An Island of Monsters: Where the Tide Leaves its Dead is a horror story of survival and rebellion

 

Where the Tide Leaves its Dead

Bray Mattheson

Next Chapter, 2026

Ebook, 266 ppg.

ISBN-13: 979-8254255765

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Casey Davies lives on a Polynesian island with his Hell-pig, Puaka, but his is not a charmed life. The island is riddled with zombie-like creatures called sea corpses, which seems to be an appropriate name for them because they come from the sea. In this debut novel by Bray Mattheson, Where the Tide Leaves its Dead is a story of what dangers lurk within the ocean. And it’s not just sharks!

 

As Casey and Puaka battle the monsters, Casey tries to find anyone still alive. And once he does, a new journey unfolds for him and Puaka, as his life becomes more about fending for himself on an island.

 

After Casey joins up with some other people determined to fight against the constant onslaught of the sea corpses, he learns more about the culture of the island as well as more information about what created the sea corpses in the first place. Casey is not one of the island natives; he is actually from Texas. He and his twin sister were orphaned after the sea corpses murdered their parents while they were lost at sea after their cruise ship sunk. But he and his sister ended up going separate ways after they settled on the island. As Casey goes through many adventures with his new friend Izzy, one of the Polynesian warriors who I kept picturing as Maui from the film Moana in my head, he begins to want to find his sister and protect her from the sea corpses.

 

As the story unfolds, Casey realizes that it’s not just the sea corpses that he has to worry about. There are other monsters lurking in this island horror novel that will send chills down your spine. Mattheson describes these monsters so well, and he really brings the settings to life, so much so as to make the reader feel like they are actually there.

 

What amazes me about Casey is how he remains humble in spite of the hero worship some people show to him after realizing he has been set free from something he was sure to die in. They are amazed. They have never seen it happen before. It is indeed amazing that Casey survived it, but the way he had survived was very creative and required him to be brave. He has to be VERY brave as more terrors unfold for him, and I liked how he does not let the hero worship go to his head. Not only this, but Casey manages to get a drinking problem he was dealing with at the beginning of the story under control. It is just one of the ways he grows and develops in the story.

 

I was also impressed by the “gladiator fights” that happen towards the end of the story. They are certainly creative battles! The monsters are unique and Mattheson’s descriptions of the characters, as well as their personalities, made it easy for me to stay with the story and not get confused by who was who.

 

And the ending was absolutely epic! I had tears in my eyes at the very end. Everything got wrapped up beautifully and all of the questions I had about this story were answered.

 

Where the Tide Leaves its Dead is a masterful tale of island horror readers are sure to enjoy and appreciate. Filled with a variety of characters and monsters, this story is one of survival, friendship, and family. A novel that truly captures Polynesian culture and legends, this book offers readers a story of people trying to survive against horrors that are not of this world, and of rebuilding their lives in the shadow of terror.

 

 

Five stars  

 

 

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

You Might Think You’re Tough But You’ll Never Be Tougher Than a Farm Girl: Farm Girl is a horror story of what happens when three guys mess with the wrong family

 

Farm Girl

Jerry Blaze

Independently Published, 2026

Ebook, 121 ppg.

ISBN-13: 979-8255819829

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On the one night that the 16-year-old Rowan asks for a chance to get out of town with her bestie to go to a concert, her mother says no. But that doesn’t stop Rowan from going anyway. She sneaks out and takes off with her best friend Libby, determined to have a night of fun. But once she returns home, Rowan finds her mother, uncle and brother bloody and beaten, and her younger sisters crying while hugging each other. Strange men are in her house. Men who look like they are up to no good. Men she knows that she must take care of in order to save her family.

 

The reader gets to read this story from different points-of-view: Rowan, Rowan’s mother Roxanna, Uncle Ralph, and the three men who are attacking Rowan’s family. This change in POV is not disruptive to the reading experience. Sometimes the changed POV happens from chapter to chapter, or in one of the chapters. When it is done in a chapter, it can be a little jarring, but this changed POV helps to move the story forward. For example, in chapter eight, it starts with the character Strozzi (one of the bad men), jumps to Uncle Ralph, then jumps to Barker (another one of the bad men). These changes allow the reader to get a better idea of what the characters are feeling/thinking as a scene unfolds, and these perceptions adds to a reader’s understanding of them.

 

I appreciated how the author shares the background of the bad men in a way that is comfortable for readers to receive. The backgrounds are not provided as info dumps. Some bits of information is shared here and there in different parts of the story. The initial information shared when they first appeared in the story, however, lets the reader know that these three men are VERY bad men with evil intentions. It’s actually a good introduction because it lets the reader know that some seriously horrific actions are about to go down because of these three bad men. (And the author does not disappoint in this regard. Some of the things they do to Rowan’s family made me cringe.)

 

And while this story is short, it’s filled with tension, horror and gore. It’s a real treat for horror fans who love reading stories of bad guys getting their comeuppance. I loved how Rowan uses farm equipment to go after the bad guys. I was cheering her on and loved how she was so brave as she fought them. The surprise at the end made this story all the more enjoyable and it’s definitely a story I will be reading again.

 

Farm Girl is a quick read for horror fans as well as readers who enjoy stories of vigilante justice. I loved reading this YA horror story and I felt it was a good story of how one teenager did what she had to do to save her family. A story of how one teen rises above a horrific nightmare thrust upon her family, Farm Girl is a story that will remind readers that you should never mess with a farm girl.

 

 

Five stars

 

 

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

Horrors Both Real and Imagined: The Rat King is a collection of dark poetry that sheds light on what society would rather ignore

 

 

The Rat King

Dark Poetry by Sumiko Saulson

DookyZines, 2022

ISBN-13: 979-8835153923

Ebook, 90 ppg.

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One thing a poet must do is bring to life what other people fail to see. And only a poet can put into the right words the civil injustices as well as the wrongs enacted against the marginalized communities. With The Rat King by Sumiko Saulson, readers will see just how well this can be done. Here is a collection of poetry from the perspective of one such person in one such marginalized community who is not afraid to speak up and bring to light the many kinds of negative actions inflicted upon them. Not only this, but this particular poet takes a stand against those who feel no qualms about being bigoted assholes, as well as speaking out against those who try to downplay their very identities.

 

There are the unreal horrors written about in this book, but also the real horrors. Real horrors of what BIPOC queer people endure under the current regime. One poem that shares this horror is “Mantra of the Oppressor.” It is strong and profound, echoing exactly what many BIPOC people, as well as those who are BIPOC queer, are currently going through. They are being told to be silent. To be quiet. Not to speak out against oppression. I liked the hashtag statement repeated in this poem, as though it is the speaker’s mantra in an attempt to try to stay calm and not lose their shit over what is happening and how it affects them.

 

The title poem “The Rat King” is not really so much about the actual Rat King of lore but a metaphorical Rat King that preys on the homeless/unhoused. I support helping the unhoused, so this poem made me angry over the prejudices and hatred spewed against those who are forced to live on the streets.

 

Another good poem in this book is “The Latency of Racism in Sunny California” which is on page 68. This poem stands out because it’s the reason why so many people are cutting off others who are acting racist. I know someone who ended a friendship with a person because he got fed up over this person’s constant use of the “n” word when referring to someone who is Black. We may have tolerated racism in the past but we cannot tolerate it anymore. And for a person who is Black and has to hear racist language that other people spew, it’s damging. As it says in the poem:

 

“Ignoring bigoted things you do

Is bad for my mental health

I am sorry you are so defensive

I didn't want to war

But your racist microaggressions

Are too consistent to ignore”

 

Plus, it says a lot about the people who DO tolerate racist language and behavior from others. You know, We CAN stand up against racism. We can end a conversation or leave a room or change the channel. Doing these things does not mean we are “sensitive” or a “snowflake.” It means that we won’t tolerate racism! Though the aggressor may not see it this way and just see our refusal to tolerate it as a sign of weakness, as the poem says here:

 

“If people don't go along with

Your racist bullshit

You tell us we have a thin skin

We have to suffocate on

All of your garbage

In an attempt to fit in”

 

But standing up against racism proves that we don’t agree that that sort of behavior or language is okay. It’s NOT okay. And we should not have to suffocate on it, either.

 

I really enjoyed reading all of the poems in this collection. They are strong, defiant, outspoken and powerful. There are many poems that bring to light topics and issues some people may not realize and that’s one of the remarkable qualities of these poems. They don’t just set right what was set wrong but they give a voice to what many people fail to see or understand. The poems in The Rat King say the things that others are not brave enough to say, making these poems a collection that will linger and make people think.

 

 

 

Five stars

 

 

 

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