01/31/2026 - Danielle's Dark Corners
- Danielle Yvonne
- 1 day ago
- 5 min read
Happy Saturday! Back again with some great reads. Let's not even waste time, and let's just dive right in!
THE DINNER SHOW AND OTHER CONSUMPTIONS
By Ben Arzate
Arzate was a new-to-me author for 2025, and someone I really hope to read a ton of in 2026. I absolutely love everything about his writing. From the tone to the prose, to the vibe in general… I have genuinely enjoyed everything I have read by him. THE DINNER SHOW AND OTHER CONSUMPTIONS is no different as far as my love for it, and it surely doesn’t disappoint. The stories are fantastic. And I love that some stories are literally one page, while others are longer. There’s such a fantastic range.
I read another review that stated if you liked Splatter and short stories, that this was the book for you, and I couldn’t agree more! Not only are the stories awesome, but the interior of this book is also amazing. I usually don’t mention the formatting of books in my reviews, but this one deserves a standing ovation. The table of contents is literally set up as a menu from a fancy restaurant. 10/10!!! So yes, per every Arzate book, totally recommend to all readers! Truly!
I could go on and on, and I normally also wouldn't tell people, "oh, read the early praise and other authors' praise," but if you read below, the early praise and other authors' praise for this book nail it better than I ever could!
SYNOPSIS:
A vacationer finds himself suddenly alone in a tourist city. A tabloid journalist makes a horrifying discovery about a famous pop star. A woman joins an eating challenge reality show that turns deadly. A vengeful ghost haunts a poem.
This is just a sample of what's on the menu in this serving of a dozen morsels of horror cooked up by the amazing mind of Ben Arzate.
"Arzate's America is much like ours, dangerous and twisted, except there's something...off. If you think you can escape, it's too late. Just try to stay on the beaten path. You'll make it. Probably."
- John Bruni, author of Tales of Questionable Taste
"Ben Arzate showcases his prowess in the Horror and Bizarro genres with inventive-as-hell body horror, truly scary, slow-burn found footage, and fun with form, like his text message account of the apocalypse. His collection is bleak and lonely in some places, terrifying in others, with his signature dry, dark comedy showing up exactly when needed.
Arzate is a trope-crusher. Anytime you think a story might sound familiar, he tells us all why he’s the one to tell this particular tale, and each time, he proves you haven’t read one quite like this before. Feast your eyes on this one. It’s one wild-ass ride!"
- Lauren Bolger, author of The Barre Incidents
"The Dinner Show is a literary smorgasbord of Transgressive and horrific stories. These stories show a wide range of Ben's talent. From crafting Clive Barkerian nightmares to haunting pieces that drag at your soul. Reading this collection is like stepping into a world parallel to ours; one that's covered in a grimy film, distorted by a layer of static.
Ben Arzate writes the kind of stories I love to read; strange, atmospheric, and fantastic!"
- Matthew Vaughn, author of Bowery
Amazon: https://a.co/d/5SDc7p2
EVERYTHING BUT THE SKIN
By Radar DeBoard
“Excellent! Let us feast and regain our strength. We know what is needed and where to get it. Those who are not impure. Those not tainted with so much sin.”
Radar has been an author on my radar (pun definitely intended) for some time. He is an extremely talented writer, and I was thrilled to find out that he was signing with UDH. This book is incredible! The FMC will live rent-free in my head forever, and I don’t mean that in a bad way. The entire time I read this story, I wanted to crawl through my Kindle and hug her!
I liked this take on a story involving witches. It is definitely unique in a great way. I think it will appeal to a vast majority of readers. A lot is happening throughout the story, but Radar makes it easy for the reader to keep up with the storyline and everything that unfolds.
I love that what horrors unfold in the present-day story are due to things that happened in the past. It makes for a neat concept. I know the way I probably just put it makes it sound “generic” in ways, but believe me when I say, Radar delivers it in a way that only he could.
Great tone. Great pacing. Great everything. Really well-rounded book that once again, I believe will be enjoyed by all readers!!!
SYNOPSIS:
Something is devouring the kids of Shallowroot, and young Sophia may very well be next.
Evil has come to the town of Shallowroot, and it’s picking off the children, one by one. To make matters worse, Sophia has some kind of connection with whatever is behind it, and it seems to be coming after anyone who is close to her.
How long will it be before it finally comes for her?
Radar DeBoard delivers one of his most chilling tales to date in this short but haunting tale! From the author of DROWING IN THE DRINK and HOW AM I NOT THE MONSTER, comes a brand-new extreme horror novella, with strong female leads, a horrifying villain, and the most heinous crimes imaginable! EVERYTHING BUT THE SKIN will have you looking over your shoulder and staying out of the forest for many years to come!
Amazon: https://a.co/d/96zaM4n
LAID TO REST
By Chase Will
"Most people only graze The Internal World once or twice in their lives. They lie, cheat, or steal-small crimes with fairly minimal consequences in the grand scheme of things. But some people—people like you-are beacons for this place to bleed over into our world. I've only seen a few of your type come through here. They all ran as soon as they saw what I had to show them, and they've probably lost their minds out there by now."
LAID TO REST by Chase Will was a phenomenal story! It was my first time reading something by this author, but it won’t be my last. This book had so many WTF moments and was a total mind f*ck. It’s bizarre as hell, and very unique, and I mean all of that in the best ways possible.
The characters were done really well. The tone and atmosphere were just a total vibe. I just stared at the book way more than once, taking in what had just happened. I loved it. I really did. LAID TO REST is an all-around super solid horror book. Simple as that. Cover to cover, Chase Will absolutely nailed it. I highly recommend this book to everyone!! I feel like this review is on the shorter side, and I try to keep all of them around the same length, but honestly, once you start reading, this book really just speaks for itself. And I'm not sure there's a whole lot I can say to do it the justice it deserves. I really need everyone to just trust me on this and take a chance on this book. Seriously!!
SYNOPSIS:
"What do you desire?"
After a heart-wrenching breakup, Eddie drowns his sorrows at The Midnight Cabaret, plotting his next move. Overcome by guilt and a need to connect with someone, he enlists a beautiful dancer, Ruby, to show him a world where he can truly belong.
But things in this other world aren't quite what they seem...and Eddie finds peril lurking around every corner. Will he find his inner peace...or will he be torn to pieces?
Amazon: https://a.co/d/7fGTnEv
Comments