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Dark Tide Horror Novellas #19
What Swallows the Light: Alien Horror Novellas
Three stories. One terrifying we are not alone!
Suffocating Skies by John
Working Thanksgiving was supposed to be an escape for Carrie Richardson—a shift at Sinclair Pharmaceuticals meant avoiding her abusive boyfriend. But when the sky darkens and the office goes silent, escape becomes a trap. Whispers slither through the air, colleagues freeze in eerie trances, and something hungry moves unseen in the halls. As reality unravels and terror closes in, Carrie must uncover the truth hidden within Sinclair’s walls—before it suffocates her.
We Were Who We Were by Gage
Sometimes it looks like an accident, until you discover who is really pulling the strings.
When Tess visits the man who killed her brother in a drunk driving accident, she discovers the facts were not as they appeared to be, and someone else may have been involved. Her investigation brings her down a path of horror, lies, secrets, and a mysterious figure who haunted her brother for years.
Dark Matter Dreams by Andrew Van
An alien vessel powered by dreams. A human nightmare on board.
For millennia, the Grays have visited earth, seeing humans as simple and safe. They were wrong.
Aboard their living, star-spanning vessel, a forgotten horror awakens. Born of primal fear, stalking humanity since the dawn of time. Watching and waiting. Hungry to twist our desires against us.
As reality warps and crew members succumb, researcher Jin'qua-33 must forge an unlikely alliance with those he once abducted. Because there is something worse in the darkness than the aliens looking down. There is an unrelenting nightmare that will fill the cosmos with screams.
Proudly represented by Crystal Lake Publishing—Where Stories Come Alive!
Suffocating Skies by John
Working Thanksgiving was supposed to be an escape for Carrie Richardson—a shift at Sinclair Pharmaceuticals meant avoiding her abusive boyfriend. But when the sky darkens and the office goes silent, escape becomes a trap. Whispers slither through the air, colleagues freeze in eerie trances, and something hungry moves unseen in the halls. As reality unravels and terror closes in, Carrie must uncover the truth hidden within Sinclair’s walls—before it suffocates her.
We Were Who We Were by Gage
Sometimes it looks like an accident, until you discover who is really pulling the strings.
When Tess visits the man who killed her brother in a drunk driving accident, she discovers the facts were not as they appeared to be, and someone else may have been involved. Her investigation brings her down a path of horror, lies, secrets, and a mysterious figure who haunted her brother for years.
Dark Matter Dreams by Andrew Van
An alien vessel powered by dreams. A human nightmare on board.
For millennia, the Grays have visited earth, seeing humans as simple and safe. They were wrong.
Aboard their living, star-spanning vessel, a forgotten horror awakens. Born of primal fear, stalking humanity since the dawn of time. Watching and waiting. Hungry to twist our desires against us.
As reality warps and crew members succumb, researcher Jin'qua-33 must forge an unlikely alliance with those he once abducted. Because there is something worse in the darkness than the aliens looking down. There is an unrelenting nightmare that will fill the cosmos with screams.
Proudly represented by Crystal Lake Publishing—Where Stories Come Alive!
- GenresHorror
288 pages, Paperback
Published April 7, 2025
About the author
John Durgin
27 books638 followersJohn Durgin is a proud active HWA member and lifelong horror fan. Growing up in New Hampshire, he discovered Stephen King much younger than most probably should have, reading IT before he reached high school—and knew from that moment on he wanted to write horror. He had his first story accepted in the summer of 2021 in the Beach Bodies anthology through DarkLit Press. His debut novel, The Cursed Among Us was released June 3, 2022, and went on to become an Amazon bestseller. Next up, his sophomore novel titled Inside The Devil’s Nest, released in January of 2023, followed by his debut collection, Sleeping In The Fire in June of 2023. In 2024 he released two more novels, Kosa and Consumed by Evil through Crystal Lake Publishing.
Twitter- @jdurgin1084
Website- www.johndurginauthor.com
Instagram- @durginpencildrawings
TikTok- @johndurgin_author
Twitter- @jdurgin1084
Website- www.johndurginauthor.com
Instagram- @durginpencildrawings
TikTok- @johndurgin_author
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
November 27, 2025
The first two stories were absolutely excellent, the third not 100% up my alley, so we come up 4 stars. "Suffocating Skies", the first, by John Durgin is about some alien monsters hunting down an ancient relic. Incredibly tight, compelling and nail biting till the end. My favorite. "We were who we were" is about some mysterious alien killing people. What is his secret? Chilling with a very sinister aftertaste. The third one, "Dark Matter Dreams", is a bit confusing about some aliens examine a few generations of a family. Too bizarre for my liking and not as much horror as I like. Overall a very good collection really worth your time. Highly recommended!
April 3, 2025
Dark Tide #19's theme is "Alien Horror," which isn't the same as "Sci-Fi Horror"; in a nutshell, instead of troops getting hunted by biotech-monstrosities in abandoned spaceships, or astronauts battling ghosts and demons in haunted space stations, "Alien Horror" is about alien abductions, parasitic transplants, UFO conspiracies proved right in the most unwelcome of ways, and ordinary people encountering aliens and discovering reasons to regret it. At least, that's how I understand the difference - and, indeed, the three novellas in "What Swallows the Light" seem to follow the "alien horror" pattern as described above, rather than reiterating familiar cosmic horror themes or try to raise the stakes by putting alien creatures chasing busty females with big guns lol.
John Durgin in "Suffocating Skies" brings the skies down to earth (literally), by introducing xenomorphic aliens into an office building during Thanksgiving, when the place should be empty but unfortunately isn't; what follows is "Aliens" meets "The Office," without the dark humor, but full of heart and empathy for the characters - not to mention the gory imagery and the violent killings.
Gage Greenwood's "We Were Who We Were" imbues alien horror with histrademark grief horror themes, coming up with such a weird yet deeply emotionally impactful tale I for one have trouble summarizing properly! Its premise is original, haunting, messy in the best of ways, and utterly heartbreaking. The story's about a brother and sister; the first scene puts the sister, now adult, face to face with the man who killed her brother - so, right from the start, Greenwood pulls no punches and goes directly for the jugular. And yet this isn't even the most shocking moment: that's when she realizes that... - OK, no spoilers! You might wonder, though, what does this have to do with aliens? Well, you'd be surprised! Be prepared for some very creepy revelations.
"Dark Matter Dreams" by Andrew Van Wey is simply brilliant. There are so many twists in this tale, it's a miracle its premise is so simple: the (familiar) theme of alien abduction, dissection and experimentation by gray aliens. This common concept underpins a story otherwise utterly original, as the grays are brought against a situation straight out of "Stranger Things": three boys on a sleepover perform a ritual, and unwittingly open a portal to dreamland - a nightmare escapes into the world; the grays abduct the kids, and guess what? They also bring the nightmare aboard. And that's just the tip of the iceberg! What follows is incredibly imaginative, as most of the tale is told from the pov of the abductors. As a result, the novella is the most science fictional of the three, introducing new concepts and new ideas about communication, love, reproduction, and friendship.
In sum, all the stories in the collection are impressive, brimming with horror, emotion, twists, bloody carnage, and, before you know it, you'll easily connect with what's happening on the page as there are no prerequisites to enjoy the volume. Highly, very higly recommended!
John Durgin in "Suffocating Skies" brings the skies down to earth (literally), by introducing xenomorphic aliens into an office building during Thanksgiving, when the place should be empty but unfortunately isn't; what follows is "Aliens" meets "The Office," without the dark humor, but full of heart and empathy for the characters - not to mention the gory imagery and the violent killings.
Gage Greenwood's "We Were Who We Were" imbues alien horror with histrademark grief horror themes, coming up with such a weird yet deeply emotionally impactful tale I for one have trouble summarizing properly! Its premise is original, haunting, messy in the best of ways, and utterly heartbreaking. The story's about a brother and sister; the first scene puts the sister, now adult, face to face with the man who killed her brother - so, right from the start, Greenwood pulls no punches and goes directly for the jugular. And yet this isn't even the most shocking moment: that's when she realizes that... - OK, no spoilers! You might wonder, though, what does this have to do with aliens? Well, you'd be surprised! Be prepared for some very creepy revelations.
"Dark Matter Dreams" by Andrew Van Wey is simply brilliant. There are so many twists in this tale, it's a miracle its premise is so simple: the (familiar) theme of alien abduction, dissection and experimentation by gray aliens. This common concept underpins a story otherwise utterly original, as the grays are brought against a situation straight out of "Stranger Things": three boys on a sleepover perform a ritual, and unwittingly open a portal to dreamland - a nightmare escapes into the world; the grays abduct the kids, and guess what? They also bring the nightmare aboard. And that's just the tip of the iceberg! What follows is incredibly imaginative, as most of the tale is told from the pov of the abductors. As a result, the novella is the most science fictional of the three, introducing new concepts and new ideas about communication, love, reproduction, and friendship.
In sum, all the stories in the collection are impressive, brimming with horror, emotion, twists, bloody carnage, and, before you know it, you'll easily connect with what's happening on the page as there are no prerequisites to enjoy the volume. Highly, very higly recommended!
March 18, 2025
Dark Tide 19 : What Swallows The Light contains 3 out of this world Novellas.
I usually stay away from stories about aliens and outer space but the thought of alien "horror" was intriguing and I'm glad I gave it a chance.
First up is Suffocating Skies by John Durgin
It's Thanksgiving day and a group of disgruntled coworkers have been ordered to work a shift at Sinclair Pharmaceuticals. The janitor is the first to see it out the window. Something dark and deadly has arrived to claim what should never have been hidden there in the first place. This will be a holiday they remember for the rest of their lives, however short that may be! This was a suspenseful and gory read.
Next is We Were Who We Were by Gage Greenwood
As Tess confronts the man who killed her brother in a drunk driving accident, she recalls their childhood together and the way he changed after the night of the mysterious blue light that he so wanted her to see. He was never the same after that, and her grief and guilt haunts her. Sometimes the truth is best left buried. This was my favorite novella in the book. It's dark and terrifying.
Dark Matter Dreams by Andrew Van Wey was more Sci Fi than horror, and although it is a well written story I am just not the target audience for this type.
My thanks to Crystal Lake Publishing for the e-ARC
I usually stay away from stories about aliens and outer space but the thought of alien "horror" was intriguing and I'm glad I gave it a chance.
First up is Suffocating Skies by John Durgin
It's Thanksgiving day and a group of disgruntled coworkers have been ordered to work a shift at Sinclair Pharmaceuticals. The janitor is the first to see it out the window. Something dark and deadly has arrived to claim what should never have been hidden there in the first place. This will be a holiday they remember for the rest of their lives, however short that may be! This was a suspenseful and gory read.
Next is We Were Who We Were by Gage Greenwood
As Tess confronts the man who killed her brother in a drunk driving accident, she recalls their childhood together and the way he changed after the night of the mysterious blue light that he so wanted her to see. He was never the same after that, and her grief and guilt haunts her. Sometimes the truth is best left buried. This was my favorite novella in the book. It's dark and terrifying.
Dark Matter Dreams by Andrew Van Wey was more Sci Fi than horror, and although it is a well written story I am just not the target audience for this type.
My thanks to Crystal Lake Publishing for the e-ARC
March 28, 2025
Fantastic collection of alien/scifi horror!
The first story, “Suffocating Skies” by John Durgin was intense! It’s a locked room cosmic fight for survival as office workers take on disgusting creatures.
Absolutely loved this one! I think it was my favourite.
“We Were Who We Were” by Gage Greenwood really blew me away. For a short story you deeply connect with the characters and sympathize with their struggles. It was also genuinely creepy that there was an otherworldly presence that could cause such devastating harm.
Lastly, “Dark Matter Dreams” by Andrew Van Wey was so unique and I loved the alien world building! You get so many perspectives and it was definitely a wild ride! I had no idea how crazy this tale would get.
You couldn’t have picked a better group of authors to helm the 19th Dark Tide collection!
The first story, “Suffocating Skies” by John Durgin was intense! It’s a locked room cosmic fight for survival as office workers take on disgusting creatures.
Absolutely loved this one! I think it was my favourite.
“We Were Who We Were” by Gage Greenwood really blew me away. For a short story you deeply connect with the characters and sympathize with their struggles. It was also genuinely creepy that there was an otherworldly presence that could cause such devastating harm.
Lastly, “Dark Matter Dreams” by Andrew Van Wey was so unique and I loved the alien world building! You get so many perspectives and it was definitely a wild ride! I had no idea how crazy this tale would get.
You couldn’t have picked a better group of authors to helm the 19th Dark Tide collection!
March 18, 2025
This was a quick but good read.
I saw the three names involved and said, "Yes, please," immediately.
I'm just going to talk about all three, since, well, there are only three.
Suffocating Skies by John Durgin
This was absolutely nuts, when this started out with someone working an Holiday shift , I felt like, oh this is going to end up so fucked, and for a pharmaceuticals company?
Good Luck my guy.
This was a fast paced, get your heart pumping read, wtf with those aliens, the stuff of nightmares.
We Were Who We Were by Gage Greenwood
If I were forced to choose a favorite, it would be this one, Gage's stories always manage to hit you how you least expect it, even though you KNOW how he writes and this was no exception.
Well done and tense Tess, the MC goes to visit the guy who supposedly killed her brother in a DD accident or did he?
Sometimes you find out more than you ever really wanted to know, and a trail of secrets and lied buried deep in her brothers past show her things, she could have done with out.
My heart broke for her, having to find out, these things and deal with them alone.
Dark Matter Dreams by Andrew Van Wey
Some truly twisted Van Wey horror is in this story, imagine being trapped in space with the most horrifying thing you can imagine, and then double it.
Who can you trust when nothing makes sense, and reality cant figure out what's the current version?
What if there is something worse then the aliens currently hunting you, and there's no escape from this new, predator.
This was an ARC for me, and I loved it, did I already say that?
Let me say it again, I LOVED it.
Check this out when it releases April 11, 2025
I saw the three names involved and said, "Yes, please," immediately.
I'm just going to talk about all three, since, well, there are only three.
Suffocating Skies by John Durgin
This was absolutely nuts, when this started out with someone working an Holiday shift , I felt like, oh this is going to end up so fucked, and for a pharmaceuticals company?
Good Luck my guy.
This was a fast paced, get your heart pumping read, wtf with those aliens, the stuff of nightmares.
We Were Who We Were by Gage Greenwood
If I were forced to choose a favorite, it would be this one, Gage's stories always manage to hit you how you least expect it, even though you KNOW how he writes and this was no exception.
Well done and tense Tess, the MC goes to visit the guy who supposedly killed her brother in a DD accident or did he?
Sometimes you find out more than you ever really wanted to know, and a trail of secrets and lied buried deep in her brothers past show her things, she could have done with out.
My heart broke for her, having to find out, these things and deal with them alone.
Dark Matter Dreams by Andrew Van Wey
Some truly twisted Van Wey horror is in this story, imagine being trapped in space with the most horrifying thing you can imagine, and then double it.
Who can you trust when nothing makes sense, and reality cant figure out what's the current version?
What if there is something worse then the aliens currently hunting you, and there's no escape from this new, predator.
This was an ARC for me, and I loved it, did I already say that?
Let me say it again, I LOVED it.
Check this out when it releases April 11, 2025
April 11, 2025
God, where to start?? All three of these stories completely blew me away for completely different reasons. From anxiety to heartbreak to staring with my mouth open in shock, What Swallows the Light was an absolute gem all the way through.
Suffocating Skies: The atmosphere in this story has got to be one of the creepiest, most anxiety-inducing atmospheres I've read! That weird worm alien creeping about after Jerome about did me in.....not to mention what it actually does later. There was so much action and drama in this, and I loved every second of it.
We Were Who We Were: I'm submitting a complaint to the complaint department because DAMN IT, GAGE, I'm just over here trying to read squirmy alien horror, and you're ripping my heart out! I was in a stranglehold from the minute this story started, and I felt so so sorry for Tess as a child. She had no idea what was going on with Jay but was so scared of and for him. Mahazael really had me thinking at the end about how I viewed the events of the story until GAGE gave me that gut punch with Tess and Jay 😭😭
Dark Matter Dreams: Holy God.....THE PIVOT! I totally expected this to be probes and white lights and science, but then Andrew gave me horrible nightmare reaper, and the story got so much deeper! Tell me why I'm feeling sad and upset for probey, dissecting aliens???? Andrew, what have you done to me? The ending completely got me also. I wasn't expecting it whatsoever, and now I'm sitting here extremely sad and blown away by what Andrew wrote.
You know what, I'm submitting a complaint about the whole book. It's TOO. DAMN. GOOD! Top read of 2025???
Suffocating Skies: The atmosphere in this story has got to be one of the creepiest, most anxiety-inducing atmospheres I've read! That weird worm alien creeping about after Jerome about did me in.....not to mention what it actually does later. There was so much action and drama in this, and I loved every second of it.
We Were Who We Were: I'm submitting a complaint to the complaint department because DAMN IT, GAGE, I'm just over here trying to read squirmy alien horror, and you're ripping my heart out! I was in a stranglehold from the minute this story started, and I felt so so sorry for Tess as a child. She had no idea what was going on with Jay but was so scared of and for him. Mahazael really had me thinking at the end about how I viewed the events of the story until GAGE gave me that gut punch with Tess and Jay 😭😭
Dark Matter Dreams: Holy God.....THE PIVOT! I totally expected this to be probes and white lights and science, but then Andrew gave me horrible nightmare reaper, and the story got so much deeper! Tell me why I'm feeling sad and upset for probey, dissecting aliens???? Andrew, what have you done to me? The ending completely got me also. I wasn't expecting it whatsoever, and now I'm sitting here extremely sad and blown away by what Andrew wrote.
You know what, I'm submitting a complaint about the whole book. It's TOO. DAMN. GOOD! Top read of 2025???
May 19, 2025
Three excellent sci-fi/alien stories. They are completely different from one another, but each one is a great read.
The first story is a straight-up gore fest. Some imaginative death scenes and a good story to go with it. I'll certainly be looking at my office block a bit differently from now on when it starts to get dark.
The second story is a more emotional type of story as the main character tries to piece together what happened to her brother. Lots of feelings in this one, but the writer is good at what he does.
The last story is a wicked take on alien abduction. Told mostly from the alien's POV, it's a different yet interesting story. You also get some human's POV too which adds to the immersion of the tale. Funny, weird, interesting, gory- it has it all. They have to unit to battle a common enemy. Very good.
The first story is a straight-up gore fest. Some imaginative death scenes and a good story to go with it. I'll certainly be looking at my office block a bit differently from now on when it starts to get dark.
The second story is a more emotional type of story as the main character tries to piece together what happened to her brother. Lots of feelings in this one, but the writer is good at what he does.
The last story is a wicked take on alien abduction. Told mostly from the alien's POV, it's a different yet interesting story. You also get some human's POV too which adds to the immersion of the tale. Funny, weird, interesting, gory- it has it all. They have to unit to battle a common enemy. Very good.
April 11, 2025
All in all, this was the best collection of alien horror I've read. It's also one of the best collections of novellas I've read. I would highly recommend picking this one up! Below are my individual reviews for the novellas.
Suffocating Skies
By John Durgin
This was action-packed, full of emotion, and had interesting characters. There were some disgustingly descriptive gore and body horror elements throughout. If you've been keeping up with my Durgin reviews, you'll know, and it's still true. Everything he writes is gold! Loved it!!! 5⭐️s
We Were Who We Were
By Gage Greenwood
No one hits you in the feels quite like Gage Greenwood. The characters were excellent, and the story was great. The amount of emotional attachment I had for these characters in such a short time is mind-boggling. He took a completely different take on alien horror than the first story by Durgin. This one was more psychological and grief horror. Loved this one as well, 5⭐️s
Dark Matter Dreams
By Andrew Van Wey
Van Wey does it again with this epic story that he was somehow able to fit in a novella. The world building was superb. This could have easily been a full novel or even book series with how much was going on. Though it did not feel rushed. I loved getting the perspective of the aliens in this one. That was refreshing and cool to read. I loved this story and want more! 5⭐️s
Suffocating Skies
By John Durgin
This was action-packed, full of emotion, and had interesting characters. There were some disgustingly descriptive gore and body horror elements throughout. If you've been keeping up with my Durgin reviews, you'll know, and it's still true. Everything he writes is gold! Loved it!!! 5⭐️s
We Were Who We Were
By Gage Greenwood
No one hits you in the feels quite like Gage Greenwood. The characters were excellent, and the story was great. The amount of emotional attachment I had for these characters in such a short time is mind-boggling. He took a completely different take on alien horror than the first story by Durgin. This one was more psychological and grief horror. Loved this one as well, 5⭐️s
Dark Matter Dreams
By Andrew Van Wey
Van Wey does it again with this epic story that he was somehow able to fit in a novella. The world building was superb. This could have easily been a full novel or even book series with how much was going on. Though it did not feel rushed. I loved getting the perspective of the aliens in this one. That was refreshing and cool to read. I loved this story and want more! 5⭐️s
April 25, 2025
Horror and aliens novellas? And from some of the best horror writers out there? Needless to say I couldn’t wait to see what John Durgin, Gage Greenwood and Andrew Van Wey had in store for me. Well, I wasn’t disappointed!
I loved how diverse these novellas are, as if you’re like me you might think how can you write something original and different on the alien theme. Well, then also like me you might be very wrong! Every story has something unique and no elements in each are the same.
I loved the slasher type novella (although lots of surprises there as well) Suffocating Skies by John Durgin, a reminder for us humans to not meddle in what we don’t know and don’t understand.
I revelled in the ability of Gage Greenwood to make me feel so emotional even with bloody aliens! His novella We Were Who We Were was brilliant, a gripping mystery. I will now question everything even more than I already do!
Finally, a great cosmic sci-fi horror with a story within a story by Andrew Van Wey with his novella Dark Matter Dreams, with such a clever spin in the alien abduction trope! I mean, I felt moved and sympathetic towards aliens who’ve been experimenting on humans for decades ffs! I was so invested and that’s talent.
If you love aliens and horror and want to experience something new by very skilled authors, this is a short but mighty read!
Thanks to the authors for a copy and this is my honest opinion.
I loved how diverse these novellas are, as if you’re like me you might think how can you write something original and different on the alien theme. Well, then also like me you might be very wrong! Every story has something unique and no elements in each are the same.
I loved the slasher type novella (although lots of surprises there as well) Suffocating Skies by John Durgin, a reminder for us humans to not meddle in what we don’t know and don’t understand.
I revelled in the ability of Gage Greenwood to make me feel so emotional even with bloody aliens! His novella We Were Who We Were was brilliant, a gripping mystery. I will now question everything even more than I already do!
Finally, a great cosmic sci-fi horror with a story within a story by Andrew Van Wey with his novella Dark Matter Dreams, with such a clever spin in the alien abduction trope! I mean, I felt moved and sympathetic towards aliens who’ve been experimenting on humans for decades ffs! I was so invested and that’s talent.
If you love aliens and horror and want to experience something new by very skilled authors, this is a short but mighty read!
Thanks to the authors for a copy and this is my honest opinion.
March 30, 2025
Magnificent novellas. Seriously, I could read books like this non-stop. I wish I could be at one of these authorcons but alas I cannot. If I see a chance to buy a physical copy where the three authors sign it, it'll be mine. Thanks Crystal Lake Publishing for offering me this free review copy.
In short what I'm saying is, considering the three authors involved, I knew these novellas would be exceptional and they were. Listen to me well, I need all horror authors to get on writing full-length alien horror immediately. Thank you and good night.
Overall: Buy-worthy
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Prose: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pacing: fast
Scary: Yes
Gore: Lots
Character Development:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Atmosphere:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
In short what I'm saying is, considering the three authors involved, I knew these novellas would be exceptional and they were. Listen to me well, I need all horror authors to get on writing full-length alien horror immediately. Thank you and good night.
Overall: Buy-worthy
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Prose: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pacing: fast
Scary: Yes
Gore: Lots
Character Development:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Atmosphere:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
April 11, 2025
Intense creepy alien stories
April 12, 2025
This collection of alien horror novellas was a real eye-opener for me! I've read some sci-fi before, mostly alien romance kind (which of course.... it is a whole different ballgame). This was my first time reading alien horror. It was an honor for me to experience darker side of extraterrestrial encounters.
Each story gave a different and creepy spin on the idea that WE ARE NOT ALONE.
1. Suffocating Skies had this HEAVY, scary feeling where a normal place became a horrible trap.
2. We Were Who We Were was also a creepy mystery where the real truth was hidden under lies and something really REALLY evil.
3. One story that really stuck with me was Dark Matter Dreams. The concept alone is wild! It is an alien ship powered by dreams! Even though some readers weren't into it, I kind of liked it. I mean... it's not your typical scary alien story. It digs into those basic fears we all have, which feels both alien and weirdly familiar. VERY STRANGE AND CREEPY!
What I loved about this horror novellas?
1. I liked was how each story slowly built up the scary parts without using cheap jump scares. I really appreciated was how each story took its time BUILDING THE SUSPENSE.
2. Writers were SOOOO great at making you feel uneasy and paranoid, like you couldn't trust what was real. They made the scary moments FEEL EARNED and much more effective! Maam, you will notice how their writing made the dread feel real and carefully built. This is the slow burn horror that sticks with you longer.
3. Sci-fi horror fans will surely find this sticks with them long after reading. It will make them wonder just how BIG SPACE is and what else could be out there. Very creeepppy, right?
I want to thank Joe Mynhardt and the rest of the team at Crystal Lake Publishing. Big thanks for letting me read these awesome horror stories early! It was such a great read! If you want some sci-fi horror that will really grab you and maybe make you a "little nervous", definitely read this! These stories were a total TRHILL RIDE into the unknown.
Each story gave a different and creepy spin on the idea that WE ARE NOT ALONE.
1. Suffocating Skies had this HEAVY, scary feeling where a normal place became a horrible trap.
2. We Were Who We Were was also a creepy mystery where the real truth was hidden under lies and something really REALLY evil.
3. One story that really stuck with me was Dark Matter Dreams. The concept alone is wild! It is an alien ship powered by dreams! Even though some readers weren't into it, I kind of liked it. I mean... it's not your typical scary alien story. It digs into those basic fears we all have, which feels both alien and weirdly familiar. VERY STRANGE AND CREEPY!
What I loved about this horror novellas?
1. I liked was how each story slowly built up the scary parts without using cheap jump scares. I really appreciated was how each story took its time BUILDING THE SUSPENSE.
2. Writers were SOOOO great at making you feel uneasy and paranoid, like you couldn't trust what was real. They made the scary moments FEEL EARNED and much more effective! Maam, you will notice how their writing made the dread feel real and carefully built. This is the slow burn horror that sticks with you longer.
3. Sci-fi horror fans will surely find this sticks with them long after reading. It will make them wonder just how BIG SPACE is and what else could be out there. Very creeepppy, right?
I want to thank Joe Mynhardt and the rest of the team at Crystal Lake Publishing. Big thanks for letting me read these awesome horror stories early! It was such a great read! If you want some sci-fi horror that will really grab you and maybe make you a "little nervous", definitely read this! These stories were a total TRHILL RIDE into the unknown.
April 7, 2025
Being a massive fan of sci-fi and alien horror, I knew I had to read this one and boy, am I glad I did.
This is a fantastic collection of three novella's that don't disappoint and vary wildly in the stories it contains. There is something for everyone here.
The first story is Suffocating Skies by John Durgin and it gets the book going at a rapid pace. Personally, this one was my favourite. The story follows a group of employees at Sinclair Pharmaceuticals who are working a shift on Thanksgiving when the office is invaded by xenomorphs who are after something in particular. There's lots of gore and action in this one and it varies nicely from the emotional impact the next story has.
The next story is We Were Who We Were and this one packs an unexpected punch. Grief horror is a specialty of Gage's and this one doesn't disappoint in this area. It's a dark, disturbing and very creepy read that makes you feel for the characters despite how short it is which is a testament to Gage's writing. This one follows a younger sister to her older brother of four years who witnesses him behaving increasingly strange and referring to a mysterious blue light as an alien. The creepiness ramps up from there expertly. It's a heartbreaking tale that is truly affecting.
The last story Dark Matter Dreams by Andrew Van Wey is highly original. Following the viewpoint of an alien who is studying humanity, things go wrong when an entity is unleashed after three teenage boys of the family they are researching perform a ritual with a strange artifact one of them had stolen. The amount of world building in such a short space of time is astounding and the relationships between the alien characters is strangely endearing. It's a fantastic tale which and a great way to end the collection.
I definitely recommend this book if you're a fan of sci-fi horror and if you're a fan of these authors than it is a no brainer. Get it now!
This is a fantastic collection of three novella's that don't disappoint and vary wildly in the stories it contains. There is something for everyone here.
The first story is Suffocating Skies by John Durgin and it gets the book going at a rapid pace. Personally, this one was my favourite. The story follows a group of employees at Sinclair Pharmaceuticals who are working a shift on Thanksgiving when the office is invaded by xenomorphs who are after something in particular. There's lots of gore and action in this one and it varies nicely from the emotional impact the next story has.
The next story is We Were Who We Were and this one packs an unexpected punch. Grief horror is a specialty of Gage's and this one doesn't disappoint in this area. It's a dark, disturbing and very creepy read that makes you feel for the characters despite how short it is which is a testament to Gage's writing. This one follows a younger sister to her older brother of four years who witnesses him behaving increasingly strange and referring to a mysterious blue light as an alien. The creepiness ramps up from there expertly. It's a heartbreaking tale that is truly affecting.
The last story Dark Matter Dreams by Andrew Van Wey is highly original. Following the viewpoint of an alien who is studying humanity, things go wrong when an entity is unleashed after three teenage boys of the family they are researching perform a ritual with a strange artifact one of them had stolen. The amount of world building in such a short space of time is astounding and the relationships between the alien characters is strangely endearing. It's a fantastic tale which and a great way to end the collection.
I definitely recommend this book if you're a fan of sci-fi horror and if you're a fan of these authors than it is a no brainer. Get it now!
April 12, 2025
first story
I REALLY liked this story. It fell into my feelings about overtime "all money is not good money" when I heard that they had to work on Thanksgiving day. It was a nice escape from home life but will leave you with a different nightmare. Once again power, money and greed. . .gets it's revenge.
second
Jay and Tess had a great brother/sister relationship. . .a relationship that stood the test of time with a bond other friends recognized. Even when Jay changed, an imposter in his head. . . and we've all seen the true life imposter take over someones thoughts. Voices that drugs can sometimes control. . . the mind is a scary thing and it can change you completely. She watched as her brother struggled. . . until the imposter looked her way. . .
"I am who I am"
third story
I'll admit. at first I was a bit confused, but once I understood where some of these words were coming from I realized I wasn't illiterate and it all came together. I enjoyed this story and always do wonder if there are people out there watching us. It also was not surprising that the human race would contaminate other beings. I live here and the more people I meet I'll just stick with my cats. Jake didn't realize what powers the stolen stone he brought to the sleep over held. Jake and Tyler wish for material things but Lucas
“I want my grandfather to know that he was right all along.”
I think this was my favorite line of the book. . .it shows a maturity the other boys hadn't reached yet.
I REALLY liked this story. It fell into my feelings about overtime "all money is not good money" when I heard that they had to work on Thanksgiving day. It was a nice escape from home life but will leave you with a different nightmare. Once again power, money and greed. . .gets it's revenge.
second
Jay and Tess had a great brother/sister relationship. . .a relationship that stood the test of time with a bond other friends recognized. Even when Jay changed, an imposter in his head. . . and we've all seen the true life imposter take over someones thoughts. Voices that drugs can sometimes control. . . the mind is a scary thing and it can change you completely. She watched as her brother struggled. . . until the imposter looked her way. . .
"I am who I am"
third story
I'll admit. at first I was a bit confused, but once I understood where some of these words were coming from I realized I wasn't illiterate and it all came together. I enjoyed this story and always do wonder if there are people out there watching us. It also was not surprising that the human race would contaminate other beings. I live here and the more people I meet I'll just stick with my cats. Jake didn't realize what powers the stolen stone he brought to the sleep over held. Jake and Tyler wish for material things but Lucas
“I want my grandfather to know that he was right all along.”
I think this was my favorite line of the book. . .it shows a maturity the other boys hadn't reached yet.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 14, 2025
'So much much more than alien horror' Was my first thought when I finished.
These three authors are some of the best out there currently. All of them are dome of my favorites but I'll go through each novella individually.
Suffocating Skies-
Oh boy this was an adventure, full of body horror, on top of Aliens. Mr. Sinclair has a secrets and obsesses over occult items, and it causes nothing but strife for his workers who happen to working in what becomes the the worst Thanksgiving ever.
The alien monsters who appear are terrifying and go about reeking havoc on the poor call center employees.
Emotional, hard hitting, and a edge of your seat read from begining to end.
We Were Who We Were-
Tess remembers the good times and the bad, but the bad overwealm her after her brother's death. Leading her on a journey to deal with not just grief but the unknown.
From the grief, to depression, this story makes you wonder if there really was an alien entity or if it was all in her head. A heartbreaking tale. Definitely worth a read.
Dark Matter Dreams-
This one is wild, it stars as if it's one thing, and turns to another. I enjoyed it from start to finish, and didn't expect what I thought was the supernatural that was attacking the aliens and humans. That combination blew my mind. This story had me guessing till the end. Such a fun read!
These three authors are some of the best out there currently. All of them are dome of my favorites but I'll go through each novella individually.
Suffocating Skies-
Oh boy this was an adventure, full of body horror, on top of Aliens. Mr. Sinclair has a secrets and obsesses over occult items, and it causes nothing but strife for his workers who happen to working in what becomes the the worst Thanksgiving ever.
The alien monsters who appear are terrifying and go about reeking havoc on the poor call center employees.
Emotional, hard hitting, and a edge of your seat read from begining to end.
We Were Who We Were-
Tess remembers the good times and the bad, but the bad overwealm her after her brother's death. Leading her on a journey to deal with not just grief but the unknown.
From the grief, to depression, this story makes you wonder if there really was an alien entity or if it was all in her head. A heartbreaking tale. Definitely worth a read.
Dark Matter Dreams-
This one is wild, it stars as if it's one thing, and turns to another. I enjoyed it from start to finish, and didn't expect what I thought was the supernatural that was attacking the aliens and humans. That combination blew my mind. This story had me guessing till the end. Such a fun read!
April 10, 2025
Dope little trio of alien novellas! All three of these go beyond just your little green men from space. John Durgin brings his signature action spin with Suffocating Skies. This is one I’d previously been fortunate enough to read, but didn’t make that connection until I started reading. I read it word for word a second time and enjoyed it just as much. It’s non stop action throughout and Durgin spares no one as we watch a group of coworkers trapped under some sort of inter dimensional blackout.
We Were Who We Were is a true Gage Greenwood. Heavy with themes of loss and contemplating if certain elements are actually metaphors for things we carry with us in life, like regret and grief. Greenwood enters some really interesting dimensional territory and I definitely vibed with the story.
Andrew Van Wey’s Dark Matter Dreams is a fantastic example of sci fi horror. It goes way beyond your typical alien trope and brings into question the very substance of our universe. The gray men were such an interesting group and the corruption of a group via nightmare was excellent. Parts of this one likely went over my head, but I absolutely enjoyed it. Likely my favorite of the bunch.
All three novellas are well written and not your typical alien story. They all bring elements of exploring dimensions and time and are all worth a read. Highly recommend to the cosmic horror crowd.
We Were Who We Were is a true Gage Greenwood. Heavy with themes of loss and contemplating if certain elements are actually metaphors for things we carry with us in life, like regret and grief. Greenwood enters some really interesting dimensional territory and I definitely vibed with the story.
Andrew Van Wey’s Dark Matter Dreams is a fantastic example of sci fi horror. It goes way beyond your typical alien trope and brings into question the very substance of our universe. The gray men were such an interesting group and the corruption of a group via nightmare was excellent. Parts of this one likely went over my head, but I absolutely enjoyed it. Likely my favorite of the bunch.
All three novellas are well written and not your typical alien story. They all bring elements of exploring dimensions and time and are all worth a read. Highly recommend to the cosmic horror crowd.
April 12, 2025
Dark Tide Book 19 - What Swallows the Light: Alien Horror Novellas just released yesterday and I just finished reading it!! All 3 novellas in this are incredible. @durginpencildrawings @gagegreenwood @heydrew really killed it with this new release.
Suffocating Skies by John Durgin
What happens when employees of a pharmaceutical company call center get called in to work on Thanksgiving? Horrifying things happen when they quickly realize they are not alone. Things go south real quick. This story was fast paced and made my blood pump. I couldn’t stop reading it!
We Were Who We Were by Gage Greenwood
Tess’ brother Jay is killed in a drunk driving accident. She visits the man who killed her brother when he gets out of prison because she believes something else was involved in his death. She remembers things about her brother and her childhood that gets brutally emotional. I really felt for her and this one was filled with grief and trauma.
Dark Matter Dreams by Andrew Van Wey
This was written from the aliens point of view! This one was wild. It was very unnerving and creepy. A super cool but simple alien concept that was mor sci fi themed. This one gets pretty crazy and twisty.
Suffocating Skies by John Durgin
What happens when employees of a pharmaceutical company call center get called in to work on Thanksgiving? Horrifying things happen when they quickly realize they are not alone. Things go south real quick. This story was fast paced and made my blood pump. I couldn’t stop reading it!
We Were Who We Were by Gage Greenwood
Tess’ brother Jay is killed in a drunk driving accident. She visits the man who killed her brother when he gets out of prison because she believes something else was involved in his death. She remembers things about her brother and her childhood that gets brutally emotional. I really felt for her and this one was filled with grief and trauma.
Dark Matter Dreams by Andrew Van Wey
This was written from the aliens point of view! This one was wild. It was very unnerving and creepy. A super cool but simple alien concept that was mor sci fi themed. This one gets pretty crazy and twisty.
April 14, 2025
Author Andrew Van Wey has assembled a collection of weird stories that will keep you riveted to each page. The action starts fast, and like any 'good' nightmare, you wake up wondering what just happened? The three novellas included in 'What Swallows the Light...' could each be something from a fever dream. Each is up close and personal. Yes, I did reread each to make sure I can sort reality from any future dreams I may have. I am so against the idea of 'alien probes'. -Mr.Bill
March 31, 2025
Thank you to Crystal Lake Publishing for providing a review copy.
I love a good themed anthology, and Crystal Lake consistently provides some of the best. Here we have three vastly different novellas by three of the best indie authors working today. John Durgin's offering is a tense, action packed thriller with aliens on the loose in an office building. Gage Greenwood's story is haunting, with some terrifically creepy moments. Andrew Van Wey gives us one of the most unique alien stories I've ever read - it's truly an accomplishment. 4.75 stars
Suffocating Skies by John Durgin ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
We Were Who We Were by Gage Greenwood ⭐⭐⭐⭐.75
Dark Matter Dreams by Andrew Van Wey ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I love a good themed anthology, and Crystal Lake consistently provides some of the best. Here we have three vastly different novellas by three of the best indie authors working today. John Durgin's offering is a tense, action packed thriller with aliens on the loose in an office building. Gage Greenwood's story is haunting, with some terrifically creepy moments. Andrew Van Wey gives us one of the most unique alien stories I've ever read - it's truly an accomplishment. 4.75 stars
Suffocating Skies by John Durgin ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
We Were Who We Were by Gage Greenwood ⭐⭐⭐⭐.75
Dark Matter Dreams by Andrew Van Wey ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
April 11, 2025
This is a lovely little anthology that includes a nice variety of alien horror novellas. It’s always tough for me to rate anthologies and collections, as I find most vary greatly in quality from piece to piece. But this one is solid all the way through.
John Durgin gives us a fast paced, non-stop action novella with “Suffocating Skies”. I’ll never think about those creepy sounds in an office building the same way again.
Gage Greenwood tugs at our emotions in the way only Gage can in his novella, “We Were Who We Were”. I am always delighted at the emotional twists Gage provides us. And this one made me question how humanity defines certain types of beings (I won’t say more for fear of spoiling it).
And finally, Andrew Van Wey knocks it out of the park in “Dark Matter Dreams”. Everything is so richly described that I could feel, see, and hear every breathing, squishy, nightmare-inducing aspect of this story. I love the level of detail and how he invites us to see and experience things differently than we may have before.
John Durgin gives us a fast paced, non-stop action novella with “Suffocating Skies”. I’ll never think about those creepy sounds in an office building the same way again.
Gage Greenwood tugs at our emotions in the way only Gage can in his novella, “We Were Who We Were”. I am always delighted at the emotional twists Gage provides us. And this one made me question how humanity defines certain types of beings (I won’t say more for fear of spoiling it).
And finally, Andrew Van Wey knocks it out of the park in “Dark Matter Dreams”. Everything is so richly described that I could feel, see, and hear every breathing, squishy, nightmare-inducing aspect of this story. I love the level of detail and how he invites us to see and experience things differently than we may have before.
April 12, 2025
Three great authors and three great cosmic horror novellas. I was particularly fond of Gage Greenwood’s We Were Who We Were—you won’t see what’s coming! Has a little bit of everything: mystery, creeping dread, body horror, etc. loved it!
March 24, 2025
This is a review of What Swallows the Light, Dark Tide Book 19, which includes alien horror novellas by John Durgin, Gage Greenwood, and Andrew Van Wey, and set to release on April 11, 2025. With those three authors, how could you go wrong?
Let’s start with Suffocating Skies, by John Durgin. Pharmaceutical workers are called into work on Thanksgiving. The skies darken, and they find themselves trapped with what the darkness brings, and it’s nothing you want to be trapped with. Sci-fi – check. Horror – check. Creatures to help with cardio, because you’re running for your life – check. Lessons learned – suffering through a holiday dinner with relatives you don’t like is far better than working; dealing with alien creatures who are hunting you down at the workplace isn’t worth the extra overtime pay. Besides, that’s more of a customer service role; and never trust your boss. Good one, John.
Next up, We Were Who We Were, by Gage Greenwood. This is a story about a woman who confronts the man who killed her brother by driving while intoxicated. Trying to put pieces of the story together takes her down a road that would be best not to travel down. Memories forgotten, now remembered, secrets kept, now revealed, and a mystery that will haunt and destroy those in her life. Gage, screw you for destroying the image of aliens being as friendly as E.T. for me. Now I have to find a way to evict that ending from living in my head. Somewhere a parked car is in need of a new windshield, because you hit it so far out of the park with this one.
And then we come to Dark Matter Dreams, by Andrew Van Wey. A disclaimer: I tend to shy away from sci-fi, especially as I get older because of the unusual names of the characters, cities, worlds, creatures, etc. It tends to make things more difficult for me to keep straight in my head, especially if I struggle with pronunciation. I ran into that a fair bit with this story to the point where I just created abbreviated names in my mind. I also found the conversations between the aliens a bit difficult to follow at times, but then again, it’s a conversation…between aliens. Fortunately, it wasn’t so much that it ruined the story for me.
It's difficult for me to sum this one up because there was so much going on, so I’ll just quote part of the description the book gives. “For millennia, the Grays have visited earth, seeing humans as simple and safe. They were wrong. Aboard their living, star-spanning vessel, a forgotten horror awakens. Born of primal fear, stalking humanity since the dawn of time. Watching and waiting. Hungry to twist our desires against us.” It’s kind of like two stories in one, but when they merge it all comes together in a ferociously horrifying way. This ending, too, will need to be evicted from my head. I dare not say more.
I’m not going to say which story I liked the most, but if I did, Gage Greenwood would take the prize. I gave this book a 4 out of 5.
Let’s start with Suffocating Skies, by John Durgin. Pharmaceutical workers are called into work on Thanksgiving. The skies darken, and they find themselves trapped with what the darkness brings, and it’s nothing you want to be trapped with. Sci-fi – check. Horror – check. Creatures to help with cardio, because you’re running for your life – check. Lessons learned – suffering through a holiday dinner with relatives you don’t like is far better than working; dealing with alien creatures who are hunting you down at the workplace isn’t worth the extra overtime pay. Besides, that’s more of a customer service role; and never trust your boss. Good one, John.
Next up, We Were Who We Were, by Gage Greenwood. This is a story about a woman who confronts the man who killed her brother by driving while intoxicated. Trying to put pieces of the story together takes her down a road that would be best not to travel down. Memories forgotten, now remembered, secrets kept, now revealed, and a mystery that will haunt and destroy those in her life. Gage, screw you for destroying the image of aliens being as friendly as E.T. for me. Now I have to find a way to evict that ending from living in my head. Somewhere a parked car is in need of a new windshield, because you hit it so far out of the park with this one.
And then we come to Dark Matter Dreams, by Andrew Van Wey. A disclaimer: I tend to shy away from sci-fi, especially as I get older because of the unusual names of the characters, cities, worlds, creatures, etc. It tends to make things more difficult for me to keep straight in my head, especially if I struggle with pronunciation. I ran into that a fair bit with this story to the point where I just created abbreviated names in my mind. I also found the conversations between the aliens a bit difficult to follow at times, but then again, it’s a conversation…between aliens. Fortunately, it wasn’t so much that it ruined the story for me.
It's difficult for me to sum this one up because there was so much going on, so I’ll just quote part of the description the book gives. “For millennia, the Grays have visited earth, seeing humans as simple and safe. They were wrong. Aboard their living, star-spanning vessel, a forgotten horror awakens. Born of primal fear, stalking humanity since the dawn of time. Watching and waiting. Hungry to twist our desires against us.” It’s kind of like two stories in one, but when they merge it all comes together in a ferociously horrifying way. This ending, too, will need to be evicted from my head. I dare not say more.
I’m not going to say which story I liked the most, but if I did, Gage Greenwood would take the prize. I gave this book a 4 out of 5.
April 6, 2025
There's always something pleasing about reading a collection with a thematic through line and being able to experience different authors' takes on a subject matter. It makes me much more likely to pick up a book of short stories—or, in this case, 3 novellas—but it also fills me with a sense of trepidation. Could it start feeling repetitive? What if the brief was too narrow, and the authors all pulled from the same concepts and inspirations? Luckily, that was not an issue with What Swallows The Light, a collection of alien-themed stories by three of the more popular names in modern indie horror.
The book kicks off with Suffocating Skies by John Durgin, the most outright 'fun' of the stories here—although that doesn't mean it hasn't got a sting in the tail. Set in a pharmaceutical call centre over Thanksgiving and following a skeleton crew of employees covering the holiday, it turns out that the owner would much rather nobody was there. He collects unique and rare artefacts from around the world, and there is one in particular he came into the building for that day... The story isn't exactly 'creature feature Die Hard', but that's a pretty good way of summing it up. There are some tense moments and excellent parasitic body horror that is reminiscent of classic touchstones like Alien and The Thing. An excellent way of kicking off this collection and one of my favourite of Durgin's stories to date.
I've read a good amount of Gage Greenwood books at this point and usually brace myself for getting more into the emotionally devastating side of horror—grief, loss, and regret all feel like recurring themes—and We Were Who We Were doesn't stray too far from that path. We follow Tess as she confronts the driver who killed her brother in a drunk-driving accident, where she learns there was perhaps more to the story than met the eye. We flashback to their childhood together and start to learn about his mysterious seizures and the lights he would see outside his room. The story builds to my favourite ending in this collection, equal parts heartbreaking and cosmic, a story that is worth the price of admission alone.
Last but certainly not least is Dark Matter Dreams, by Andrew Van Wey. The longest of the collection, encompassing over 40% of my ebook page count, this is by far the most ambitious of the stories included. On the surface this could have been a fairly standard alien study, abduction tale, but Van Wey executes it uniquely—I won't give anything away here as I loved seeing it unfold, but suffice it to say it isn't like anything I've read in the horror genre, being told from a very different perspective, and it really leans into the sci-fi in a way that adds to the narrative. Highly recommend reading this one if you're a fan of that genre.
Three great authors contributing three very strong stories—whether you're a fan of these guys already, or you just like some extraterrestrial in your scary reads, this is a must-buy.
The book kicks off with Suffocating Skies by John Durgin, the most outright 'fun' of the stories here—although that doesn't mean it hasn't got a sting in the tail. Set in a pharmaceutical call centre over Thanksgiving and following a skeleton crew of employees covering the holiday, it turns out that the owner would much rather nobody was there. He collects unique and rare artefacts from around the world, and there is one in particular he came into the building for that day... The story isn't exactly 'creature feature Die Hard', but that's a pretty good way of summing it up. There are some tense moments and excellent parasitic body horror that is reminiscent of classic touchstones like Alien and The Thing. An excellent way of kicking off this collection and one of my favourite of Durgin's stories to date.
I've read a good amount of Gage Greenwood books at this point and usually brace myself for getting more into the emotionally devastating side of horror—grief, loss, and regret all feel like recurring themes—and We Were Who We Were doesn't stray too far from that path. We follow Tess as she confronts the driver who killed her brother in a drunk-driving accident, where she learns there was perhaps more to the story than met the eye. We flashback to their childhood together and start to learn about his mysterious seizures and the lights he would see outside his room. The story builds to my favourite ending in this collection, equal parts heartbreaking and cosmic, a story that is worth the price of admission alone.
Last but certainly not least is Dark Matter Dreams, by Andrew Van Wey. The longest of the collection, encompassing over 40% of my ebook page count, this is by far the most ambitious of the stories included. On the surface this could have been a fairly standard alien study, abduction tale, but Van Wey executes it uniquely—I won't give anything away here as I loved seeing it unfold, but suffice it to say it isn't like anything I've read in the horror genre, being told from a very different perspective, and it really leans into the sci-fi in a way that adds to the narrative. Highly recommend reading this one if you're a fan of that genre.
Three great authors contributing three very strong stories—whether you're a fan of these guys already, or you just like some extraterrestrial in your scary reads, this is a must-buy.
April 10, 2025
This book had 3 Horror authors doing novellas with 3 very different takes on Alien Horror. We start out reading John Durgins 'Suffocating Skies' set in an office on Thanksgiving, which starts out with a cast of 8 men and woman that were familiar to me as an ex-office worker. They all have secrets, especially the owner who shows up with his bodyguard and a very strange collection.
Things get strange very quickly when they become surrounded by an impenetrable darkness, and the computers start to glitch. The invasion starts as they sit down for a Thanksgiving meal in the cafeteria, and boy, does it get nasty! There is no way to call out or escape the building, and as quickly as we find out their secrets, the bodies start to pile up and worse for some. These aliens want something in the building and kill to get it. Who will survive?
You'll find yourself cheering for some characters and hoping others get theirs. You won't be disappointed.
The next novella by Gage Greenwood 'We Were Who We Were' is about a young man who sees and hears something alien that he shouldn't have. His sister and his family try to help him as the alien invades the young man's mind and tortures him.
As he grows up, he finds ways to keep from being attacked starting to live a normal life, but he drifts apart from his sister. After he dies in an accident, his sister tries to find the alien and asks him why. The answer will surprise you as will what happens to her.
While I enjoyed both of the former novellas, my favorite has to be Andrew Van Wey's 'Dark Matter Dreams'. We see alien abduction from the point of view of the aliens. They have been coming to earth for thousands of years, examining humans both physically and culturally like anthropologists.
They have one night abducted and started their examination of a family with a daughter, a son, and his 2 friends. But most importantly, the grandfather who had seen their craft in the sky when younger. He has written extensively about his beliefs of how they cone and tried to convince scientists and the government they exist.
Along with the family, however, they have brought on board something malevolent and deadly without knowing it. While we are becoming immersed in the aliens' lives, their thoughts, relationships, ambitions, feelings, and even their mating rituals, this being infiltrates their ship. I came to feel for them so much that I felt sorry for the aliens when things started going very wrong on board their ship.
The malevolence was a very nightmare, slicing flesh, changing the ship and alien flesh alike. In the end, with the help of the 3 boys and a sacrifice by one of their own, they overcome it. Or did they? You'll have to read it to find out.
I enjoyed every story as different from each other as they are. Each one entranced me, gave me chills, and much to ponder.
Things get strange very quickly when they become surrounded by an impenetrable darkness, and the computers start to glitch. The invasion starts as they sit down for a Thanksgiving meal in the cafeteria, and boy, does it get nasty! There is no way to call out or escape the building, and as quickly as we find out their secrets, the bodies start to pile up and worse for some. These aliens want something in the building and kill to get it. Who will survive?
You'll find yourself cheering for some characters and hoping others get theirs. You won't be disappointed.
The next novella by Gage Greenwood 'We Were Who We Were' is about a young man who sees and hears something alien that he shouldn't have. His sister and his family try to help him as the alien invades the young man's mind and tortures him.
As he grows up, he finds ways to keep from being attacked starting to live a normal life, but he drifts apart from his sister. After he dies in an accident, his sister tries to find the alien and asks him why. The answer will surprise you as will what happens to her.
While I enjoyed both of the former novellas, my favorite has to be Andrew Van Wey's 'Dark Matter Dreams'. We see alien abduction from the point of view of the aliens. They have been coming to earth for thousands of years, examining humans both physically and culturally like anthropologists.
They have one night abducted and started their examination of a family with a daughter, a son, and his 2 friends. But most importantly, the grandfather who had seen their craft in the sky when younger. He has written extensively about his beliefs of how they cone and tried to convince scientists and the government they exist.
Along with the family, however, they have brought on board something malevolent and deadly without knowing it. While we are becoming immersed in the aliens' lives, their thoughts, relationships, ambitions, feelings, and even their mating rituals, this being infiltrates their ship. I came to feel for them so much that I felt sorry for the aliens when things started going very wrong on board their ship.
The malevolence was a very nightmare, slicing flesh, changing the ship and alien flesh alike. In the end, with the help of the 3 boys and a sacrifice by one of their own, they overcome it. Or did they? You'll have to read it to find out.
I enjoyed every story as different from each other as they are. Each one entranced me, gave me chills, and much to ponder.
May 7, 2025
What Swallows the Light was a blast to read. While I wouldn't call it the best book I've read so far in 2025 (that would easily be The Reformatory by Tananarive Due), it's definitely the most fun and entertaining read for me at this point in the year. Each of the 3 novellas provide a totally different take on alien horror, a sub-genre I've written with We Are Not Alone in the Dark (and 2 sequels in various stages of planning/outlining). I love that nothing here felt similar to my own story, nor did they feel like another recent alien horror favorite, Paul Avery Tindol's Hunting Snipe.
John Durgin's brutal tale Suffocating Skies opens the collection with what feels more like the Alien films or Predator than it does A Fire in the Sky, but set in the confines of an office building. What a cool place to set this story, and the pace keeps up the thrills the entire time.
Gage Greenwood's We Were Who We Were has a grief horror and psychological aspect to it that feels so totally original and captivating. A woman investigates her brother's death in an alleged DUI, but suspects there is something otherworldly involved... It takes the reader back in the timeline after the opening chapters, then progresses forward to unravel the tale, and a cool ending I don't want to spoil.
Andrew Van Wey brings in teen characters at a sleepover when the entire household is abducted, and something goes very, very wrong in the process... I really think this one is best to go in blind because of how inventive it is, how cool the storytelling is. It really leans into hard science fiction and greatly impressed me with how absolutely complex the world-building is in the span of a novella. Would love to say more but also really think it should just be read for best effect.
All in all, each story here is well worth your time. Don't let the novella length of each one fool you--they bring so much to the table in their own unique ways.
John Durgin's brutal tale Suffocating Skies opens the collection with what feels more like the Alien films or Predator than it does A Fire in the Sky, but set in the confines of an office building. What a cool place to set this story, and the pace keeps up the thrills the entire time.
Gage Greenwood's We Were Who We Were has a grief horror and psychological aspect to it that feels so totally original and captivating. A woman investigates her brother's death in an alleged DUI, but suspects there is something otherworldly involved... It takes the reader back in the timeline after the opening chapters, then progresses forward to unravel the tale, and a cool ending I don't want to spoil.
Andrew Van Wey brings in teen characters at a sleepover when the entire household is abducted, and something goes very, very wrong in the process... I really think this one is best to go in blind because of how inventive it is, how cool the storytelling is. It really leans into hard science fiction and greatly impressed me with how absolutely complex the world-building is in the span of a novella. Would love to say more but also really think it should just be read for best effect.
All in all, each story here is well worth your time. Don't let the novella length of each one fool you--they bring so much to the table in their own unique ways.
April 10, 2025
Review of Advance Reader Copy eBook
Suffocating Skies
Carrie Richardson is thrilled to be asked to work on Thanksgiving Day . . . she’ll be betting away from her abusive boyfriend. But something is not quite right in the office: it’s dark and silent . . . and something terrible is moving through the hallways.
We were Who We Were
Tess’s brother, killed in a drunk driving accident, wants Walter, the driver responsible for her brother’s death, to talk to her. She doesn’t expect to learn that some mysterious event caused the accident. What was that blue flash?
Dark Matter Dreams
The grays, aliens who have been visiting earth for millennia, believe their investigations involving the humans are safe. But when they abduct Jake, Tyler, and Lucas from their sleepover, they unwittingly bring a triangle stone aboard their ship. Jake had stolen it from the museum where his mother works. What is its strange power? And what is hiding in the dark?
=========
This, the nineteenth in the Dark Tide Alien Horror Novellas series, brings readers three “we are not alone” stories. Each brings its own particular horror to the telling of the tale; each is, in its telling, captivating and intriguing. Impressive twists, a plethora of emotions, and tension etched on each page all work together to keep those pages turning while pulling the reader into the telling of the tale.
Each story stands alone, moves quickly, and are likely to be responsible for readers leaving the lights on all night. There are no disappointments here although readers should be warned: a particularly offensive expletive is used repeatedly in the first story.
My personal favorite? Andrew Van Wey's immersive, compelling "Dark Matter Dreams."
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this eBook from the author and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Suffocating Skies
Carrie Richardson is thrilled to be asked to work on Thanksgiving Day . . . she’ll be betting away from her abusive boyfriend. But something is not quite right in the office: it’s dark and silent . . . and something terrible is moving through the hallways.
We were Who We Were
Tess’s brother, killed in a drunk driving accident, wants Walter, the driver responsible for her brother’s death, to talk to her. She doesn’t expect to learn that some mysterious event caused the accident. What was that blue flash?
Dark Matter Dreams
The grays, aliens who have been visiting earth for millennia, believe their investigations involving the humans are safe. But when they abduct Jake, Tyler, and Lucas from their sleepover, they unwittingly bring a triangle stone aboard their ship. Jake had stolen it from the museum where his mother works. What is its strange power? And what is hiding in the dark?
=========
This, the nineteenth in the Dark Tide Alien Horror Novellas series, brings readers three “we are not alone” stories. Each brings its own particular horror to the telling of the tale; each is, in its telling, captivating and intriguing. Impressive twists, a plethora of emotions, and tension etched on each page all work together to keep those pages turning while pulling the reader into the telling of the tale.
Each story stands alone, moves quickly, and are likely to be responsible for readers leaving the lights on all night. There are no disappointments here although readers should be warned: a particularly offensive expletive is used repeatedly in the first story.
My personal favorite? Andrew Van Wey's immersive, compelling "Dark Matter Dreams."
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this eBook from the author and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
April 10, 2025
Like Neapolitan ice cream, there are three delicious flavors of alien horror in What Swallows the Light that will satisfy most readers. There are three novellas in Book 19 of Crystal Lake’s Dark Tide series.
John Durgin’s Suffocating Skies has relatable workplace dynamics that ground the story in reality while alien horrors emerge during a storm. There’s a bad boss and scary creatures who seem to want something in the building. Told from multiple POVs, there’s also plenty of action, gore and slime. It’s bonkers, in the best way. Durgin also proves he’s got some chops for writing steamy scenes.
In We Were Who We Were, Gage Greenwood delivers a grief and alien horror mashup with all the feels. It’s a quiet story full of sadness and regret with a throughline of anxiety that jangled my nerves. Tess was just a little girl when her brother saw the strange blue lights. But she’s a grownup now, her brother is dead and she’s not only reframing her brother’s troubled life, Tess wants to meet the alien responsible for it all.
While the first two stories are about humans facing off against aliens, Andrew Van Wey puts us inside the mind of the aliens, their squishy world and mind-boggling technology. I haven’t ready anything this gloriously strange and unique since Semiosis by Sue Burke. I don’t want to say too much but I loved his take on the trope of human experimentation. I didn’t want the story to end. And that ending!
Thank you Joe Mynhart for the ARC!
John Durgin’s Suffocating Skies has relatable workplace dynamics that ground the story in reality while alien horrors emerge during a storm. There’s a bad boss and scary creatures who seem to want something in the building. Told from multiple POVs, there’s also plenty of action, gore and slime. It’s bonkers, in the best way. Durgin also proves he’s got some chops for writing steamy scenes.
In We Were Who We Were, Gage Greenwood delivers a grief and alien horror mashup with all the feels. It’s a quiet story full of sadness and regret with a throughline of anxiety that jangled my nerves. Tess was just a little girl when her brother saw the strange blue lights. But she’s a grownup now, her brother is dead and she’s not only reframing her brother’s troubled life, Tess wants to meet the alien responsible for it all.
While the first two stories are about humans facing off against aliens, Andrew Van Wey puts us inside the mind of the aliens, their squishy world and mind-boggling technology. I haven’t ready anything this gloriously strange and unique since Semiosis by Sue Burke. I don’t want to say too much but I loved his take on the trope of human experimentation. I didn’t want the story to end. And that ending!
Thank you Joe Mynhart for the ARC!
May 23, 2025
Okay, I'm Officially Hooked on Alien Horror!
Alright, so "What Swallows the Light: Alien Horror Novellas" by John Durgin, Andrew Van Wey, and Gage Greenwood totally blew me away. Full disclosure, I'm not usually the biggest alien-themed fan, but this collection? It's got that perfect blend of horror and suspense that just keeps you glued to the page. Seriously, I devoured it!
What I loved most is how each story is so unique and different. Even though they're all playing in the alien sandbox, they each brought their own vibe, which kept things super fresh and enjoyable. It was awesome to jump from one distinct world to the next, and getting to read something from different authors all in one book was a huge win. I hadn't read a few of these guys before, and honestly, I ended up loving every single story in this anthology.
The pacing was spot-on, too. Each novella was just the right length – never too long, never too short. You get a perfect dose of story without feeling like it drags. I was never dreading the end; if anything, I just kept wanting to know more of what was going to happen next.
If you're into horror, aliens, or just love a good dive into the unknown, you've gotta check this out. And honestly, even if you lean more towards thrillers and mysteries, I think you'll find plenty to freak you out and keep you guessing here. Definitely recommend!
Alright, so "What Swallows the Light: Alien Horror Novellas" by John Durgin, Andrew Van Wey, and Gage Greenwood totally blew me away. Full disclosure, I'm not usually the biggest alien-themed fan, but this collection? It's got that perfect blend of horror and suspense that just keeps you glued to the page. Seriously, I devoured it!
What I loved most is how each story is so unique and different. Even though they're all playing in the alien sandbox, they each brought their own vibe, which kept things super fresh and enjoyable. It was awesome to jump from one distinct world to the next, and getting to read something from different authors all in one book was a huge win. I hadn't read a few of these guys before, and honestly, I ended up loving every single story in this anthology.
The pacing was spot-on, too. Each novella was just the right length – never too long, never too short. You get a perfect dose of story without feeling like it drags. I was never dreading the end; if anything, I just kept wanting to know more of what was going to happen next.
If you're into horror, aliens, or just love a good dive into the unknown, you've gotta check this out. And honestly, even if you lean more towards thrillers and mysteries, I think you'll find plenty to freak you out and keep you guessing here. Definitely recommend!
April 15, 2025
This was an awesome collection of three Alien inspired novellas by John Durgin, Gage Greenwood and Andrew Van Wey. Each story had a different take on the Alien subject matter that I thoroughly enjoyed, without any typical cheesy elements that sometimes happen with this subject matter.
John Durgin's Suffocating Skies not only had a super alien creature but also had a relatable work environment. The story is scary, gory and intense!
Gage Greenwood's story We Were Who We Were is a heart wrenching grief story of a family with two siblings, and one of them encountering a strange blue light that changes the course of their lives.
Finally, Andrew Van Wey's story tells us about a group of aliens called the Grays, who come to earth every twelve or so years to examine a family and their legacy to better study humans. It is told with letters, the POV of a Gray, and a young boys POV. This was a truly unique take on an alien story!
I loved all three novellas in Dark Tides Book 19: What Swallows the Light, and recommend you check it out! Four out of five read.
John Durgin's Suffocating Skies not only had a super alien creature but also had a relatable work environment. The story is scary, gory and intense!
Gage Greenwood's story We Were Who We Were is a heart wrenching grief story of a family with two siblings, and one of them encountering a strange blue light that changes the course of their lives.
Finally, Andrew Van Wey's story tells us about a group of aliens called the Grays, who come to earth every twelve or so years to examine a family and their legacy to better study humans. It is told with letters, the POV of a Gray, and a young boys POV. This was a truly unique take on an alien story!
I loved all three novellas in Dark Tides Book 19: What Swallows the Light, and recommend you check it out! Four out of five read.
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