Stephanie Jensen's Blog

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I’m very happy to announce that my first book, Dissecting House, is now available on audiobook. Available on Audible and Apple Books.

Here are the stories in my upcoming short story collection, Heartbeat. Heartbeat will be released on March 14.

Collagen: A woman has found the secret to preventing aging, and the girl tied up in her home is going to help her.

Gates to Hell: Two boys are trying to find the Gates to Hell in York, PA, for their YouTube channel. The boys are disappointed when they only meet a sweet lady named LeLe, but she knows more about the Gates to Hell than expected. (Dedicated to my Aunt LeLe)

Hemigranea: After a bad incident with an Ouija Board, Maribel develops a migraine that never goes away. And now, her soul is at stake. (Originally published in Phantom Menagerie)

Captain Viator: A group of sunken ship experts discover La Reina, the ship that belonged to legendary pirate Captain Viator. But after a hurricane hits Tampa, FL, residents will soon find that the hurricane brought more than wind and rain.

Putrefying Malediction: At a high school football game, Dan meets the most beautiful girl, Denise. Denise gives his daughter a doll as a gift. But the day after, Dan and his son, Laurent, develop a mysterious illness. (Originally published in Scraps)

A Willing Sacrifice to Dagon: Alora is at maturity but doesn’t want to mate with the other lame mermen. No, she would rather mate with a god, specifically Dagon. After finding his lair, Alora gets more than she bargained for.

Ariza Overtaken: Ariza was once a peaceful village until a cult called the Khirs invaded the land and kidnapped all the residents. It will take one brave woman, her warrior daughter, and their faun friend to save the town. (A story I wrote when I was 16)

Evisceratum: A groupie couldn’t pass down the opportunity to sleep with her favorite black metal band, Evisceratum. She thought she was kinky…until they pulled out a severed pig head. (Originally performed at the 2023 Gross-Out Contest)

58 Years: On the outside, Conrad seemed like a self-made man. But 58 years after making a deal with Lucifer, Conrad must repay his debt.

Pluto and the Plague: When strange men accuse Pluto’s mother of witchcraft and burn her at the stake, Pluto knows the best way to get revenge on the humans. (Written from the POV of a cat, dedicated to my cats Pluto and Luna and the lives of CC and Tigro)

Lady Kidney: A young woman’s body was discovered at the U.S.-Mexico border. Her kidneys were removed, she had no ID, and she was only wearing a pair of purple socks. Detective Bernardo Gonzalez gives her the name “Lady Kidney.” While working on the case, Detective Gonzalez uncovers a trafficking ring in the U.S. and Latin America. But Detective Gonzalez’s only priority is to give Lady Kidney her name back. (Dedicated to my Mom Mom)

Liquid Bits: One man has a strange fixation with what his cat, Ms. Meowington, does in the litter box. (Originally performed at the 2024 Gross-Out Contest)

Heartbeat: Erica is pregnant after being raped. Because of the heartbeat bill in Texas, she can’t get an abortion. After several failed attempts to get abortion medication and travel out of state, she finally takes matters into her own hands.

Postpartum: Mary was diagnosed with postpartum psychosis after having her first child. But she isn’t lying when she tells her husband that God is speaking to her—and she fears him more than she loves him.

House of Sunshine, the prequel to the Mina Bassey series, is out now. You can purchase the book here.

Another year, another 50 or so books I’ve read! I have to say, this has been one of the best reading years yet.

While extreme horror and splatterpunk are close to my heart, I went in a more diverse direction with my reading selection this year.

I have to say, this has been a rough year for me. Two family members died, and there have been other problems in my personal life, so stories that focus on grief and mental illness struck my fancy. I have also been dabbling more in both history and historical fiction as well as crime (because of a novel I finished).

Without further ado, let’s get to my top picks!

10. Dear Laura by Gemma AmorSource: Goodreads

I have been following Gemma Amor on TikTok for quite some time, and love how deep and introspective her posts are. I knew her writing would be excellent, and I wasn’t disappointed when I read Dear Laura.

This novella is only over 100 pages, but it packs a punch. The book moves in numerous twists and turns, morphing into a different monster by the end.

The book doesn’t have as much violence and gore as some of the other novels I read, but the subject matter is dark enough for me to consider it a mid-level extreme horror book. And the gory scenes in here are gruesome enough to live rent-free in your brain.

The most important aspect of the book that Amor highlighted was the emotional side. Losing a friend and a potential love interest to a heinous crime will consume anyone—especially when it happens so young. It makes you understand why Laura did what she did to appease Bobby’s killer.

Amor’s writing is also beautiful; she crafts breathtaking descriptions but doesn’t consume the whole book with flowery language.

9. Summer Never Ends by Judith SonnetSource: Amazon

Sonnet is famous for No One Rides for Free and For the Sake Of. I love those books, but Summer Never Ends doesn’t get the credit it deserves.

Summer Never Ends has all the best of slasher films, notably the Friday the 13th movies, plus a corrupt church and Bible camp. That said, there’s no cheesiness in Sonnet’s brand of campy horror. She displays church camp corruption in its most vicious way, and how its effects can damage our most vulnerable youth.

Of course, this is a Judith Sonnet book, so expect relentless brutality. Is it of the depravity of her other books? No. But there are enough unsettling parts to make you feel icky at times.

8. Between Two Fires by Christopher BuehlmanSource: Amazon

I’ve always been a history nerd, and the Medieval period is one of my favorite times in history. I can’t remember how I discovered Between Two Fires, but when I bought it, I realized it had been some time since I consumed historical fiction.

Between Two Fires follows three unlikely travelers: a knight, a priest, and a little girl with a strange connection to angels. They’re living among the Black Plague and traveling throughout France. Instead of having one major plot, setting, or conflict, the three embark on various adventures. Our characters are simply trying to survive—and do so by relying on the little girl’s third eye.

I was excited to dig in at first, but I didn’t care for the beginning of the book, and DNF’d it for a bit. But when I came back to this book, I got hooked quickly. It’s not that the book is slow; Buehlman actually gets to the action really quickly. There are just Biblical fantasy elements in the book which threw me off. But as you read it, you realize this gives the book an interesting element—and it fits, considering the pious time period. That said, this definitely isn’t a Christian book. Buehlman highlights the corruption in the church, even during this time period. For example, and I hate to give away a slight spoiler, but the priest, Père Matthieu Hanicotte, turns out to be a pedophile (surprise, surprise).

What I like about this book is it can appeal to any reader. Obviously, Medieval history buffs will love it—after all, you can tell Buehlman spent a large chunk of time researching for this piece. But fantasy fans and even horror nerds will love this one. As I said, Buehlman includes Biblical fantasy elements, but there’s enough gore and depravity to make this read like a horror book.

I do have a couple of issues with this book. First, it was very long, and it took me a couple of months to finish it. But in a way, the length is fitting; throughout the entire time, you feel like you’re embarking on an endless journey throughout Medieval France.

Secondly, there were flashbacks that I didn’t find necessary to the story. They did help to build the characters, but I would have rather focused on the characters’ journey rather than learn about their histories.

Despite these slight flaws, I loved this book and was sad when it ended. If you are a horror fan but want to read something different, I highly suggest this book.

7. A Fine Evening in Hell by Kristopher TrianaSource: Goodreads

Kristopher Triana is becoming one of my favorite modern authors. Not only is he brilliant, but he’s one of the most versatile writers I’ve ever read. I was mainly familiar with his extreme horror material, such as Full Brutal and Body Art. But I also love crime, and when I saw Triana wrote the crime book A Fine Evening in Hell, I knew I would love it.

This is one of those books that changes drastically as you’re reading. The characters you thought were the “bad guys” aren’t as evil as others in the book. I appreciate this in all fiction, but especially crime. Humans are complex and can commit multiple evil acts, so people aren’t always who they seem.

You also feel empathetic to Heather getting caught in this mess. In crime fiction, if a person is pulled into the chaos, they’re often represented as stupid or careless. While Heather makes her fair share of mistakes, Triana wrote her character in a realistic yet likable way, so you continue rooting her on.

Even though this is a crime thriller, Triana doesn’t skimp on the violence. While the brutality isn’t as glorified as in a book like Body Art, this is more extreme than your average crime novel. In addition to violent trigger warnings, it’s important to note that there’s racism and Nazism in this book. That alone makes this one of the most aggressive books that Triana has written, even without the excessive gore.

As with all of his other books, this one has excellent writing. Triana puts you in a nightmarish atmosphere, but the writing is so beautiful that you persist through the dread.

6. Lapvona by Ottessa MoshfeghSource: Amazon

Does anyone know the books where you see the title and cover and something tells you to read it? For me, that was Lapvona. I saw it all over BookTok and Reddit for a long time and eventually moved it up on my TBR. Looking back, I’m so glad I did. The book is around 300 pages and I only finished it in a few days. I was so absorbed in the world of Lapvona that I couldn’t put the book down.

Lapvona is another historical fiction book, taking place in the fictional country Lapvona during the Medieval Period. Throughout the book, the city’s denizens struggle with poverty, crime, hunger, and drought. Of course, the emperor of the city, a man named Villiam, is filthy rich and hogs all the town’s resources from the people he’s representing.

The story intertwines between the people who live in Lapvona, specifically a boy named Marek; throughout the book, it always feels like a veil covers who he really is, but everything comes together at the end. No matter who you’re reading about, every page is enticing, and you can’t help but love reading about this weird place.

This is my first Moshfegh book, and I love her writing style. Lapvona was so strange but well-written. She doesn’t use excessive flowery language, but her minor diction choices still give the book an otherworldly feeling. I definitely plan on reading more books from her.

During the Medieval Period, there weren’t advancements in medicine, the people ate terribly, and hygiene was questionable. But one thing Lapvona taught me was their society wasn’t much different than ours. The poor work the hardest while still paying the most taxes, and the elite hold the most wealth and resources.

5. The Corruption of Philip Toles by Felix I.D. DimaroSource: Goodreads

I first discovered Dimaro a few years ago when I read his book Bug Spray. I loved how Dimaro can make the most banal thing absolutely terrifying, and his expert storytelling blew me away. I knew I was in for a wild ride when I picked up The Corruption of Philip Toles, but nothing could prepare me for the intense emotional rollercoaster I experienced when I read this book.

This is the kind of book where you’re lost when you start. You discover the suicide of a teenage boy and how his death was linked to one teacher, but Dimaro keeps introducing other characters, and it gets confusing. But one thing I learned as a writer is additional characters, settings, and conflicts don’t appear for no reason.

With a deep storyteller like Dimaro, I knew this book was going in another direction. In reality, this book went in three additional directions.

Dimaro not only centers around the controversy of Philip Toles’ death but how it affected everyone—his family, the school, his teachers, the media, and even his entire town. When anyone dies, more people die with them; even if it’s not a physical death, it’s an internal one.

While I love this book and highly recommend it, I encourage you to check trigger warnings. This book has all the big ones, and there’s mention of child abuse (not giving away a big spoiler—this comes up in the first chapter).

But I do want to highlight Dimaro’s expert tackle on this subject. I notice with other horror writers conveying this trigger, most will include CA in their books, but brush over it to avoid thinking about it or to put any scenes in their readers’ minds. I argue writers who feel this way should change their plot and not center it around CA.

But you can absolutely write about CA without describing the actions. Let’s use Dimaro, as an example. He puts everything from the perspective of the perpetrator after the abuse happened. As the reader, you’ll know what happened, which is upsetting. At the same time, you don’t need to know the tiny details of the abuse.

As with Bug Spray, The Corruption of Philip Toles is an easy read. Dimaro’s writing style is very straightforward, and you never get lost in a scene. The book is also around 175 pages, so it didn’t take me long to finish it.

4. The Devil Takes You Home by Gabino IglesiasSource: Goodreads

I’ve had The Devil Takes You Home on my TBR forever but always passed it over when book shopping. I wish I had read it sooner—it was when Iglesias promoted a discount on his eBook that I finally bought it. As far as a description, my friend said it best: “This book is so good, it hurts.” Even re-reading it for this review, I get the same ache in my chest while reading Iglesias’ emotional and vivid writing.

This book hit me in the heart in many ways. One, grief is the main premise of the book. A couple of my family members died this year, so I’ve been consuming more grief and mental health books this year. Two, even though I’m a white American, I’m from Florida, so Latin American culture is still close to my heart. That said, the third point is there’s a lot of Spanish in this book, and I greatly respect Iglesias for writing in his first language and giving the middle finger to the literary industry. Even if you don’t speak Spanish, Iglesias has a brilliant way of translating within the text, so you never feel lost. I want to write a book based in Montreal, and Iglesias’ technique will help me implement French in my story. And fourth, this book is based in Austin, Texas, where my brother lives. I was familiar with many of the sights and locations in the novel, so the book was even more cathartic for me.

This book deals with more than the subjects I mentioned. It deals with poverty, racism, xenophobia, crime, the supernatural, family, and drugs. How Iglesias packed all of these elements into one book is beyond me. Though it is a long book, it never gets boring. You continue reading as if you were Mario, Juanca, and Brian, joining them on their mission into the criminal underbelly of the drug cartel.

While the violence in this book isn’t excessive, it does hit hard when it happens. This book was definitely a whirlwind and not for the faint of heart, but it’s a masterpiece. Just research trigger warnings, and be prepared for Chapter 11.

3. Charcoal by Garrett CookSource: Amazon

I hadn’t heard of this book until I watched Cook do a reading at Killercon this year. I loved the raw and emotional way he described violence, and was captivated by his intense descriptions. When I saw he was selling the book, I immediately bought a copy.

Charcoal blew away my expectations, mainly because the book is so unique. Cook taps into the obsession that creatives often face with their work, and how that obsession can lead to insanity. We focus on two main artists: Thomas Kemp, a libertine from the 19th century, and Shannon Hernandez, an art student from the modern day. Both lost themselves in a world of depravity, proving that the cruelty of art has no time limit, age, gender, or sexuality.

This is a sentimental note, but I love Cook’s use of crows. My grandma died this year, and whenever she would visit us, crows always gathered on the power lines when we picked her up from the airport. Crows always remind me of my grandma, so this book was a memento.

Check trigger warnings, because there are quite a few here. If you want to read something extreme but unlike anything you’ve read before, I highly suggest this book. I also have to point out the breathtaking cover art by Lynne Hansen.

2. This Thing Between Us by Gus MorenoSource: Amazon

If you’ve never endured grief (and I hope you never do), it’s a weird feeling. Your loved ones are now a distant memory. You have to remind yourself that you can’t call them and you won’t see them at family gatherings. You grieve on birthdays as much as on death days. It’s worse when you see something that reminds you of them, knowing deep down you can’t share it. Even though you feel so alone, there are lingering spirits all around you. Isolation becomes your friend, because how can you even express your feelings of grief?

This is why this year, I took to books that deal with themes such as death and grieving. No book impacted me more than This Thing Between Us by Gus Moreno.

There are some differences with what Thiago endured compared to me. First, it was Thiago’s wife who died. And second, she died suddenly in a tragic accident. In addition to my aunt and grandma, I also lost my dad and his mom. All of these family members died of health complications, and their death was imminent. The feeling is bittersweet, knowing they’re no longer suffering but are gone forever. I can’t imagine what it’s like seeing a loved one in the morning and then they’re gone in a puff of air by the end of the day.

But there’s one parallel between the content in This Thing Between Us and my grieving, and that’s how death is otherworldly. Moreno introduces many paranormal elements, but they don’t feel forced or cheesy. Instead, you’re caught between the two worlds that Thiago created for himself.

Moreno nailed this description during the grieving process. When you lose a loved one, you’re also stuck between two worlds: the imaginary place where your deceased loved ones live and whatever grasp of reality you’re desperately trying to retain.

This Thing Between Us isn’t terribly long, only 250 pages. But it did take me a long time to finish it. Even though Moreno’s writing is straightforward, his words convey so much depth that you can’t help but put the book down after each section and contemplate everything you read.

This book isn’t overly violent, but there are some unsettling scenes. It’s important to note a dog does die in the book. Otherwise, this is the best book to read if you’re grieving, or if you want horror without serious triggers.

The Auschwitz Photographer by Luca Crippa & Maurizio OnnisSource: Goodreads

As I said, I became entranced by historical fiction this year…and history books. But one book that will always strike me is The Auschwitz Photographer. This book tells the true story of William Brasse, a Polish-Austrian war rebel who was arrested and imprisoned at Auschwitz. When the Nazis learned of his photography talent, they gave him an important job: take pictures of the prisoners at Auschwitz. This job led to more, and Brasse became more in demand by the Nazis. This helped him survive.

This book tells a different tale of the Holocaust. One through the eyes of Brasse—or should I say his camera lens. How he connected with other inmates and Nazi guards to create a story expressed through photography.

This should be obvious, but the book is heartbreaking. Even though we all know the inevitable, you still fall in love with everyone in this book—and their deaths are more painful when they occur. The fact that this is a true story will put anyone in a bleak mood. You also discover crimes committed by the Nazis that often aren’t talked about and the depraved deeds these soldiers and doctors did to try and position themselves as world leaders.

That said, it’s a book that everyone should read. If we don’t understand history, it’s destined to repeat itself. There are obvious trigger warnings, but this is one of the few times I suggest going in blind and letting Brasse tell his story. But I will say this, Brasse’s photos are featured in the middle of the book. Saying “they’re not easy to look at” is a serious understatement.

Honorary MentionsThe Embalmer by Rayne HavokNecrosis by Rayne HavokWoom by Duncan RalstonScanlines by Todd KieslingHero by J.F. Gonzalez and Wrath James White

I first discovered Judith Sonnet after a book reviewer promoted her novel, The Clown Hunt. Even though I’m sick of the clown trope, the book sounded unique compared to other clown horror books. I added it to my TBR and purchased a copy from Sonnet herself when I met her at Killercon (she’s so nice, by the way, and I feel fortunate to call her my friend).

I absolutely fell in love with that book! Sonnet has a way of writing some of the most brutal yet creative torture and murder scenes. But unlike other authors in the extreme horror genre, she writes relatable and likable characters, so you can’t help but root them on (even if they don’t win).

I also appreciate Sonnet’s ode to Italian horror. I like to think of her writing style as splatterpunk Giallo. Fulci and Bava would be proud of Sonnet’s mind-bending brutality, teeth-chattering suspense, and ocular torture.

After reading The Clown Hunt, I knew I wanted to dive more into Sonnet’s bibliography. And man, is there a lot there already! That girl writes so much–she inspires me to get off my butt and work on my own books!

I decided to spend one reading nothing but Sonnet books. And let me tell you, that was a wild month! I chose the books in her bibliography that seemed the most interesting, and I was pleasantly surprised by all books. Some I liked more than others, others I didn’t like as much as I expected, and others just absolutely wowed the fuck out of me.

So without further ado, here are the Judith Sonnet books I read and my review for each.

Chainsaw Hooker

Chainsaw Hooker was the second book I read, but I decided to start this review off with a fun book—and one of my favorites I read from Sonnet.

As the title suggests, the book follows a hooker with a chainsaw. Well, there’s more to the story, but I won’t give it all away.

RJ works the streets in NYC, and not every day is glamorous. But it’s when she meets a group of zombies is when things turn ugly—and deadly. But RJ is gifted a chainsaw from Hell and given a special mission. And RJ will take this opportunity to enact revenge.

There isn’t much I can say about this story without giving away vital details. But I will say this—it’s a fun story with plenty of gore and sweet, sweet revenge.

But this story has more punch than your typical splatterpunk tale. First, I love how Sonnet humanizes RJ. The role of the hooker tends to be objectified in extreme horror. RJ is a likable character who just had bad luck in life. Her husband is a douche, and she attracts the not-so-nice clientele.

RJ was one of my favorite characters, but I also loved Bennie—her real love interest. They are so sweet and lovable, I’m glad Sonnet turned they into a note-worthy character as the story progressed.

This was one of my favorite books I read in my Judith Sonnet haul. It is out of print now, but I’m sure Sonnet will re-release it soon.

For the Sake Of

Out of all the Sonnet books, this was the one I was most hyped about. I always saw glowing reviews and wanted to read this one first. However, it wasn’t what I expected. The book is really good, and I enjoyed the hell out of it. I just wanted a different ending (no spoilers in this review).

The book opens with a woman, Greta, who receives a chilling package, which included a burner phone and a Polaroid of her husband. Her husband has been missing for a couple of days, and the image showed him…well, in a bad state. The phone rings, and Greta has to do some horrid things to get her husband back.

The book starts off strange. Initially, it sounds like Greta is our main character, but she barely gets mentioned again.

I see what Sonnet did; after all, she writes her books like movies, and this was a foreshadowed scene to introduce what our real main character will endure. I was just lost for a moment.

After that scene, you meet our main character, Tabby. Tabby is in a similar situation as Greta. Her daughter has been missing, and she receives the same uncanny package at her door. Throughout the book, Sonnet takes you on a depraved journey to discover what Tabby is willing to do to get her daughter back.

Out of all the books I read all month, this one is the darkest and most twisted. It’s hard to say which Sonnet book is the most fucked up; honestly, they’re ALL fucked up (which isn’t a complaint at all). But this one takes the title as being the most sinister.

But let’s discuss why this book isn’t my favorite of my Sonnet haul. Tabby is a badass. Enough said. She goes through all the depraved actions forced upon her. Even though she hates every second of it, she’s strong and does everything to ensure her daughter is safe. While Tabby kind of redeemed herself at the end, it wasn’t the badass Kill Bill-esque ending I hoped for.

That doesn’t mean the ending wasn’t good. Sonnet offers a massive twist that I didn’t see coming, and I usually predict endings. It just wasn’t the ending I wanted.

For such a short book (the Kindle version I read is 130 pages), there are a lot of characters in this book. Tabby and her estranged husband. Tabby’s group of friends. Two detectives. The characters from the first scene. At first, it was hard to keep track of everyone. Sonnet does write each character well, so that’s not the complaint. I suggest keeping a mental note of each character as you read.

Reading the afterword, Sonnet mentioned she republished the book and explained some of the critiques she received from the first edition, notably that the villains were two-dimensional. I agree with Sonnet—that’s the point. The villains are all incels and want to see people, specifically women, suffer. They’re the worst of the online trolls and are truly sick individuals. Not all villains need a backstory, especially not these depraved shits.

Do I recommend this book? Yes, if you like a bleak extreme horror book with plenty of twists and turns. Sonnet definitely knows how to keep her readers on the edge of their seats. I also recommend you approach this book without having any expectations and let the depravity consume you.

No One Rides for Free

This is the other Sonnet book I saw hyped as much as For the Sake Of. I did like this book; it was absolutely wild and disturbing. However, I expected it to be more fucked up. You see, I’m the type of person that looks for book recommendations based on trigger warnings. And this book had trigger warnings EVERYWHERE! So that’s why this book was so high up on my TBR. I’m not saying it wasn’t fucked up—it totally was. But I was expecting more.

The story starts off with a mom, Jodi, and her two kids, Poppy and Ralph. They’re on a road trip; Jodi is driving to drop them off at their university. Jodie stops at a gas station for some gas, snacks, and to flirt a little with the man who works there.

However, when she returns to her car, she realizes a strange man has entered her vehicle. And he’s holding a gun to her son’s head.

From here, the book takes a dark turn.

The first half of the book was a build-up to the second part. Once the second part arrived, everything was a blur. But does that mean the ending wasn’t depraved? Seriously, this is a Judith Sonnet book we’re talking about. The ending of the book is absolutely grotesque. I was questioning my morals, wondering why I was reading a book that detailed such heinous acts.

The problem here is the ending was too quick. I’m not saying it wasn’t fucked up because it definitely was. I just wished this book was longer and more detailed. But that’s the problem with novellas—other readers actually gave me the same critiques about my book Dissecting House.

Sonnet is also a great writer, but her writing is very straightforward. It’s gut-punching and fast-paced, which is perfect for the genre. But that also makes the story pretty abrupt. If you’re looking for a story akin to throat-slashing rather than a slow torturous tome, then you’ll probably love No One Rides for Free.

But Sonnet is excellent at keeping you on the edge of your seat. The whole time, you knew something was lurking around the corner, about to bite. Sonnet delivered enough breadcrumbs to keep you following, all while making the journey absolutely harrowing.

The ending is predictable, but that didn’t mean the ending wasn’t satisfying. On the opposite end of the For Sake Of spectrum, it was the ending I wanted—and I got it.

“Cream Queen”

My copy of No One Rides for Free included Sonnet’s short story, “Cream Queen.” That’s a brilliant idea, by the way, including a copy of a short story in a novel. I should do that…

Anyway. If you read my books, know the books I read, or know anything about me, you know I don’t have many triggers. Poop and puke are some of my main ones, but I’m also not fond of pimples.

Well, this book story is about a woman who has quite an interesting fetish. She gets off on popping pimples. Like, literally gets off.

Yeah, you know where this story is going.

I don’t want to go into more detail for fear that I will give away too much of the story. However, I will say the guys in this story clearly have never heard of some salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, or even fucking tea tree oil. That, or our MC is hiding skincare from these guys. Seriously, men, do you even wash your face with Dove bar soap? That’s disgusting. Some of the pimples Sonnet describes are grounds to see a dermatologist, not hire some pimple junkie online to pop your zit all over her snatch. Men are weird.

Magick

One trend I’m noticing with Sonnet is if she writes a trope I’m so-so about, her take on it will be exceptional. And that’s the case with Magick.

The book starts almost one hundred years earlier, centering around a group of psychics interviewing a local man named Daniel. Daniel had a strange experience at the old Dobbsin brothel after sneaking in a prostitute there. The psychics and Daniel end up at the brothel and…well…I won’t give the ending of that scene away.

In typical haunted-house-story style, the story cuts to the modern day. We meet Jace, a porn filmmaker who purchased the Dobbsin House to shoot some films. What she didn’t realize was something sinister was living in that house. Something that makes anyone in the home live out their fantasies, and everyone orgasms the minute they enter the house. As they stay in the home longer, they dive deeper into the violent, Hellish abyss.

In all honesty, I’m not a fan of haunted house stories at all. The trope is overdone, and very few haunted house movies are actually scary. Ironically, I wrote a haunted house story, but that’s beside the point.

But Magick? Let’s put it this way—if Judith Sonnet is going to write a haunted house story, she will do it her way. There are fewer jump scares and more depravity—just how I like it.

This book is a nightmare; there’s no other way to explain it. It’s when your fantasies come out and take over you, plunging you into an inescapable world. Everyone turns on you to satisfy their darkest desires, and things turn horrendous for Jace and her crew.

Out of all the books I read in my Judith Sonnet binge, this was one of my favorites. Every chapter packs so many twists and turns. Sonnet was inspired by classic haunted house books and films, but the book is less of a cliché and more like an authentic extreme horror book.

Summer Never Ends

It’s hard to say which of these books is my favorite, but I think mine is Summer Never Ends. When I was reading the synopsis, it sounded like a cheesy summer camp thriller. I have no problem with this trope, but Friday the 13th already did it. Still, it’s Sonnet, so I gave it a chance.

Surprise, surprise, Sonnet took the trope and did it better.

The book follows Tanner, a 13-year-old boy forced to attend Bible camp. At the camp, Tanner meets with some classmates, who tell him about a secret “Honeymoon” cabin filled with nudie magazines. The boys sneak out and enter the cabin. Instead of finding old Playboys, they find a little boy beaten and tied up. The rest of the story takes an extremely dark turn—specifically for Tanner and his friends.

Unlike other Sonnet stories, this one is a little slow. She keeps the story entertaining and relatable (especially if you’ve been to Bible school or summer camp), but I’m used to her constantly keeping the momentum.

But if you get bored, trust me, power through it. Toward the middle is when things start to pick up. You’ll soon realize that the camp counselors aren’t as peachy as they appear, and there’s corruption inside that little church camp (c’moooooooon are we surprised?).

As I said, Sonnet took the cheese camp slasher trope and turned it over its head. But unlike her other stories, this one isn’t filled with entertaining depravity. This one sends a message home, as Sonnet explains in the afterword. While I love fun splatterpunk, the extreme horror that impales you with a dark message is my favorite type. These books stir your brain around, ensuring you absorb their true meaning.

Where Can I Buy Judith Sonnet Books?

You can buy Judith Sonnet’s books on Amazon and Godless.

I stumbled upon a TikTok video during one of my many scrolling sessions. The young woman in the video was discussing some details about her sister’s murder that the media missed or misinterpreted. Before her explanation, she gave a brief background of her sister’s murder and the events that lead to it.

But she made one specific request: “If you don’t know the details of my sister’s torture and murder, please don’t look them up.”

The woman mentioned her sister’s name, and if it’s the same case I’m thinking about, it’s one of the most heartbreaking and disturbing ones I ever discovered. Still, I followed the woman’s wishes and didn’t research her sister’s name and read about the grisly details of her torture and murder.

Why did I do that? Even though I’m a true crime enthusiast, I try to be as respectful to the survivors, victims, and any surviving loved ones as I can be. True crime tends to be over-sensationalized that we forget these events occurred to real people.

Unfortunately, exploitation in true crime media is very real. I only support specific shows, podcasts, and channels because I feel they’re the most respectful to the survivors and victims.

I also see this happening in the horror world. People are always shocked when I say I refuse to read The Girl Next Door by Jack Ketchum and similar books, solely because they exploit the Sylvia Likens story.

However, we can’t deny that true crime is omnipresent in dark media. I developed my interest in true crime at a young age, after my dad warned me I would be “kidnapped” if I walked off by myself. I had no idea what “kidnapped” meant, but it sounded scary. A few years later, I found a show about kidnapped survivors, and have been a true crime connoisseur since.

We all have our reasons for consuming true crime. For me, it’s more to understand the evils in the world and to try and spot red flags before they occur, not so much a morbid fascination as it is for others. But since so many of us horror fans are also true crime enthusiasts, it’s natural to take influence from these disturbing events.

Is there a middle line? To convey true crime in a fictional sense without exploiting the survivors, victims, and surviving loved ones? This is a question I’ve been asking myself for years. When I write my own stories, this is how I approach true crime in a fictional setting.

Avoid the “Based on a True Story” Trope

I notice this with The Girl Next Door and other stories like it. They use the whole “Based on a True Story” as a marketing ploy. While we could point fingers at the publisher, PR agents, or marketing team for a book, not necessarily the author, this is something I avoid as a writer.

My books are a work of fiction. The minute you open my book, you will see that legal disclaimer. Some scenes may be inspired by true crime stories, and many scenes are inspired by my own personal life. I also get inspired by other books, music, and movies.

In short, even if some parts of my story are inspired by real life, it’s so muddled to where it’s completely fictional.

Unless you’re commissioned to write a memoir/biography from the survivor, surviving family members, or another third party, your book isn’t based on a true story. It’s a work of fiction, and make sure it stays that way.

With that being said, this should be common sense, but I will include it anyway. Avoid using real names, quotes, and even locations if you can. Even if this is protected under the First Amendment, it will absolutely piss off anyone affiliated with the victim, survivor, or even the perpetrator. Perfect example, look at the reactions to the latest Dahmer show.

Change the Outcome

Let’s say you’ve had writer’s block for one scene. You’re binging on true crime podcasts when you discover some serious inspiration. Understand that you don’t have to write word-for-word every detail about that true crime story.

You’re a writer—be creative! You can twist and turn the story to make it a work of fiction, and it may work better for your story.

Where do you start? Change the outcome; ideally, change it to benefit the survivor. Maybe the victim died in real life? Have them escape and take revenge on their perpetrator.

Some endings may also benefit certain genres. Let’s say you’re writing a mystery novel and are using a cold case as inspiration. Instead of making it a cold case, take the reader down a rabbit hole and use your own theories to solve your fictional case.

While you can’t change the outcome in real life, you can at least convey a true crime story where the victim or their loved ones would benefit.

Add Different Elements

Even if you don’t change the outcome, you can still fictionalize a true crime story by adding other elements.

One of the amazing aspects of horror is it’s such a versatile genre. You can give your true crime story a paranormal twist or focus on a non-related conspiracy.

Or maybe your idea can be bigger, something that reflects society as a whole. I often see this in post-apocalyptic stories; there will be torture and murder, but under the umbrella of a societal collapse and how people would react.

This is especially helpful if there are upsetting details in the true crime story. Let’s say you don’t want to mention anything triggering, such as rape and molestation. You can replace those scenes to take away any heartbreaking details.

If you go this direction, make sure those fantasy elements are the center of your story—you don’t want to write a serial killer story and randomly mention aliens!

As with everything, keep the victims and survivors in your mind when writing these scenes. It can still be easy to rework a story to where it’s otherworldly but still isn’t respectful to the survivors or victims. Again, remind yourself that this story happened in real life.

Change the Characters

I did this a lot with Dissecting House. My book centers around a female serial killer who murders men. I was inspired by a lot of true crime, and I changed the characters to better fit my message.

Unfortunately, women are often the victims in these true crime cases. The World Health Organization states that 1 in 3 women worldwide has been subjected to physical or sexual violence, either at the hands of their partner or someone else.

I wrote Dissecting House to turn the tables, for women to be the perpetrator and for men to be their victims. Some of my male readers told me I changed their lives.

So, what did I do? I took true crime cases where a man was the perpetrator, and the woman was the victim/survivor and turned the tables. I reworked the narrative to fit my killer—specifically, how she lured men and killed them.

Even if you don’t change the genders, I suggest changing the characters in some way. Change their appearance, race, sexuality, nationality, location, etc. Write from a first-person perspective when you can.

When you give your characters their own thoughts and feelings, they will feel more like your own. This way, your characters will seem more fictional as opposed to them being “based on a true story.”

As I said, horror writers have a responsibility to be as respectful to those impacted by true crime as possible. By changing your characters, you’re blurring that line between truth and fiction even more.

Focus on the Emotions

The book I’m reading now is Come Forth in Thaw by Jason Robert Ducharme.

The book takes inspiration from Aokigahara Forest (known as the “suicide forest”) in Japan, and Ducharme made a note in the beginning that many authors, filmmakers, and other horror creators exploited the story. He wanted to take the same tropes and focus more on mental health, suicide, and trauma.

This got me thinking about this blog and writing fictional stories inspired by true crime. It’s easy to only discuss the events, but not the emotional side of these heinous acts. Even focusing on the “why” aspect of crime will make your story more in-depth. I love extreme horror, but the one thing the genre is missing is real emotion.

I’m not only talking about negative emotions, such as fear, anger, hurt, and betrayal. I’m talking about pleasant emotions, too. Maybe your main character is thinking back on happy memories, or the thought of escaping is all that’s keeping them alive. This way, the torture and murder aren’t the centerpieces of your story.

You can also introduce different characters in the story and focus on their emotions, such as the family, spouses, friends, doctors, psychologists, detectives, etc. You can even write from the perspective of a true crime enthusiast and their feelings toward the media they’re consuming.

This leads me to my next part.

Write From a Different Perspective

My perception of crime writing changed when I saw the movie Room. The movie is about a woman held captive, and she had a child with her abductor. She and the child end up escaping and continue to struggle after gaining freedom.

While the movie opens up while they’re in captivity, they escape early in the film. But their freedom isn’t exactly a breath of fresh air. They’re fighting the press, dealing with trauma, the mother is trying to gain her independence, the son is trying to be a “normal” child, and they’re doing all this while rebuilding their relationship with the mother’s family.

Watching the movie, you can tell the filmmakers were inspired by numerous abduction cases. But the movie didn’t feel exploitative at all. In fact, it felt realistic and opened up a different perspective.

When we consume true crime, we only consider the story that plays out before our eyes—not the aftermath, trauma, and heartbreak. If the crime resulted in death or murder, we fail to consider what’s going on in the minds of the loved ones they left behind.

Listen to Surviving Loved Ones

It can be difficult to fully know how to tap into these different perspectives, which is why I recommend looking further beyond typical true crime podcasts. Read books and memoirs and follow surviving family members on social media.

Some true crime podcasters go a step further and get engaged with the surviving loved ones, especially for cold cases.

Here’s a great example I found from a YouTuber, Kendall Rae, who I’ve been following for a while.

She interviewed family members of missing and murdered individuals, and they discussed their loved ones’ stories as well as the trauma that they have endured. While no one will ever fully understand what it means to be in that position, taking a minute to listen to these interviews will offer a new level of understanding.

I also suggest listening to Who Killed Theresa, a podcast hosted by John Allore. He created this podcast to seek answers to his sister’s murder, and also cover other cold cases throughout Canada. Sadly, John passed away recently, without knowing the truth of his sister’s murder.

Who Killed Theresa isn’t the only true crime podcast that aims to solve a case. There are numerous ones out there, many of which were created by surviving loved ones of crime victims. I suggest prioritizing those over other podcasts.

Get a Beta Reader

First, I suggest all writers get a beta reader. For me, beta readers are just as valuable as editors. They point out inconsistencies, make suggestions, offer advice, and just provide their unbiased opinions on your story.

However, beta readers can especially help if you’re covering true crime. Since they will offer honest feedback, they will let you know if your coverage of a specific story is exploitative or not. I plan on covering a lot of racist-fueled violence and hate crime in one of my upcoming books, and plan to onboard beta readers for that reason.

Something to note is you don’t have to make all changes suggested by the beta reader, but you should at least consider them. After all, they did take the time to read your book and offer feedback.

Donate and Get Involved

Lastly, you can take things a step further and get involved with true crime. There are many ways you can do this. Start by donating to different causes. I donate to victims’ advocate charities on a regular basis.

Some core ones to target include:

National Center for Missing and Exploited ChildrenRape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN)National Center for Victims of CrimeChildren of the Night (provides intervention to children who were exploited due to pornography and prostitution)

Many surviving loved ones create charities in honor of their lost or missing loved ones. These funds go toward advertising, private investigator fees, and more.

I also suggest researching any murders or cold cases in your area. Families and law enforcement are always looking for volunteers for search parties and anyone to spread the word about their missing loved ones.

If you take your sleuthing to the internet, proceed with caution. While internet detectives have solved some cases, such as the Luka Magnotta case, you also risk spreading misinformation and pointing fingers at the wrong source.

Instead of trying to solve a murder, do what you can to promote the story. Talk about these cases on social media and share news articles. Try to reach out to other true crime podcasters and request cases. If you follow true crime subreddits and notice a story is missing, see if you can post it.

Taking to social media to spread the word rather than solve the crime will keep these stories fresh in minds—and they may land in the right hands (such as on the desk of a notable detective, private investigator, or genetic genealogist).

Conclusion

Even though it may be tempting to write a fictional account of a true crime story, you may unintentionally exploit all persons involved.

If a true crime story is inspiring your current project, avoid saying it’s based on a true story. You can fictionalize it by changing the outcome, adding different elements, changing the characters, focusing on emotions, and writing from a different perspective.

If you’re still unsure, I suggest getting a beta reader. Don’t forget to always include trigger warnings.

I also urge everyone to stay involved. Listen to podcasts and interviews with surviving loved ones and get involved by donating, volunteering, and sharing true crime stories on social media.

In 2022, I discovered my Aunt Lesa (I called her Aunt LeLe) had Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). And on March 7, 2023, she passed away.

My aunt was an avid horror fan and had an obsession with vampires. When I discovered her diagnosis, I got to work on a vampire short story dedicated to my aunt. I was going to wait and publish it in my short story collection, but since her death, I felt I should publish it on my blog to commemorate her death.

Synopsis: It’s said the Gates to Hell are in York, Pennsylvania. Roland and Clay want to be the first to make it through all gates and gain internet stardom. After meeting a mysterious woman named LeLe, Roland and Clay get more than they bargained for when they pass through the Gates to Hell.

The characters and the actions in this story are completely fictional. Names, characters, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to any persons living or dead or resemblance to any previous event is entirely coincidental. This story does not reflect on the actions of the author. 18+ readers only.

The Gates to Hell by Stephanie E. Jensen’

“What’s up, everyone! This is Roland of Spooky Pennsylvania, and I’m here uncovering one of PA’s most notorious legends, The Gates to Hell! You may not know this, but the Gates to Hell are in York, Pennsylvania. The legend says you can only see the gates at night, which is why no one has seen them before. We will be the first to catch our experience on film.” Roland pauses, his lips turning down from a smile to a straight line. “How was that?”

“Looked fine to me,” Clay responds.

Deep down, Clay wanted to tell Roland that he looked like some divine angel, not a menacing figure for a horror YouTube channel. Roland thought it was a good idea to stand under a streetlight so viewers could see him. The light only caught his blonde hair and white jacket, casting a halo around him.

Roland wants to use his obsession with the macabre to achieve fame. Clay doesn’t care about fame, but he likes the dark and scary stuff as much as Roland. Clay tags along with Roland on his urban exploration outings, breaking into abandoned doctor’s offices and old homes to find ghosts and other spooky stuff. Clay never held a camera before, but someone has to film Roland’s terrifying excursions.

“Okay, cool. Let’s get moving.” Roland turns around and walks toward the line of trees.

“Should I keep the camera on?” Clay asks as he follows him into the trees.

“Yeah, we can’t miss any details,” Roland says, his voice cutting into the sound of crunching leaves and snapping branches.

#

“How many gates have we passed so far?” Clay asks. He moves his flashlight and camera in every direction. He catches countless trees, bushes, and the occasional forest animal, but never finds a gate.

“Only the first one we passed when we got in.” Roland pauses. “But don’t worry, viewers! We will find the rest of the gates…We can cut this part out.”

“How many gates are we supposed to pass?”

“Seven.”

Clay groans.

Roland stops and takes out his phone. He tries to turn it on, but the screen remains as black as the night sky. “Gah! My phone died!”

All night, Roland tried to remain positive. Even though he broke into countless abandoned places and witnessed more creepy stuff than one person should encounter, he knew he was still close to civilization. But he and Clay have been alone in the woods for hours. Will they see the Gates to Hell? And how would they get back?

Clay sighs. “The camera says 9 PM.”

“What! Have we only been out here for an hour? Ugh! Turn the camera off, dude. Turn it back on if we see something cool.”

“Wait, we’re not stopping?”

“Nope! We said we would be the first to see the Gates to Hell.”

“Alright, man,” Clay says.

The pair keep trekking. The woods are pitch black except for the boys’ flashlights, illuminating the red and gold fall leaves. Some trees have already shed their leaves. They crunch under the boys’ feet.

Roland knows he has to do this, but he can understand why Clay is upset. It’s October in Pennsylvania, and the weather is already in the 50s. Roland zips up his jacket, wishing he had grabbed something warmer. His stomach starts to grumble. He brought granola bars with him, but he knows those would only last him so long before the emptiness in his stomach starts gnawing at him.

“Do you know where we are?” Clay asks.

“Nope. I thought the directions were simple. Keep walking in the woods until we pass the gates.”

“Dude! The woods are massive in this area. We could get lost. How the fuck will we find our way back?” Clay’s now raising his voice. It echoes in the woods and carries in the wind.

Roland stays silent. He knows he didn’t think of these details. But why? It sounds so obvious now. Roland wants to punch himself for being too preoccupied with YouTube fame.

“Hey, what’s that?” Clay’s voice rises, holding a more positive tone.

“What’s what?” Roland asks.

“Do you see that light? Over there.” Clay points to a beam to their right. “It’s…oh my God, it’s another flashlight!”

“Dude, let’s be hesitant. Do you remember that video I filmed last month? About that guy who murdered those campers at Clarke Lake?”

“Okay, Roland. We either stay paranoid about a serial killer—like there is another one in York. Or, we ask this person for help and get the fuck out of here.”

In the dark, Clay couldn’t see Roland rolling his eyes.

“Fine. I guess I gotta suck this up, knowing this was a failed video.”

“C’mon, dude. There will be others.” Clay raises his flashlight, shaking it around. “Hey! Over here! We need help!” Clay’s voice is louder as he calls the other person.

“Hello?” A woman’s voice calls.

“Dude! She sounds like my mom. We’ll be fine.” Clay whispers.

Roland shakes his head. “Fine, dude. Let’s go and ask her for help.”

The boys walk toward the woman with the flashlight. “Hi, ma’am. Can you help us? We’re lost!” Clay calls out.

Roland jumps as his light catches something. He breathes a sigh of relief when he sees a woman. She does remind him of a darker-haired version of his mom. This woman has a diminutive stature and is wearing glasses.

“Oh, I see you!” She says as the boys see her bright flashlight beam at them. The woman gives the boys a warm smile. “I thought I heard someone yelling. What are you two doing out here so late?”

“Um. To tell you the truth, ma’am, we’re trying to find the Gates to Hell.” Roland feels the sting of embarrassment. He knows how silly his spooky videos are to the older generation.

The woman laughs, her giggle as warm as her smile. “Oh, you boys aren’t the only ones who come out here looking for those things. Spoiler alert—they’re not here in these woods. It’s chilly. I don’t want you boys getting pneumonia. I live right up there—” she points in the opposite direction. “I can make you boys some tea and drive you home. I’m LeLe, by the way.”

“Oh, would you do that, LeLe? Thank you so much!” Clay exclaims. “I’m Clay, and this is my friend, Roland.”

“Nice to meet you, boys!” LeLe laughs again. “As I said, you two boys aren’t the only ones who want to find those gates. And I have to be the one to save you all.” She giggles. “But I don’t mind. It’s nice to have the company. But let’s get moving. It’s getting down in the 40s tonight.”

#

LeLe unlocks and opens the door to her home. She walks in, and the boys follow. The house is ornate but simple, with department store artwork and signs with “Live, Laugh, Love”-Esque sayings framed on the wall. All the artwork is in various shades of purple, giving the bland room a small dose of color. Roland makes a face as the strong scent of lavender enters his nose.

“The kitchen is this way. I’ll make you some tea.” LeLe steps through the doorway to the kitchen. The boys follow her, sitting down at the small dining table in the corner.

“You boys sit right there. Relax and have some tea. Is green tea okay? That’s all I have. It was my mom’s favorite.” LeLe is at the counter, tampering with tea bags and coffee mugs. She puts water and a couple of tea bags in the kettle.

Roland looks around the kitchen. Like the entryway, the kitchen is very plain. Some ornate purple kitchen décor lines the counter, and there’s a frilly purple tablecloth, but that’s the only color in the otherwise tan and white kitchen.

Roland feels something shift in his gut, knowing something isn’t right here. The house is lovely, but it doesn’t feel like home. Everything is too clean, and the decor looks like an ad in one of his mom’s interior design magazines.

LeLe puts the kettle on the stove and turns it on, giving the boys her warm giggle. “Ha! The ‘Gates to Hell’ thing. Trust me. You boys aren’t the only ones fooled by that legend. I’ve lived on this land my whole life, and I can tell you there are no gates in those woods that lead you to Hell, Heaven, or anywhere else. There is only one gate I know of, and that’s the one you pass when you enter the woods. This little old house is the only thing in these woods. This house was passed down from generation to generation to generation to—”

The kettle whistles, and the screech cuts into LeLe’s speech. She pauses to turn off the kettle and pours the tea into three mugs.

“I hope you boys don’t mind sweet tea. I make my mom’s favorite recipe for guests. I can’t have sugar anymore, so I’m giving you boys extra.”

LeLe takes the sugar jar out of the cupboard. She mixes a couple of heaping spoonfuls of the white powder in the two mugs for the boys, and LeLe delivers the tea to them. Roland looks down at his cup, which is purple with white stripes. Clay’s cup is lavender with a drawing of a cartoon puppy.

“I’m sure you noticed all of the purple stuff. That was my mom’s favorite color.” LeLe says as she carries her tea toward the table. She sets her mug down, which is a muted shade of periwinkle.

Clay picks up his mug. Roland watches him as he takes a sip and makes a face. Roland looks down at his tea. The sugar makes the liquid look more like a muted green color and smells sweeter than the tea he usually drinks.

Roland sees the weird expression leaving Clay’s face as he smiles at LeLe.

“It’s hot but delicious. I can see why your mom put sugar in her green tea.” Clay turns to Roland. “Try some! It’s good!”

Roland takes a deep breath, unsure why he feels weird about drinking a glass of tea. He takes a small sip. Like Clay said, it is hot but delicious.

“I’m glad you boys like it. So, tell me about yourselves. Do you live here in York? Or are you from out of town?”

“Yeah, we’re both from here. We’ve known each other our whole lives…”

LeLe and Clay share small talk over tea. Roland stays silent, taking small sips of his tea. He looks at the purple clock on the wall, realizing he and Clay have been there for at least a half hour.

“Hey, when are you taking us home? I ask because our phones are dead, and I’m sure our parents are worried.”

“I’m still drinking my tea!” Clay cuts in.

“No, no, Roland has a point. Is your tea cooled off, boys? I can finish my cup in the next ten or fifteen minutes, and I’ll take you home after. Is that okay?”

Roland nods. He feels a little better knowing that LeLe will take him home soon. But he can’t help but feel tired, as if he could take a nap right there on the table.

LeLe sips her tea, staring at the boys. She already sees Roland slumping over the table.

“Hey man, you okay?” Clay asks Roland.

LeLe opens her mouth to cut in, but she also sees Clay’s eyelids getting heavy. Both men lay their heads on the table, their eyes closing shut. LeLe smiles as she puts down her tea.

#

Roland opens his eyes. At first, he sees nothing but a red blur. Roland blinks, and the world comes into focus. He realizes the ceilings and surrounding walls are all a distinct shade of blood red.

Where am I?

His arms ache. He tries to lift them, but his wrists hit cold metal. Roland gasps as he looks up and down his body, seeing thick chains binding his wrists and ankles. He shoots his head over. Clay is next to him. He’s lying on a platform, wrists and ankles are also secured by chains. Clay’s eyes are still closed, his head resting against his shoulder.

“Oh shit, oh shit.” Roland keeps saying. He looks past Clay and around the room. Various weird symbols and shapes are drawn on the walls in the blackest ink that Clay has ever seen. He looks down at the floor and sees a pentagram surrounding a goat head. A loud sob escapes his mouth as his body shakes all over.

He turns his attention to Clay. “CLAY! WAKE UP!”

Clay’s eyes open wide, and he shoots up. The chains force him back down, his back making a BOOM sound as it slams against the platform.

“Owwwww!” Clay exclaims. He looks at his chains and then around the room. “What the fuck?”

“HEEEEEEEEEEEEELP!” Roland screams at the top of his lungs while shaking his chains.

The boys hear familiar giggling in the shadows. But that giggling isn’t so warm anymore. Instead, it sounds menacing, like a witch’s cackle.

LeLe emerges from the other side of the room. She’s wearing a black cloak that drags on the floor behind her. She’s also no longer wearing her glasses, and her brown eyes are now entirely black.

Her mouth is still open in a smile, but her teeth all have fine points. Two large fangs replace her canines, hanging down to her bottom lip.

“You boys are about to get your wish—to visit Hell. Unfortunately, you won’t be filming your experience.” LeLe’s smile gets wider; her cheeks stretch out, tiny cuts forming at the corners of her mouth.

“But-but-but I thought you said the Gates to Hell didn’t exist?” Clay asks in between deep breaths. Roland looks over at him. His body is shaking, causing a pitter-patter sound from the chains.

LeLe laughs again. “I said they’re not in the woods, which is true. There is one Gate to Hell, and it’s right here in this basement.” LeLe points to the pentagram.

“Wait. Who are you?” Clay asks.

LeLe lifts the sides of her cloak as if she were a human bat. “I was sent by Lucifer himself to watch over the Gate to Hell. Admit entrance to those who desire to see the fiery depths for themselves.”

“Wh-what are you going to do to us?” Roland croaks as he tugs at the chains.

LeLe shakes her head. “Oh, you’re not going anywhere. Men bigger and stronger than you fell into my trap, and they never escaped. Remember I said you boys weren’t the only ones looking for the Gates to Hell?”

LeLe walks over to Clay, tracing a finger along his throat. Roland looks at her hands, focusing on her purple-red tinted nails.

“Mmm…” She dips her face into the crane of her neck. Roland can hear her sniffing his flesh. “I smell the blood rushing through your body.” LeLe glides the tip of her tongue along the top row of her teeth. The teeth cut her tongue, staining every tooth sanguine.

Clay doesn’t move his head or neck as LeLe’s mouth gapes open. Roland has never seen a living creature open its mouth that wide; LeLe’s skin pulls back, her teeth and gums jutting out of her mouth.

“No! No!” Roland cries as LeLe bites down on Clay’s neck. “Claaaaaaay!”

LeLe lifts her head, and a large piece of Clay’s neck hangs out of her fangs. She opens her jaws, and the meat slides down her throat like water. Blood and pieces of skin cover her face and teeth.

Roland looks down at his friend. Clay’s body is convulsing, and his eyes roll back in his head. Blood bubbles in his open wound, dripping down his body onto the platform.

LeLe dips her head back into Clay’s neck. Roland can’t help but look as the carnage unfolds. She devours his muscles and drinks his blood. Clay’s windpipe sticks out, looking like a gory flute. She bites the tissues surrounding the windpipe, exposing more cartilage. She continues slurping his blood as he bleeds out. The blood stains her pale skin, some of it dripping down her chin and onto the floor. Some blood drips down to the pentagram, and the black ink develops a red glow.

LeLe pulls her head up and turns to look at Roland. “The Gate to Hell is open,” she says as more blood drips down her fangs.

LeLe walks over to Roland as he starts screaming. He shakes his chains, hoping someone will hear him. LeLe no longer laughs. Her hungry blacked-out eyes stare down at him. Her mouth hangs open, and Roland can see her bloodied fangs.

When LeLe approaches Roland, she puts her hand on his throat as she did for Clay. Roland cries and tries to squirm his head away, but he feels intense pressure. The pressure holds his head still as if a pillow was placed over his body. Only her fingertips are pressing into his jugular veins, her fingers are ice cold yet soft, like the caress of a snowflake.

“Mmmm.” LeLe salivates as her mouth gapes open.

The invisible pressure is still holding Roland’s head down. Only this time, he can’t speak or cry out. He can only appreciate his last few breaths as LeLe’s bloodied fangs hover over his throat.

Roland doesn’t feel LeLe bite down. He sees the back of her black hair on his neck and blood leaking off the table. From the side of the platform, he sees his blood drip down to the still-glowing pentagram.

Roland feels a jerk. He can now move his arms and legs, but also feels the most intense heat of his life. He realizes his feet aren’t touching anything. He looks down, and the loudest scream emerges from his lips. Roland is falling. He tries to grab onto something, but only flames surround him.

As much as I love extreme horror, the genre needs a breath of fresh air. That’s why I always appreciate it when an author takes classic genre tropes and twists them into something different.

Lucy Leitner does just that. She uses satire to unleash the bloodshed, focusing her stories around social media, internet culture, and pseudo-health fads.

Last year, I reviewed Leitner’s short story “Get Me Out of This Shimmering Oasis” after we were guests on Mothers of Mayhem’s Women in Horror panel. I received an ARC of her short story collection, Influence, and decided to feature Leitner again on my website.

As with all of my short story collection reviews, I will break each down by one story at a time. Since I already reviewed “Shimmering Oasis,” I won’t include that review here. You can read my “Shimmering Oasis” review by clicking here.

“They Say the Sky Is Full of Snakewolves”

This is a unique one from Leitner and touches on social commentary I haven’t read much from her work. This is a post-apocalyptic story centering around a man who abuses his lover because she’s…messy?

Leitner fans will love this story because it has that same ridiculous and satirical edge that we have come to know from her writing. At the same time, this is one of her most upsetting stories. Sure, our MC gets near-beaten to death if she spills something, which is pretty out there. But Leitner doesn’t take away from the heart-wrenching and fear-inducing atmosphere of domestic abuse.

Oh, and all this is happening while monsters live outside and devour humans.

Usually, Leitner makes her messages really clear, but there’s a lot to unpack in this story. Does it prove that women are never safe? Or is it an attack on those who believe in conspiracy theories, so much so to where they would rather ignore real problems? Our MC says she doesn’t even know what the monsters look like, or even if they’re really there, but she would rather stay in her abusive situation since it’s still better than succumbing to the monsters.

I also feel this is the story that’s up for interpretation. A part of me feels like Leitner is attacking conspiracy theorists. But no writer will ever mention domestic violence for shits and giggles (or at least I hope they don’t), so maybe a little bit of both?

Either way, the more I read this story, the more I appreciate it.

“Karen”

I think I will agree with all readers when I say “Karen” is the best story in this collection. I had actually been wanting to read it and even bought the Call Me Hoop edition it was in, but I ended up passing over it.

First things first, let’s explain Call Me Hoop and what it has to do with “Karen.” Call Me Hoop started as the series Fucking Scumbags Burn in Hell by Godless founder and author, Drew Stepek. The series starts with “A Little Bit Country,” where you meet Hoop. Hoop is the handler of Hell. In other words, he takes people through their own Hell. Originally, this was Stepek’s own series, and he wrote the first three stories. Then, he decided to take the character Hoop and let other authors play with the idea.

“Karen” is Leitner’s take on the Hoop series, and it’s brilliant.

As anyone on the internet knows, Karen is an entitled woman with a blonde bob, obsessed with Instagram, and develops a hobby for taking people out, whether that’s by speaking to the manager or, in this case, running over everyone with her BMW.

Her main target? Fat people. Because Karen believes that if you can’t live off coffee and run a 5K every morning, you deserve to be dragged by the wheels of her BMW. In addition to fat people, Karen takes out anyone who comes in her way—whether she’s fighting for a promotion at work or is fighting her neighbor.

While the brutality is exceptional, Leitner’s quirky details make this story magical. Karen’s Starbucks order is my favorite detail; if the Starbucks person doesn’t make her half-oat/half-almond six-pumps of syrup frappe, or whatever it is she orders, correctly, then Karen will send a nasty email to the manager.

So, where does Hoop come in? Well, he hand-picks Karen to try out his latest gadget—one where everyone can read her thoughts. And things end terribly for Karen. So terribly to where she’s living in her own Hell.

This story is hilarious and delightfully gory. I’m not even the biggest fan of horror comedy, yet I had fun with this story. My only complaint was how she treated her dog. Just kept her bulldog in the crate until it was time for Instagram photos. I hate people like that.

“The Shoebox Challenge”

“The Shoebox Challenge” is one of my least favorites in this anthology. As you can tell from the title, this story pokes fun at those stupid internet challenges. But this story doesn’t capture me as much as the last two stories.

I honestly find this a problem in nearly every anthology I read. There are some stories that I like more than others.

There’s nothing wrong with the writing; Leitner uses satire and vivid descriptions to make this story comical yet uncomfortable. She also offers details on the panic that these challenges cause, and how they affect society and internet culture as a whole. I thought that detail was interesting since many people don’t consider this.

Overall, this is a unique and well-written story but isn’t cutting it for me. I still suggest giving it a read, since it is entertaining.

“Xorcize.Me”

This is one of my favorite stories in the anthology, but it starts out a little confusing. The inventor of an exorcism AI is featured on a podcast, where he’s being interviewed. The story is a transcript of the interview.

I’m weird about paranormal stories, especially since all the tropes have been written, so I appreciate it when a writer takes a different approach to the exorcism theme. This story is brutal and detailed, but there’s enough comic relief to keep the reader amused.

As I said, this story is about an exorcism AI, so people can perform their own exorcisms without a priest. There are a couple of things I find interesting about this story.

The characters also make it seem like demonic possessions are common. I’m sure all readers interpret this as something else, but I think Leitner has something to say. Passing someone off as “possessed by a demon” belittles Western medicine, psychology, and other issues that are more grounded in reality.

Leitner also covers some demonology, and the guest explains that some vessels behave according to the demon that possesses them. There’s even a part where the creator explains they use machine learning to identify the demon. Again, that sounds like a rejection of modern medicine and psychology.

Xorcize.Me’s owner discusses every detail about the product like it’s nothing, such as the crucifix mechanism and how he came up with that idea. There’s even a part where he talks about the material of the restraints and how he wants the “victims of possession to experience as little trauma as possible.” These details may be minor, but it makes the story read more as a morbid product ad than anything else. I work in SEO and content marketing for a living, so the blend of advertising lingo and horror is very satisfying for me.

But the humor mainly comes in the small details. The banter between the creator and the podcast host makes this story entertaining. The tidbits about social media and technology give the exorcism trope a modern twist. The creator also goes into the business plan, identifying their target market and hopes for the future (such as going carbon neutral by 2026).

Overall, Leitner is able to take a bland product promo and turn it into a hilarious exorcism story. And that’s one of the many reasons why she’s one of my favorite writers now.

“The People Around You”

This one was interesting, and another one I enjoyed more with a second or third read. The story starts with a woman going to the bathroom…and coming out to discover real life turned into the comments section. Her friends all start fighting with each other, throwing insults and eventually start throwing punches. The whole time, our main character wonders what happened while she was in the bathroom.

I appreciate the message that Leitner is sending. If we behaved the way we do in the comments section, real life would be chaos. But you can’t help but wonder if people really mean what they say—and if so, how likely are they to commit acts of violence?

This is one of the shortest stories in the anthology, but it’s one of the more complex ones. It does take a couple of reads to get the full message, so that’s why I suggest going into this one with an open mind. By the second read, this story became another favorite in the anthology.

The Girl With the Lollipop Eyes (Sneak Peek)

This is a brief snippet of Lucy Leitner’s new novel, The Girl With the Lollipop Eyes. I can’t really write a review on it, since I don’t know much about the book except the synopsis and what’s written in the excerpt. All I will say is, from what I read, this story is different.

So far, I’m reading about a private detective vigilante, who wears a Mexican wrestler mask and carries a toaster. With the help of his roommate, they’re trying to prevent people in Pittsburgh from drunk driving.

I have to be honest, I’m not fully invested in the story. From the synopsis, the book sounds amusing and unique, but I’m not as sold from the excerpt as I expected. Still, I would be curious to know where the story will go. The Girl With the Lollipop Eyes is now available for preorder.

Where to Buy Influence by Lucy Leitner

I received an ARC from Leitner’s publisher, Blood Bound Books.

You can buy Influence on the Blood Bound Books website and on Amazon.

Wrath James White is arguably the most visceral name in extreme horror literature. I was always drawn to Wrath’s writing because his words hold deeper meaning than the typical gore-for-the-sake-of-gore tropes we commonly read in the genre. His descriptions slice right down to the bone, every word oozing blood. His social commentary is evident in every book, perfectly sewn in the flesh of the writing.

Wrath has many books out, some I love more than others. But in this review, I want to highlight three books I love the most. These books dug into my core, tearing out viscera with each word. They’re engaging, well-written, and offer enough social commentary to show why his brutality has a purpose.

These books are 400 Days of Oppression, His Pain, and Population Zero.

400 Days of OppressionSource: Blood Bound Books

Very few books draw me in on the first page, but this is one of the few books that did.

“My name is Natasha and I am a slave, property.”

That immediately caught my attention, and I dove headfirst into this book.

A brief synopsis: Natasha is a white woman dating a black man, Kenyatta. To prove her love, Kenyatta sets her up to treat her as a slave for 400 days. When I say “slave,” I mean he goes above and beyond to recreate the treatment of African slaves.

Wrath digs deeper into the characters. Kenyatta is a troubled man who endured racism at a young age. Natasha also has her own demons and is trying desperately to prove her worth to Kenyatta.

In between the heartbreaking scenes, Wrath adds plenty of erotica. I’m still unsure how to feel about this; on one end, it does work with the Natasha and Kenyatta dynamic, but I also feel it was too much of a distraction from the gut-wrenching commentary that Wrath is trying to convey. I did appreciate the historical lessons and knowing these awful events happened in real life really hits home.

If you read my Best Books I Read in 2022 list, you likely saw this book mentioned. There’s a reason why—I ate this book up. It was one of those books where I thought about it while doing the banal life routines; I thought about 400 Days of Oppression while working, cooking dinner, and even when I was out with my boyfriend or friends. Every chance I got, I opened it up on my phone and read a chapter (or three).

His PainSource: Amazon

When I first read His Pain, I wasn’t sure what to expect. A book about a boy with a rare condition, who lives his life in agonizing pain. As he grows older, he wants nothing more than to hurt those around him. I love unique extreme horror, so I was willing to dig in.

Wrath wrote this book so eloquently, yet sacrificed no detail. He took you inside his main character, Jason, and you felt his suffering. Throughout his life, he lived a sad existence. He stayed inside his dark, sound-proofed room, only eating bland food and sleeping in this strange contraption that made him feel like he was floating.

But Jason’s pain wasn’t the worst part of the story. Wrath also took you inside the mind of his parents. Jason’s parents were unable to give him the little tokens of affection we take for granted, such as giving a loved one a hug. I can’t imagine what that may have felt like.

Jason’s parents tried everything, and no doctor could help. Desperate for a cure, Jason’s mother, Melanie, contacts a yogi who works with patients suffering from pain disorders.

Did the yogi’s treatment methods work? Well, kind of. The yogi’s treatments were controversial, to say the least. He made Jason accept the pain, but also made him a monster. And worst of all, Jason’s parents also became monsters.

Overall, this is one of the most chaotic books that Wrath ever wrote. I didn’t get much of the social commentary that I love from his work, but this book is still gut-wrenching. This is a petty complaint, but I wish the book was structured better. There are no definite chapters, just line breaks. Again, no big deal, but I prefer chapters.

This shouldn’t be surprising, but serious trigger warnings here. Just a few to mention: rape, incest, and murder.

Population ZeroSource: Amazon

I have to admit, I liked this book more than I expected. It was on my TBR for a while, but one I never read because I hadn’t heard many people recommend it. I’m shocked more people don’t talk about this book—it’s honestly better than other Wrath books that receive more hype.

Population Zero centers around Todd, a welfare worker, and an environmentalist. He rides his bike to work and eats a strict vegan diet. He may seem like a decent guy, but there’s a dark side to him—he has a disdain for humanity. Humans are a plague that’s destroying the planet. Todd only thinks there’s only one way to save our planet, and that’s not by recycling or reducing emissions. It’s by giving forced abortions and sterilizations.

It’s crazy how much this story reflects what’s happening today, but on the opposite scale. With the overturn of Roe v. Wade, people are forced into parenthood. But in Population Zero, people are forced into infertility. The same problems apply: not being able to control your body and being at the mercy of another force, whether it be the government or Mother Nature.

Throughout the book, you discover Todd’s past and how his family life affected his outlook on child-bearing and the environment–a religious scandal, DIY abortion, and a tough lesson on raising a family. You also read about Todd’s ex-girlfriend, why they broke up, and his lingering fixation on her.

This book was also gorier than expected. As I said earlier, Todd performs forced abortions and sterilizations. Wrath doesn’t hold back any details; while a part of you rolls your eyes at Todd’s stupidity and botched surgery, the grotesque scenes are perfect for any body horror aficionado.

This book is pretty short—only a little over 100 pages on my Kindle. I flew through it pretty quickly. This book had a really good twist and an okay ending, though was slightly unrealistic. I still recommend this book.

Where Can You Get These Books?

I ordered His Pain and Population Zero on Amazon and purchased 400 Days of Oppression on Godless.