Review: On Demon Wings (EIT #5) by Karina Halle

On Demon Wings by Karina Halle

Genre: New Adult, Horror, Ghosts, Demons

Buy Links: B&N / Amazon / Book Depository

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Synopsis:

When the life you wanted has crumbled beneath your fingers, there’s nothing left to do but pick up the pieces and soldier on. You’ve done this before.

But what happens when you no longer feel like yourself anymore? When fires spontaneously start-up around you, when you hear growling coming from underneath your bed, and you no longer recognize your face in the mirror. What happens then?

Ghost-hunter Perry Palomino doesn’t have much time to find out. Now, the evil she used to hunt is a lot closer to home. It’s inside of her, taking over her life bit-by-terrifying bit, and there’s only one person who can help her.

If part of her doesn’t kill him first.

Review:

I don’t understand why this scary and creepy as hell series isn’t on every shelf in every bookstore in every country around the world! It is one of the best woman friendly horror books out there. And the most well-written one too.

On Demon Wings is part five in the Experiment in Terror series and by far the scariest. Perry Palomino is a Portland girl with special abilities and Dex Foray is a cameraman from Seattle. They somehow end up in a crazy scary situation, they indirectly meet and end up filming an online show called ‘The Experiment in Terror Show’ together. Perry is the host and Dex, the cameraman. Hence, each book is spent at a different location where these two get bloody, bruised and scared just so they can put up a new episode to the show. And all those months spent investigating haunted hotels, apartments, islands and lighthouses ends up attracting really bad for our main character Perry. It was something so bad that this thing followed her home.

The book scared the living daylights out of me. I even had to stop reading for a few hours so I can get the creepy crawly feeling to go away before I dive in again. I have to say, I really missed this series and it’s really good to be back. There is something about the way Halle wrote this series that makes you come back over and over again. There is nothing better than a book that will make you swoon and faint all in one go.

I don’t know how Halle does it but she always comes up with a better and new plot for each book in the series. It was in no way repetitive and you can tell she wants to avoid repeating herself because every time there's a hint of predictability she retaliates with something way out of the box.

And the characters, wow. Talk about realistic, and fifty shades of messed-up. You can’t go wrong with a former junkie and a sort of psychotic.

Overall, On Demon Wings is a brilliant addition to the Experiment in Terror series. Demon possessions, mutilated animals, exorcisms and ghost visits. What can go wrong with that? This is one indie writer everyone has to look out for, she’s hitting it big.

5/5 Stars

Review: Fragile Beings and The Red Hand by Ali Al Saeed

Hey guys, I've been reading short stories outside of my genre a bit and I wanted to share my thoughts with you. Here's my review of a poetic and eerie Bahraini writer, Ali Al Saeed.

Fragile Beings and The Red Hand

Ali Al Saeed

Genre: Fiction / Short Story / Angels / Horror

Format: eBook from author

Buy Links: iTunes Fragile Beings / iTunes The Red Hand

Fragile Beings Synopsis:

In a future world where a mysterious disease transforms humans into another species, one woman tries to come to terms with the loss of her husband.

The Red Hand Synopsis:

A young man returns to his homeland after spending years traveling abroad trying to escape a childhood nightmare, to investigate the mystery of an urban legend that has haunted him for all this time. As he comes to terms with the emotions of being back, he stumbles across a terrifying truth behind The Red Hand.

Review:

Ali was kind enough to offer a copy of Fragile Beings and The Red Hand for me to read. I was thrilled to try out something new and out of my usual genre, so his generosity came at the right time! I finished both books in one sitting and absolutely loved The Red Hand and I found Fragile Beings beautifully written.

Fragile Beings was poetic, descriptive, and beautiful. It made me want to read more into the story of the Angel who came back home after his transformation when no one ever comes back from this. The end came too quick, and left me wanting more. I’m disappointed it was so short. I definitely wanted to read more about the wife of an Angel.

The Red Hand, on the other hand, was amazing. At first, I was weirded out because I have never read anything with Bahrain as the location and scenario of a book and in places I know so well. The feeling didn’t go away and I think it added to the level of creepiness that the book had and gave me.  It’s safe to say, Al Saeed knows his stuff and being an award-winning author shows in every aspect of his writing. I absolutely loved the concept of The Red Hand, the writing style, and the perfect balance of details and simplicity. I feel this short story said so much in so few pages. I’m in awe and I can’t help but say, this short story should be turned into a mini movie.

Ali Al Saeed has what it takes to make Bahrain proud with his brilliant writing. I’m looking forward to seeing him shine at a global level. I have a feeling it will be soon.

Review: Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion

Warm Bodies

by Isaac Marion
Genre: Horror, Romance
Format: Audiobook

Buy: Barnes & Noble / Amazon / Book Depository

Synopsis:

'R' is a zombie. He has no name, no memories and no pulse, but he has dreams. He is a little different from his fellow Dead.

Amongst the ruins of an abandoned city, R meets a girl. Her name is Julie and she is the opposite of everything he knows - warm and bright and very much alive, she is a blast of colour in a dreary grey landscape. For reasons he can't understand, R chooses to save Julie instead of eating her, and a tense yet strangely tender relationship begins.

This has never happened before. It breaks the rules and defies logic, but R is no longer content with life in the grave. He wants to breathe again, he wants to live, and Julie wants to help him. But their grim, rotting world won't be changed without a fight...

Review:

This book has recently turned into a movie and here I am writing a review about the book six months later. I took the liberty in getting the audiobook instead since I don't have much time to actually pick up a book anymore.

The movie portrayed the R and Julie as teenagers. But in the books, it seemed like R was a little bit over his twenties and as for Julie, I'm not sure. The audiobook was very strange and choppy. I've listened to many audiobooks this year and this is the first time a book was actually choppy and confusing. There are many times throughout the entire book that I felt that I was missing a piece or R was M and M is Julia. The voices weren't very distinct and the whole thing was just a jumbled mess of thoughts and words and instances.

The thing about the book was that the storyline actually worked and could even be realistic. It wasn't just about the romance, it was more than that. The Zombies are coming back to life and the Bonies (Skeleton versions of Zombies) are trying to find a way to stop the corpses from coming back to life and well stay dead and brain-hungry.

The book was a lot more graphic, realistic and held scenes and characters that really added in the spice to the entire thing. Aside from the changes here and there, the movie actually stayed true to the book.

Overall, as much as I wanted to really love the book, I only ended up just enjoying it with an "it was okay" in my head. I didn't feel much of for the characters nor the storyline. For me, I felt that it lacked a little something. I guess, after reading Feed by Mira Grant. I can't bring myself to love any other zombie book but Feed.

3.5/5 Stars

Review: Feed (Newsflash #1) by Mira Grant

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Genre: Horror, Zombies, Paranormal

Format: Paperback

Buy: Amazon / Book Depository / Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

The year was 2014. We had cured cancer. We had beat the common cold. But in doing so we created something new, something terrible that no one could stop. The infection spread, virus blocks taking over bodies and minds with one, unstoppable command: FEED.

Now, twenty years after the Rising, Georgia and Shaun Mason are on the trail of the biggest story of their lives-the dark conspiracy behind the infected. The truth will out, even if it kills them. FEED is the electrifying and critically acclaimed novel of a world a half-step from our own---a novel of geeks, zombies, politics and social media.

Review:

If mankind cures cancer and the common cold, what happens next? What other "diseases" are men going to concoct so they can do something else with their lives?

Well, readers, it's 2040 in Feed and mankind have been free from the common cold and cancer for over 26 years. But to compensate for the curing them, mankind somehow creates/discovers a new virus that is named Kellis-Amberlee or K. A. for short. This virus is numbs pain, dulls out your brain and memories, and replaces it with the never-ending urge to feed off any meat you can get your hands on. Yes, you guessed it. Zombies.

You can't imagine how awe-inspiring, breathtaking and realistic Feed is. The whole alternative universe Mira Grant has set for us is beyond amazing. It shows us the world that could be our future, or not. It starts off with the typical diseases we have now being cured and then the Kellis-Amberlee (K.A) virus comes out right after. The reactions that people had when the virus came out weren't frightened and panic. People laughed and thought it was all some sort of joke. In our age, who wouldn't laugh and joke at that.

Georgia & Shaun Mason are siblings/twins who always have each others back. Their love and bond is forged by the fact that they were orphans who live their lives just for each other. Georgia watches Shaun's back while he pokes zombies with a stick and Shaun changes the light bulbs for Georgia when her eyes are getting too irritated by the light in the room. They're inseparable and depend so much on each other it's scary to think if one of them dies.

I absolutely love each and every character in this book. They're all compelling and the people in the book that will keep you glued to its pages.

For me, the book kept a balance of fast and slow pacing. The details and the world within Feed is just something that needs to sink in before moving onto the next book. The details, and conversations held a lot of tech terminology that I understood (Thank goodness). I fear that this book has some chapters that may be a little bit too much for some untechy readers out there. Also, Mira Grant goes into details about the politics and the way journalism works in this new era on earth.

Overall, this book is the best read I’ve had all year (for now), even if I was bawling like a child at the end. Mira is so cruel to her characters! Throughout the entire book I developed my own bond with the heart of the book, Georgia and Shaun that I couldn’t take it if one of them gets into trouble they can’t get out of. I had to stop reading for a while because I just couldn’t get over what happened at the end of the book. Mira Grant is cruel and because of that, I don’t think I’ll pick up the rest of the books any time soon.

Review: The Devil's Metal (Devil's #1) by Karina Halle

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Title: The Devil's Metal (Devil's #1) 
Author: Karina Halle
Genre: New Adult, Horror, Paranormal
Format: eBook ARC
Buy: Amazon / The Book Depository / Barnes & Noble



It’s the summer of 1974 and 21-year old Dawn Emerson has only three things she wants to do: compete one last time in the Ellensburg Rodeo, win back her ex-boyfriend Ryan, and become the best damn music journalist at Central Washington University. But all her plans are left in the dust when she’s contacted by Creem magazine to go on the road with one of her favorite groups, the up-and-coming metal band, Hybrid.

At first the assignment reads like a dream come true. Not only will Dawn land some much-needed credibility as a female music journalist, but she’ll finally get to experience life from the other side of the stage, and maybe crack the drunken, enigmatic code that is guitarist Sage Knightly. Instead, Dawn finds herself on an aging tour bus filled with ego-maniacs, band politics and a whole lot of sex, drugs and rock n’ roll. When monsters start showing up in dressing rooms and some of Sage’s groupies become increasingly strange and dangerous, Dawn discovers the band is not only going places – they’re going straight to Hell.

And Dawn has a backstage pass.

If a non-self-help book could inspire me to write. It would hands-down be this one. The amazing writing style of Halle brought back my worries about reviewing books by experienced writers. What gives me, a lone reader and reviewer, the right to criticize a book that was brilliantly written by an amazing author like Karina Halle? That's one question that will always be left unanswered.

The Devil's Metal contains the basic four things of the 1970's, alcohol, drugs, sex and rock'n'roll. The four things that was basically shunned by many during that time (if I am not mistaken). And the four things that brought this book to life. And the fact that the book was almost based on the authors real experiences, made the storyline even more intriguing.

Dawn is a writer and a music lover. And if you mix them together, you'll have a very talented music journalist, who gets a chance to go on tour and document her favorite band's experiences on this particular tour. I loved Dawn, she is the brave person I'd like to be one day (minus the four basic things of the 1970's) and the kind of writer I'd love to be. Reading her story made me experience so much without even going through it in real life. And that is all thanks to Karina Halle's fabulous detailing writing skills!

The book is categorized as Paranormal as well as New Adult. New Adult, I got the moment I began the book but Paranormal element in the book was vague until the end when things are explained to Dawn (Demons!). Which was different and definitely the kind of different that I love experiencing. Likewise, the best element of the book was how realistic life on a metal tour is like and the fact that it was based in the late 1970's made it all even better.

In the end, The Devil's Metal in itself is a soul-sucking book that is simply unputdownable. Everything Karina Halle writes leaves us at the most annoying cliffhanger and all together, books that sparks up an addiction that I don't think is healthy. I absolutely loved the Devil's Metal and everything written by Karina and with that I've got one more thing to say: Karina, You better be planning to release the sequel very soon!

Review: Bitten by Dan O' Brien

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Title: Bitten
Author: Dan O' Brien
Started: 22/05/12
Finished: 28/05/12
Genre: Horror, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Createspace
Format: Paperback from Author
Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble




A predator stalks a cold northern Minnesotan town. There is talk of wolves walking on two legs and attacking people in the deep woods. Lauren Westlake, resourceful and determined F.B.I Agent, has found a connection between the strange murders in the north and a case file almost a hundred years old. Traveling to the cold north, she begins an investigation that spirals deep into the darkness of mythology and nightmares. Filled with creatures of the night and an ancient romance, the revelation of who hunts beneath the moon is more grisly than anyone could have imagined.

FBI Agent Lauren Westlake has a knack for investigating cold cases that seem to pop up again spontaneously in different parts of the U.S. Her new case leads her to a cold northern Minnesotan town, where a string of murders occurred. As the investigation gets deeper, everything starts to seem...  supernatural.



I won't consider this book as a complete paranormal book. It seemed more plain fiction with a touch of paranormal, horror and suspense. To be honest, the book didn't seem so into suspense, it was more gorey than anything else. Definitely not a book for the faint-hearted.

The moment I hit the second chapter, I was lost. The way the book was narrated was very confusing, I even thought one of the main characters died because of the lack of distinction when introducing a new narration into the chapter. It was frustrating when I had to read back and try to get what was going on.

The writing style was different from what I'm used to. I didn't like it much. But the plot was stern and so were the side characters. The primary characters were easy to connect to but a long the way, I began to 'disconnect' from them. They weren't constructed well, and I just didn't care much for them along the way. Their dialogue didn't seem right for the type of the book but for some reason the secondary characters was well portrayed compared to the primary characters.

Bitten is an interesting indie book based on werewolves. Though I didn't like some bits of the book, I did enjoy the light romance, and the secondary characters. Due to its gorey content, I don't recommend this to the faint hearted, but maybe to the adventurous reader.

Thank you Dan for the signed copy! I appreciate it! Keep writing. :D

RATING: 2.5/5 stars (I don't have a rating star for 2.5, need to make one :D)