HERO CAVE By: Syd Madia Release: 7/30/25 Page count: 50 KU: No Hoopla: Yes Synopsis: A skeleton that scares adventurer’s and continuously dies has lost his passion for the job. Can he find that spark again before it’s too late? First line: “Welcome to… uh… Welcome! To Hero - ehhhhh W-Welcome.” Favorite line: “Skeleton on the first floor is ass. If I could give zero stars, I would.” Thoughts: Mr. Skeleton is way too relatable, especially for adults and their everyday life

HOTEL LIMBO By: Ben Harel Illustrated by: Various Release: 4/14/26 Page count: 272 KU: No Hoopla: Yes Synopsis: A young man dies and goes to Hotel Limbo. But in order to help the guests with their baggage as the hotel’s new Bellboy, he will first have to figure out how to bellboy. First line: “Is it time already.” Favorite line: “You power is opening up doors to completely ordinary rooms? What’s my power? Do I turn into a chair?” Thoughts: I thought, “Oh, a cute graphi

EARLY REVIEW ONE NIGHT AT THE SKULL SPARK CLUB By: Bryan Smith Release: 6/26 Page count: KU: TBD Hoopla: TBD Synopsis: Three friends take the night to come together in order to watch one of their favorite bands. A night of drinking, music, and reconciling life… oh, and a bit of blood here and there. Also includes - two stories previously only on his Patreon (which you should ABSOLUTELY join). First line: “One minute Craig King had his eyes fixed on the dark road ahead,

CROSSROADS By: Laurel Hightower Release: (re-released) 4/21/26 Page count: 126 KU: No Hoopla: No Synopsis: When does a mother’s sacrifice turn to pure selfishness? Can Chris realize she may be crossing the line before it’s too late? First line: “The first time Chris buried a part of herself by her son’s roadside cross, it was an accident.” Favorite line: “She believed in a smiling sacrifice.” Thoughts: Well, I needed a good cry and to renew my stock in Kleenex. What I

THE BOATMAN By: Alex Grecian Release: 4/14/26 Page count: 110 KU: No Hoopla: No Synopsis: A common cruise liner becomes hunted when a mysterious man, in a rowboat, leisurely stalks them. First line: “June wanted for a morning when Walt had taken little Mai to the beach, then she rode her visible to the bazaar in Pekerjaan.” Favorite line: “I didn’t want anyone to ever find me. I wanted to be forgotten.” Thoughts: If you are planning or thinking of planning a cruise -

MORTY’S HOLIDAY By: Bryn Grover Release: 2/27/26 Page count: 93 KU: Yes Hoopla: No Synopsis: Morty just wants a vacation. A few days without the burden of killing people for a quota, the bosses breathing down his neck, just sweet, sweet life on the life on high seas. First line: “Stepping off the ramp of the cruise ship and taking a deep breath, Morty stopped and looked around him.” Favorite line: “I already had things set up father down the beach for them to fall into

Friends and foes, I’m back! It feels good to put some new and amazing recommendations on your already overwhelming TBR. But alas, it’s my curse. There are so many goodies this week that I’m just going to jump on it… TERRAFIDE By : Ryan Hyatt Release : 3/24/26 Page count : 293 KU : No Hoopla : TBD Synopsis : Eight stories from revenge and car salesmen to the need for a better time and zombies. First line : “Jose is the first they let go, although we can’t agree what that

A whole month? I have neglected you all for that long? My heavens above. Between my eleven year old learning a new trick (sleepwalking) that turned into an ER visit at 3 a.m. and five staples in his head, to my chubby ass falling in a IHG parking lot and getting a sprained ankle to living on plastic furniture… I’ve been a little all over the place. But never fear! I’m back with two amazing recommendations! Enough jibber jabber, let’s get into them. SICK FLICKS Volume 1 By : M

Since Christina is busy moving her family for the next couple of weeks, we will be running a couple of very worthy re-posts of her reviews. Today, we wanted to remind you about these wonderful, award-nominated reads! WONDERLAND AWARDS NOMINEES - Finalist KENNEL By: Garrett Cook Release : 12/24/24 Page Count : 126 KU : No Hoopla : No Synopsis : Pup, a sub, lost his Dom and finds a home with Daddy. But Daddy is known in the community for sinister reasons and Pup finds that not

THE BLOODY BRICK ROAD: A Wizard of Oz Retelling By: Maude Royer Release : 1/6/26 Page count : 320 KU : No Hoopla : No Synopsis : Dorothy losses her job, boyfriend, and not only witnesses a terrible car crash, but is one of the injured. Twenty-four years later, the past is coming back to haunt her. First line : “It’s the hormones, Dorothy told herself as she parked in from of an old brick house in downtown Montreal.” Favorite line : “Kansas? That’s unusual. Is that

THE AGE OF CALAMITIES By : Senaa Ahmad Release : 1/13/26 Page count : 225 KU : No Hoopla : No Synopsis : Nine stories that juxtapose historical figures such as Anne B. Henry VIII, Joan of Arc, and Genghis Kahn with haunting lyricism reminiscent of Margaret Atwood’s short story “Happy Endings”. First line : “There was a man, let’s call him Henry VIII.” Favorite lines : “… dread is a fire that starts everywhere at once.” “Change is what’s left when you purge everything

FUNERAL SONG By : Carly Racklin Release : 1/27/26 Page Count : 138 KU : No Hoopla : No Synopsis : Friede is the local pianist for funerals, even though she’s dead. By her wife. First line : Friede tried to scream, but no sound came out.” Favorite line : “However you cut it, dying was often inconvenient. An interruption. Scheduled had to be amended, arrangements made, and family pulled from their own important business.” Thoughts : THIS? THIS IS THE DEBUT?! Holy shit. Bet

THE NIGHT SHIP By : Alex Woodroe Release : 1/20/26 Page count : 224 KU : No Hoopla : TBD Synopsis : A woman and her boyfriend set off in a semi-truck for a run of the mill delivery. Oh, but the end of the world gets in the way. First line : “When darkness fell over the world, only Rosi witnessed its arrival.” Favorite lines : “This feels like a strange sort of hell, like they came up with new circles since the last time anyone visited.” “What‘s the sound of being alon

PIG WIFE By : Abbey Luck Release : 1/13/26 Page count : 542 KU : TBD Hoopla : TBD Synopsis : A young girl goes missing and finds secrets that her stepdad’s aunt has had buried for decades. First line : “Just tell the office I won’t be in all week.” Favorite line:”… Police rabies.” Thoughts : How kidnapping, mental illness, and embezzlement can be funny at times, I will never understand. Luck makes the reader care about the characters (minus two… and I’m side eying them).

Title : THE BLACKCOAT’S DAUGHTER Director : Osgood Perkins Run Time : 1 hour, 33 minutes Rating : R Synopsis : A woman comes back to the school from her childhood after she is released from the psychiatric ward. But things from her past will be hard to change. Pros : The pacing, characters, and the minimalism. Cons : A bit convoluted in places. Thoughts : Overall, I was impressed with 99% of it. There are just some parts that are so confusing but I almost feel it was intended

This is it, kids. The last set of book reviews for the year. I can’t believe we made it through so many pages and books together! Next year, I will writing reviews from Utah! I hope your holidays are amazing (except that one person, you know who you are) and I will see you again in 2026! BOOKS OF BLOOD Vol. 6 By: Clive Barker Release: 2013 Page count : 155 KU : No Hoopla : No Synopsis : The last five stories in the series of BOOKS OF BLOOD. Exotic land grabs to a magi

While this is my last review post for GenreBlast 2025 nominees, I am so honored to have witnessed true brilliance in the film industry. I watched a total of 85 films (both feature and short) and somehow, someway not a single film was anything more than pure excellence. The indie film community has a lot to look forward to with these writers and filmmakers at the helm. I truly hope to see all of your work next year and thank you for sharing your love with so many. Title : GUS

PROSPER’S DEMON By : KJ Parker Release : 1/28/20 Page count : 112 KU : No Hoopla : Synopsis : What do you do when you have a gift so few have? You do demon extraction - but remember there are rules and the same demons over and over. First line : “I have an idea you aren’t going to like me very much.” Favorite line : “Now, conceding that Prospero was at least 40 percent full of stuff that makes roses grow…” “Sometimes I’m so stupid, I’m amazed I manage to breathe.” (Chris

WONDERLAND NOMINEE GOD IS WEARING BLACK By : Kelby Losack Release : 11/27/23 Page count : 124 KU : No Hoopla : No Synopsis : Thirteen stories that will make the reader feel the gritty and raw side of life - whether they want to or not. First line : “They got this deal at Waffle King where if you get their logo permanently inked in your skin, you can go in and cop a free combo meal as much as once a week.” Favorite line(s ): “I love you, and I’m sorry.” “The night she

Title : THE BLUE-EYED BOY AND MR. DEATH Directed by : Jaysen Buterin Country : US Run Time : 19 minutes Themes : Grief Content Warning : Death of a parent Synopsis : A man dials his deceased father’s phone number one night and it changes his life forever. Favorite line(s ): “How did you know you were going to be a good father?” Thoughts : Heavy boots, friends. While the story is wholesome and sweet, the underlying heartbreak and the happiness it instills later, hurts. I thi