten IT WAS meant to be a fun night etched in their memories, a celebration of new beginnings as they embarked […]

Memorable Reads of 2024

“If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again, there is no use in reading it at all.” – Oscar Wilde A SIGNIFICANT milestone for me in 2024 was releasing my first Gay Paranormal Romance novel, The Night Belongs To Lovers, part of the ghost story-themed “Own-Voices” project: Haunted Hearts. This series features […]

The Trauma Narrative

  WHEN examining the concept of the “Trauma Narrative,” it’s evident that many literary works—spanning genres from horror to romance to dramatic fiction—adhere to a recognizable yet troubling pattern. At the center of these stories often lies a protagonist or antagonist ensnared by a singular, overpowering emotion that casts a shadow over their entire narrative […]

BOOK REVIEW: THE CHAMELEON: BOOK OF SIN 3 BY MATTHEW DANTE

“The hurt and sense of betrayal that Matteo had felt burrowed into his heart and refused to loosen its grip. As time passed, he grew to resent Ares more and more.” – Matthew Dante, The Chameleon   I’VE been eagerly anticipating the full story of Matteo, proprietor of La Maison de Man, and Ares, the […]

Book Review: The Secret Life of Laszlo, Count Dracula By Roderick Anscombe

“I have been trying to kill myself without actually dying.” – Roderick Anscombe, The Secret Life of Laszlo, Count Dracula I first read The Secret Life of Laszlo, Count Dracula during my time at university. I was immediately drawn to its gorgeously gothic cover and had to add it to my Dracula collection. It’s said […]

BOOK REVIEW: AS I SAY BY MATTHEW DANTE

AS I SAY by Matthew Dante is an incredibly gripping M/M Dark Romance Thriller that will hook you immediately. The novel’s tagline, “Sometimes the only person you can trust is the one person you despise the most,” is both chilling and thought-provoking, leaving you with an overwhelming sense of curiosity and intrigue. Not to mention […]

BOOK REVIEW: DROOD BY DAN SIMMONS

  “He was cadaverously thin, almost shockingly pale, and stared at the writer from dark-shadowed eyes set deep under a pale, high brow that melded into a pale, bald scalp. A few strands of graying hair lept out from the sides of this skull-like visage.” –  Dan Simmons, Drood THE NOVEL Drood, by Dan Simmons, is […]

BOOK REVIEW: THE LAST DICKENS BY MATTHEW PEARL

“Surprises, like misfortunes, seldom come alone.” ― Matthew Pearl, The Last Dickens The literary works of Charles Dickens have been widely acclaimed since the 19th century. One of his most famous works is his final, unfinished novel, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, published as sequential instalments. In this era, production in book form often followed serialization, which […]