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BloodWorm Book Reviews-
Updated: Dec 3, 2021
Post-Apocalyptic - Extreme Horror - Zombocalypse
When The Cicadas Stop Singing
Blurb:
When the poison gas first leaked out of the ground, mankind thought the horror would be over in no time.
When the lizard-men followed, swarming the land, slaughtering indiscriminately, those who survived scattered to the hills and the forests. Most did not last long.
But Cora, who found refuge and made a home in the mountains where she lives with the memory of her dead son, still fights. Tenacious, she lives wild and protects that home from the lizards who seek to kill her.
Until now.
Because man has arrived, and he is not friendly.
In this terrifying fight for survival, Zachary Ashford blends the thrills of the creature feature genre with the claustrophobic atmosphere of a home invasion.
My Thoughts:
5 Bloody Worms
I've previously enjoyed Ashford's Sole Survivor series as great popcorn horror. Easy, fun entertaining reads. Ashford really steps it up in this novel with an authentic strong female lead, Cora in a ravaged Australia. Because seriously, as if Australia isn't already hard enough to survive, lets throw in some man-eating lizard men and the subsequent dystopia.
Ashford tugged on my motherly heartstrings with his character Cora as she battles with her grief and then a home invasion of sorts by a genuine asshole. The survivalist relationships are complex, and in my mind completely realistic. The story was well-paced and the characters well developed, the setting almost a character in itself. I really enjoyed this story and highly recommend it for a solid action-horror read.
Flash
Blurb:
When Leanne finds a flash drive, she is intrigued by its content until it torments her moral compass and gets under her skin.
My Thoughts:
5 Bloody Worms
If you like your horror filled with brutal, sadistic torture you have come to the right place. A short novelette Doyle once again drags you to the scum heap of the perverted and F*cked in the head. Kicking it off this what seems to be a saucy erotica peels back the layers to reveal a true horror of splatterpunk proportions. Whilst it is a short, fast read the characters are real enough to make you wince and squirm, begging them to get the fuck out of Dodge.
The Virus
Blurb:
The end of the world usually signals the end of life. But for convicted murderer Frank Lee, it was only the beginning. With his newfound freedom, Frank suddenly has the world at his feet. The only downside; all the damn cannibals!
Amy was working in Sunnymoor Hospital when the virus struck. Now, with her patient's craving flesh, the only person she can save is herself. But as more of the townsfolk fall victim to the wave of infection, Amy’s chances of survival quickly begin to diminish.
With reluctant alliances, betrayal and an unrelenting fight for survival, The Virus is an action-packed journey into the depths of human depravity.
My Thoughts:
4.5 Bloody Worms
Alright, Zombie fiction, not my favourite kind but Lee may well be converting me. This was a fast-paced action horror. Just my cup of tea. Especially with zombie cannibalistic sheep out on the North York Moors, how can you go wrong with that? For a debut novel, Lee is off to a great start with this one. His characters are reasonably straightforward, not 2 dimensional by any standards but relatively predictable. However, how he draws these characters together in a quest for survival and the complexities of these relationships is the real drawcard. I really look forward to seeing where he takes them and how they develop as the series (I hope) progresses.
Disclaimer:
Now before I get started on publicly promoting my book reviews I want to start off with a few points.
1) I will never ever take money to review a book.
2) These are my thoughts and opinions on books I have read for my own pleasure. If you disagree, excellent, that is why there is such an amazing selection of books in the world, something for everyone.
3) Why do most of my reviews have 4-5 Bloodworms?
Well I won't review books I don't finish (DNF) for a start. I am definitely not going to waste time on promoting them. I am quite particular about the books I do select and whilst I am a horror writer, I do read across the genres, neatly sidestepping romance.
4) You will find I am more critical of traditional published books. These people get paid a motza to create a perfect product and have a whole team. Yes I believe Indie authors and presses need to be held to the same account but I am a little more generous. Overall though, if the story doesn't cut it, it doesn't cut it.
5) Finally I am not a professional, qualified nor do I read deep in literary processes. I enjoy different books for many different reasons. Some are just popcorn fun, some are deeper.
