Your Worst Nightmare: More Regrets Than Glories is a collection of terrifying horror poetry

 

 

More Regrets Than Glories: A Collection of Dark Poetry

Rick Powell

Independently Published, 2015

ISBN: 978-1-329-51719-6

Ebook, 79 ppg.

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Most collections of horror poetry tend to offer the same tried and true scare tactics to create a terrifying reading experience, but that’s not what will happen for readers of the horror poetry book More Regrets Than Glories: A Collection of Dark Poetry by Rick Powell. Here we are served a collection of unique and terrifying tales of ghosts, monsters, killers, and characters who are hellbent on revenge. These poems are filled with dark atmospheres, creepy moods, and chilling narratives. It is certainly a good collection of horror poetry to read either during spooky season or just to enjoy some well-written horror poetry.

 

Also unlike most collections of horror poetry, the scare effects are not overdone. There is no “gore for gore sake” and it is just the right amount of horror without pandering to a stereotype. Additionally, the dark tone in many of the poems pulled me in and kept me reading until the very end, often with one last shot of a horrifying realization or a surprising twist at the end.

 

There are a variety of dark poems in this book. From poems about ghosts, a siren, and a woman murdering her husband on their wedding night, these poems offer chills and thrills for readers.

 

The poem “Stair” takes place on a decrepit staircase, but that is not the only thing the person in the poem needs to work about. For something haunts that staircase. Something that incites fear and leaves the poor soul in terror.

 

Something that is otherworldly and no longer living.

 

“I climbed to the first landing, the steps felt like bloated flesh, 

The rails were cold and clammy, like a cadaver’s lonely kiss, 

I turned and considered ascending, the cold enveloping my form. 

When I saw a ghostly figure, like a flickering candle in the mist. 

 

Her countenance was malignant, there was evil in her eyes, 

A pallor of the palest white, her white hair a floating haze,

My eyes were open wide, I could not breathe to let out a scream, 

My whole body turned to stone, I could not break her demonic gaze.”

 

This poem reminded me of how there are many haunted staircases in houses with ghostly sightings. In this particular case, although fictional, such a haunting is captured well.

 

The poem “Nadia” was terrifying! At first, I thought that Nadia was a ghost haunting some location, but she is more than that. She is a vengeful spirit, one which wives suspicious of their husbands can solicit a service from. This poem is written so well and it’s almost like a warning to unfaithful husbands of a REAL ghost to be aware of.

 

“The Muse” is another good poem, and one this writer could relate to. A writer’s muse has a way of giving us ideas when we are preoccupied with other things, then it is MIA when we need it. 

 

“When I want you, you are never there, 

Being evasive for what seems like ages, 

I try to figure out a way to call you forth, 

I search unnamed books, I scan yellowed pages. 

 

I sometimes walked through a desolate forest, 

Hoping, vainly, to hear a hint of your tread, 

Knowing your footfall would not touch dead leaves, 

Praying your voice will echo in my lonely head.”

 

I also enjoyed reading the poem “Notches” because it has an ending that I didn’t expect. I love how the supposed “victim” refuses to accept their fate. The kind of action taken was most fitting.

 

“The Midnight Hour” was another creepy poem. It sent chills down my spine! Powell really excelled at creating a dark, spooky mood in this particular poem. Reading about the dark creatures that lurk at the midnight hour made me want to stay inside during such a time! 

 

I loved the way the poem “The Coachman” ended. Some people may not like open endings in poems, but I enjoy how it leaves the ending up to the reader. It is not really an end in itself, but more of a prelude to what lies ahead. The poem gives enough clues for the reader to understand what is happening and who the coachman really is. Once again, the setting and mood in this poem are excellent. 

 

“She Reads Poems to Stones” is another poem with a surprising ending. But unlike “Notches,” this particular ending is not so dark or sinister. Yes, it is chilling, but also, not so unexpected, given that it is set in a cemetery. In a way, it makes sense, though the realization is a sad one. 

 

There are so many other great poems in this book: “I Walk Alone in the Dark” and “Placebo” and “Shall We Dance” and “Lathe” and “I Hold Her Hand” and “Cairn” and “Party” are just some of the really good ones that stayed with me. The poems are dark, creepy, and sinister. They will leave many haunting impressions on the reader long after they finish reading this book. 

More Regrets Than Glories is a collection of dark and terrifying poetry that will haunt and frighten readers. Filled with horrors of the supernatural and sinister, these poems offer a chilling atmosphere sure to be enjoyed by fans of horror poetry. Read at your own risk, if you dare!

 

 

Five stars

 

 

Disclaimer: I purchased this ebook and this review is entirely voluntary.

Clowns in the Cemetery: The Horror of Shadow Valley is a YA horror story of evil clowns and dark family secrets

 

The Horror of Shadow Valley

Jerry Blaze

Independently published, 2026

ASIN: B0GRWZTGRP

Ebook, 123 ppg.

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Sadie and Aiden are high school students who are best friends. When they are dared to spend the night in a supposedly haunted cemetery by a wealthy friend of theirs, to the tune of one thousand dollars, they agree to the challenge, thinking it’s easy money. Little do they know what lies in store for them in the Shadow Valley Cemetery, because on that particular night, a group of clowns are up to something in the cemetery. Something sinister. Something wicked.

 

Something that Sadie and Aiden get into trouble for after they discover the cultish ceremony. Now they have to try to run for their lives!

 

I don’t know how old Sadie and Aiden are, only that they are high school students, but it seems like they have a good, strong friendship. They have been friends for forever and they treat each other like brother and sister. This strong friendship will help them as they try to find out the truth behind what they saw that night at the cemetery, as well as fight whatever it is they are up against.

 

This story has a lot of surprises. These surprises kept me reading to find out more and to see if anybody else discovered the dark secrets of Sadie and Aiden’s ancestors. I loved how they both did research to find out why there was a group of clowns doing some kind of weird ritual in the cemetery. Both of them worked to get to the bottom of things and they both act bravely when they come up against clowns trying to kill them. They make a great team.

 

The ending of the story was very satisfying. Everything is pretty much explained and wrapped up at the end. I liked how Sadie and Aiden’s friendship remains strong no matter what happens in the story. I also liked how their relationships with their families grows stronger after everything the two teenagers went through.

 

The Horror of Shadow Valley is a suspenseful, frightening tale of a secret cult of clowns and horrifying family secrets. This YA horror novella is a must-read for fans of horror, as well as anyone who enjoys reading stories about freakish clowns committing terrifying crimes.

 

 

Five stars

 

 

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A Different Kind of Love Song: Rock My Stars is a story of an unlikely romance

 

Rock My Stars (Starstruck Universe)

Ellie Potts

Independently Published, 2021

ISBN-13: 979-8767487950

Ebook, 258 ppg.

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When I posted about my books being available for free as well as at discount prices on Smashwords for Read-an-Ebook-Week, my friend Ellie Potts let me know that her novel, Rock My Stars, was available for free through Kindle Unlimited. I grabbed a copy to read for Read-an-Ebook-Week, but it took me longer than one week to read this book. It actually took me two weeks. It was such an enjoyable story to read! I was hooked from the very beginning!

 

Rock My Stars by Ellie Potts is about a young woman named Tabby who has a HUGE crush on band member Spencer Tate of the band, Suspected Tragedy. Tabby is a music blogger, so music is her whole world! (Along with books, video games, and her best friends.) She’s been blogging about the band for years, so when she has a chance to see the band at a concert with her two best friends Walt and Danny, she jumps at the opportunity! While she is at the concert, she happens to meet her crush, along with the rest of the band, and Tabby’s world is about to change when she discovers that her crush just might turn into something more!  

 

Even though I am profoundly deaf, I was not born deaf, so I have been exposed to music in the past. So I totally get how music is such a big deal for Tabby! Music has the power of changing people’s lives, stirring up emotions, offering comfort, and leaving a lasting meaning for people. Tabby has loved music for, like, forever, and everything about music shows in her blog posts and live videos she writes and creates from the concerts that she goes to. It is this role of being a “music blogger” that turns Tabby into a media person, and she has a chance to be in that role not only to participate in Q&A sessions with the band but also to help the guys boost their presence on social media. Apparently, this is effective, because her notifications of likes and comments blow up after she posts things about the band.

 

I thought it was cool how Tabby also interacted with other bands and she got to include these other band members in her posts and videos. The other band members all treat her like she is a friend, not an outsider, and it’s just so awesome to see how everybody welcomes her and accepts her as one of their own. They all hang out together, do stuff together, and have fun together. It’s like suddenly having the biggest family ever. As Tabby observes on one occasion, after the guys in the Suspected Tragedy band all come to her defense:

 

“I freaking loved these guys so much. We were strangers when we started this journey, and now we were family. They had accepted me as part of the group. At the moment, they had me in protection bubble.” 

 

It should be noted, however, that not everyone is so welcoming and friendly with Tabby. Anika, Spencer’s ex, keeps giving Tabby a lot of grief, all which Tabby is not afraid to fight. Seamus, Spencer’s brother, has a grudge against Tabby after she physically fought back against him when he groped her, and Hector, the band’s manager, also dislikes Tabby. He even tells her this point blank, to which Tabby replies, “The feeling’s mutual.”

 

And that’s the thing I love about Tabby. Aside from two creepy weirdos she tries to avoid running into at music events, she is not easily intimidated by people. She is gutsy, bold, and defensive. She is not afraid to stand up for herself, even with Spencer, and draw the line when someone is trying to use her, hurt her, or take advantage of her. She even clobbers her best friend, Danny, after he slaps her.

 

The story line with Tabby and Danny was also interesting. I kept wondering how it was going to turn out in the end. Tabby did have a crush on Danny at the beginning of the story, but she learns about his true colors as the story unfolds. I could only shake my head over Danny telling Tabby that she was his fallback, his “safety net.” He never took her feelings seriously and then it was too late. That’s what happens when you are put on hold while the object of your heart goes chasing after someone else. People want to be the choice, not the option.

 

I also appreciated how Tabby understood all of the hard work that is required from Spencer because of his job with the band. And she makes it clear how she feels about him every time a doubter comes along saying that she’ll dump him or how Danny sees it as a “fling.” I loved how Spencer never got jealous over Tabby’s friendship with Walt. He understands that it is strictly platonic, with Tabby saying that she loves Walt like a brother. Spencer DOES get jealous of other guys, though, and Tabby has to make it clear to him that she her heart only belongs to him. Another thing I really liked about this story was how Tabby and Spencer’s relationship survives challenges. He doesn’t get rid of her when things get hard. That’s love.

 

Rock My Stars is a sweet and steamy romance that takes readers behind the scenes of the music world. The characters and the story are so well-written, and the ups and downs of a relationship that gets off to an unusual start will keep readers guessing on how everything will turn out in the end. This novel is sure to be enjoyed by readers of romance novels, as well as readers who enjoy stories about music and rock bands.

 

 

Five stars

 

 

 

Disclaimer: I downloaded this ebook through Kindle Unlimited. This review is entirely voluntary.