5/17/2025 Special Guest Reviews - Danielle Yvonne
- Christina Pfeiffer
- 5 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Our new reviewer, Danielle Yvonne, is back this week with more indie reviews! She's been on fire the last few weeks reading tons of great books.
Be sure to check out her reviews below then add these to your TBR pile!
Enjoy!
Stab the Rabbit
By: Shane McKenzie
“He lowered his finger. But something… strange happened. Instead of his finger tapping the touch screen where the play button was, it sort of sunk into it. Like the screen was made out of liquid.”
Okay hear me out. Your favorite cartoon character growing up is finally in your presence because a random salesman came to your house and gave you a “free” iPad, but your older brother sucks and is a violent/bully jerk and goes rogue. I saw this book compared to Who Framed Roger Rabbit meets Hostel, and I can totally see that.
This was such a good read. It had been on my TBR for a while now based on the cover. (I know, I know. Don’t judge a book on its cover) But I’m so glad I did, because it was fantastic. Shane has such a unique writing style and vibe that I don’t think I’ve read from many, if any other authors in this genre to be honest. His story telling, dialogue, etc. was top tier in my opinion.
This story is quite violent and does contain animal abuse, so heads up on that. But I still highly recommend and it’s definitely a five-star read for me. So definitely head over to Godless and grab this one asap.
STIGMATA MANIA
By: Russell Holbrook
This is the most fun I’ve had reading a book in a while. This collection is absolutely unhinged in all the greatest ways. Bizarro splatter done really well! It definitely made me genuinely crack up a few times… and gag… and wince out of pain. For being less than 100 pages, the three stories held super solid plots with the perfect tones and vibes. This was my first time reading Holbrook, but I shall be filling my kindle with his other work asap.
On that note—let’s take each story one by one:
((“Stigmata Mania”))
“You think you can stop me!?” Kirk Cameron roared. “I am the supreme Evil Khaki Overlord! No one can foil my diabolical plans!”
What happens when Kirk Cameron wants to destroy the world? Well, he teams up with some famous musicians and makes an enchanted/evil song of course!! What could possibly go wrong?!
((“Juggalo Holocaust: The Sementic Rites of the Abominable Shaggy D”))
“Crimson gore covered Michelle’s black and white face paint. Blood and eyeball goo landed on Shaggy’s cheeks.”
Okay, lol. Right off the bat this one starts with werewolf appendages being place elsewhere and monster grafting… then I knew adding Juggalos to the mix would only make it more insanely unhinged… I was right, and I am so happy. And there’s even more surprises in this one that pop up. Sometimes I read a story and wonder what the hell was going through the author’s mind when they come up with it, and this is one of those times, lol.
((“If I Could Turn Back Time”))
“Cher snapped her fingers and the man’s penis zoomed back through the crowd and reattached itself to his body.”
Okay. Cher meets bizarro splatter. Please and thank you! But then add Father Time, Jesus, Thor, weed and all you can eat fish sticks. It’s perfection, truly. These stories got more and more unhinged as the collection went on, and I kept loving them more and more as I went. This one was simply fantastic.
And this is another reason why I love Godless. I’m forever able to find really amazing stories by really talented authors that I may not have otherwise. I highly recommend everyone going and grabbing it. It was definitely a memorable read. Easy five stars.
THE THINGS WE BURY: A Rural Noir
By: Philip Lopresti
“Nothing is forever, and people are the biggest gamble. When you first meet someone, you never think, I’m just borrowing them, but that’s exactly what it comes down to.”
Lopresti sucks the reader in and delivers gut punch after gut punch. He can tell a hell of a story in a way that puts you through all the feels. His prose, tone and vibe are unmatched. The character development is fantastic. This is an author that deserves way more eyes on their work and should be someone to look out for. I was first introduced to their work when someone recommended A God Of Flies Among Them, and I was instantly a huge fan.
This story is heavy. Very heavy. It deals with hard topics of loss/grief. It has a lot of transgressive elements and a descent into madness. It’s bleak. It’s poetic. It emotionally wrecked my entire being. But it is done beautifully. Lopresti has a way with words that very few authors possess and it’s something that makes him a standout writer to me.
This story will easily end up on my top favorite reads of 2025. Easiest five stars I could give along with the highest of recommendations.