Gung-Ho Geeks have posted a lengthy, irreverent, frequently funny but also in-depth review of Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Volume 12

 

Gung-Ho Geeks have posted a lengthy, irreverent, frequently funny but also in-depth review of Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Volume 12, which is to be published at the start of May as a paperback and kindle eBook. 

As a side note, Gundrol Ghonardial, the main character in my story in Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Volume 12, "Vampires in Moratt", appears in just one other story: "Mask of a Mad God" in my collection from Tule Fog Press Welgar the Cursed. 

 

DMR Books website shares review of Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Volume 7

Our friends at DMR Books have just shared on their website an excellent review of Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Volume 7 by Richard Fisher, opening with:

"David A. Riley's anthology series certainly has some longevity. With seven volumes to date it has eclipsed several seminal anthology series of the past. As I understand it volume eight will be published later this year with submissions reopening late this year or early next year for volume nine."

In actual fact submissions will open for volume nine on the 1st October for the full calendar month, with publication in November. And volume eight will be published on the 1st May. 

To read the full review click on this link: DMR Books

 

Excellent, in-depth review of Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Volume 1

There is an excellent, in-depth review of Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Volume 1 on James Reasoner's Rough Edge blogsite. To read it in full just click on this link. 

"Overall, I found this volume to be really good, and if you’re a sword and sorcery fan, I think there’s a good chance you’d enjoy it quite a bit, too. I’m definitely planning to read others in the series. This one is available in paperback and e-book editions on Amazon."

First review of Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Volume 7

Craig Herbertson has written and published the first review of Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Volume 7 on his website Heavenmakers. 

"The seventh in the popular sword and sorcery anthology series edited by David A. Riley contains eleven more appetising tales. Dedicated to the late Charles Black and illustrated by Jim Pitts, Parallel Universe Publications continue their policy of welcoming old favourites and newcomers to the world of Fantasy..."

To read the full review, in which he gives detailed comments about each story, click on the link above. 

Although he enjoyed reading all of the stories in this book, he picks out one in particular for special mention: "I don’t often say this. Jon Zaremba’s Prohairesis is stunningly brilliant. It’s a masterpiece. I don’t think I’ve read anything from a relatively new author which I would describe as faultless. This is. It has everything from conceptual genius, perfect plotting and authentic characterisation to brilliance of expression and a genuine original voice. Not a word is wasted, each sentence seamlessly carries the reader along. Prohairesis should win awards."

 

 

 

First review of Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Volume 6

Contributor Craig Herbertson recently posted this review of Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Volume 6:

Off we ride again into other worlds and other times. David A. Riley brings us the sixth volume in the Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy series of anthologies. First up is Dev Agarwal who in “The Land of the Dead”, continues the tale of the Stone Snake and Princess Irene. There is a Moorcockian feel as we enter in and out of dreamscapes. There are great images; I was particularly taken by the Hall of Clocks. I am a sucker for description and Agarwal delivers.

In “The House of Bones” Carson Ray recalls his hero, Knox, whose lopsided grin insouciantly smiles on one and all, particularly when he is cutting one and all into little pieces. Knox springs to life from the pages and his protagonists are colourful, particularly Doctor Grim who is mainly coloured an evil black. A hint of Jack Vance emerges in the use of bones as furniture. Ray has built, with similar invention and craft ,a story that has five stars written all over it.

In “Threnody of Ghosts” The Corlaar Banshees surround the city of Demaghor. Zain, commander of the mercenaries hired to protect the castle, orders the arbalests to fire. Might as well shout at the wind. It’s a story with a poetic thread, poetically told, beginning in an elegant whorehouse and ending in an ethereal mist. Top marks.

My story, Wardark and the Siren Queen, returns to the world of Gobeln and Gauntspider and the quest for a Warlock’s tomb, a quest interrupted by the dismal prospect of a watery death.

Lyndon Perry’s “Otrim” is all about rites of passage. The young boys of the tribe need to make a kill to become men. Tzedron has made his first kill. Otrim is keen to follow in his footsteps. Cozum’ll apparently isn’t. Breathing in magical air offers a vision of the future and it’s not very promising. This is followed by “Gods, Men, and Nephilim”, David Dubrow’s third story in the Swords and Sorceries series and he brings new, vivid characters to the game – Abelia Agelastus Priestes of Tiberinus, Emmer-Yahad of Enoch. While Perry’s “Otrim” is very tribal, Dubrow is very Graeco-Roman. Although neither mode is my particular favourite in the genre (there’s a certain restraint in the use of magic) they are both consistent, polished and well told.

In Scott Mcloskey’s ‘The Golden Witch of Adzekgar’ an aspiring, and somewhat privileged witch, elects to resurrect a champion of the Ysir whose appellation Blood of Ten thousand should have been taken as a hint. This is up with my favourites. From first to last scene you are in the world.

“Raiding the Graveyard of Lost Ships”. Tais Teng, whose haunting illustration accompanies his tale, entertains again with a relaxed and easy prose which makes the unbelievable seem quite believable and the terror almost palatable.

Veteran Andrew Darlington treats us with a longer story. I’ve always been an admirer of Darlington’s imagery which, like malt whiskey only appears better with age. I wish this tale of the immortal Addsiduo Sicarious (or his host) would quietly transmogrify into a novel: Another favourite.

“Those Who Wear Their White Hair Proudly” by Lauren C. Teffeau was first published in 2017 and is only one of Lauren’s impressive bibliography: Sidika is no longer her father’s child, other purposes will guide her life. She doesn’t like it and it’s not going to be easy.

In “Trials for Treasure” Harry Elliot’s splendid prose reads like the Welsh author Kenneth Morris who remains in my top five fantasy authors. What more can I say,

Finally, there’s a reason that Adrian Cole has a story in every volume for the series and “God of the Dreaming Isles” is a pleasant reminder.

Again, the strength is in the variety. There are no duds. And, like a child in a sweet shop, you’ll find it difficult to pick your favourite. But this time I’ll go for “The House of Bones” by Carson Ray. Knox is a stand-out sword and sorcery hero and I can’t wait for his next adventure.

 

Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Volume 6 is available as a paperback and ebook (kindle)

 

amazon.com

amazon.co.uk

 

 

British Fantasy Society review of A Distasteful Horror Story

Great review of Johnny Mains' debut novel A Distasteful Horror Story has just been posted on the British Fantasy Society website.

"His knowledge of and love for the horror genre and its authors shines through, and he also manages to make the reader feel some empathy and sympathy for the protagonist writing from his prison cell. All in all, a great read, and one for the shelves of (almost) any horror fan."

Click on this link to see the full review. 

Ginger Nuts of Horror reviews A Distasteful Horror Story

"A Distasteful Horror Story is an unusual and audacious debut novel, combining Mains’ love of genre with a rollocking and twisty narritive and a payoff that will, I’m sure, be hotly debated for some time to come. I found it to be a disturbing joy to read."

To read the full review click on this link.

Carl Barker's Parlour Tricks reviewed by the British Fantasy Society

Sandra Scholes has reviewed Carl Barker's collection Parlour Tricks on the BFS website.

"What is most noticeable is how well-written the stories are. He doesn’t need a slick introduction from an already well established author to tell others how good he is at the written word. When you read From Chatterton Hill you already tell he can write with a style that both engages and gives you the thought that you will want to continue reading the next story and so on"

To read the full review click onto this link.

Erik Hofstatter's The Crabian Heart reviewed on The Horror Bookshelf

Another great review for Erik Hofstatter's The Crabian Heart, this time on The Horror Bookshelf.
"I really enjoyed The Crabian Heart. There is plenty of horror and fantastical elements throughout, but at its core, The Crabian Heart is a story that almost everyone can relate to. It’s the story of two outsiders dealing with love, heartbreak, and the desire for acceptance. These are topics that touch everyone’s life in one way or another and I think that is what makes this story so engaging."
https://thehorrorbookshelf.com/…/erik-hofstatter-the-crabi…/

Great new review of Mike Chinn's Radix Omnium Malum on SF Crowsnest website

Excellent review of Mike Chinn's collection Radix Omnium Malum on the sfcrowsnest website by Pauline Morgan.

"Some of the stories in this volume need to be read more than once to find the subtleties in the storytelling but, for anyone who wants to spend time with the uncanny and horrific, they will find this volume contains gems."

Benjamin Blake's poetry collection Standing on the Threshold of Madness reviewed on Hellnotes

Brian James Lewis gives a first-rate review of Benjamin Blake's poetry collection, Standing on the Threshold of Madness, on the hellnotes website.

"I don’t think there’s much question as to how I feel about Standing on the Threshold of Madness by Benjamin Blake. But let me just confirm that I really enjoyed reading this awesome collection of poems. In fact, I keep it nearby so that I can dip into the pages occasionally for a fix. If you groove on speculative fiction, the weird, the dark places – you’re going to dig this collection! The flow is great and the subject matter is right."

Bejamin's book is available both as a trade paperback and an ebook.

To read the full review click on this link.

Two New Reviews of Erik Hofstatter's The Crabian Heart

There have been two more great reviews of Erik Hofstatter's highly acclaimed collection, The Crabian Heart.

The first,  On Cedar Hollow Horror Reviews, says: "The Crabian Heart grabs you by the pincers and doesn't let go until the last page. The reader can sense the impending danger, and that doom becomes more evident with every turn of the page. Erik can scare you with a short story or a novella. He is great with both forms. The reader can never predict the outcome of Erik's stories. When you are expecting a right jab, Erik hits you with a left hook right in the feels. The Crabian Heart will creep up on you in the best way. I will never look at crabs the same way again."

The second, on the Horror Maiden's Book Review site, says: "I thoroughly enjoyed the creeping sense of dread that permeates the melancholy atmosphere of this novella. A solid 4 star read."

To read the full reviews please click on the links above. 

 

Carl Barker's Parlour Tricks given a fabulous review on the Horror Review website

An absolutely fabulous review of Carl Barker's collection Parlour Tricks on The Horror Review website by Brian James Lewis.

"Wow! Talk about an interesting short story collection! Carl Barker’s Parlour Tricks is what you are looking for if you enjoy twisted speculative fiction with shocking endings. Not only does this book boast a highly divergent content level, it also ties the stories together by relating them to specific magic tricks in a section called The Inner Circle at the end of the book. At first, I was a little skeptical of that, but it works! The cover art by Luke Spooner draws you into Barker’s clutches and after that it’s time for the magic to begin. Kids, don’t try these at home!"

After discussing several of the stories in more detail, the review ends:

"Would I purchase a copy of Parlour Tricks for myself or a friend? Indeed I would! Every book I’ve read from Parallel Universe Publications is better than the previous one. I’m not just saying that to be nice, either. There is definitely a positive evolution taking place as they grow their catalog of available works. As a reviewer, that is something enjoyable to watch. I totally encourage you to purchase a copy of Carl Barker’s Parlour Tricks in your favorite format today! Please keep in mind that this book is intended for adults and contains material best suited for them. As always, thanks for reading and remember: If you find yourself chained to a breakfast bar with no clothes on, it’s probably the work of a nutty ex-girlfriend. Good Luck!"


To read the full review click on this link.

Haunted Grave & Other Stories by Ezeiyoke Chukwunonso reviewed by the British Fantasy Society

"If you would like something fresh to read with a different perspective to the usual stories that sit on a fantasy shelf then this collection might just be for you." To read the full review by Alex S. Bradshaw, click on this link: BFS review

Another amazing review for Erik Hofstatter's The Crabian Heart - The Grim Reader Reviews

In Grim Reader Reviews:

"The Crabian Heart is yet another great read from Erik Hofstatter, continuing his fine form from after last years excellent novella, Rare Breeds. Hofstatter tugs at the heart-strings in a quite unusual way with this tale of love that features an organic couple of characters in mother, Irena and son, Ales-both refugees living an unstable life, drifting helplessly from one place to the next..."

To read the full review follow this link. 

kindle:
amazon.co.uk £2.74
amazon.com $3.61

hardback:
amazon.co.uk £16.00
amazon.com $22.00

As The Crabian Heart by Erik Hofstatter comes out in hardback, another great review on Hellnotes

Hot and fast on the recent review in Starburst, yet another glowing review appears on hellnotes for Erik Hofstatter's coming-of-age horror story, The Crabian Heart, coinciding with its publication in hardback.

"I like this little collection a lot. Definitely a case of bigger not always being better. Hofstatter could have watered this down with more words, but that would have taken the impact out of the stories. I also like how he slips a lot of important messages into his work. For example “people are scared of what they don’t know…or understand,” says Enola, as she and Ales walk along the beach. Zsofia tells him that life is a gamble and his mother points out that the powers that be make the rules that govern us and we have to go where they tell us to. Ultimately, the decisions of what we do are ours, but I’d like to suggest that you try a copy of The Crabian Heart.   That forward is going to be the icing on the cake!"  Read the full review on hellnotes

Brian James Lewis, hellnotes

kindle:
amazon.co.uk £2.74
amazon.com $3.61

hardback:
amazon.co.uk £16.00
amazon.com $22.00

Pre-publication review of Erik Hofstatter's The Crabian Heart in Starburst

Erik Hofstatter's The Crabian Heart will be published within the next week, but already it has received a great review online in Starburst magazine by Jon Towlson.

"...the emotional tug that The Crabian Heart exerts on the reader is palpable. The Crabian Heart is also a coming-of-age tale, one that resonates with the pangs of unrequited love. And as such, it concludes, like all great coming-of-age stories, with a very difficult and painful realisation for the love-struck main character. By the end of its 100 pages you will find yourself both haunted and moved by Hofstatter’s evocative writing."

Fishhead: The Darker Tales of Irvin S. Cobb reviewed by the British Fantasy Society

Fishhead: The Darker Tales of Irvin S. Cobb has just been reviewed on the British Fantasy Society website by Sandra Scholes.

"...his stories like Lovecraft’s are dark, doomy and intense at times. His characters want a life of their own in a strange setting, trying to resist their fate even if they can’t change what life has already been chosen for them. There is a sense of fear of the future in some of the darker stories, so it’s great that there is some humour in the rest of them."

Adrian Cole's Tough Guys Reviewed on the Horror Review website

Adrian Cole's Tough Guys gets a favourable review by Brian J. Lewis on The Horror Review website.

"Do you like adventure stories with a supernatural twist? Then Tough Guys by Adrian Cole might be exactly what you’re after. Cole gives us four stories to enjoy in this volume that show us four very different types of tough guy."

Click onto the link above to read the full review. 

Enthusiastic review of Shades: Tales of Supernatural Horror by Joseph Rubas on hellnotes

There's a great review for Joseph Rubas's collection Shades: Tales of Supernatural Horror on the hellnotes website (Journalstone):
"This an excellent book by an author who surprised me in a positive way. Joseph Rubas’ writing reads like that of an older, more seasoned professional even though he is pretty young guy. It feels a little like he is channeling the writers of the old horror pulps in the 22 stories that make up Shades. Think of a young Richard Matheson and early episodes of The Twilight Zone and you’ll have the vibe. Good stuff!"
To read the full review go to:
http://hellnotes.com/shades-book-review/