05/16/2026 - Danielle's Dark Corners

Happy Saturday! I did things a little differently today. I took on all collections! They’re all super different, but they all have one thing in common: how well-rounded and great they are. Enjoy!

UNDER A BLACK RAINBOW

by Adam "Bucho" Rodenberger

UNDER A BLACK RAINBOW blew me away. This collection took my favorite types of horror and each story had me in a chokehold from the first sentence. It states in Rodenberger’s biography that he specializes in surrealism, dark fiction, horror, and dystopian stories. This book couldn’t prove that to be truer if it tried.

Prose? Unique and perfection. Vibe? Off the chart. Points of view? A bit of it all, even second person. Tone/structure/pacing? Incredible. The only negative thing I can find is that it wasn’t double the size, so I could’ve read more.

These 18 stories will all put you in your feels and make you think. They’re weird. Really weird. But also relatable. In both the best and worst ways possible. But ultimately in a way that it’s near impossible to give this book anything less than five golden stars. How this book hasn’t been talked about more is something I will now never understand.

I couldn’t recommend this book more. I think every horror reader, or reader in general, should take a chance on this collection and familiarize themselves with the author.

Synopsis:

The eighteen stories found within are mental and emotional excavations of fractured traumas, the awakening of unique pleasures, and the moments where we come face to face with the hungry voices whispering to us from the dark.

• Before falling asleep every night, a man ritually unlaces the stitches keeping his chest tied closed.

• A pair of lovers allow their strangest thoughts to invade and infect their lovemaking.

• One unsuspecting child learns why so many others are afraid of things they cannot see.

• A family slowly unravels as the father seeks his buried name in the walls and the mother unbecomes.

• The death of a child leaves a living, lingering reminder behind as memorial.

• One woman becomes unexpectedly aroused by a new and surprising happenstance.

• The entrance to a strange and deserted museum suddenly appears in the side of a city building.

  
  

These stories are misshapen and deformed offspring; these are lessons that continue to go unlearned.

Available on Amazon.

A SHASHING GOOD TIME 2

by Eric Butler

Eric Butler always has standout stories for me when I read them in anthologies. So, an entire collection of them was something I was really excited to delve into. Something else about Butler that is unique for me when it comes to reading is that I can read his books and stories more than once and love them just as much as I did the first time. I was familiar with quite a few of these stories, but as I said above, I enjoyed them just as much this time as I did when I read them the first time.

I loved the range that this collection has. You have some super short stories; you have some stories on the longer side. But they are all really great and all the things I love about Eric Butler’s writing.

One thing I always joke about when it comes to his books is that I never want to go into the woods afterward. This still holds. I live in the city and often find myself wanting to take a trip to the middle of nowhere or off the beaten path. Then I read one of his stories, and it’s a swift reminder of why I ultimately choose not to.

Between the slashers, the monsters, and all the backwoods drama, A SHASHING GOOD TIME 2 offers it all. If you’re a fan of Butler’s work, you will love this collection. If you’re not familiar with his writing, this is an amazing book to start with. Sixteen stories that all give you a taste of what he’s about and how amazing he can write. I highly recommend this and believe it to be something you will hear a lot of buzz about.

Synopsis:

“Good, straight-shooting storytelling ...” – Ronald Kelly, author of Fear and The Essential Sick Stuff

Are you brave enough to stare into the darkness? How about a little peek?

From cryptids to urban legends, cursed items to cults, and aliens to serial killers, this collection gives you 16 spine-tingling tales of terror.

Peel back the curtain and discover that some myths and legends are true, that monsters do exist, and sometimes the good guy doesn’t win, all the while having …

A Smashing Good Time.

Available for preorder on Amazon. (Releases on 6/19)

WE PAINT OUR FACES WITH THE ASHES OF OUR DEAD

by Nikolas P. Robinson

If you aren’t familiar with Nikolas P. Robinson and his writing, you should be. If you are familiar with Nikolas P. Robinson but haven’t checked him out yet, you should—and this is the perfect collection of stories to do so with. Robinson is a hell of a storyteller and was part of one of my favorite books in the genre, THE GENERATOR. His story was a standout for me, so it was no surprise that all THIRTEEN of these stories were standouts.

These stories are dark. They’re gritty. Some get extreme. Some are not so extreme. But they’re all amazing. And all different. And they all showcase his talent in the best light possible. If there’s a trigger, be warned, it may get hit upon. But the payoffs are always worth it in my opinion, at least in these stories.

You get a range of topics and a range of writing styles. They’re all different lengths but they all work perfectly. As someone who reads a lot of Splatterpunk and extreme horror, alongside more “traditional” horror, this is definitely a collection catered to a reader like me. I also think it’s great for someone who might want to test the waters of extreme, because regardless, you’ll still be able to find something you love.

I highly recommend everyone take a chance on this one. It’s a beautifully well-rounded collection that needs to be talked about more!

Synopsis:

WE PAINT OUR FACES WITH THE ASHES OF OUR DEAD

When an author puts a short story collection together, they are sifting through the ashes in the hope of finding something valuable and breathing new life into things that were dead. Each story takes on new context when brought together, than it had in its original life. The author paints their face with the ashes of the dead, crafting a new facade made from pieces of the old.

This collection includes 13 stories, written and published over the course of more than a decade. Some of them may be familiar, while others may provide a new experience as you lose yourself in these tales of violent revenge, exploration gone horribly wrong, and strange encounters.

Even those you've read before may find a different meaning this time around.

Early Praise for Nikolas P. Robinson

"Nikolas Robinson's work is as sharp as it is dark. He always puts his heart on the page when he writes." - Judith Sonnet, author of OUR SARNATH

"Nikolas Robinson is one of the most fearless writers in extreme horror, penning stories with a maniacal glee that dares the reader to be damned”- John Baltisberger, Madness Heart Press

Available on Godless.

Also available on Amazon.