At the Mountains of Madness (Choose Your Own Adventure New Classics) ~ Book Review

 

AT THE MOUNTAINS OF MADNESS

(Choose Your Own Adventure New Classics)

BY JACOPO DELLA QUERCIA

Interactive Story / Middle Grade Fantasy / Adaption / Horror

Publisher: CHOOSECO

Publication Date: September 16, 2025

Pages: 208 pages

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Something sinister is unfolding at the bottom of the world in this interactive book where YOU decide what happens next! Packed with twenty possible endings!

Choose Your Own Adventure books–the 4th bestselling children’s series of all time–are back and as much fun as you remember. Kids and adults agree, these are the books that get nine to twelve-year-olds reading.

YOU are the child of two brilliant scientists and you've just spent your summer as a counselor at Camp Starkweather in Antarctica. Your time at the bottom of the world is coming to an end when you receive an emergency distress call from another camp nearby, where your parents have spent the summer doing top-secret research. Will you answer the call and go out into the frozen wasteland to face unknown dangers? Or will you stay at Camp Starkweather and hope that the ancient unknowable horrors won't come and find you next?

Kids who love monsters and mystery will devour this thrilling adventure story of survival on the ice. With every choice, you’ll take charge of your fellow campers and bring everyone home safe and sound … or else doom them all to a terrible fate!

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BOOK REVIEW

I don't spend time on plot summary, so please read the synopsis above.

HALL WAYS REVIEW: In AT THE MOUNTAINS OF MADNESS (Choose Your Own Adventure New Classics), author Jacopo della Quercia provides a terrific diversion from the regular reading rotation! This adaptation of one of my favorite H.P. Lovecraft stories kept me turning pages, making bad choices that abruptly ended the story, and then trying again. I wanted more!

"Something sinister is unfolding at the bottom of the world. Will you heed the call?"

I am not sure I ever was a reader of the choose-your-own-adventure books, so I went into AT THE MOUNTAINS OF MADNESSwith no expectations of how it would work. The first path I took cut the story dramatically and tragically short. As did the second. Repeat, repeat, repeat. I ended up reading every page to to find the most satisfying and complete conclusion (or did I? *flip, flip, flip*). 

"From this moment on, you'll know the world is little more than a tiny island in an infinitely expanding sea of cosmic horror."

The map at the beginning and the accompanying comic-style illustrations are engaging and enhance the story, but della Quercia's well-written and imaginative descriptions stand alone, and readers will feel the coldness of not only Antarctica but the secrets it holds. And the Further Adventures section at the end of the book invites readers to expand their vocabulary and even try fan fiction. 

There's a good dose of humor and sarcasm to counter the darkness of the story -- and that helps since there are logically some sad, grim, and gory endings. I'd expect nothing differently! The intended audience is ages nine to twelve; however, with the main character being in the midst of his gap year, and the horrors within the pages of AT THE MOUNTAINS OF MADNESS, I'd recommend the book for mature middle grade readers and older. 

Lovecraft's original story has inspired and fascinated many to reimagine that world, and two of my favorites have been the movie THE THING and Texas author Joe Lansdale's short story collection, IN THE MAD MOUNTAINS. I'm adding Jacopo della Quercia's version to my list. 

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jacopa della Quercio is an award-winning educator, essayist, and novelist. His work has been featured on BBC America, Business Insider, CNN Money, ​Folger Magazine, The Huffington Post, Reader's Digest, Ripley's Believe It or Not!, Slate, and Princeton University's Electronic Bulletin of the Dante Society of America, among others. As a writer, Jacopo strives to present otherwise obscure scholarly subjects in a manner more easily accessible and enjoyable for all audiences: a practice he honed in the classroom. His novels are The Great Abraham Lincoln Pocket Watch Conspiracy and its sequel, License to Quill, with many more to follow!

Inverted Reality ~ Partners in Crime Tours Book Blast & Giveaway!

 

INVERTED REALITY

by Fran Lewis

Horror / Short Stories / Suspense and Thrillers

Published by: Just Reviews

Publication Date: May 13, 2025

Number of Pages: 219

 Scroll down for the giveaway!

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SYNOPSIS:

Inverted Reality is a compilation of five books that teach people, through the characters involved, the consequences of doing harmful, dangerous or mean things to others. The person will face in some cases the mirror that will replay their wrongdoing and then ask if they will repent. If not, the mirror will decide their fate for them.

Each story has different characters who have done something wrong or evil to someone else. Some of the stories have voices that have been silenced and can no longer be heard. One story describes someone who was wrongly accused. The last part, “The Third Choice,” is the author’s favorite. It tells a story about people who do not repent, and fate or consequences will be inflicted, but you won’t be told how.

Some of the stories are fiction while others are true and factual. You, the reader, will decide whether the story is true or false as you enter the world of Inverted Reality. You can decide what your own definition of the title means and how you would react if you had to face the mirror or the third choice for what you might have done. You decide if it really happened and how you would react.

It’s good vs. evil, and consciousness vs. unconscionable. 

PRAISE FOR INVERTED REALITY

“Actions Have Consequences! Inverted Reality by Fran Lewis is a chilling look at bad people committing horrific deeds.”
~ Irma Fritz, author of novels and short stories

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AUTHOR BIO:

Fran Lewis worked in the NYC Public Schools as the Reading and Writing Staff Developer for over 36 years. She has three masters degrees and a PD in Supervision and Administration. Currently, she is a member of Who’s Who of America’s Teachers and Who’s Who of America’s Executives from Cambridge.‬‬

Fran is the author of more than 14 titles including three children’s books. She has written several books on Alzheimer’s disease in order to honor her mom and help create more awareness for a cure. These include Memories are Precious: Alzheimer’s Journey; Ruth’s Story; and Sharp as a Tack and Scrambled Eggs Which Describes Your Brain? She also wrote A Daughter’s Promise about her walk through the disease with her mother. ‪Fran is the author of the Faces Behind the Stones series, a middle school series featuring stories growing up in the Bronx with her sister, and MJ magazine. Voices from Beyond is her latest book which was preceded by Mirror Image, What If?, Population Zero, and Accusations.‬

CATCH UP WITH FRAN LEWIS:

Just Reviews ** Amazon Author ** Goodreads ** BookBub ** Facebook ** LinkedIn ** Instagram ** X ** YouTube

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Visit the other great hosts on this tour for book reviews, interviews, guest posts, and opportunities to WIN in the giveaway! Click here to view the Tour Schedule.

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ONE WINNER

will receive a print copy of Inverted Reality!

(US only; ends noon, EST, 7/27/2025)

This is a giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Tours for Fran Lewis. See the widget for entry terms and conditions. Void where prohibited.

INVERTED REALITY by Fran Lewis (Print Books)

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The Demonologists' Daughters ~ Audiobook Review & Book Trailer

 
THE DEMONOLOGISTS' DAUGHTERS

By K. SCOTT CULPEPPER

Narrated by Hayli Henderson

Southern Gothic / Family Secrets / Suspense

Publication Date: October 15, 2024

Page Count: 271 pages

Audio Publication Date: June 4, 2025

Audio Length: 9 hours and 59 minutes

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ABOUT THE BOOK 

Some family secrets may be better left buried.

Diana Chambers thought she escaped her life as the daughter of famous demon hunters Denny and Lucille Hebert, that is until an exorcism turns fatal and her father is charged with murder. Now, forced to return home to Louisiana and the family she left behind, Diana is reunited with her surviving sisters to uncover the truth behind the murder. She unearths long-buried secrets that could destroy her family by unleashing the most frightening demons of all, the Heberts’ personal demons.

The Demonologists’ Daughters, a suspense and psychological mystery thriller with horror elements, takes readers into a world where The Conjuring meets Little Women.

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BOOK TRAILER

click to view on YouTube

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BARNES & NOBLE ❈ AUDIBLE ❈ KINDLE 

AMAZON AUDIOBOOK ❈ HARDCOVER ❈ PAPERBACK     

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BOOK REVIEW

HALL WAYS REVIEW: AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: In this debut novel by K. Scott Culpepper, readers are taken between the “Satanic Panic” days of the 1990s and contemporary times as the now-scattered Hebert family is forced to reunite. The bones of the family’s buried secrets begin to appear after a death during an exorcism happens twenty-five years after the similar death of the Heberts’ eldest daughter. Further fraying the familial bonds, new questions are raised about the demon-hunting parents who are now charged with the murder – or is it murders?

In The Demonologists’ Daughters, author Culpepper offers a unique premise with multiple subplots to deliver not only mysteries, but also horror, romance, and an exploration of the complexities of family relationships. There’s a lot going on, and there’s a wide cast of characters, but Culpepper dishes out bite-sized morsels for readers to easily digest. And wow, talk about cover-love! The cover of The Demonologists’ Daughters is so evocative and perfect for the story.

Demonologists Lucille and Denny Hebert have three living daughters – Diana, Delilah, and Dorcas. These sisters are particularly well-written by the author who gives each a distinct personality to make her pop from the pages. Their frustrations and actions are believable, and it is heartwarming to see these women come together again after living such separate lives for the years after their sister Dinah’s death. Additionally, some peripheral characters had enough punch that readers will clearly love or loathe them, a mark of great writing.

On the other hand, Lucille and Denny Hebert, the demon-slaying parents, are murky characters. There’s little to like in them, as their self-described helping of people is questionable. Through their words and actions, it’s clear that they are racists, they cherry-pick the Bible to support their version of Christianity, their exorcisms are a farce, and they capitalize on them by writing books and creating films that embellish and flat out contradict the truth. (Side note: it is a stretch for me to believe the motive behind why the film is being made; there are easier ways to accomplish what’s needed.) As if those scammer qualities aren’t endearing enough, they also choose their so-called God’s work over raising their daughters, and instead of supporting Dinah in her time of greatest need, the Heberts worried about their own reputations – and there was a deadly price to pay for that choice that they didn’t truly ever own. GRRRRR. There’s some character growth and maybe even redemption for Lucille and Denny Hebert, but it wasn’t enough to make them likable. The Demonologists’ Daughters forced me to ponder the meaning of forgiveness and how hard it is to offer sometimes. Again, this illustrates Culpepper’s skillful writing because readers will have to reflect and will have so many strong feelings about these two characters.

In addition to the required suspension of disbelief needed for an integral part of the plot to work, one of the aspects of The Demonologists’ Daughters that I struggled with is in character names. Deborah Hebert (who also has several nicknames starting with D) changed her name to Diane Chambers as a nod to the character from Cheers, and that’s acknowledged. But there’s also a Chrissy Heinz, which sounds a lot like Chrissie Hynde (of the Pretenders), and Chrissy also goes by Christine, but there’s also a possibly possessed doll called Christine – not to be confused with the Stephen King possessed car of the same name, but likely the inspiration for the name. See my point? It’s possible that listening to the story instead of reading it caused some of my confusion; perhaps there are distinctive spellings that would help a reader along? Authors, take note if you think there’s a chance you’ll create an audiobook from your work-in-progress.

About the narration: I listened to The Demonologists’ Daughters at 1.1x, barely faster than the recorded speed. Narrator Hayli Henderson gives a terrific performance and voices the numerous characters so that each sounds unique. Her pacing is perfect, she handles the Louisiana bayou accents well, and the narration truly complements the author’s writing. There are a few odd pronunciations, but some would only be caught by readers-of-a-certain-age, like me. Overall, the audiobook of The Demonologists’ Daughters is fabulously narrated and I’d seek out Henderson again.

The Demonologists’ Daughters is all about coming to terms with family, warts and all, and overcoming dysfunction to find peace and even love. But don’t dismiss this as a simple feel-good story. The Demonologists’ Daughters counters the cozies with bloody chills and thrills, twists and turns, suspense, and a sickening reveal that keeps readers turning the pages. It’s strong debut fiction making K. Scott Culpepper an author to watch.

Disclaimer: This audiobook review was coordinated by AudioBookReviewer.com and the review copy was provided free of charge by the author, narrator, and/or publisher in exchange for a non-biased, honest review. 

Click to view this review on AudioBookReviewer.com. 

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

K. Scott Culpepper is an author, historian, and speaker creatively exploring the history and mystery of human experiences. He holds a Ph.D. from Baylor University and specializes in the history of the Atlantic World. His nonfiction book Francis Johnson and the English Separatist Influence was published by Mercer University Press in 2011. The Demonologists’ Daughters is his first novel. He teaches courses in history and religious studies at a private university in Iowa where he lives with his wife, Ginger.

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One of Our Kind ~ Book Review

 

ONE OF OUR KIND

By Nicola Yoon

Suspense / Mystery /Dystopian / Social Commentary

Knopf

Print Length: 272 pages

Release Date: June 11, 2024

ABOUT THE BOOK: #1 New York Times bestselling author Nicola Yoon’s daring new work of dystopian horror is a propulsive satire set in an all-Black gated community. 

Jasmyn and King Williams move their family to the planned Black utopia of Liberty, California hoping to find a community of like-minded people, a place where their growing family can thrive. King settles in at once, embracing the Liberty ethos, including the luxe wellness center at the top of the hill, which proves to be the heart of the community. But Jasmyn struggles to find her place. She expected to find liberals and social justice activists striving for racial equality, but Liberty residents seem more focused on booking spa treatments and ignoring the world’s troubles.

Jasmyn’s only friends in the community are equally perplexed and frustrated by most residents' outlook. Then Jasmyn discovers a terrible secret about Liberty and its founders. Frustration turns to dread as their loved ones start embracing the Liberty way of life.

Will the truth destroy her world in ways she never could have imagined?

A gripping thriller with wry, razor-sharp social commentary, One of Our Kind explores the ways in which freedom is complicated by the presumptions we make about ourselves and each other.

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REVIEW

HALL WAYS REVIEW:  It's been a long time since I have been able to read without strings attached, and when a friend and I were in a bookstore recently, and she recommended ONE OF OUR KIND, I snagged it*. I was immediately drawn in and read it straight through the day after I bought it. From the start, author Nicola Yoon drops the "something's off" in the utopian town of Liberty, CA, vibe, and the story she weaves to get to the big reveal at the end had my head spinning. ONE OF OUR KIND feels very much like Invasion of the Body Snatchers -- but without the aliens. I have to speak vaguely so that I don't give away any spoilers. Peeling away the layers in Liberty, readers will get increasingly uncomfortable with how rotten things are. Through Yoon's outstanding characterization, readers will get to go deep with the main character, Jasmyn, and watch like a fly on the wall as her world spirals. The sense of dread that Yoon builds is palpable. Reading the book from the perspective of a white woman, I felt woefully uninformed about Black culture and community and the challenges of a racially charged society. And I was reminded of things I've never had to worry about because of the color of my skin (like at what age a Black parent has the "cop talk" with their children). It was heartbreaking for so many reasons. I did not guess at the resolution -- or maybe I did but was thinking NO WAY -- and I have to admit that it smacked me hard and made me feel... well, lots of things: Sad by the spot-on social commentary and the state of racism and the impossibility of escaping it; righteously indignant that THIS is the solution the leaders of Liberty concocted; sad again that people were lining up for it. There's so much for me to unpack and think about and improve upon after reading ONE OF OUR KIND. It will stay with me a while. *I purchased my signed copy at the fabulous Sundog Books in Seaside, FL.

In the Mad Mountains ~ Lone Star Book Blog Tours Review & Giveaway!

 

IN THE MAD MOUNTAINS

Stories Inspired by H.P. Lovecraft

By Joe R. Lansdale

Fiction / Horror / Short Stories / Sci-Fi

Publisher: Tachyon Publications

Pages: 256

Publication Date: October 15, 2024

SCROLL DOWN FOR A GIVEAWAY!

SYNOPSIS

“Joe Lansdale squares up to the Great Old Ones―and taps into rich veins of awe and wit, with always a backbeat thrum of cosmic terror.”

―Kim Newman, author of the Anno Dracula series

Eleven-time Bram Stoker Award-winner Joe R. Lansdale (Bubba Ho-tep) returns with this wicked short story collection of his irreverent Lovecraftian tributes. Lansdale is terrifyingly down-home while merging his classic gonzo stylings with the eldritch horrors of H. P. Lovecraft. Knowingly skewering Lovecraft’s paranoid mythos, Lansdale embarks upon haunting yet sly explorations of the unknown, capturing the essence of cosmic dread.

A sinister blues recording pressed on vinyl in blood conjures lethal shadows with its unearthly wails. In order to rescue Tom Sawyer, Huck Finn traverses the shifting horrors of the aptly named Dread Island. In the weird Wild West, Reverend Jebidiah Mercer rides into a possessed town to confront the unspeakable in the crawling sky. Legendary detective C. Auguste Dupin uncovers the gruesome secrets of both the blue lightning bug and the Necronomicon.

Exploring the darkest corners of the human psyche, here is a lethally entertaining journey through Joe Lansdale’s twisted landscape, where ancient evils lurk and sanity hangs by a rapidly fraying thread.

CLICK TO PURCHASE:

Tachyon Publications | Amazon

REVIEW

HALL WAYS REVIEW: What an eclectic, delicious collection of creepy short stories that Joe Lansdale has written in In the Mad Mountains.

I haven't read much H.P. Lovecraft, but I feel like I have (should?) given how many other stories I've read where the authors say their writing was influenced by him. I gobbled up Joe Lansdale's stories and found his writing to be engaging and outstanding -- and the stories stuck. Even months after finishing the book, driving in West Texas, past a desolate field of prairie grass shifting in the wind, I shivered and thought of the human-like but faceless Wanderers from "The Tall Grass." Flying over the odd mountains of Arizona, I recalled the creatures from the collection's title story, In the Mad Mountains, and felt sure if I looked hard enough, I'd see sucker-covered tentacles poking out from the crevices. 

From story to story, the way Lansdale constructs his sentences allows readers to hear the voices of the memorable characters and become immersed in the scenes. Frequently, I was as desperate as the characters to escape their predicaments. That's because Lansdale knows how to craft passages that crawl up the back of your neck and make your hair stand on end, all the while compelling you to keep turning the pages.

"Just goes to show you can talk common sense a lot more than you can act on it." -- Huck Finn in Dread Island

The stories range from terrifying to perplexing and at times, poignant. The variety feels like sampling from the finest literary buffet and for me, stepping out of my comfort zone to try a new dish. Not one story was disappointing, and I'm interested in checking out more of Lansdale's books, especially to get more of characters Dana Roberts and Auguste Dupin. And slimy monsters with beaks and gnashing teeth. Those too.

In In the Mad Mountains, prepare for top-notch world building in otherworldly places you will NOT want to visit unless it's from safely within the pages of the book.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Joe R. Lansdale is the author of nearly four dozen novels, including Rusty Puppy, the Edgar award-winning The Bottoms, Sunset and Sawdust, and Leather Maiden. He has received nine Bram Stoker Awards, the American Mystery Award, the British Fantasy Award, and the Grinzane Cavour Prize for Literature. He lives with his family in Nacogdoches, Texas.

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The Chai House: Blog Tour Audiobook Review & Giveaway!

 THE CHAI HOUSE 

by Priti Srivastava

narrated by Deepti Gupta

Adult Fiction (18 +),  

Dystopian Thriller, Feminist Fiction, Horror

Length: 5 hours, 43 minutes

Audio Release date:  March 24, 2022

The Chai House is a haunting debut novel that explores the complexity of community when individuals are unaware of their own roles in upholding systems of oppression. Swati has spent her entire life trying to live up to her family’s expectations of her. She has learned it is easiest to just do what is asked of her, without resistance; a skill that has helped her survive in the early years of the Knights, an authoritarian regime. When her mother has a request for Swati, she agrees to it as it is the only way to help her young niece have some sort of future. An emotional page turner, The Chai House examines the desire to be true to yourself in a world where familial, cultural, societal, and political values direct you to stay small and stay silent.

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AUDIOBOOK REVIEW

“Assimilate now, assimilate once we break you, or assimilate when you die. The choice is up to you.”

In the vein of The Handmaid’s Tale, in The Chai House, Priti Srivastava gives readers a dystopian America where women are subjugated – for their own good, of course.  To protect women, the most precious commodity, Knight and his authoritarian regime have taken over part of a split nation and created rules that remove rights for females while giving permission to men to be beasts.  Women can’t receive an education and have curfews. Knowledge is power, and they can’t be out at night, you see, because it’s not safe…because of men. Oh, and if they were out in the evenings, gallivanting about, they wouldn’t be in their homes cooking dinner for their Knights and doing their chores. A Queen might have it a little better with her arranged marriage and purity intact (prior to arranged marriage, naturally), because those impure women, the worker wives (who do the scullery), and the loaner wives (available because men need companionship when traveling, bless their hearts), allow a Queen to have a modicum of freedom...from the men and their rules.

While Srivastava doesn’t give the specifics of what got the world to this point, it’s implied that the nation split, and possibly chemical warfare ensued. There’s reference to the Mideastern wastelands and fumes that cause hallucinations and sterility in men, making it a perfect place to send those noncompliant men. There are also references of continuing battles to win or win back cities and territories from Knights, who seem to be primarily white.

“I was out of my head. Or too into it. You know how that is.”

Our main character and narrator, Swati, is a strong-willed and intelligent young Indian American woman who sums up her world early on by saying she had a good life until the Fascists came. Her relationship with her mother, Amma, is complicated, and according to Swati, Amma “will never understand love. She only understands duty. She only understands rules.” But as happens when children mature or are forced to grow up early, Swati begins to understand her mother’s actions and realizes there is more to Amma’s behaviors than meets the eye, and Amma’s warning of being cautious of powerful white men is a piece of advice to take seriously.

“I came here for a better life for my daughter and instead both my daughter, and my granddaughter will have less freedom than I ever did.”

Running parallel to Swati’s story is a second one that seems intrusive and out of place initially. Readers get brief snippets into the nomadic life of Cindy and her young daughter, Jenny. These characters are voiced with a syrupy Southern accent, and they seem to be white females who are rebels trying to survive and on the run from Knight. The author shows the tenderness between this mother and daughter, but then juxtaposes that with the things they must do to survive. There are alarming scenes that are powerful in their irony, as in how Cindy considers herself a good parent and the concern of Jenny that Cindy’s kindness could get them killed.

While the two separate plots seem incongruous, Srivastava moves each forward and eventually connects them in a most surprising and horrific way, leaving readers with a jaw-dropping ending that had this one exclaiming, “WAIT! WHAAAAATTTT?!”

The Chai House is a novella-length story (127 pages) that I think could do with a developmental edit to fill the considerable holes and gaps in the stories. Granted, in listening to a story instead of reading one, it’s easy to miss a quick but vital piece of information. However, there were fine details that seemed significant in their mention but where never explained or connected anywhere else. Srivastava provides rich descriptions of scenes and situations, but often there’s a lack of providing the why behind them. The result is that after I finished the book, I had quite a “but what was X about?” list in my notes.

ABOUT THE NARRATION: Deepti Gupta is a great narration choice, and her voicing of the Indian character – young and old, male and female -- perfectly complemented Srivastava’s text. Her pacing is slow but even, and while her Southern accent was a bit over the top, it left no doubt as to who was speaking in those sections. I listened at 1.25x on Audible, which was a little faster than I’d like, but better than 1x. (Audible really needs to align with other platforms that allow finer tuning of speed.)

Overall, The Chai House is an excellent debut, and I plan on reading the eBook to re-visit the story. The author is a gifted storyteller and this world they have created clearly has more stories to be told. I will absolutely will pick up the next book they write.

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Author Priti Srivastava lives in Madison, Wisconsin with their best friends. Priti works to create inclusive spaces as they hope that one day everyone will feel as though they belong. When Priti isn’t working or doing chores, they enjoy playing video games, making their friends laugh, eating samosas, and sitting quietly. They also love to read and on the rarest of occasions Priti writes about Priti in the third person. Priti loves to connect with readers. Follow them on social media to request a virtual visit with your book club.

TWO WINNERS will receive their choice of

autographed or audiobook copies

of The Chai House

(US only; ends November 11, 2022)

https://gleam.io/Mz6dl/the-chai-house-book-tour-giveaway

THE CHAI HOUSE Book Tour Giveaway

Click to see the full tour post with purchase links, author links, and schedule

 

The Feast: And Other Horrifying Tales ~ Audio Book Blog Tour Review

BY DAVID VORHEES

Narrated by Victor Warren

Length: 4 hours 18 minutes

Publisher: David C Vorhees

Released: Jun. 30, 2020

Sub-Genre: Horror

The Feast is a collection of short stories that take place on different holidays over the course of the year. The collection opens with "A New Year, a New Day, a New Life." Grant Curtis is arrested on New Year’s Day and charged with the murder of his wife Carla.

In "Easter: The Resurrection," a resurrected Kyle Gardner seeks vengeance on Pastor Brian.

"The Vengeance of Cassidy Clay" is a narrative poem that takes place on Halloween. The poem tells the story of a slave-hunter who haunts the woods long after his death. Plus many more spine-chilling tales.

HALL WAYS REVIEW. AUDIO BOOK REVIEW. In The Feast: And Other Horrifying Tales, author David Vorhees takes readers through seven short stories themed around the year’s major holidays, telling stories of the most macabre nature.  The word “horrifying” in the title is apropos; these stories go for the shock factor with some prompting an “oh-no-he-didn’t-go-there” response from this reader.

Most of the tales are deeply disturbing and be warned: you won’t be able to unsee them. This is a nod to the effectiveness of the author’s storytelling ability and gift for description. Mercifully, Vorhees chose to tell, not show readers what was happening, and I thank him for that. My imagination fleshed-out (pun intended) the rest. Narrator Victor Warren’s performance perfectly complements each story, making them more memorable – even when you want to forget.

Going through the calendar year of stories loosely centered around major holidays gives structure to the collection, the stories varying in length from as short as eight minutes to as long as nearly an hour and a half.  The variety in story lengths is a plus because it keeps the listening from being monotonous. And since the whole book comes in at just under four and half hours, I listened straight through and was never close to being bored.

Three of the stories are top notch. “A New Year, A New Day, A New Life” (about 20 minutes) brings to mind Edgar Allan Poe’s The Tell-Tale Heart. The main character’s transition from control to madness is palpable. Halloween’s “The Vengeance of Cassidy Clay,” the shortest story at only 8 minutes, is told in verse, and is probably my favorite (and least graphic). It’s reminiscent of Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, and it would lend itself nicely to being told around a campfire. “Thanksgiving” (around an hour long) could have come straight out of a Tales from the Crypt episode, with the dread and tension masterfully building to the big, horrifying reveal. Yeah, we know what’s coming, but we can’t stop it. A fourth story, “Easter: The Resurrection,” the longest story in the collection, also deserves mention for the intricacies of the plot and how the need for revenge can motivate and twist the brain.

Two of the stories crossed the line for me, and several of the stories included sickening details that felt gratuitous.  Overall, the stories in the collection seem frighteningly realistic in this often-perverse world we live in. Readers who enjoy horror and have strong stomachs for gore and violence will find lots to like in The Feast: And Other Horrifying Tales. For those who are nitpicky (like me) about cleanly edited books, I recommend this one for reading with your ears instead of your eyes as the print version needs a heavy proofreading.

ABOUT THE NARRATOR & AUDIO PRODUCTION:  As mentioned, narrator Victor Warren’s performances of the many characters in The Feast are well-done and the perfect complement to Vorhees’s writing. He tackled a wide range of emotions and accents and convincingly voiced the females. His pace was a bit slow for me, so about an hour in, I bumped the speed to 1.25x, and that was perfect. I would absolutely seek out other titles he narrates. Production wise, the audio book is mostly clean and professionally recorded, though there was a big glitch in “Fourth of July” where an entire chapter was repeated.

Thank you to the author and to Audiobookworm Productions for providing me an audio download in exchange for my honest opinion – the only kind I give. 

I received this audio book as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by David Vorhees. The gifting of this audio book did not affect my opinion of it.

David Vorhees joined the U.S. Navy after graduating Lima Central Catholic. He is a veteran of the United States Navy. Following his military service, he attended the University of Northwestern Ohio for automotive business and worked various factory jobs and attended the University of Phoenix online for a degree in arts with a focus in journalism. He recently worked for the Wapakoneta Daily News as a reporter/photographer/paginator. He is the father of five and grandfather of five. He has always been interested in the occult and the scarier side of life. He loves history and the supernatural and truly believes there is nothing better than a good story.

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A native Californian, Victor Warren has been acting since the age of ten. He is a graduate of Carnegie-Mellon University where he majored in acting and directing. After graduation, Victor worked in California for over fifteen years for Universal Studios as a director, camera operator, technical director, announcer, and stunt show performer. Victor then moved to the east coast where he works successfully as a director, actor, writer and producer. He is currently living on Cape Cod and is bi-coastal flying in where the work leads him. He is an award-winning director/writer and with the creation of his production company Glydascope, he plans to continue to expand his creative properties. Recently The Feast is his very first audio book, which he narrated and produced through Glydascope. He recently (2018) can be seen as the irritated police Sergeant O'Connor in My Daddy's in Heaven and as Stephen Smith in Chappaquiddick. He is currently working on his fourth book for Audible, and working on a short film that he is producing and acting in called Another Life.

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