In the realm of literary exploration, I found myself at a curious crossroads with The Women of Wild Hill ^[*]. What initially drew me in? Perhaps it was the vibrant cover, reminiscent of an otherworldly spell. Or maybe it was the echoes of witchy horror whispering from my past. The author, Kirsten Miller, was a name I recognized but had never yet explored. So, despite it collecting dust on my shelf since October, a product of life’s unexpected detours—I finally opened its pages.

The novel unfolds against the backdrop of Wild Hill, a mystical slice of Long Island where nature's raw powers converge. Here, girls are gifted with extraordinary abilities—some so dark they wrestle with the fear of their own potential. Miller weaves a tale steeped in magic and familial legacy, beginning with the ghost of a witch wronged by the colonizers whose presence lingers over the land. Sadie Duncan, a young Scottish woman with unique gifts, was permitted to stay, and thus began a lineage of powerful women known as the Duncans. This lineage is one that has seen generations grapple with their gifts, but tragedy strikes, and the last of the Duncans, foreseen to be the mightiest, flees.

I do my utmost to resist the siren song of hyped-up books, especially those shoved into the limelight by pampered social media influencers and the infamous BookTokkers. If someone pipes up with, "They're not being paid," I just roll my eyes. Let's be real: in one way or another, many of these "recommendations" come with a paycheck—it's hard to believe that most of these influencers have actually read the very tomes they peddle. Now, I’m not here to dis on reviewers or book bloggers—at least, in my experience, we're not cashing in directly. Of course, we might manage to snag an ARC or two along the way, enticing little previews that dangle like forbidden fruit. But let’s be clear – my opinions aren’t for sale, not now, not ever. If I'm not enamored with a book, I won't bite my tongue or sugarcoat the truth. I’ll be as blunt as an axe in a horror flick, ready to carve out the honesty you crave. After all, a shoe might fit a prince, but that doesn’t mean it’s going to feel good on everyone’s foot!

So, let’s get down to brass tacks, shall we? Today’s entry into the 31 Reads of Terror is Immortal Dark by Tigest Girma, a book that flaunts a cover so breathtakingly gorgeous it might just lure you in with its beauty alone. There was a deluge of buzz surrounding this book upon its release last year, which ultimately led me to shell out my hard-earned cash for a copy. Like a treasure lost in an unkempt attic, it joined a pile of other unread tomes until, in a fit of guilt, I wiped off the dust and forced myself to read it for today's post.

The plot? Well, imagine a mash-up of The Cruel Prince and Ninth House woven into a dangerously romantic dark academia fantasy. Here’s the hook: a lost heiress must infiltrate a shadowy society while cozying up to the very vampire she suspects of murdering her family and abducting her sister. Intrigued? Don’t be too quick to jump in.

“A picture is worth a thousand nightmares.” That haunting sentiment danced through my mind as I turned my gaze to Kosoko Jackson’s latest offering, The Macabre, freshly released by Harper Voyager. Seriously, snag a copy, ^[*] and prepare yourself for a ride! The cover—oh, the cover!—boasts a disturbingly beautiful painting that harkens back to the chilling aesthetics of Rob Sterling’s Night Gallery. At least, that’s what it conjured in my warped imagination.

Let me paint you a picture of the plot: enter Lewis Dixon, a struggling painter whose life takes an unexpected turn when the British Museum suddenly shows a peculiar interest in his art. Now, Lewis always sensed something potent lurking beneath his brush strokes. An unsettling pull that leads him to create a haunting reinterpretation of one of his great-grandfather's ten paintings from over a century ago. His modern twist? Surreal and dripping with a hint of horror, of course.

When Lewis accepts the museum's invitation, he discovers it’s not an exhibition he’s stepping into, but a bizarre trial to see if he possesses the uncanny magic to step into the paintings—and more crucially, if he has the resolve to escape them. Little does he know that those ten paintings come with a double-edged sword: immense eldritch power and a curse that could rival any nightmare. They may hold the key to being the most coveted artworks in existence.

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the MY BEST FRIEND IS AN ELDRITCH HORROR (Light Novel) by ACTUS Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the THE PRIMAL HUNTER (Light Novel) by Zogarth Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

I am thrilled to host a spot on the BARBARIC Vol. 4: BORN IN BLOOD by Michael Moreci & Nathan C. Gooden Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the DEATHSTALKER: THE DAMNED BLOOD by Slash, Tim Seeley, Steven Kostanski, & Jim Terry Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

Available on Paperback and Kindle.

It's taken me nearly a year to read the anthology WRITERS OF THE FUTURE - VOLUME 36 by Galaxy Press. Why did it take me so long to finish it? There are many reasons why, including procrastination, depression, stress, allergies, and the pandemic. Then again, maybe part of me wasn't in the mood to read an anthology.

Writers of the Future is a yearly science fiction and fantasy writing contest. It was founded in the early 1980s by the late pulp author L. Ron Hubbard. The contest Illustrations of the Future started in 1988. The winning stories and illustrations appear in the annual L. Ron Hubbard presents Writers of the Future.  

The stories included in VOLUME 36 are by C. Winspear, Michael Gardner, Andy Dibble, J. L. George, F. J. Bergmann, Leah Ning, Katie Livingston, David A. Elsensohn, Storm Humbert, Mike Perkins, Zack Be, Tim Boiteau, and Sonny Zae. Included with each short story is an illustration by one of the artist winners. The illustrators are Arthur Bowling, Aidin Andrews, Heather A. Laurence, Kaitlyn Goldberg, Ben Hill, Irmak Cavun, John Dale Javier, Mason Matak, Anh Le, Brock Aguirre, Daniel Bitton, and Phoebe Rothfield.

Also, there's an introduction by editor David Farland and art & writing tips by Echo Chernik, Mike Perkins, and Sean Williams. There are three bonus stories by Katherine Kurtz, Jody Lynn Nye, and Nnedi Okorafor. Last but not least are two reprinted writings by L. Ron Hubbard - the essay "Steps in the Right Direction" and the short story "Borrowed Glory."

Final Thoughts

The short stories were a mixed bag for me. A few were well-written, such as Stolen Sky by Storm Humbert, A Price in Every Box by F. J. Bergmann, and Catching My Breath by J. L. George, and the others were more on the dull side. Don't get me wrong - it's not like the stories are bad. I just didn't connect with the narrations and characters. The biggest issue I have with anthologies is that some stories keep my interest and the others don't. 

The illustrations throughout the anthology are all exceptionally crafted by talented artists. I didn't have a favorite because all are equally beautiful.

Overall, I'm rating WRITERS OF THE FUTURE - VOLUME 36 a three out of five. Yes, that might seem low to science fiction readers, but as a whole, this anthology was lackluster at best. Here's hoping VOLUME 37 (set to be released this Fall) will be better.

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“Death is only the beginning.”- Unearthed, Cecy Robson

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Universal Pictures; PG-13; 98 minutes

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