The Buzz: Customer Reviews 11/10/09

THE BITCHFIGHT by Michael Arnzen

Avg. Customer Rating:
[Rating:4/5]

With Bitchfight, Michael A. Arnzen has written another tale which is both horrific and poignant. The plot is just as compelling as the characters who propel the story. In the hands of a lesser writer, The Bitchfight could be absurd, but Arnzen proves his mastery of the subject matter, making the reader care about the “animals” as well as the vet forced to care for them. And the ending…well, you’ve got to read it.

reviewed by: Erik Smith

DEMONICA AND THE DREAM HOUSE by Patrick Kill

Avg. Customer Rating:
[Rating:4.5/5]

Wow. I just read this little tale and enjoyed it very much, although now I feel like I need a shower. Patrick Kill (Shane Staley) has a knack for combining humor, horror, the bizarre, and depravity to make a nice little siction cocktail. This story is no exception. If you like both your horror and your sex hardcore, then this tale is for you. Highly recommended.

reviewed by: Mark Webb

GROANING SHADOWS by Paul Finch

Avg. Customer Rating:
[Rating:4/5]

Groaning Shadows by Paul Finch is a nice collection of his longer work. Published by Gary Friar Press, this book features four novellas and one short story. All of the tales are well-written and nicely suspenseful, if somewhat skewed by their Brit flavor and language. Nevertheless, a well-produced offering which I highly recommend!

reviewed by: William C. Rasmussen

BLACK INK HORROR ISSUE #5

Avg. Customer Rating:
[Rating:5/5]

Wonderful digest style fiction and poetry magazine. Standouts include: Playing Dead, The Farmer’s Child, Surviving the Holidays, The Self Portrait, A Hand-Made Christmas, A Tale of Terror. While not all the stories are great, they are good, solid stories. Highly recommended.

reviewed by: Mark Webb

THE CYESOLAGNIAC by Edward Lee

Avg. Customer Rating:
[Rating:5/5]

I received this yesterday and started reading almost immediately. I finished it today and have to say I really enjoyed it. While it has its visceral moments it isn’t over the top like Header. A great addition to Sideshow Press’s catalog. Gordon Heyton is a 3-dimensional character with assets and liabilities like the rest of us. Nice ending. Highly recommended.

reviewed by: Mark Webb

KINGDOM OF SHADOWS by Greg F. Gifune

Avg. Customer Rating:
[Rating:5/5]

Kingdom of Shadows, Greg Gifune’s offering from Darkside Digital, is another fine novella from this amazing, prolific author! With a tip of the hat to the 1990′s movie, Jacob’s Ladder, Gifune crams a deep, involving tale of criminals, demons, and psychological experimentation into just 85 pages! Highly recommended!

reviewed by: William C. Rasmussen

This is my first shot of Gifune’s work. I liked the grittiness of the story, for sure. The previous reviewer mentioned Jacob’s Ladder, which is a good comparison. I will add that there were also elements (believe it or not) of Event Horizon. Obviously not sci-fi but the darkness was very comparable in my opinion. This is well worth the price so check it out. Now. Go on. Quit reading reviews and download this sucker! Go. Highly recommended.

reviewed by: Mark Webb

Also my first taste of Gifune and it was sweet indeed, I’ll definitely be back for more. Gifune’s a masterful writer, and the story unfolds in a way, going back and forth between past and present (or is it?) in a way that is really intriguing and keeps you reading on to find out just what is happening to Rooster. A masterful, satisfying read.

reviewed by: Mark Gunnells

BOOK OF SOULS by Jack Ketchum

Avg. Customer Rating:
[Rating:3/5]

I think this is a neat chapbook here. I’ve been a fan of Ketchum for awhile and reading this brings you a little closer to him in a way. One thing that interests me, almost more than the stories themselves, is the inspiration and ideas behind the works of fiction. And with this chapbook you get to see a behind the scenes, in a way. You get to see a bit deeper into the author’s mind. So I enjoyed Books of Souls but I can see how this wouldn’t be just anyone’s “thing” for reading. But if you are a fan of Ketchum do yourself a favor and give this a shot. Oh, and Bloodletting does another amazing job with this chapbook, the cover alone looks just fantastic. Just wanted to throw that in there too.

reviewed by: David Dickey