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Deadman's Tome: Monsters Exist
From the time we are young, we fear the monster under the bed or in the closet, making it impossible to sleep without a nightlight. Then, we hear stories of Bigfoot, and maybe even the Mothman around campfires. When we are adults, we wonder if there might actually be supernatural creatures lurking in the shadows. Are these tall tales and urban legends only metaphors for what horrific things humanity is capable of—or do monsters exist?
Go to some terrifying places with this cast of authors. You will be dragged into mystifying realities where demonic fairies hide, where devil monkeys lure carnival-goers to their demise, where Goatmen seek to destroy their prey, and where the goddess of death puts out a hit on victims of her choice. These shocking tales will have you biting your nails and locating that childhood nightlight. Because, in the end, we all know monsters do exist.
Go to some terrifying places with this cast of authors. You will be dragged into mystifying realities where demonic fairies hide, where devil monkeys lure carnival-goers to their demise, where Goatmen seek to destroy their prey, and where the goddess of death puts out a hit on victims of her choice. These shocking tales will have you biting your nails and locating that childhood nightlight. Because, in the end, we all know monsters do exist.
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First published June 12, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
June 10, 2017
I admit it, I like to have the heck scared out of me. DEADMAN’S TOME: MONSTERS EXIST just happens to have a creepy collage of short stories guaranteed to at least have even the darkest minds looking over their shoulder looking for monsters. What kind of monsters, you ask? From rodents to dark legends to quite possibly your next door neighbor, for every imagination there lurks a monster and for every monster, there is an author doing their best to keep you up all night, locked in the safety of your room…
Baltimore, Pete’s personal nightmare? A solitary walk becomes a living nightmare with a cast of thousands, thousands of rats, that is, converging for a feast…but who or what will the main course be?
The games kids play, like chicken with an oncoming train. Good thing engineer Jackson’s quick thinking saved the life of one of the teens, but what he sees, what haunts him are the glowing eyes in the shadows; eyes he is certain belong to the legendary Goatman. Is he hallucinating, what draws him back to the tracks? With the help of a waitress and a cameraman, Jackson may be entering his worst nightmare… they say fools rush in where wise men fear to go… but do come out?
Let’s not forget the joy of a carnival! Everyone loves a carnival, right? Maybe not if that carnival is designed to bring back one man’s past in all of its nightmarish detail…
Have you ever looked down a dark well and wonder how far it is to the bottom? Ever thought about what or who could be down there?...and was that a voice you heard?
What about the taxi driver who thought he got away with the perfect crimes? Will the dead come back to haunt him? Will they force him to kill again at their bidding? What if he does? Then what?
These are just a few examples of the wicked imaginings of some very creative minds and there wasn’t a bad one in the bunch! So, sit back and dig in, and know, you have been warned…one man’s entertainment is another's future nightmare.
Within the covers of this dark collection are tales of true monsters, but are they monsters of our own making?
I received an ARC edition from Theresa Braun in exchange for my honest review.
Publication Date: July 1, 2017
Genre: Horror Anthology
Print Length: 216 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Baltimore, Pete’s personal nightmare? A solitary walk becomes a living nightmare with a cast of thousands, thousands of rats, that is, converging for a feast…but who or what will the main course be?
The games kids play, like chicken with an oncoming train. Good thing engineer Jackson’s quick thinking saved the life of one of the teens, but what he sees, what haunts him are the glowing eyes in the shadows; eyes he is certain belong to the legendary Goatman. Is he hallucinating, what draws him back to the tracks? With the help of a waitress and a cameraman, Jackson may be entering his worst nightmare… they say fools rush in where wise men fear to go… but do come out?
Let’s not forget the joy of a carnival! Everyone loves a carnival, right? Maybe not if that carnival is designed to bring back one man’s past in all of its nightmarish detail…
Have you ever looked down a dark well and wonder how far it is to the bottom? Ever thought about what or who could be down there?...and was that a voice you heard?
What about the taxi driver who thought he got away with the perfect crimes? Will the dead come back to haunt him? Will they force him to kill again at their bidding? What if he does? Then what?
These are just a few examples of the wicked imaginings of some very creative minds and there wasn’t a bad one in the bunch! So, sit back and dig in, and know, you have been warned…one man’s entertainment is another's future nightmare.
Within the covers of this dark collection are tales of true monsters, but are they monsters of our own making?
I received an ARC edition from Theresa Braun in exchange for my honest review.
Publication Date: July 1, 2017
Genre: Horror Anthology
Print Length: 216 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
September 26, 2019
A mixed bag of monster stories. I found many of them to be oversimplified, but the offerings by Calvin Demmer and M.R. Tapia raised the bar for me. 3.5 stars.
February 17, 2023
Thanks to Leo X. Robertson (contributor) and to the staff at Deadman's Tome for this Advance Review Copy.
The short stories in this anthology have as their unifying theme the existence of monsters taken from the folklore of various countries or even from pop culture. These include such cryptid creatures as goat-men, giant apes, preternaturally predatory spiders, vengeful fairies, seductive kelpies, bloodthirsty chupacabras and other entities that lurk on the fringes of existence and in the shadows of our childhood's darkest tales.
Some common motifs run through these stories. There is the fear of grappling with aspects of reality which were not taken seriously before. Once the monsters become known to the human protagonist, said human is often the only one who believes. Not only must (s)he absorb the shock of these new (or not so new) revelations, (s)he must also deal with the further obstacle of other humans who do not believe, and who think the initiated one is just drunk, deluded, ridiculous or perhaps even afflicted with a psychological problem. Then there is a climactic scene in which the human either defeats the monster, succumbs to it, or (perhaps most horrifying of all) comes to a compromise with it.
When all is said and done, the role and purpose of the monster is to make the human face his/her worst fears and to bring out courage, depravity or tragic weakness. These stories make us ask ourselves who the real monster is here. Is it the cryptid or the human?
The short stories in this anthology have as their unifying theme the existence of monsters taken from the folklore of various countries or even from pop culture. These include such cryptid creatures as goat-men, giant apes, preternaturally predatory spiders, vengeful fairies, seductive kelpies, bloodthirsty chupacabras and other entities that lurk on the fringes of existence and in the shadows of our childhood's darkest tales.
Some common motifs run through these stories. There is the fear of grappling with aspects of reality which were not taken seriously before. Once the monsters become known to the human protagonist, said human is often the only one who believes. Not only must (s)he absorb the shock of these new (or not so new) revelations, (s)he must also deal with the further obstacle of other humans who do not believe, and who think the initiated one is just drunk, deluded, ridiculous or perhaps even afflicted with a psychological problem. Then there is a climactic scene in which the human either defeats the monster, succumbs to it, or (perhaps most horrifying of all) comes to a compromise with it.
When all is said and done, the role and purpose of the monster is to make the human face his/her worst fears and to bring out courage, depravity or tragic weakness. These stories make us ask ourselves who the real monster is here. Is it the cryptid or the human?
June 19, 2017
You might think, 'Oh, so Leo has a story in this and he's giving it 5*?' I see.
But did you learn yourself the following possibilities:
- I'm my own favourite author
- I know the market and wouldn't see my story in a book I didn't think would turn out great, and this anthology is no exception?
Well I am and I do it isn't xD
The brief was to take a mythology and contemporise it, and all authors did so wonderfully and made it their own. There's such a range of different styles and tones and yet the book is a cohesive whole.
Who knew such a horrific book could bring so much joy??
But did you learn yourself the following possibilities:
- I'm my own favourite author
- I know the market and wouldn't see my story in a book I didn't think would turn out great, and this anthology is no exception?
Well I am and I do it isn't xD
The brief was to take a mythology and contemporise it, and all authors did so wonderfully and made it their own. There's such a range of different styles and tones and yet the book is a cohesive whole.
Who knew such a horrific book could bring so much joy??
July 25, 2017
A fun anthology of monster mayhems. Mythological and cryptozoological critters variously terrorise and rudely interrupt. A coalition of creatures featured in chaos, they strike sometimes with shadowy stalk, other times with blatant ferocity. I liked the trigger of the shorthand familiar settings for the genre, the stories mainlining without pause, arriving impregnated with the magic snicker of horror history gloriously hand-me-downed. All the better for having that used musk attached.
There are a few standouts, as is inevitable, but the collection is overall strong and I found something to like in all the stories. There’s a great deal of love for the classic moves of the genre, and this is enjoyable drive-in spook stuff. The monsters within are a compelling menagerie, caged by the restraints of the book but left to run rampant from page to page.
There are a few standouts, as is inevitable, but the collection is overall strong and I found something to like in all the stories. There’s a great deal of love for the classic moves of the genre, and this is enjoyable drive-in spook stuff. The monsters within are a compelling menagerie, caged by the restraints of the book but left to run rampant from page to page.
July 6, 2017
What are we reading?: Deadman’s Tome, Monsters Exist, edited by Mr Deadman and Theresa Braun.
Give me the short version: No, really, it’s all in the title.
If you haven’t checked them out yet, online horror magazine Deadman’s Tome (founded 2008 as Demonic Tome) has been rapidly spreading its tentacles of outré horror. Monsters Exist is a wonderfully neat concept with wide appeal; short stories about monsters; and from a publisher known for edginess this collection is actually very accessible – you can read it over lunch without losing it.
People always want something different from stories and of course we all have our best and brightest cryptid. I’ve got a nose for what bends the brain so I’m calling out my favourites as:
• The traditional brutal simplicity of Christopher Powers’ Bitten.
• Some unexpected silver-tongued social critique in Leo X Robertson’s Kelpies.
• Mr Deadman himself’s Lake Monster, with its quick-step dialogue and the hilariously great characterisation.
• And my top highlight: to join SE Casey in a frictionless slide into the unnerving with Playing Dead is always a treat.
Something which I haven’t seen much of in other anthologies, Monsters Exist popped author bios at the end of each story. This was super convenient and I loved being able to look the author up (and buy more stories) while still in the moment.
My favourite bit: “The kissing tent’s side flaps were rolled up allowing a glimpse of Ms. Pinn, the retired town librarian, making out with a much younger man. Harry’s heart jumped at the sight of her grey hair that had been torn away from its bun, the feral kiss too deep and passionate to be appropriate in any context.” – Playing Dead, SE Casey.
Give me the short version: No, really, it’s all in the title.
If you haven’t checked them out yet, online horror magazine Deadman’s Tome (founded 2008 as Demonic Tome) has been rapidly spreading its tentacles of outré horror. Monsters Exist is a wonderfully neat concept with wide appeal; short stories about monsters; and from a publisher known for edginess this collection is actually very accessible – you can read it over lunch without losing it.
People always want something different from stories and of course we all have our best and brightest cryptid. I’ve got a nose for what bends the brain so I’m calling out my favourites as:
• The traditional brutal simplicity of Christopher Powers’ Bitten.
• Some unexpected silver-tongued social critique in Leo X Robertson’s Kelpies.
• Mr Deadman himself’s Lake Monster, with its quick-step dialogue and the hilariously great characterisation.
• And my top highlight: to join SE Casey in a frictionless slide into the unnerving with Playing Dead is always a treat.
Something which I haven’t seen much of in other anthologies, Monsters Exist popped author bios at the end of each story. This was super convenient and I loved being able to look the author up (and buy more stories) while still in the moment.
My favourite bit: “The kissing tent’s side flaps were rolled up allowing a glimpse of Ms. Pinn, the retired town librarian, making out with a much younger man. Harry’s heart jumped at the sight of her grey hair that had been torn away from its bun, the feral kiss too deep and passionate to be appropriate in any context.” – Playing Dead, SE Casey.
August 26, 2017
"Are these tall tales and urban legends only metaphors for what horrific things humanity is capable of—or do monsters exist?"
Deadman's Tome: Monsters Exist is a compilation of fourteen short stories written by fourteen different authors. These authors probe into the world's darkest mysteries, creatively shine light on things that shouldn't be and expertly play on our biggest fears.
While all of these stories vary in plots and all have their own twists and turns, this anthology follows a theme: Monsters . They all have well developed worlds and characters which I think is pretty important for short stories, but what I love most is the vast range of monsters included. There are tales of vengeful fairies, swarms of giant rats, blood thirsty chupacabras, killer lake monsters, devious devil monkeys and so much more!
I won't go into detail about every story but I will say, though I found some to be more memorable than others, I really enjoyed them all. I don't think there's one "bad" one of the bunch. I've only ever read from one of these authors before (Theresa Braun : Dead over Heels - a short paranormal romance horror that I recommend), however I'm definitely interested in checking out the rest of these talented authors' works. Every one of these authors show their love for strange and macabre tales and creatures and weave their own feel into each one.
I can't say that any of them really scared me to be honest, but I'm big horror fan and pretty hard to scare, haha. However, each part of this collection drew me in and kept me reading til the end, so that made up for it. These stories are filled with dark myths and legends, shocking plot twists, nightmarish creatures, and morbid situations.
Whether you're looking for scary tales to keep you up at night or you're a horror fan like me looking to add some creepy reads to your library, this is a great collection to have.
**** Thank you to Booktasters for introducing me to this author and thank you to Theresa Braun (as well as the other 13 authors included in this anthology) for letting me read and review this book. ****
Deadman's Tome: Monsters Exist is a compilation of fourteen short stories written by fourteen different authors. These authors probe into the world's darkest mysteries, creatively shine light on things that shouldn't be and expertly play on our biggest fears.
While all of these stories vary in plots and all have their own twists and turns, this anthology follows a theme: Monsters . They all have well developed worlds and characters which I think is pretty important for short stories, but what I love most is the vast range of monsters included. There are tales of vengeful fairies, swarms of giant rats, blood thirsty chupacabras, killer lake monsters, devious devil monkeys and so much more!
I won't go into detail about every story but I will say, though I found some to be more memorable than others, I really enjoyed them all. I don't think there's one "bad" one of the bunch. I've only ever read from one of these authors before (Theresa Braun : Dead over Heels - a short paranormal romance horror that I recommend), however I'm definitely interested in checking out the rest of these talented authors' works. Every one of these authors show their love for strange and macabre tales and creatures and weave their own feel into each one.
I can't say that any of them really scared me to be honest, but I'm big horror fan and pretty hard to scare, haha. However, each part of this collection drew me in and kept me reading til the end, so that made up for it. These stories are filled with dark myths and legends, shocking plot twists, nightmarish creatures, and morbid situations.
Whether you're looking for scary tales to keep you up at night or you're a horror fan like me looking to add some creepy reads to your library, this is a great collection to have.
**** Thank you to Booktasters for introducing me to this author and thank you to Theresa Braun (as well as the other 13 authors included in this anthology) for letting me read and review this book. ****
October 21, 2017
Well, of course they do. Because otherwise what sort of a bland unexciting world are we living in. This collection was just lovely, every story featured a different monster and every story was good, really good. Well written, atmospheric, original, eerie, occasionally genuinely scary. For a collection of unknown authors that's quite an accomplishment and kudos must be given to the editors, whose stories also appear within this anthology. Relatively slender volume, ended up a one sitting read, 8 to 11 pm and what a great way to spend an evening. Although now might need to check under the bed. And all the dark corners. And what is that noise exactly? Enthusiastically recommended for the most discerning genre fans. Thanks Netgalley.
July 2, 2017
As always when rating anthologies, you have to try to find a happy medium, which is why I'm giving Monsters Exist four stars. There were a few stories that, on their own, would have merited five stars, but then there were also a few others that didn't impress me so much, so I've taken a middle ground. I should say straight up that I am not much of a horror reader these days and if the theme hadn't grabbed me when the review request came through, I'd probably have declined. In the end, I'm glad I did accept as I found Monsters Exist to be an interesting collection with many different takes on the brief. None of the tales scared me to a huge extent; however, several were certainly creepy and stuck with me for a while after reading them. If this is a genre you like, I would definitely recommend giving the anthology a try--just keep your hands and feet well tucked in under the covers when you turn off the light!
I received this book as a free eBook ARC from one of the editors/authors.
I received this book as a free eBook ARC from one of the editors/authors.
June 27, 2017
I love books of this type. So often I find authors whose work I want to investigate further. This book was no exception. The only author I whose work I had read previously was Theresa Bruan.
I was thrilled with the stories I found in Monsters Exist. There is a good mix of stories in this book. We start with rats which nearly killed me. I have been disturbed by rats ever since I watched the movies Willard and Ben. Anyone remember those movies? My skin was crawling and i knew not even a nightlight was going to keep the fear away. The stories go on to include various thriller chillers. You are certain to find at least one story to keep you checking the floor under the bed before you get out of it. I usually pick a story or two that I found to be particularly frightening. With this book, I am truly unable to do this. I look back on them, decide on one only to remember the goosebumps another gave me and I change my mind. i enjoyed every story I read. I recommend this book to horror and campfire story fans.
Thank you to BookTasters for bringing this book to my attention. The editor provided an ecopy for review purposes. The final copy may be slightly different. All opinions are honest ones.
I was thrilled with the stories I found in Monsters Exist. There is a good mix of stories in this book. We start with rats which nearly killed me. I have been disturbed by rats ever since I watched the movies Willard and Ben. Anyone remember those movies? My skin was crawling and i knew not even a nightlight was going to keep the fear away. The stories go on to include various thriller chillers. You are certain to find at least one story to keep you checking the floor under the bed before you get out of it. I usually pick a story or two that I found to be particularly frightening. With this book, I am truly unable to do this. I look back on them, decide on one only to remember the goosebumps another gave me and I change my mind. i enjoyed every story I read. I recommend this book to horror and campfire story fans.
Thank you to BookTasters for bringing this book to my attention. The editor provided an ecopy for review purposes. The final copy may be slightly different. All opinions are honest ones.
August 22, 2017
This is a horror fiction book written as a collection of stories by several authors. What makes this book special is its diversity and selection of various style of writing and skills combined into one. Each author tells a story and each one is as captivating as the next.
Master Vermin is a story about rats with a surprising ending. Legend Trippers is an urban legend where a Goat man entices his victims in front of a running train. The Murder of Crows is about a woman who gets into a taxi where the driver has a secret. The trend of stories carries on, all containing delightful and delicious endings. The content is definitely not suitable for everyone. If you are a murder mystery fan and enjoy horror stories then this book is right up your alley.
The literary standard was in good standing and I believe the authors have done a great job accomplishing this project together. Every story stands alone and together creates this thrilling journey of a ride.
I recommend this book to anyone that enjoys nail biting stories.
Master Vermin is a story about rats with a surprising ending. Legend Trippers is an urban legend where a Goat man entices his victims in front of a running train. The Murder of Crows is about a woman who gets into a taxi where the driver has a secret. The trend of stories carries on, all containing delightful and delicious endings. The content is definitely not suitable for everyone. If you are a murder mystery fan and enjoy horror stories then this book is right up your alley.
The literary standard was in good standing and I believe the authors have done a great job accomplishing this project together. Every story stands alone and together creates this thrilling journey of a ride.
I recommend this book to anyone that enjoys nail biting stories.
July 28, 2017
This book is an absolute gem - every single story in this collection was strong and I enjoyed them all. Even though each story followed a similar theme (monsters. duh.), they didn't get samey despite there being 14 stories altogether.
That being said, I definitely had my favourites in this collection - 'The Voice from the Bottom of the Well' by Philip W. Kleaver and 'Eclipse at Wolfcreek' by Sylvia Mann and 'Never Sleep Again' by Calvin Demmer.
Of the three of these authors, I've only ever read Calvin Demmer before and I think this is the scariest of all his stories so far, who the hell isn't scared of whatever it is that takes you feet if they hang over the edge of the bed?!
Some of these stories were genuinely creepy, which is something I don't encounter that often any more - even in horror novels - so that's a ringing endorsement from me!
September 26, 2017
A creepy mixture of 14 short horror stories featuring monsters. Packed into these short tales are twists and mutations of the typical creature stories. Really quick reads, loaded with monsters to haunt your nightmares. Mythological and cryptozoological critters. Stories that bring urban legends to life. That play on your fears. These are the monsters that lurk within your imagination, and the ones that live next door, or down the well in the woods. There’s demonic sacrificing fairies, The Goatman, devil monkeys, dog sized rats, seductive mer-woman, predatory spiders, blood-thirsty Chupacabras and The Mothman to name a few.
It was hard to pick a favourite from the mix but The Voice from the Bottom of the Well by Philip W. Kleaver just clipped it with this memorable and well written tale. A 10 year old girl Johanna discovers a thing at the bottom of the well that is especially hungry. Johanna must feed it and yeah she did. Awesome.
There’s something here for every horror fan with a diverse range of writing styles and tones. There’s creepy, atmospheric and gore filled tales. The monster theme pulls it all together as one anthology which makes all the stories gel as they explore this from different angles. I loved that after each short story you got a bio of the author and other work they had published. I’ve found a few that I will check out. Its a great way to sample an authors writing style before going on to read a longer story. Its a mixed bag and I enjoyed some stories more than others. This made it hard to rate but I settled on a 4 for overall enjoyment.
I’d recommend to anyone who likes: horror, urban legends, monsters, quick spooky reads, short stories.
It was hard to pick a favourite from the mix but The Voice from the Bottom of the Well by Philip W. Kleaver just clipped it with this memorable and well written tale. A 10 year old girl Johanna discovers a thing at the bottom of the well that is especially hungry. Johanna must feed it and yeah she did. Awesome.
There’s something here for every horror fan with a diverse range of writing styles and tones. There’s creepy, atmospheric and gore filled tales. The monster theme pulls it all together as one anthology which makes all the stories gel as they explore this from different angles. I loved that after each short story you got a bio of the author and other work they had published. I’ve found a few that I will check out. Its a great way to sample an authors writing style before going on to read a longer story. Its a mixed bag and I enjoyed some stories more than others. This made it hard to rate but I settled on a 4 for overall enjoyment.
I’d recommend to anyone who likes: horror, urban legends, monsters, quick spooky reads, short stories.
July 18, 2019
My earlier review got lost it seems.
Pretty decent collection of horror stories featuring cryptids and other creatures from folklore and (urban) legends
Pretty decent collection of horror stories featuring cryptids and other creatures from folklore and (urban) legends
August 26, 2017
I enjoyed the variety of the monsters and some of these stories are really excellent. My review will be posted at The Scary Reviews, here is the link http://wp.me/p5t5Tf-1gd
August 24, 2017
When you were a kid did you think monsters existed? Well they do exist and they’re everywhere, there are too many stories about monsters to think otherwise. The preface for Deadman’s Tome: Monsters Exist edited by Mr. Deadman and Theresa Braun tells us that . There are 14 tales here about monsters that some believe really exist. I loved all the stories in this collection and couldn’t decide what to focus on since they all fit so well together so I decided to give info on each one:
Master Vermin by Wallace Boothill: The city of Baltimore has some dark places and there is a rat king that rules the night. I loved the idea of the characters trying to stop a low-income apartment from being destroyed and then finding a more sinister force at work.
Legend Trippers by Theresa Braun: An urban legend about a goatman and a man trying to escape the past. Great build up til the end and I liked the reality tv show crew looking for answers.
The Murder Of Crows by S.J Budd: Great little story about the goddess of death. Great twist in this story, loved the idea of what makes a serial killer.
Wicked Congregation by Gary Buller: Great storytelling here on the legend of faeries and what it takes to keep them from killing us all.
Playing Dead by S.E. Casey: This one is about a giant monkey and a strange little carnival. Loved how we find out what is really going on and how the main character feels about it.
Lake Monster by Mr. Deadman: This one combines a couple of legends, every forest has a legend, if the creature in the woods doesn’t get you the lake monster will.
Never Sleep Again by Calvin Demmer: Possibly my favorite in this book, half detective story and half horror story focusing on the monster under the bed. Loved how the monster looked and how he got around from bed to bed, love to see this one expanded to a longer piece.
The Voice From The Bottom Of The Well by Phillip W. Kleaver: Great story about a little girl with insomnia and what she is willing to do to keep the monster at the bottom of a well quiet. Sacrifices must be made and its a surprise who she chooses.
Eclipse at Wolfcreek by Sylvia Mann: This one looks at two kinds of monsters, one is the mothman and the other is something much scarier. I love the beginning of this story and seeing how the main character comes out of it stronger than before but still damaged.
No. 7 by William Marchese: Government experiments and conspiracies play a role in this one along with one terrifying monster. A creepy story with a good mystery.
Criatura by John Palisano: This one is about a bigfoot type creature living in the desert. Love the description of the monster in this one and what the monster seems to want.
Bitten by Christopher Powers: Great storytelling about a giant Spider and what it does to catch its prey. I liked the idea of two men sitting and one telling the story and the other not believing it, this one had a campfire tale vibe to it.
Kelpies by Leo X. Robertson: Good story about what happens if you are not loyal, the kelpies have a nice under the sea set up.
Bloodstream Revolution by M.R. Tapia: It’s a mystery who the monster is in this one, is it the warlords fighting over land or the chupacabras? It’s hard to disagree with the main character’s decision at the end.
Every story in Deadman’s Tome: Monsters Exist are fast paced and never leave you with that “When will this end feeling.” It’s a quick read with each tale grabbing you by the jugular and not letting go til the blood soaked end. This book is a horror fan’s dream which will give you nightmares for weeks.
Master Vermin by Wallace Boothill: The city of Baltimore has some dark places and there is a rat king that rules the night. I loved the idea of the characters trying to stop a low-income apartment from being destroyed and then finding a more sinister force at work.
Legend Trippers by Theresa Braun: An urban legend about a goatman and a man trying to escape the past. Great build up til the end and I liked the reality tv show crew looking for answers.
The Murder Of Crows by S.J Budd: Great little story about the goddess of death. Great twist in this story, loved the idea of what makes a serial killer.
Wicked Congregation by Gary Buller: Great storytelling here on the legend of faeries and what it takes to keep them from killing us all.
Playing Dead by S.E. Casey: This one is about a giant monkey and a strange little carnival. Loved how we find out what is really going on and how the main character feels about it.
Lake Monster by Mr. Deadman: This one combines a couple of legends, every forest has a legend, if the creature in the woods doesn’t get you the lake monster will.
Never Sleep Again by Calvin Demmer: Possibly my favorite in this book, half detective story and half horror story focusing on the monster under the bed. Loved how the monster looked and how he got around from bed to bed, love to see this one expanded to a longer piece.
The Voice From The Bottom Of The Well by Phillip W. Kleaver: Great story about a little girl with insomnia and what she is willing to do to keep the monster at the bottom of a well quiet. Sacrifices must be made and its a surprise who she chooses.
Eclipse at Wolfcreek by Sylvia Mann: This one looks at two kinds of monsters, one is the mothman and the other is something much scarier. I love the beginning of this story and seeing how the main character comes out of it stronger than before but still damaged.
No. 7 by William Marchese: Government experiments and conspiracies play a role in this one along with one terrifying monster. A creepy story with a good mystery.
Criatura by John Palisano: This one is about a bigfoot type creature living in the desert. Love the description of the monster in this one and what the monster seems to want.
Bitten by Christopher Powers: Great storytelling about a giant Spider and what it does to catch its prey. I liked the idea of two men sitting and one telling the story and the other not believing it, this one had a campfire tale vibe to it.
Kelpies by Leo X. Robertson: Good story about what happens if you are not loyal, the kelpies have a nice under the sea set up.
Bloodstream Revolution by M.R. Tapia: It’s a mystery who the monster is in this one, is it the warlords fighting over land or the chupacabras? It’s hard to disagree with the main character’s decision at the end.
Every story in Deadman’s Tome: Monsters Exist are fast paced and never leave you with that “When will this end feeling.” It’s a quick read with each tale grabbing you by the jugular and not letting go til the blood soaked end. This book is a horror fan’s dream which will give you nightmares for weeks.
August 16, 2017
This anthology is a product of many talented writers and is pretty fantastic! But, I’m going to review one story in particular.
This one is by Theresa Braun, who not only contributed her creepy story, but edited the tome alongside Mr. Deadman.
Legend Trippers by Theresa Braun
Definition: "Legend tripping, also known as ostension, is a name recently bestowed by folklorists and anthropologists on an adolescent practice (containing elements of a rite of passage) in which a usually furtive nocturnal pilgrimage is made to a site which is alleged to have been the scene of some tragic, horrific, and possibly supernatural event or haunting. The practice has been documented most thoroughly to date in the United States."
Legend Trippers is a story about a creepy stretch of tracks that is the site of many unexplained occurrences. Particularly, deaths by train collision. Yet, despite all of the tragedies, this area is constantly frequented by people looking to discover what it is that has caused so many unexplained “suicides” and disappearances.
Enter the main protagonist. A man down on his luck who happens to save one of these “legend trippers” from being obliterated by a train. He also sees something he can’t possibly explain. In a bid to turn his life around, he sets off with a cameraman and a family member of one of the missing, to prove what he saw was real. Terror ensues!
Theresa is a master at elevating your average ghost story or urban legend to something that will make you read with all of the lights on… and the tv, and maybe the radio too. So, not surprising, this one was truly horrifying. She’s also excellent at creating the appropriate atmosphere in just a few short pages. It’s really difficult to creat characters a reader can connect with (so we care when something happens to them) and a fully fleshed-out plot in a short story, but she always does.
This entire anthology is fantastic and I especially enjoyed this one.
Rating… A
This one is by Theresa Braun, who not only contributed her creepy story, but edited the tome alongside Mr. Deadman.
Legend Trippers by Theresa Braun
Definition: "Legend tripping, also known as ostension, is a name recently bestowed by folklorists and anthropologists on an adolescent practice (containing elements of a rite of passage) in which a usually furtive nocturnal pilgrimage is made to a site which is alleged to have been the scene of some tragic, horrific, and possibly supernatural event or haunting. The practice has been documented most thoroughly to date in the United States."
Legend Trippers is a story about a creepy stretch of tracks that is the site of many unexplained occurrences. Particularly, deaths by train collision. Yet, despite all of the tragedies, this area is constantly frequented by people looking to discover what it is that has caused so many unexplained “suicides” and disappearances.
Enter the main protagonist. A man down on his luck who happens to save one of these “legend trippers” from being obliterated by a train. He also sees something he can’t possibly explain. In a bid to turn his life around, he sets off with a cameraman and a family member of one of the missing, to prove what he saw was real. Terror ensues!
Theresa is a master at elevating your average ghost story or urban legend to something that will make you read with all of the lights on… and the tv, and maybe the radio too. So, not surprising, this one was truly horrifying. She’s also excellent at creating the appropriate atmosphere in just a few short pages. It’s really difficult to creat characters a reader can connect with (so we care when something happens to them) and a fully fleshed-out plot in a short story, but she always does.
This entire anthology is fantastic and I especially enjoyed this one.
Rating… A
July 20, 2017
This is an anthology, 14 authors have contributed shorts stories with the theme of Monsters Exist ? The stories explore various monsters, some feature in folklore, myth and urban legends, they are stories we are told as children to keep us in line such as; the monster under the bed, the monster in the lake or in the well.
Monster stories have always been around. This collection of stories tap into what we believed as children, then challenges what we think we do not believe as adults. Are we really sure that as adults monsters do not exist? Or do we choose to think this way so that we do not have to admit that really Monster’s Exist?
At the end of each story there is a mini author bio and website details for each participant. On the whole I really enjoyed these stories, there were a couple that I didn’t like quite as much. I believe with anthologies, there will some stories you read that just have that extra something that will connect with the reader on a more personal level. There is a good selection of ideas and themes, also some very different writing styles.
I find it hard to rate this type of book, some of the stories I would love to give a 5 star to, while others I found good/okay and would only give a 3 /3.5. So as I read I rated each story and then found the average of 4.5 stars.
I would recommend to readers of short stories, anthologies, horror, adventure, folklore and urban legends.
I would like to thank Theresa for bringing this book to my attention for an honest and unbiased review. All views expressed are my own.
Monster stories have always been around. This collection of stories tap into what we believed as children, then challenges what we think we do not believe as adults. Are we really sure that as adults monsters do not exist? Or do we choose to think this way so that we do not have to admit that really Monster’s Exist?
At the end of each story there is a mini author bio and website details for each participant. On the whole I really enjoyed these stories, there were a couple that I didn’t like quite as much. I believe with anthologies, there will some stories you read that just have that extra something that will connect with the reader on a more personal level. There is a good selection of ideas and themes, also some very different writing styles.
I find it hard to rate this type of book, some of the stories I would love to give a 5 star to, while others I found good/okay and would only give a 3 /3.5. So as I read I rated each story and then found the average of 4.5 stars.
I would recommend to readers of short stories, anthologies, horror, adventure, folklore and urban legends.
I would like to thank Theresa for bringing this book to my attention for an honest and unbiased review. All views expressed are my own.
September 1, 2017
Monsters Exist is a collection of 14 short stories from the worlds of horror and often the dark paranormal, written by a great assortment of horror-writing authors, most of whose names already strike fear in the reader! "Kleaver, Buller, Demmer, Deadman…"
I'm commenting on each story and giving it a rating, apart from the overall rating of the whole anthology.
"Master Vermin" by Wallace Boothill
The anthology opens with an interesting piece that is different from what you'd define as horror. There is a significant bit of well-fitted gross descriptions in this story. I liked the suspense and how the ending was unexpected. It gives you a different kind of scary; a creepy thought rather than simply a scary story.
Rating: 3.75 stars.
"Legend Trippers" by Theresa Braun
"Like a clogged water pipe finally bursting, the images materialised."
My second read for Braun, the story is about a myth of horned-creature called the "Goatman", who supposedly "lure[s] victims to their death, straight into an oncoming train." A reporter trails a man called Jaxon because he, the reporter, believes that Jaxon has seen the Goatman, but Jaxon doesn't know what he's seen. Jaxon teams up with a waitress to find out what happened to her sister near the area where an accident had happened at an earlier time.
The pace is slow at first and towards the middle, then picks up and makes a good ending.
There are many quote-worthy bits and I love Braun's use of imagery.
Rating: 4 stars.
"The Murder of Crows" by S.J. Budd
"He felt death's close proximity that night, and this time it was coming for him."
Barry, a taxi driver, has taken to killing a woman each night, for three nights in a row, until one woman gets into his car and his whole life changes.
I loved the start, middle, and flow of this story but felt the ending was abrupt. I like the paranormal aspect, but felt that the main character or the author, or both, wanted to get the story over with.
After a second reading, I'd give this story a 4-star rating.
"Wicked Congregation" by Gary Buller
"Wicked Congregation" is simply a wicked – pun intended - story! I loved it!
One of the best stories in the anthology, Buller's piece takes an abandoned chapel for a setting. Narrated from the first person perspective of a High Peak Ranger, "Wicked Congregation" is about a remote town where Rangers have to make a sacrifice every two decades or all hell will break loose.
"Every twenty years they take a piece of our future so we may keep the rest."
The flow, writing style and the suspense was well done.
Rating: 5 stars
"Playing Dead" by S.E. Casey
I like Casey's choice of setting in this short story. I felt the story was a bit long, but I liked it
Set in a carnival, Casey had me guessing throughout the story what the horror would be and what would happen. The story has this strong opening: "Under the golden eye of Saturn, the only celestial light visible in the pre-night sky, the field vomited up a monstrosity."
Rating: 4 stars.
"Lake Monster" by Mr. Deadman
"The air was chilly and quiet, like a morgue, the sort of quiet that puts a keen emphasis on every sound, no matter how insignificant."
Paranormal or not paranormal? This story keeps you guessing till the end. It's a bit different from the rest and there's a bit of comedy embedded in and some beautiful images. I truly enjoyed this one and didn't know what to think or expect throughout.
Rating: 5 stars.
"Never Sleep Again" by Calvin Demmer
Sleep? Who wants to sleep? Definitely not me. Especially after reading this story!
Another paranormal piece, I like that "Never Sleep Again" mixes mystery with creepy. I don’t want to give anything else away. You just have to read it.
Rating: 5 stars.
"The Voice from the Bottom of the Well" by Philip W. Kleaver
Smart, wicked, and creepy are the first words that come to mind when I read this piece by Kleaver. And "Damn brilliant". Short stories with children tend to be creepier than anything and Kleaver nailed it with "The Voice from the Bottom of the Well". His word choice and flow kept me on edge. I was terrified.
When reading this short story, I covered my ears in the hopes that I won't be horrified, like I do when watching scary movies.
Taking this story to a full length novel may also be plausible and it would make for a freaky scary movie.
Rating: 5 stars.
"Eclipse at Wolfcreek" by Sylvia Mann
The story opens with a statement and reiteration of the anthology title "Monsters exist." It then moves to naming the three types of monsters. My only problem with this story was that I felt there was some strong scientific jargon.
Narrated from the perspective Buddy, the story is a tackles creepy differently as we get the description of Buddy's grandmother (you'll love her but she'll freak you out) and the setting. A house in the middle of nowhere. Buddy and his friend Prez go out hunting out of season in the woods near Buddy's home. Suffice to say, they should have listened to Buddy's grandma.
Rating: 4.5 stars
"No. 7" by William Marchese
"No. 7" is an interesting piece mixing science fiction with the paranormal. There were some confusing parts during the confrontation but overall I enjoyed the story and the narration. It's not as scary as the rest but definitely worth reading.
Rating: 3.5 stars
"Criatura" by John Palisano
With lots of dark humour, "Criatura" is a must-read scary and fairly gory story. Stranded in the middle of the desert at night, the narrator, Chuck, stumbles upon a creature that was only a myth told to children. I liked the way Palisano gave the reader background information about the "Criatura".
Rating: 4.5 stars
"Bitten" by Christopher Powers
I couldn't pinpoint the era/timeline in which "Bitten" was set; it could be anything, though it felt like the 60's or 70's. I like how Powers weaved a story within a story, merging them at the end.
Rating: 4.5 stars
"Kelpies" by Leo X. Robertson
Like "Master Vermin", this story isn't scary in terms of the content but the idea, it just leaves you thinking "DAMN!" "No!"
It's one of the best pieces in Monsters Exist. It makes you wonder who the 'monster' is here. I thought the description of the kelpies was a little – too – weird though. Still, I kept thinking about the story several days after I finished it.
Rating: 5 stars
"Bloodstream Revolution" by M.R. Tapia
The conclusion to the anthology, Tapia's "Bloodstream Revolution" has a historical fiction feel to it along with a little gory-paranormal. Reminiscent of the "survival of the fittest" idea, the story has a heartbreaking beginning. I could picture every single event quite well in this story.
Rating: 4.5 stars
Normally, it's hard to judge a full anthology or short story collection as there tend to be pieces that you dislike or like less than others. But the authors in the Monsters Exist anthology produced quality scary stories. Some I felt were a bit gory, there was significant profanity (fine with me but just mentioning that). What they all did was border on the dark side of the paranormal.
I must say I enjoyed the different settings, ideas, and overall assortment of scary tales in this book.
(Note to readers: There is adult content and cursing in the book)
Overall rating for Monsters Exist: 5 stars!
Note: I received a free copy of Monsters Exist from one of the authors in exchange for an honest review.
December 6, 2017
I never thought I would be a horror reader. Honestly, just not my usual jam. However, these days I find it appearing more and more in my inbox. That being said, sometimes I find myself actually enjoying the story. One can get extremely creative with horror. There are so many dark corners one can unearth that no one else has dared to put into words. As a result, I find that I am much more critical when evaluating the success of a horror story. I am looking for it to evoke strong emotions in me and to show the originality of the author.
In this collection there were only a few tales that stuck with me that I could remember days afterwards. The first, would be Never Sleep Again by the familiar Calvin Demmer. A mystical murder detective tale that really felt like an episode from the X-Files. I saw what I had been missing from Demmer in this story and was pleasantly surprised. I went back and checked who had written it and I was delighted to notice it was Demmer's. I think this story really highlighted Demmer's growth, since it was one of only four stories from this collection that really stood out to me.
The second story I enjoyed was Bitten, by Christopher Powers. Ever since Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark published that story about a spider laying eggs in the skin of someone, I find spider stories super creepy. So they stick with me long after I am done reading. It is actually the only story from this anthology that I have not forgotten any parts about. As a result, I feel the story did what it was intended to do — give me the heebie jeebies. This is amusing to me because I actually don't mind most spiders in real life. I just don't like them hanging over me in bed.
Legend Trippers by Theresa Braun also stuck out at me. I like stories about urban legends. It makes reality feel a bit more mysterious. Braun did a good job reinventing the tale.
Lastly, my most favorite tale from this anthology would be Eclipse at Wolf Creek, based on the West Virginia Mothman legend. I really felt connected to the characters and enjoyed the characterization of granny.
A horror novel is never complete unless murder ensues. All four of my favorites were full of death and dismemberment to tickle that little creepster inside you.
Full review: https://cellardoorbooks.wordpress.com...
In this collection there were only a few tales that stuck with me that I could remember days afterwards. The first, would be Never Sleep Again by the familiar Calvin Demmer. A mystical murder detective tale that really felt like an episode from the X-Files. I saw what I had been missing from Demmer in this story and was pleasantly surprised. I went back and checked who had written it and I was delighted to notice it was Demmer's. I think this story really highlighted Demmer's growth, since it was one of only four stories from this collection that really stood out to me.
The second story I enjoyed was Bitten, by Christopher Powers. Ever since Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark published that story about a spider laying eggs in the skin of someone, I find spider stories super creepy. So they stick with me long after I am done reading. It is actually the only story from this anthology that I have not forgotten any parts about. As a result, I feel the story did what it was intended to do — give me the heebie jeebies. This is amusing to me because I actually don't mind most spiders in real life. I just don't like them hanging over me in bed.
Legend Trippers by Theresa Braun also stuck out at me. I like stories about urban legends. It makes reality feel a bit more mysterious. Braun did a good job reinventing the tale.
Lastly, my most favorite tale from this anthology would be Eclipse at Wolf Creek, based on the West Virginia Mothman legend. I really felt connected to the characters and enjoyed the characterization of granny.
A horror novel is never complete unless murder ensues. All four of my favorites were full of death and dismemberment to tickle that little creepster inside you.
Full review: https://cellardoorbooks.wordpress.com...
July 24, 2017
I've always enjoyed reading anthologies, particularly those with a theme. Monsters Exist ticks that box nicely by having 14 tales all about Monsters. I was not familiar with any of the authors prior to reading this book, something which may be of benefit as I would then have no expectations based on previous reading experience.
There are not many anthologies I've read that have had a 100% hit rate. In fact from memory there are 2, Clive Barker's Books of Blood and my current book of the year, Richard Chizmar's A Long December. Monsters Exist is incredibly close to having all its tales hitting the spot, and I really do mean incredibly close. There were so many positives crammed within it's 148 pages, it was a blast discovering what Monsters Exist!
Monsters Exist opens with Master Vermin by Wallace Boothill, a tale about rats in Baltimore. I loved how this had me shuddering at a couple of superb 'yuck' moments and then totally surprised at it's somewhat epic ending. Theresa Braun's Legend Trippers takes us into one of my favourite sub-genres, the urban legend. Here we have a tale about the Goatman who lures its victims in front of an oncoming train. It's a great story that was well paced. S.J. Budd gave us a tale about a woman who climbs into the back of a taxi who's driver has a dark secret in The Murder Of Crows. I really enjoyed the writing and the ending was very satisfying. Wicked Congregation by Gary Buller is one of the standout tales in the anthology for me! A shocking tale of fairies and human sacrifice. Echoes of Adam Nevill in the story's setting and an ending that would grace Tales Of The Unexpected at its peak. I have to add, there's a line in Wicked Congregation that really stood out for me 'Every 20 years they take a little of our future so we may keep the rest' Fantastic writing! Playing Dead by S.E. Casey is a dark tale about the devil monkey where you're never quite sure what's real or not. Superb! Mr. Deadmans Lake Monster has sublime characterisation and punchy dialogue. Just what would it take for Gary to believe in the Goat Man? Another standout tale is Calvin Demmer's Never Sleep Again, a clever use of the old monster under the bed trope. I for one won't be dangling hands or feet over the edge of the bed...or futon! I let out a sigh of relief at one point during Philip W. Kleaver's The Voice From The Bottom Of The Well, the author had me convinced Johanna was going to do something quite terrible only for the rug to be pulled out from under me. I really enjoyed this tale with its smile inducing ending. Eclipse At Wolf Creek is another well written urban legend tale, this time involving the Mothman. To be honest, I may have found Sylvia Mann's descriptions of poor old Grandma the most disturbing part of the story. No. 7 by William Marchese has moments of excellence with a tale of 'super' soldiers crossing paths with a bunch of kids. I did struggle with the tale to be honest, and even reread it in case I had missed something. There's a cracking story here, the author himself holds his hands up in this honest post that things could have been better. I'd be very interested to read any rework that appears in the future. A variant on the Bigfoot legend is the next tale in John Palisano's Criatura. This is a deliciously gory story that I had great fun reading. There's a wonderful sense of humour in the writing, with the line 'maybe because it was sticking out and is the easiest target' earning a genuine laugh. If spiders aren't your thing then Bitten by Christopher Powers is going to make for an unpleasant reading experience. To add to your pain these spiders are the size of dogs, and in one scene (that had me proper squirming) the description of a spider 'probing and pushing into an ear deep enough to cause blood to seep out' is wrong on so many levels. Christopher Powers, I salute you! Kelpies by Leo X. Robertson is an unusual tale about a man lured into the water by a mysterious seductress. Any fellas may think twice about any 'momentary wavering' after reading this excellent piece of dark fiction. Lastly, in the final tale Bloodstream Revolution M.R. Tapia writes an engrossing tale involving Chupacabras in the time of the Mexican revolution. I thoroughly enjoyed this conclusion to Monsters Exist especially as it convinced me that it is actually humans that are the true monsters.
As I said at the beginning of this review, I was not familiar with any of the authors prior to reading. Now that I have finished the book, I'll be looking out for each and every one of them in the future. Monsters Exist is a superb read with a variety of styles that works as a collective. I couldn't recommend it enough!
There are not many anthologies I've read that have had a 100% hit rate. In fact from memory there are 2, Clive Barker's Books of Blood and my current book of the year, Richard Chizmar's A Long December. Monsters Exist is incredibly close to having all its tales hitting the spot, and I really do mean incredibly close. There were so many positives crammed within it's 148 pages, it was a blast discovering what Monsters Exist!
Monsters Exist opens with Master Vermin by Wallace Boothill, a tale about rats in Baltimore. I loved how this had me shuddering at a couple of superb 'yuck' moments and then totally surprised at it's somewhat epic ending. Theresa Braun's Legend Trippers takes us into one of my favourite sub-genres, the urban legend. Here we have a tale about the Goatman who lures its victims in front of an oncoming train. It's a great story that was well paced. S.J. Budd gave us a tale about a woman who climbs into the back of a taxi who's driver has a dark secret in The Murder Of Crows. I really enjoyed the writing and the ending was very satisfying. Wicked Congregation by Gary Buller is one of the standout tales in the anthology for me! A shocking tale of fairies and human sacrifice. Echoes of Adam Nevill in the story's setting and an ending that would grace Tales Of The Unexpected at its peak. I have to add, there's a line in Wicked Congregation that really stood out for me 'Every 20 years they take a little of our future so we may keep the rest' Fantastic writing! Playing Dead by S.E. Casey is a dark tale about the devil monkey where you're never quite sure what's real or not. Superb! Mr. Deadmans Lake Monster has sublime characterisation and punchy dialogue. Just what would it take for Gary to believe in the Goat Man? Another standout tale is Calvin Demmer's Never Sleep Again, a clever use of the old monster under the bed trope. I for one won't be dangling hands or feet over the edge of the bed...or futon! I let out a sigh of relief at one point during Philip W. Kleaver's The Voice From The Bottom Of The Well, the author had me convinced Johanna was going to do something quite terrible only for the rug to be pulled out from under me. I really enjoyed this tale with its smile inducing ending. Eclipse At Wolf Creek is another well written urban legend tale, this time involving the Mothman. To be honest, I may have found Sylvia Mann's descriptions of poor old Grandma the most disturbing part of the story. No. 7 by William Marchese has moments of excellence with a tale of 'super' soldiers crossing paths with a bunch of kids. I did struggle with the tale to be honest, and even reread it in case I had missed something. There's a cracking story here, the author himself holds his hands up in this honest post that things could have been better. I'd be very interested to read any rework that appears in the future. A variant on the Bigfoot legend is the next tale in John Palisano's Criatura. This is a deliciously gory story that I had great fun reading. There's a wonderful sense of humour in the writing, with the line 'maybe because it was sticking out and is the easiest target' earning a genuine laugh. If spiders aren't your thing then Bitten by Christopher Powers is going to make for an unpleasant reading experience. To add to your pain these spiders are the size of dogs, and in one scene (that had me proper squirming) the description of a spider 'probing and pushing into an ear deep enough to cause blood to seep out' is wrong on so many levels. Christopher Powers, I salute you! Kelpies by Leo X. Robertson is an unusual tale about a man lured into the water by a mysterious seductress. Any fellas may think twice about any 'momentary wavering' after reading this excellent piece of dark fiction. Lastly, in the final tale Bloodstream Revolution M.R. Tapia writes an engrossing tale involving Chupacabras in the time of the Mexican revolution. I thoroughly enjoyed this conclusion to Monsters Exist especially as it convinced me that it is actually humans that are the true monsters.
As I said at the beginning of this review, I was not familiar with any of the authors prior to reading. Now that I have finished the book, I'll be looking out for each and every one of them in the future. Monsters Exist is a superb read with a variety of styles that works as a collective. I couldn't recommend it enough!
August 11, 2017
(review request submitted by the author Gary Buller for an honest critique)
Upon the pages of Monsters Exist, a reader will embark on spine-tingling adventure where some stories are full of immense blood and gore. Some are so damn freaky but I was shuddering in my seat. For example, the first short story “Master Vermin” by Wallace Boothill, there’s just something about rats that just gives me the willies. If one average size rodent doesn’t make you scream and go running for the hills, then try being surrounded by tens of thousands of the beady-eyed vermin. Some rats were as big as cats. Oh and don’t get me started on the Rat King. Seriously, I’d move….. like far, far away and never look back!
Another story that had my skin crawling was “Bitten” by Christopher Powers. Christopher tapped into a common fear, arachnophobia. Little itty-bitty anthropoids scare me enough but Christopher’s twist on the arachnids will probably have me cringing for days. I won’t tell you why but this short story is a CAN’T MISS! Be warned though, it WILL FREAK YOU OUT if you have the slightest fear of the 8 legged fanged beasts.
They were also stories such as “Never Sleep Again” by Calvin Demmer and “Legend Trippers” by Theresa Braun who had gore, blood and moments where I was happy I wasn’t reading their tales after sundown.
Sylvia Mann, she literally made my skin crawl with “Eclipse At Wolfcreek” while Gary Buller’s “Wicked Congregation” ending touched me the most. It was like the rest, spooky, but the final moments of his paranormal tale was just unexpectedly moving.
Whether I was reading about monsters swooping down from the sky or grabbing onto a victim from below, all the contributing authors in the anthology, Monsters Exist, stayed true to one fact —- every creation showed their love of the horror genre by creating HIGHLY DESCRIPTIVE MONSTERS that’ll surely make for some interesting dreams…er, nightmares later tonight for many readers. So I say to you, be ready for some blood, gore, dismembered bodies, and some scary ass creatures because these 14 authors held nothing back.
(Find more reviews/ratings at Kam's Place: www.superkambrook.com)
Upon the pages of Monsters Exist, a reader will embark on spine-tingling adventure where some stories are full of immense blood and gore. Some are so damn freaky but I was shuddering in my seat. For example, the first short story “Master Vermin” by Wallace Boothill, there’s just something about rats that just gives me the willies. If one average size rodent doesn’t make you scream and go running for the hills, then try being surrounded by tens of thousands of the beady-eyed vermin. Some rats were as big as cats. Oh and don’t get me started on the Rat King. Seriously, I’d move….. like far, far away and never look back!
Another story that had my skin crawling was “Bitten” by Christopher Powers. Christopher tapped into a common fear, arachnophobia. Little itty-bitty anthropoids scare me enough but Christopher’s twist on the arachnids will probably have me cringing for days. I won’t tell you why but this short story is a CAN’T MISS! Be warned though, it WILL FREAK YOU OUT if you have the slightest fear of the 8 legged fanged beasts.
They were also stories such as “Never Sleep Again” by Calvin Demmer and “Legend Trippers” by Theresa Braun who had gore, blood and moments where I was happy I wasn’t reading their tales after sundown.
Sylvia Mann, she literally made my skin crawl with “Eclipse At Wolfcreek” while Gary Buller’s “Wicked Congregation” ending touched me the most. It was like the rest, spooky, but the final moments of his paranormal tale was just unexpectedly moving.
Whether I was reading about monsters swooping down from the sky or grabbing onto a victim from below, all the contributing authors in the anthology, Monsters Exist, stayed true to one fact —- every creation showed their love of the horror genre by creating HIGHLY DESCRIPTIVE MONSTERS that’ll surely make for some interesting dreams…er, nightmares later tonight for many readers. So I say to you, be ready for some blood, gore, dismembered bodies, and some scary ass creatures because these 14 authors held nothing back.
(Find more reviews/ratings at Kam's Place: www.superkambrook.com)
September 11, 2017
The question as to whether monsters truly exist has been asked for tens and thousands of years. No doubt that they lurked exactly where you thought they had when you were a child.
The monsters in Deadman’s Tome Monsters Exist are those that belong only in your worst nightmare. You can relate to them only because you already knew of their existence. You had seen them. Only now do you feel vindicated as you’ve now discovered you are not alone in your beliefs.
Deadman’s Tome is set to become a classic. A spine-tingling account of the beasts waiting in the darkest shadows. These tales are fictional, are they not? Maybe, but isn’t it said that writers bring an element of themselves and the truth to each story they write?
Beware: This anthology should never be read when you’re alone or in the dead of night…
The monsters in Deadman’s Tome Monsters Exist are those that belong only in your worst nightmare. You can relate to them only because you already knew of their existence. You had seen them. Only now do you feel vindicated as you’ve now discovered you are not alone in your beliefs.
Deadman’s Tome is set to become a classic. A spine-tingling account of the beasts waiting in the darkest shadows. These tales are fictional, are they not? Maybe, but isn’t it said that writers bring an element of themselves and the truth to each story they write?
Beware: This anthology should never be read when you’re alone or in the dead of night…
September 22, 2017
Ebook provided by the authors via @Reader's House on Twitter,in exchange for an honest review.I love these horror anthologies,especially the themed ones.I really like to see what each writer does with the same theme.Also a great way to be introduced to new authors,and I don't believe I've read any of these guys.This was a strong compilation with well written short stories.I hope there will be more of these Deadman collections,and will be looking for more works by these authors.Good scary stuff and it's the perfect time of year to read this.I highly recommend this for a good spooky Halloween read.
October 1, 2017
This is a collection of tale tales and urban legends by a whole bunch of different authors with a theme that monsters really exist. There was a few gems hidden among this book for those in the book that held my attention. Others failed to leave a lasting impression on me. That’s not to say the book isn’t good just wasn’t for me hopefully there’s a good audience of readers out there that will just eat this book up for Halloween.
For fans of urban legends, horror and monsters. Reviewed by Jennifer
For fans of urban legends, horror and monsters. Reviewed by Jennifer
October 27, 2017
Firstly, thank you! Theresa Braun for giving me the opportunity to read this book.
It's a great gathering of spooky stories fo those who enjoy to be scared.
Aldoe I can't bring myself to like horror stories I managed to read all of them till the end and discovered that most of my childhood fears have ganged up in one book.
If you are a fan of dark things , gore and morbid situations this is the right choice for you since it gives you a bit of everything plus the chance to explore different authors that maby you'll like .
Every author brings something different to the table ,and I appreciate the fact that they didn't choose the same theme/monster for their story , everyone had something unique also the fact that the vocabulary is easy to grasp helps a lot .
As I am not a lover of this genre I can only say that overall the book is good ,even doe I wasn't able to 100% enjoy the stories.
It's a great gathering of spooky stories fo those who enjoy to be scared.
Aldoe I can't bring myself to like horror stories I managed to read all of them till the end and discovered that most of my childhood fears have ganged up in one book.
If you are a fan of dark things , gore and morbid situations this is the right choice for you since it gives you a bit of everything plus the chance to explore different authors that maby you'll like .
Every author brings something different to the table ,and I appreciate the fact that they didn't choose the same theme/monster for their story , everyone had something unique also the fact that the vocabulary is easy to grasp helps a lot .
As I am not a lover of this genre I can only say that overall the book is good ,even doe I wasn't able to 100% enjoy the stories.
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November 19, 2017Deadman's Tome is a collection of short stories about different "monsters" which are sometimes creepy, sometimes just nice to read. As they are from different authors, they are quite differently written, but put together in this tome, they fit together well.
The plots are short and precise, narrating the latest event in the history of those monsters by their victim. As there are quite since differences, it's a little bit difficult to write a more detailed review, but one thing that stands out is that most of these stories have a bad ending.
The plots are short and precise, narrating the latest event in the history of those monsters by their victim. As there are quite since differences, it's a little bit difficult to write a more detailed review, but one thing that stands out is that most of these stories have a bad ending.
September 3, 2017
Monsters Exist is a wonderful collection of creepy and scary stories that will keep you up at night! The perfect book to read around a campfire just before Halloween, some of the stories are better than others, but they are all very well written. I look for more by these authors.
October 3, 2017
Outstanding collection of stories.. I now a bunch of new authors to follow up on.
March 15, 2018
As children, we all have nightmares. We have fears we can't rationalize, we believe in the monsters until the bed and that 'thing' living in the cupboard. We keep our lights on and our teddy-talismans close. As a little girl, I had three distinct fears: that a hand would shoot out from under the bed and seize me; that the glassy eyes of my dolls would blink and they would crawl over to me; and finally, that a monster was on my heels when I turned the downstairs light off and bolted for the stairs.
As we grow up, we realize that these monsters do not exist, or at least no longer in these forms. The real monsters are people, they wear human skin and act human in every way, but really they are the monsters we ran from as children. They grew up too. However, in Deadman's Tome: Monsters Exist these monsters are still monsters, the ambassadors of the Lovecraftian mythological horrorplex that makes us shiver and double-check under the bed once again. There are giant rats, spiders, goat-men and all kinds of horrific beasts, both from folklore and pop culture, that will stick with you long after you read this book. Monsters Exist 'features a gallery of iconic monsters' (Mr. Deadman, Preface) and it does not disappoint. I will attempt not to spoil any of these stories, what is the point of a horror story if you know the ending right? I will say this collection was sent to me by Leo X. Robertson so I could provide a fair review, thank you Leo!
FULL REVIEW ON WWW.SELCOUTHSTATION.COM
As we grow up, we realize that these monsters do not exist, or at least no longer in these forms. The real monsters are people, they wear human skin and act human in every way, but really they are the monsters we ran from as children. They grew up too. However, in Deadman's Tome: Monsters Exist these monsters are still monsters, the ambassadors of the Lovecraftian mythological horrorplex that makes us shiver and double-check under the bed once again. There are giant rats, spiders, goat-men and all kinds of horrific beasts, both from folklore and pop culture, that will stick with you long after you read this book. Monsters Exist 'features a gallery of iconic monsters' (Mr. Deadman, Preface) and it does not disappoint. I will attempt not to spoil any of these stories, what is the point of a horror story if you know the ending right? I will say this collection was sent to me by Leo X. Robertson so I could provide a fair review, thank you Leo!
FULL REVIEW ON WWW.SELCOUTHSTATION.COM
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