“ERRANT ROOTS” BY SONORA TAYLOR SHOWS READERS JUST HOW DANGEROUS FAMILY TREES CAN BE!

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ERRANT ROOTS
Sonora Taylor
10/15/2024
Raw Dog Screaming Press
Reviewed by Brian “Skull” Lewis

Greetings fellow Horror fiends, it’s your old pal Skull with a nifty new read from Raw Dog Screaming Press! Volume 6 in the Selected Papers from The Consortium For The Study of Anomalous Phenomena, ERRANT ROOTS, by one of my favorite Horror authors, Sonora Taylor,  packs a big punch. Behind that splendid cover by Lynne Hansen, this novella almost looks like a Victorian era handbook of etiquette, but readers will soon find out that the Croft family’s traditions are anything but polite.

When Dierdre Croft finds out that she and her boyfriend Tom are pregnant, she does what most women do: tell her mom. Harriet is pretty cool about it, avoiding the old school “living in sin” speech in favor of congratulating her daughter. Tom is a caring, standup guy who’s just as excited for the baby as Diedre is. But then, seemingly out of the blue, Harriet insists that they all go see the family that she left behind 24 years ago, to announce the upcoming child and have a gender reveal party.

Dierdre goes along with the plan to make her mother happy, even though she has the feeling that something is wrong about this sudden visit to people she doesn’t even know. Why drive out to the middle of nowhere when they could just as easily have a baby shower in a nice city restaurant? Tom also feels upset when his family is excluded from the proceedings. His discomfort only increases when all the residents of Grandma’s house are female and they don’t seem to like him very much.

Grandmother Yvonne is a regal looking woman, who is clearly not someone to mess with. Her eyes burn with madness as she reveals some of the secrets and rituals surrounding the Croft family tree which is in fact a huge Oak tree that all the women of the family must serve and maintain as per the book of rules and traditions drafted up by their great grandmother, Josephine. Dierdre shares many coincidental elements of her pregnancy with Josephine, Yvonne, and Harriet, including the age she’ll be giving birth. To the Croft family this means that Dierdre is the chosen one to continue something called The Daylight Branch which requires some rather gruesome traditions “for the strength of the line.”

But an isolated family that self-governs with no outside interference from the government or local law enforcement is not immune from jealousy, anger, and dark thoughts. Once things start going horribly wrong at the gender reveal party, it doesn’t take long for the sanity train to go screaming off the rails. As it picks up speed, surprises galore are revealed with every twist and turn. The way things turn out will shock both readers and the book’s characters, who thought they knew how the ceremonies went. But when you’re at the mercy of someone who claims to be doing what’s best for the family, hell can break loose at any time.

Whew! Great writing by Sonora Taylor and thanks to Raw Dog Screaming Press for requesting a review of this awesome addition to the Selected Papers from The Consortium For The Study Of Anomalous Phenomena volumes. Damaged Skull Writer and Reviewer rates Errant Roots 5 STARS*****! Once again, Taylor continues her tradition of bringing fine work into the world. Errant Roots is for anyone who’s ever dealt with a difficult or toxic family, especially those that do their dirty work in private, making you look bad when trying to expose them. No thanks to many of the agencies who are supposed to help, but don’t. Bringing a child into the world should be a wonderful, joyous occasion, not a one-way ticket to misery. Eden Royce contributes a solid and thought-provoking afterword that wraps things up nicely. For those with sensitivity concerns there is a list at the rear of the book for consultation before reading.

Sonora Taylor is an award-winning author of several books including Someone to Share My Nightmares, Seeing Things, and Little Paranoias. She also co-edited Diet Riot: A Fatterpunk Anthology with Nico Bell.This collection is one of my favorites because of its strong body positive theme. All the stories feature strong, sexy, and diverse plus-size people who are the heroes (not helpless targets or villains) and gives the bird to naysayers and shade throwers. To find out more about Sonora Taylor, visit her at: https://sonorataylor.com

Raw Dog Screaming Press is an independent publisher of horror stories and poetry with a solid focus on diversity in what they print and who writes it. They are a force for good in the world and care about the creatives they work with. Be sure to check them out at: www.rawdogscreaming.com   

 About your reviewer:

When darkness falls Brian James Lewis becomes his alter ego, Skull, and burns the midnight oil reading and reviewing recent arrivals to his lair, the Skullcave! You can catch up with him on social media at: https://facebook.com/DamagedSkullWriterandReviewer where he’d really appreciate some follows to get more exposure for Indy horror writers and presses!

You can also find him on: X/Twitter@skullsnflames76

And we’re also on Goodreads and leave reviews on Amazon under the mortal’s name Brian James Lewis

Sonora Taylor

“THESE THINGS THAT WALK BEHIND ME” BY DAVID SURFACE HAS JUST BEEN RELEASED FROM LETHE PRESS AND IT IS GREAT!

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THESE THINGS THAT WALK BEHIND ME
David Surface
10/1/2024
Lethe Press
Reviewed by Brian “Skull” Lewis

Hello horror fans, it’s your old pal Skull with a brand-new release from Lethe Press! These Things That Walk Behind Me by David Surface is packed with 14 speculative tales that will latch onto your brain and stick around long after you’ve finished reading. Or, if you’re at all like me, you’ll find yourself rereading this awesome collection again and again. The stories are really that good! Ready to take a walk on the wild side? Then let’s get to it.

Inside These Things That Walk Behind Me by David Surface you’ll find stories about things that shouldn’t exist, but they do. A fallen angel hidden in an airplane hangar that takes care of those who cannot help themselves, Angelmutter. A town whose boys disappear into a large network of caves that exist underneath them and a mother who knows more about it than she should, The Lost River Boys. How about construction company that builds unique structures that transport creatures from another realm into your hometown? Little Gods To Live In Them, is that story. We all watch those shows on TV about people suddenly disappearing only to show up thousands of miles away decades later. Give Me Back My Name shows us what it’s like to be that person and it isn’t at all pretty. Losing your mind is often viewed as losing touch with reality, but what if it actually shows us how life really is and why people act the way they do? These Things That Walk Behind Me gives us insight into that.

One of my favorite tales in this great mix is The Devil Will Be At The Door. You know that ghost story many of us hear at YMCA Camp, in Boy Scouts, or in the case of this story on the church school bus during a long ride home? It’s about a horribly haunted house in the middle of nowhere and ends with a jump scare scream. The details are usually filled in to fit the location, but it’s pretty much the same tale. Eventually we grow up and decide such terrifying things don’t exist. But what if they do, and you just haven’t found it yet? Or, worse, it’s out there looking for you? Oh, and if you’ve heard that story in your lifetime…There’s no getting away.

Another story I really dug was, When The Circus. Danny escapes from a small southern town and a meaningless life by going to New York City, a giant metropolis that never sleeps and you can get whatever you want 24 hours a day. But such a vast place is dark, dangerous, and ready to eat newbies alive. Danny needs a place, somewhere to take shelter, and he finds it in a ghost bar hidden under some scaffolding. There he meets Lenny, an old school tough New Yorker who holds court nightly teaching valuable lessons and telling stories. But a person can only hide so long in the middle of a hurricane. Events unfold in front of Danny that threaten to steal his sanity. His happiness has already fled. One night when Lenny starts telling everyone about a bizarre event that happened right on that particular night many years ago, Danny refuses to buy it. Back in the old days, the circus would come to Madison Square Garden and people lined 34th street at midnight to see the elephants walk from the train to the garden. But one year, things went horribly wrong, and the results were bad enough to drive a person mad. The Big Apple doesn’t let go of the scary things, it holds them tightly trapped in its dark bosom of night, then shows them to fragile minds like a demented flasher in a black raincoat. GOTCHA! Lenny says that the only way to avoid being sucked into the flames of Hell is to shelter in place. Danny says he’s full of shit and makes a break for it. Will he see what he’s looking for, or is it all just a hoax to scare newbies?

How The World Works, is another great story. Many people think the world is an efficient machine that can easily be explained by science or their particular brand of religion. Yet, every year, strange things happen that defy logical explanation. This story is a tale about secrets and friendship. The narrator’s friend, Mike, hasn’t had a very good life and isn’t exactly Mr. Manners. Still the narrator cares about him and is pleased to hear that he’s returned to town after a long absence. When he goes to visit Mike in his new place, it’s entirely rad, especially to a couple of teenage boys. Mike’s story is that he’s housesitting for a guy and has free run of the house. But what’s with all the freaked-out cats? More importantly, what’s that damn thing in the basement? Will Mike’s explanation clear things up or just make it worse? One thing is for certain, the piper must be paid. That’s just How The World Works.

If you’ve read this far, then you probably already know what your old pal Skull thinks of this book, but let me just put it into words: Wow, what an awesome collection of short horror stories! Damaged Skull Writer and Reviewer gives These Things That Walk Behind Me a BIG 5 STARS! David Surface writes stories that stick with you and grow as time passes. It’s not excessively gory or easy to stick in one box, but his words lodge into your brain and blossom into images and feelings that hang on long after you put the book down. Or you’ll keep picking it up to savor again and again. These Things That Walk Behind Me will make it to the Wall of Fame eventually, but for now it follows me from room to room, and I can’t help reading just one more story. Bottom line: get this collection and enjoy the work of awesome storyteller, David Surface!

Thanks for visiting the Skullcave, if you enjoyed this review please consider subscribing and following us on social media to help more independent authors get more exposure and spread the word that Indy Horror Rocks! For more information about this book and other great titles from Lethe Press go to: www.lethepressbooks.com
For more information about David Surface and to sign up for his newsletter, Strange Little Stories, go to: www.davidsurface.net

About your reviewer:

When darkness falls Brian James Lewis becomes his alter ego, Skull, and burns the midnight oil reading and reviewing recent arrivals to his lair, the Skullcave! You can catch up with him on social media at: https://facebook.com/DamagedSkullWriterandReviewer where he’d really appreciate some follows to get more exposure for Indy horror writers and presses!

You can also find him on: X/Twitter@skullsnflames76

And we’re also on Goodreads and leave reviews on Amazon under the mortal’s name Brian James Lewis

THE LETHE PRESS EDITION OF “H.P. LOVECRAFT’S COMMONPLACE BOOK” BRINGS HIS WEIRD COSMIC MAGIC TO LIFE WITH AWESOME ILLUSTRATIONS AND FANTASTIC PRESENTATION BY MICHAEL BUKOWSKI ALONG WITH A FEW COOL SURPRISES FROM LOVECRAFT HIMSELF!

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H.P. LOVECRAFT’S COMMONPLACE BOOK
Illustrated by Michael Bukowski
Lethe Press
8/3/2024
Reviewed by Brian “Skull” Lewis

Hello awesome readers, it’s your old pal Skull with a book that I’m honestly, kind of in love with: H.P. Lovecraft’s Commonplace Book recently released by the rather awesome Lethe Press! Serious Lovecraft fans may be familiar with this little volume of his collected thoughts and ideas, but I’m willing to bet you haven’t seen it looking like this edition that is wonderfully illustrated by Michael Bukowski. I mean, when I opened the package and this purple-skinned beauty slid out, I immediately sat down and gave it my full attention. Check out the cover pic and the Odd nocturnal ritual. Beasts dance & march to musick image! The book is like this ALL the way through!

As a writer myself, I enjoy books like this that give readers a peek behind the wizard’s curtain. They let readers see story ideas, what interested their favorite author, and maybe offer some memorable quotes. But, let’s be honest, most of those books are exceptionally dry, which means that only diehard fans are going to work their way through them. Bukowski’s art pulls you into the Lethe Press edition of H.P. Lovecraft’s Commonplace Book and makes you want to see what’s on the next page, and the next one after that. There’s a perfect balance between the illustrations and Lovecraft’s words that drives things forward nicely. Speaking of which, the font and colorful ink choice really make the words pop. I love that Lovecraft’s original introduction has been included and that he’d just like an “admirably neat typed copy” from R.H. Barlow, Esq. Also included is a nifty little piece of artwork by Lovecraft: a sketch showing a side profile of the mighty CTHULU for a possible future sculpture. How about that for coolness?

H.P. Lovecraft’s Commonplace Book from Lethe Press is a treasure trove of ideas, quotes, and notes about unique happenings and other writers. Lovecraft also included a cool reading list of weird fiction that he was collecting for an article. It contains familiar names like H.G. Wells and Algernon Blackwood and many others that I will be looking into. One of Lovecraft’s quotes that stood out to me was: “Life is more horrible than death.” While folks who read those insanely cheerful self-help books that spew paragraphs about what “super-duper great people” they are might disagree, they need to realize that these words came from a man who was plagued by nightmares, insomnia, and poor health for the majority of his life. Yes, that’s what fueled much of his work, but it wasn’t any picnic for Lovecraft who died early and only realized fame posthumously.

What does your old pal Skull think? I don’t think it’ll surprise anyone that Damaged Skull Writer and Reviewer rates H.P. Lovecraft’s Commonplace Book, the Lethe Press edition illustrated by Michael Bukowski a cosmic 5 STARS! It is a wonderful volume that both celebrates its creator and the fantastic art of Michael Bukowski who also included a little Dungeons & Dragons magic in some of these illustrations. Bukowski also took time to edit out offensive material that Lovecraft unfortunately included in some of his work. It is a new day and one to celebrate our diversity, not be afraid of what we don’t understand.

For more information about Lethe Press or to purchase a copy of this book, please go to: www.lethepressbooks.com

For more information about Michael Bukowski, you can check out his detailed profile on the Lethe Press site or go right over to: www.lastchanceillustrations.wordpress.com
or visit: www.yog.blogsoth.blogspot.com

About the reviewer:

When darkness falls Brian James Lewis becomes his alter ego, Skull, and burns the midnight oil reading and reviewing recent arrivals to his lair, the Skullcave! You can catch up with him on social media at: https://facebook.com/DamagedSkullWriterandReviewer where he’d really appreciate some follows to get more exposure for Indy horror writers and presses!

You can also find him on: X/Twitter@skullsnflames76

And we’re also on Goodreads and leave reviews on Amazon under the mortal’s name Brian James Lewis

VIRTUAL RELEASE PARTY FOR “THE RACK” WAS A TRUE SUCCESS!

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Hello horror fans, it’s your old pal Skull with some cool news in the horror writing and reading community! I was lucky enough to be invited to the virtual release party for the new themed horror anthology, The Rack and a good time was had by all. Editor Tom Deady and Parasite Steve were the masters of ceremonies and many of the contributors spoke about their stories as well as the books that inspired them when they were spinning those creaky, squeaky wire racks at their local newsstands, drugstores, or libraries during the 1980’s. Stephen King and Ray Bradbury were frequently mentioned, but so were some less famous names. It was great to hear from the authors which included Christa Carmen, Tom Deady, Kristin Dearborn, Candace Nola, Errick Nunnally, Cynthia Pelayo, and Mercedes Yardley. While I’d love to go into serious detail about what each author had to say, this article would be very long and not ready for quite some time. The main takeaway is that The Rack is a richly diverse collection of stories both in contributing authors and the wide variety of their stories

Other features of the evening were the swag giveaway opportunities for non-authors to win nifty prizes like pens, journals, stickers, and even t-shirts with The Rack cover art on them. These mega-cool items were awarded to attendees who were able to name the author of The Rack story that Tom read aloud. The first person to do so won some great stuff! There was also a fun show and tell of favorite and unique books in the authors’ personal collections, featuring the funky, pulpy paperback covers of the 80’s along with a few books that never made it back to the library, presented by Errick Nunnally, that had a great story of their own. As the evening wound down, there were reading suggestions from many of the authors, and a discussion about who delivered and who just had nifty covers. We wrapped with a round up of what each contributing author was also doing. Overall, a great evening!

While your old pal Skull wasn’t an active participant, I truly enjoyed putting voices and faces to authors whose work I’ve read previously such Christa Carmen, Candace Nola, and Mercedes Yardley. I also dug meeting authors I wasn’t as familiar with, like Errick Nunnally. Can’t wait to read his story! Tom Deady is a very cool guy, and I’m cheered and inspired to know that he didn’t really get into writing horror until his 50’s because that’s where I am, working on making a comeback after mental health issues and disabilities crushed me like a bug in 2019. But this isn’t about me, it’s about a brand-new horror anthology with retro vibes that kicks ass. Damaged Skull Writer and Reviewer will be doing a review ASAP, but until then go get yourself a copy of THE RACK and start reading!

IN “A SCOUT IS BRAVE” WILL LUDWIGSEN AND LETHE PRESS TEAM UP TO BRING READERS A FANTASTIC TALE OF FAMILY, FRIENDSHIP, AND FEAR THAT PICKS UP WHERE H.P. LOVECRAFT’S “A SHADOW OVER INNSMOUTH” LEFT OFF

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A SCOUT IS BRAVE
Will Ludwigsen
July 1, 2024
Lethe Press
Reviewed by Brian “Skull” Lewis

Hello horror fiends! It’s your old pal Skull with a most excellent read to help you celebrate the recent birthday of H.P. Lovecraft. A Scout Is Brave by Will Ludwigsen ties in beautifully to Lovecraft’s novella A Shadow Over Innsmouth   and moves the action forward to 1963. The U.S. is in turmoil, with issues like the Vietnam war looming and events like the assassination of President John F. Kennedy stirring the pot, so it almost seems like a reprieve for the Castillo family when Dad is offered a job far away from Queens, NY. Not only that but the Innsmouth Oil Speculating Consortium is offering a hefty salary along with a rent-free house. Heck, they’re even paying moving expenses!

While that is pretty sweet for an out of work construction and demolition diver, it doesn’t take long for the Castillos to realize that Innsmouth, Massachusetts is one strange place. All the houses are boarded up, the population is tiny, and their leader is an eccentric preacher named Mr. Pritchett who keeps rattling on about “the deep ones” and “returning to glory.” Young Bud Castillo also finds out that everyone in town is elderly and there aren’t any other kids to play with. This is a major disappointment because he really wants to get a new Boy Scout troop going. Bud carries his handbook everywhere and strives to be the most all-American good guy that he can possibly be. Yeah, he has a temper sometimes, but so does his old man, who recently got fired from his job because the boss’ son left him in the Harlem River with no air to breathe.

Then, while walking around the dilapidated old town, Bud discovers a library. It’s all boarded up in front, so he goes around back hoping that there might be a way in. Just when he finds one, Aubrey Marsh practically drops right into his lap. While he’s small and a bit odd looking, Aubrey appears to be a real live boy. Things are looking up! With a couple more fellas, they’ll be able to put a Scout troop together in no time. Except that Aubrey is the only other kid in town. Still not daunted, Bud decides that they can still have their own sort of troop. Aubrey dives into the idea of becoming a boy scout with amazing enthusiasm and becomes solid friends with not only Bud, but his mother and dad, too. Sometimes he helps them understand the situation in Innsmouth. But others, he relies on them to help him with his quest for answers about what happened to the previous residents of the town.

Unfortunately, as Aubrey and Bud collect facts and start putting pieces of the puzzle together, the picture it reveals is an alarming one. Dad says that he doesn’t know exactly what the people of Innsmouth are doing with an oil drilling rig, but it certainly isn’t drilling for oil. Reverend Pritchett becomes even more animated as the work gets closer to completion, babbling about some kind of long-awaited reunion and eternal life. The townspeople follow suit, making things awkward. Then Mrs. Castillo gets kidnapped while Bud and his Dad are taken hostage. Suddenly the job is no longer a voluntary thing and Aubrey disappears. Will the Castillo family ever be reunited? Are the townspeople truly headed towards great glory, or something worse than death? Why is Mrs. Marsh such an excellent swimmer? And where the heck is Aubrey? As the novel rockets towards its explosive conclusion, all these questions and more will be answered! All you need to do is grab yourself a copy of A Scout Is Brave to get the scoop.  

Damaged Skull Writer and Reviewer rates A Scout Is Brave by Will Ludwigsen a BIG 5 STARS! Superbly written and perfectly connected to Lovecraft’s original concept of Innsmouth, it’s clear that Ludwigsen is very familiar with the Cthulu mythos. Like many good horror stories, A Scout Is Brave is also about accepting yourself and others for who they really are. Maybe you’re a Puerto Rican Jew from Queens, like Bud, or a half human-half amphibious creature from the sea who desperately wants to be a real boy. The best things in life are friends, because they’re the family we get to choose, or who chooses us. Too many blood families get hung up on stupid stuff like who a person should love, or what they’re career path is supposed to be, and the big icky one: religion. The truth is that no perfect race or life form exists in the universe. We all have flaws, but also a lot of good to offer others who can see past them. Worshipping a higher power is not always a good thing, especially when those powers are angry sea creatures that want to take over the world.

While A Scout Is Brave is listed as a YA read in some markets, this book is great for adults, too. Especially those of us who had a less than stellar childhood and were forced to move state to state after finally making a few friends. It is scary at times, but also full of love, and some really cool details that bring Innsmouth into the present day. It is also currently on sale at the Lethe Press’ website: www.lethepressbooks.com along with some other seriously boss titles. Your old pal Skull encourages you to pop on over there and take a look! While you’re checking out cool things, you might also enjoy visiting Will Ludwigsen’s page at: www.will-ludwigsen.com Thanks for visiting your old pal Skull and if you wouldn’t mind, give us a follow at: www.damagedskullwriterandreviewer.com

About the reviewer

When darkness falls Brian James Lewis becomes his alter ego, Skull, and burns the midnight oil reading and reviewing recent arrivals to his lair, the Skullcave! You can catch up with him on social media at: https://facebook.com/DamagedSkullWriterandReviewer where he’d really appreciate some follows to get more exposure for Indy horror writers and presses!

You can also find him on: X/Twitter@skullsnflames76

And we’re also on Goodreads and leave reviews on Amazon under the mortal’s name Brian James Lewis

IF YOU ENJOY THE WRITINGS OF H.P. LOVECRAFT AND TERRIFYINGLY BEAUTIFUL ARTWORK, YOU’RE GOING TO LOVE LETHE PRESS’S SPECIAL EDITION OF “THE COMMONPLACE BOOK” WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY MICHAEL BUKOWSKI

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Hello fans of all things weird and cosmic horror! Your old pal Skull just received this absolutely fascinating book from Lethe Press! A review is on its way, as soon as I can tear myself away from the marvelous illustrations by Michael Bukowski. They are bursting with color, texture, and imagination and when put next to words by H.P. Lovecraft-magical. All that is great, but something even better is that this book is currently on sale over on the Lethe Press website. I’d suggest you head on over to http://www.lethepressbooks.com and get yourself a copy now. I know it’s early days yet, but this will make an excellent holiday/birthday/Christmas gift for the speculative fiction lover in your life. Stay tuned and subscribe to read your old pal Skull’s full review soon. Also be sure to check out Michael Bukowski’s website http://www.lastchanceillustration.wordpress.com Be well and keep reading Independent Horror!

NEED TO STEP OUT OF MODERN DAY REALITY FOR COUPLE HOURS? THEN READ “FADE TO BLONDE” BY MAX PHILLIPS TO VISIT HOLLYWOOD IN THE 1950S AND TAG ALONG WITH RAY CORSON AS HE ATTEMPTS TO HELP OUT A HOT BLONDE IN TROUBLE

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FADE TO BLONDE
Max Phillips
5/11/2011
Hard Case Crime
Reviewed by Brian “Skull” Lewis

Hello fans of speculative fiction, it’s your old pal Skull with a selection from Hard Case Crime written by the imprint’s co-founder Max Phillips, Fade to Blonde.  I enjoy a good detective/mystery/crime novel now and then. They help one to escape tedious reality for a few hours and take a walk on the wild side. Maybe even have a few “aha moments” or make a run for your life without leaving your easy chair. You know, that whole “portable magic” deal that another writer for Hard Case Crime, a real cool cat by the name of Stephen King spun in his book On Writing. Anyhow, enough gabbing from me. This ain’t King’s novel, it’s one by Max Phillips. Let’s go check out Fade to Blonde!

When we first see narrator Ray Corson, he’s doing odd jobs in Hollywood California, working on a housing development to be specific. Nothing points to his true love, which is writing screenplays, but he’s got a typewriter stashed back at the shack and knows how to use it. Things get interesting when a flashy dame with a pair of 45’s drives up in a cool car and asks Ray for help with a delicate matter. In his heart, Ray knows it’s probably a bad idea. But his wallet is thinner than a Band-aid, she’s got cash, and he hasn’t had a decent meal in a week. Plus, she’s got those amazing Dagmars pointing at him. So, he jumps straight into trouble with both feet. Don’t worry though, Ray’s an ex-boxer who’s over 6 feet tall and hauling 245 pounds of muscle around under his duds. Just in case that’s not enough, he carries a friend in a holster. Not the usual hit first and ask questions later, type, Ray’s a good investigator with some good friends in tinsel town who help keep him in the know about important matters. Unfortunately, some knowledge and too much confidence can get a guy in trouble faster than a Studebaker going full tilt. Especially when said guy has a conscience and isn’t a fan of cheesy creeps or liars. Things get too hot, and it looks like Ray Corson is about to get iced. Will this be the last time he works in Hollywood, or ever? Find out all about it when you read Fade to Blonde by Max Phillips!  

Damaged Skull Writer and Reviewer rates Fade to Blonde FOUR STARS. It’s a swell, fast moving read that has some nice twists and turns. The book does a pretty good job of transporting readers back to a time that did not include smartphones or google. A time when actual people had to work together and there were certain individuals in every big city, who knew a lot more than they should and were willing to share for the right amount of green or favors in return. As a bonus the ending surprised even your old pal Skull. This book made me think of the Perry Mason series by Earle Stanley Gardener, which I happen to enjoy. I couldn’t really decide if I liked Ray Corson or not by the time Fade to Blonde wrapped, but perhaps that was Max Phillips’ intention. Bottom line: This story was a fun read and I encourage you to grab a copy!  

About my mortal:

Brian James Lewis is a disabled poet and writer with PTSD who finds writing to be vastly important to his recovery. Working class to the bone, he writes inclusive, real-world prose and poetry that hits home. Brian’s work has appeared in anthologies from Smoking Pen Press, No Bad Books, and HellBound Books. He’s also appeared in online publications like The Sunlight Press, the Hook of A Book Poetry Project, and The Sirens Call e-Zine. Most recently issue #26 of Trajectory Journal included his short story, “Going to be a Long. Cold, Winter.” Besides writing, Brian enjoys bringing old typewriters back to life, including a Royal KMM formerly owned by Rod Serling. Visit him at: www.damagedskullwriterandreviewer.com for news and independent book reviews, or on X/twitter@skullsnflames76. Your old pal Skull also lurks around on Facebook, so follow him there and help more writers get exposure.

IF YOU LIKE THE OLD WEST AND OLD MAGIC, “GOBLINS & GUNSLINGERS-FRESH BLOOD” BY IVAN K. CONWAY SHOULD BE ON YOUR FANTASY READING LIST!

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GOBLINS & GUNSLINGERS-FRESH BLOOD
Ivan K. Conway
TBR 7/10/2024
Prince of Harts Publishing
Reviewed by Brian “Skull” Lewis

Well, howdy pardners! It’s your old pal Skull with an interesting twist on the classic Western. The action happens in the old west and there are quite a few swaggering gunslingers ready to slap leather at the drop of a hat. There are plenty of saloons and houses of ill repute, too. What’s different is the folks out there doing battle. In Goblins & Gunslingers-Fresh Blood by Ivan K. Conway, magical creatures and various mixtures thereof jingle their spurs down dusty streets. Humans are present, but in the minority. You’re much more likely to see a goblinoid, elf, ogre, or even a vampire in a cleric’s getup including a wide brimmed hat to keep the sun at bay. They use a wide variety of weapons from pepperbox pistols to machetes and enchanted swords, all the way to magic.

Not one to dilly-dally, Conway sets us down right in the middle of the fray, using retrospective musings to fill us in on main protagonist, Helen Providence. Unfortunately, she’s got a bit of a drinking problem after an intensely difficult life that led to the loss of both her parents. At one time, she was considered a war hero, but now she leads a rough and ready posse of bounty hunters across places with names like Dustbin, Flamefield, and Carnage Canyon. Tethered to a powerful person named Mr. Balm, they must capture others in debt and give him their souls to reduce their own debts and the loss of their very being. But they’re not the only bounty hunters out there and things can get mighty tricky real fast if you’re not careful in these parts. Because, just like our current day, there is a serious amount of racial hatred out there with too many folks looking to exact vigilante justice. Best strategy is to keep your face covered by that classic western bandana and hat to avoid trouble. However, it’s kind of hard to keep covert in this spell slingin’, machete swingin’ crew! But you didn’t pick up this book to be bored, now did ya?

Damaged Skull Writer & Reviewer gives Goblins & Gunslingers-Fresh Blood by Ivan K. Conway a solid 4 STAR REVIEW! There’s action galore with a lot of positive elements like female empowerment, breaking out of the usual hail of bullets by using things like magic, enchanted swords, and smarts to handle trouble. The characters and scenery are interesting and memorable with enough conflict to keep things moving. Things get a little bit cluttered in a few spots, but it’s definitely worth the effort to continue. More details are revealed as the story progresses which leads to greater clarity for readers. I will also admit that your old pal Skull might not have a deep knowledge about magical beings and their abilities, which might have slowed my progress. Overall, a fun, fast paced read that I’d recommend to everybody. If you dig the old west and old magic, the Goblins & Gunslingers series of books was written for you!

Looking for more information about Ivan K. Conway? You can find him on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and also follow him on Amazon.com where you can preorder this book for $1.00 in Kindle format and/or purchase his previous novel. Goblins & Gunslingers-Bad Blood. As always, thanks for visiting your old pal Skull at Damaged Skull Writer and Reviewer! Please consider following us at www.damagedskullwriterandreviewer.com to see what’s next.

About my mortal:

Brian James Lewis is a disabled poet and writer with PTSD who finds writing to be vastly important to his recovery. Working class to the bone, he writes inclusive, real-world prose and poetry that hits home. Brian’s work has appeared in anthologies from Smoking Pen Press, No Bad Books, and HellBound Books. He’s also appeared in online publications like The Sunlight Press, the Hook of A Book Poetry Project, and The Sirens Call e-Zine. Besides writing, Brian enjoys bringing old typewriters back to life, including a Royal KMM formerly owned by Rod Serling. Visit him at: www.damagedskullwriterandreviewer.com for news and independent book reviews, or on X/twitter@skullsnflames76