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.

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.   

Beware the Terrors You Can’t See: What Lies Unseen is a chilling ghost story of revenge and redemption

 

 

What Lies Unseen

S.E. Howard

Wicked House Publishing, 2026

Ebook, 180 ppg.

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NOTE: This review is based on an advanced review copy (ARC). This book is scheduled for release on March 10. The buy link is a pre-order link.

 

 

For the people who are able to see and hear ghosts, it can be scary anytime it happens. For Sam Avery, it’s terrifying. Most of the ghosts he encounters are malevolent, some of them even attacking him. In this novel of paranormal suspense and horror, What Lies Unseen by S.E. Howard explores the world of parapsychic abilities. Sam’s gift of being able to see and hear ghosts is more of a nightmare for him, but when he gets involved with a group of people with similar abilities, he feels that he may finally be able to understand his ability better and learn how to control it. What Sam doesn’t realize is that this particular group has other plans, ones which could cost him his life.

 

Some people believe in ghosts and some people don’t. For this reason, Sam doesn’t talk much about his ability to see ghosts. He’s had this gift his whole life, but as a kid, it terrified him. The only person he ever told about it was his older brother, Michael. Michael seemed to understand Sam’s ability, and handled his younger brother’s terror-stricken episodes of seeing and hearing scary ghosts really well. At 24, Sam meets someone who can hear ghosts, and it opens up a whole new world to him. Suddenly, he doesn’t feel so alone. Suddenly, he learns that there are other people like him – that they can hear and see ghosts like he does, only hear ghosts, only sense their presence, etc. There are others who can do things like remote viewing, an ability which is put to use in a horrifying way in this story.

 

The characters in this book are so well-rounded. I loved how the characters at the “paranormal meeting” shared their knowledge. I could tell the author did her homework and took the time to do research for the characters. They really know their stuff!

 

This is a story of many twists and surprises. It is told from Sam’s POV, giving the reader first-hand experience about what happens when he has encounters with the paranormal. It is written so well and I was hooked on this story. It was hard to stop reading it! The scares were very real, keeping me on the edge of my seat, and I was constantly reading chapters wanting to know what happens next.

 

I also loved how the author describes the ghosts so well. The ghosts in this story are definitely frightening! One ghost is described in this way: “I felt hands pulling against me, and when I looked down, I saw the emaciated corpse of a girl, arms around my waist. She wore a tattered white dress, and the skirt ballooned up around her like a spent tulip blossom. Her eyes were gone, her sockets sunken and dark, her nose caved in, her lips receding. Her skin looked desiccated, with only the stark outline of bones beneath, yet there was terrifying, impossible strength in her grip as she clung to me.” (Page 106)

 

In addition to the ghost story that takes place in this novel, we see Sam experiencing a relationship with an older woman – a fellow employee at his job (though she is in a senior position). Everything happens so fast in this relationship, and while she tells Sam that she loves him, he feels more like a “fuck buddy” than a partner in a committed relationship. His insecurities are strengthened when she is going through a difficult situation, and when he tries to offer her comfort, she screams at him, “You’re just a kid!” Still, Sam tries to believe that his relationship with her is the real deal – until he discovers that she has lied to him about certain things. The HUGE thing he learns about her having lied to him about drives him to the breaking point, but it also opens up a new level of horrors for Sam that he must try to face.

 

I loved how this novel shares the dark side of the paranormal. It doesn’t just show the negative things that can happen, but also the negative people who not only abuse their abilities but put them to use in horrifying ways. This novel also explores topics of grief, protection of Indigenous land, and friendship. It was certainly an unforgettable and unique story that lingered in my mind long after I finished reading the last page.

 

What Lies Unseen is a chilling tale of communication with the dead as well as the secrets of a centuries-old power hidden within a most unlikely location. Filled with terrifying paranormal encounters, surprises, and unexpected twists, this novel is a must-read for fans of horror and for anyone who enjoys reading scary ghost stories.

 

 

 

Five stars

 

 

 

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