The camping trip of your nightmares: Devil’s Claw is a Southern Gothic horror story with ghosts from the pasts hungry for blood

 

Devil’s Claw (Dark Woods Series)

Kasey Hill

Dark Moon Rising Publications, 2024

ISBN: 978-1-945987-89-2

423 ppg., Ebook

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Go camping, they said. It’ll be fun, they said.

 

Not if you’re camping near a lake called Devil’s Claw, on a cursed piece of land haunted by spirits of those who were murdered in the 1800s.

 

And, oh, yeah, not if that same cursed land was also occupied by members of the Cherokee tribe who were in cahoots with the Raven Mocker, an ancient creature made of pure evil who is capable of taking on the form of a person.

 

Devil's Claw by Kasey Hill tells a story of just how powerful an ancient curse can be, and just how far it can reach! The story started off slow but picked up in the middle real fast! It really helped that the author included historical accounts of the bad things that happened on the land that would one day become a campground for families. Only, this campground is not all bonfires and fun hikes! Want to know what this particular story is like? Allow a character who sums it up on page 293 to explain it: “It’s like a scene out of Friday the 13th, except Mothman came to play instead of Jason Vorhees.”

 

Joshua and Isobel are two kids who have practically BEGGED their parents for months to go on a vacation. And leave it to good old dad to decide on a camping trip, and, of all places, to a camp area on cursed land! Once there, the two kids are shunned by the other campers’ children, so, left to their own devices to entertain themselves, they decide to go exploring and end up at a haunted tree containing haunted objects! That sets in motion a whole host of supernatural events that escalate on Halloween night, when there’s a full moon and the recitation of an old Cherokee prayer.

 

Welp, buckle in, readers. Because there’s a whole lot of thrills, ghosts and spinetingling chills set in motion real fast!

 

This book drew me in because I love reading stories about mysterious creatures based on legends, but I was also curious about it and I wondered, why is the lake the title of this book? I found out after reading it and the old stories surrounding the present-day mysteries just pulled me along.

 

I was also filled with a bit of dread because I also have some Cherokee blood. So, yeah, I spent some time looking over my shoulder and watching out for the Raven Mocker!

 

But that’s not the only thing that brought a sense of terror as I read this novel. It’s filled with so many scary moments and frightening creatures! As much as I wanted to continue reading this story, I also wanted to stop reading it too, because it scared me so much! But I wanted to know what happened at the end and if certain characters survived. The ending was just as scary!

 

I loved reading this novel! There’s just so much about it that says “folk horror,” Southern Gothic and historical fiction, with a nice helping of cultural beliefs. This story is also a good reminder of how we can never really escape from the ghosts of our past, no matter what we do or what barriers are set up against them. Those who believe know the haunting feeling of how they can never go home again, and that if they do, it means facing their ghosts from the past. Anyone who enjoys reading stories where the horrors and injustices of history as well as the lingering curse of a mysterious creature haunting modern-day land are in for a treat when reading Devil’s Claw; it does not disappoint.

 

 

Five stars

 

 

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

 

When Neighbors Feud: For the Sake of Brigid weaves a witch's spell of revenge into one of comeuppance and triumph

 

 

For the Sake of Brigid

Nora B. Peevy

Unveiling Nightmares, 2024

Ebook, 54 ppg.

ISBN: 979-8893795394 (Paperback)

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For the Sake of Brigid is a story of a neighborly spat unlike any other I have ever read. When it comes to two women who have their own particular preference of animals – Norah with her bees and Lydia with her horses – the war is on, with the poor horses being a part of the sacrifice! These feuding neighbors can’t seem to forgive and forget, but since it was the bees and horses that were the unfortunate victims, there is no forgiving or forgetting.

 

And little do they know that the same applies to the goddess, Brigid.

 

I absolutely LOVED how the stories of the Old Ways are woven into this story. They come alive in this story just as they are alive all around us.

 

Another thing I really liked about this story was how positively Norah’s witchcraft practice is portrayed, although there are moments of dark magic practiced. Yes, the part with the blood and chopping off the finger made me squirm, but I was very pleased to see the accuracy, consistency and true-to-lifeness of witchcraft portrayed in this story. There are so many stories out there where witches are portrayed in a negative light, complete with stereotypes and misconceptions. You won’t find any of that here!

 

But the darker side of what happens when you mess with a witch is shown in this story, too. The gore! The horror! This extreme horror story was brutal and relentless. It is not a story for the faint of heart. It is so well-written and well-told. The moral of this story? Don’t fuck with a witch!

 

The ending of this story was VERY satisfying and I really enjoyed reading it. It is a story that will long stay with me and it has certainly given me a new sense of appreciation for bees.

 

Five stars

 

 

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

Short fiction with humorous and unexpected twists: Only Animals is a collection of entertaining speculative stories

 

Only Animals

Chelsea Sutton

Wrong Publishing, 2024

Ebook, 44 ppg.

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Only Animals by Chelsea Sutton is an eclectic and creative collection of stories that I truly enjoyed reading. These stories left me thinking outside the box and had me delve into a series of imagery and symbolism to grasp their meanings.

 

"Fish Bowl: a play" was a very interesting and very curious story. It has that whole "turning of the tables" feel to it. As was "The Fold." I loved the open ending of "The Stargazer" because it left much to the reader's imagination.

 

"There Is No Baby In This Story" said so much with so little. I loved how Auggie stayed resolute in her decision not to give in to her mother's expectations. In fact, Auggie was such a lovable character in this story! I kinda knew what her mother meant about finally understanding the value of the unpleasant highchair one day, but for Auggie, it was just a thing that was too uncomfortable for her to sit in or enjoy as a baby. Yet instead of getting rid of it after it comes into her possession, she honors her mother's feelings for it in such a beautiful way.

 

The title story was an excellent read. It says so much about how we handle grief. Grief is different for everyone, but some people think it must be the same for everyone everywhere. I like how the daughter finds someone to connect with in the grief support group and the discussions they have. And I absolutely LOVED the ending of this story, how it all comes together.

 

Only Animals is a collection of stories that takes the reader beyond a normal reading experience. It pulls the reader into a world where everything is upside down and inside out. It offers readers bits and pieces of truth and meaning, holding its breath as it waits for the reader to finally gasp with understanding. That understanding shines this story collection in a brand-new light, one in which this reader was grateful to have the chance of experiencing.

 

 

Five stars

 

 

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