Lee Allen's Blog - Posts Tagged "jessica-huntley"

HorrorScope: A Zodiac Anthology by H. Everend

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


An anthology of zodiac horror.

'HorrorScope' is a collection of short stories and poetry, thematically linked to signs of the zodiac, featuring work by thirty-six indie horror and dark fantasy authors. Edited by H. Everend, it features a wide array of sub-genres, including forays into mythology, creature features and cryptozoology, slashers and serial killers, curses and witchcraft, and the looming spectre of death. It’s a thrilling concept, to present a horror-esque horoscope through storytelling, split into a section per zodiac sign, each section including three pieces.

My personal favourites were:
‘The Twin Keepers’ by Alex Tilley, a blend of psychological and dystopian suspense;
‘You Die...I Die’ by Jessica Huntley, a twisted game at the hands of a serial killer;
‘The Virgin’ by Brooklynn Dean, a delicious slice of erotica and brutal ritual;
‘The Lovers’ by Sabrina Voerman, a sensuous fantasy of tragedy and morality;
‘The Sting of the Scorpius’ by Kay Hanifen, a tale of mysticism and retribution;
‘The One Who Came to Save Her’ by Nico Bell, a visitation of revenge in a small town;
‘My Little Minnow’ by Nina Tolstoy, a psychological portrait of a serial killer.

Overall, this is a brilliant dossier of work, covering a wide range of sub-genres. As one would expect, it contains its fair share of explicit violence, sexual content, and torture, as well as some less explicit animal cruelty. Boasting diversity across genre, themes, tropes and characters, even the most casual horror fan will likely find something that speaks to them within this volume, much like might be found in a traditional horoscope.

Overseeing proceedings is H. Everend; as well as an author of several horror stories, she is also a committed supporter of the indie author community. Here she has curated a superb anthology that showcases the talent and hard work of its writers, with a mix of established names with work already published and new authors presenting their debuts. As an indie author myself, I understand the challenges and the sheer willpower, commitment and passion it takes to produce the work and send it out into the world, and everyone should feel incredibly proud of their contributions. Indie voices may typically be small, but nevertheless they have something to say.

A delight for both enthusiasts of horror and indie supporters, ‘HorrorScope’ marks a fabulous achievement for all the creators involved. Future volumes have been announced, with 'HorrorScope, Volume II' arriving this summer.



View all my reviews
Follow me on Facebook
Follow me on Instagram
Follow me on Twitter

The Darkness Within Ourselves by Jessica Huntley

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A gripping psychological thriller that examines the legacy of childhood friendship and the burden of guilt.

For two decades, Amber has been haunted by the Creature in her dreams and waking moments, living in a state of constant anxiety.

When one of her old school friends pays her a visit, Amber realises she is not alone - all her old friends have been suffering since the fateful day their relationship was severed.

They have all been hiding a dark secret, one that has continued to haunt them and is now resurfacing. Perhaps their only chance at peace is for the past to be finally dug up for all to see.

'The Darkness Within Ourselves' is the debut novel by Jessica Huntley and the first in 'The Darkness Trilogy'. Part psychological thriller, part supernatural horror, set in the rural town of Cherry Hollow, the narrative follows four friends between the present day and their memories of a tragedy that happened on the cusp of their teenage years. An intense, emotional and fast-paced thriller, it's both riveting entertainment and a thought-provoking exploration of its core themes of mental health and friendship, packed with creepy moments, suspense, and even a sprinkling of romance.

The Darkness itself may be its own entity, or several entities, portrayed as a personification of the mental health issues suffered by the characters; each of them has their own name for it. Guilt, grief, anxiety, depression, PTSD - all these manifest as a dark and terrifying presence in their lives and we witness how trauma has consumed and imprisoned each of them. Viewed through the lens of supernatural horror, the subject of mental illness is handled with delicacy, this vital theme approached in a way that can be accessible for those who perhaps struggle to understand the experiences or alternatively may be triggered by a more direct, clinical approach.

There are vibes of certain Stephen King stories - such at 'IT' and 'Stand By Me' ('The Body') - brought into a UK setting, centred around the history of the relationship between these four characters, haunted by the circumstances that shattered it. It’s a tale about friendship, evoking a feeling of nostalgia for the simpler time of childhood, which also perfectly juxtaposes with the horror and thriller elements. While it can be read and enjoyed as a standalone, the story ends with the suggestion we may have not yet scratched the surface of the mystery surrounding the Darkness, omnipresent in the shadows of the mind.

The story continues in the sequel, 'The Darkness That Binds Us', to be soon followed by the last in the series, 'The Darkness That Came Before'. I'm eagerly anticipating diving into both and making a return to Cherry Hollow.



View all my reviews
Follow me on Facebook
Follow me on Instagram
Follow me on Threads
Follow me on Twitter

BLOODY HELL: An Anthology of UK Indie Horror by Sarah Jules

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A stunning showcase of British indie horror.

‘Bloody Hell’ is an anthology of short stories written by multiple authors and set in locations across the British Isles – England, Wales, Scotland, and a bonus story set in the Republic of Ireland. Edited by Sarah Jules, with beautiful illustrations by Rachael Rose, the collection features twenty-seven stories across the spectrum of the horror genre from a legion of indie horror talent, taking us on dark adventures featuring ghosts, stalkers, creatures, supernatural entities, aliens – an assortment of hauntings and folklore, magic and mayhem, slasher and splatter, natural and body horror, tales of vengeance and malign intent, twists of fate and misfortune, and even touches of comedy. Each story offers its own unique premise and style, each author’s signature woven tightly within the DNA of their work – some slow-burning, others fast-paced; some psychological, others visceral; some atmospheric and dripping in suspense, others brutal and bloodthirsty.

Difficult though they were to select, my personal favourites were:
“The God Botherers” by Ashley Lister, for its religious themes and pitch black comedy (I fear I am guilty of all three signs of being a dæmon);
“Pergyl” by C.S. Jones, for its Welsh wilderness and crawling, creeping dread;
“The Dark Heart” by Jim Ody, for toying with our perceptions so brilliantly all the way through;
“Sand” by David Watkins, for its beautiful setting and grotesque hopelessness;
“Brompton Road” by Elizabeth J. Brown, for its haunting atmosphere and delicious twist;
“Down T’Pit” by Sarah Jules, for its claustrophobic tension and jarringly spatial horror.

Overall, this is an incredibly high quality collection, featuring a wide variety that will appeal to all tastes, offering readers the chance to discover new stories from authors they may be familiar with and also discover new writers, all masterfully curated by Sarah Jules. My own story, “Cythraul”, is part of the assembled tales, and it is an incredible privilege to be included in such a strong collection amongst so many of my talented fellow indie authors. I thoroughly enjoyed reading all of the other writers’ stories and look forward to more from both the authors whose work I was familiar with and those whom I read for the first time in this book.

‘Bloody Hell: An Anthology of UK Indie Horror’ in a superb selection of horror stories, perfect for sampling on dark autumnal and wintry nights. Prepare yourself to embark on a journey, as we travel around the United Kingdom (and Ireland), facing mortal perils and dangerous foes, and unleash bloody hell!



View all my reviews
Follow me on Facebook
Follow me on Instagram
Follow me on Threads
Follow me on Twitter