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Hunger For Death
A mother is willing to sacrifice it all to save her unborn child...
A pair of fishermen reel in a catch they'll soon regret..
A mysterious puzzle holds an ancient secret...
...and ten more wicked tales of the macabre from the remarkably disturbed mind of Joshua Marsella.
A pair of fishermen reel in a catch they'll soon regret..
A mysterious puzzle holds an ancient secret...
...and ten more wicked tales of the macabre from the remarkably disturbed mind of Joshua Marsella.
186 pages, Hardcover
First published November 30, 2021
28 people are currently reading
379 people want to read
About the author
Joshua Marsella
8 books190 followersJOSHUA MARSELLA is a Maine native and self-published author of several popular titles within the horror genre including his connected novellas 'Scratches' and 'Severed', his debut collection 'Hunger For Death', and his middle grade novel 'Comic Book Chaos', book #11 in the beloved FrightVision Book series. His short stories have homes within the pages of Cemetery Gates Media, Silent House Press, Grinning Skull Press, and more.
Find his books on Amazon in ebook, paperback, and audiobook formats.
Find his books on Amazon in ebook, paperback, and audiobook formats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
March 26, 2022
What a special collection of 13 masterly told tales. Every single story is a gem here. Inside are two of the hardest Christmas stories I ever read (To Feast With Orphans and Trailer Park Christmas). The settings are familiar but the gifted author manages to give every single story a unique piece of magic. "Sacrifice" even has a reference to The Stand inside. What can I say? Five stars, brilliant anthology, outstanding stories with plausible characters and a nasty twists. We have murder, old age, satanism (had to think about Todd Keisling), a mysterious jigsaw puzzle and desperation (Sacrifice). Hard to name a favorite. Really liked them all. Joshua Marsella leads horror stories on to a new level of quality. Highly recommended!
December 5, 2021
HUNGER FOR DEATH offers a lot of variety. I mean, a lot. And it does so in an intelligent, tasteful way. Every story in this collection is memorable and atmospheric. Long after you finish the book, you’ll recall the snowy, Christmastime bloodshed in “To Feast With Orphans” and “A Trailer Park Christmas.” The dark, cosmic horror of “Polybus.” Or that creepy play space in “A Room Full of Toys” (probably my favorite story here).
But it isn’t just the atmosphere that makes this book work. Joshua Marsella hits a lot of notes in these pages. Holiday tales, cosmic horror, creature features, ghost stories… and the book also offers some *human* horrors that are barely supernatural at all. It’s tired to say “There’s something for everybody!” here, but if you enjoy the horror genre, I can’t help but think that’s true.
I also appreciate that while some of these stories reminded me of things I’d read before (such as the character and setting of “A Trailer Park Christmas”), Marsella avoids cliches. And more often than not, I was left thinking, “Okay, actually, I *haven’t* read anything like that before.”
Marsella was kind enough to send me a free, digital copy of this book for an honest review. Honestly, I can say that I loved HUNGER FOR DEATH enough to buy a physical copy so I could have it on my bookshelf. This is an eclectic, enjoyable collection that I can’t recommend enough.
But it isn’t just the atmosphere that makes this book work. Joshua Marsella hits a lot of notes in these pages. Holiday tales, cosmic horror, creature features, ghost stories… and the book also offers some *human* horrors that are barely supernatural at all. It’s tired to say “There’s something for everybody!” here, but if you enjoy the horror genre, I can’t help but think that’s true.
I also appreciate that while some of these stories reminded me of things I’d read before (such as the character and setting of “A Trailer Park Christmas”), Marsella avoids cliches. And more often than not, I was left thinking, “Okay, actually, I *haven’t* read anything like that before.”
Marsella was kind enough to send me a free, digital copy of this book for an honest review. Honestly, I can say that I loved HUNGER FOR DEATH enough to buy a physical copy so I could have it on my bookshelf. This is an eclectic, enjoyable collection that I can’t recommend enough.
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March 16, 2022Please note: I no longer rate on goodreads.
What struck me most about this collection is how very human it is. That might sound odd, I guess it sounds a little odd to me, too, but that is how I felt about it.
This is not my first encounter with Marsella's work. I also read his debut, Scratches, and this collection has proven how much he has grown as a writer. That doesn't mean I didn't enjoy Scratches...I did, but this collection demonstrates broader scope and a higher standard, at least in my humble opinion.
Favorite stories for me were:
To Feast With Orphans (I loved the mix of nostalgia and horror)
Polybus (I enjoyed the quirky theme of this one: a man obsessed with puzzles. I love puzzle stores!)
The Blue Cliffs (grief horror)
Unholy Communion (I'm a sucker for religion gone wrong in horror)
My ultimate favorite, and the story that will stick with me most, was Desecrated (Enjoyed the tenderness of the relationship between grandfather and grandson in this one.) Quote: "The gentle plop of the first worm hitting the surface of the water was a far more potent anti-depressant than any pill the psychiatrist could have prescribed for Grandpa."
All in all, enjoyable and entertaining.
What struck me most about this collection is how very human it is. That might sound odd, I guess it sounds a little odd to me, too, but that is how I felt about it.
This is not my first encounter with Marsella's work. I also read his debut, Scratches, and this collection has proven how much he has grown as a writer. That doesn't mean I didn't enjoy Scratches...I did, but this collection demonstrates broader scope and a higher standard, at least in my humble opinion.
Favorite stories for me were:
To Feast With Orphans (I loved the mix of nostalgia and horror)
Polybus (I enjoyed the quirky theme of this one: a man obsessed with puzzles. I love puzzle stores!)
The Blue Cliffs (grief horror)
Unholy Communion (I'm a sucker for religion gone wrong in horror)
My ultimate favorite, and the story that will stick with me most, was Desecrated (Enjoyed the tenderness of the relationship between grandfather and grandson in this one.) Quote: "The gentle plop of the first worm hitting the surface of the water was a far more potent anti-depressant than any pill the psychiatrist could have prescribed for Grandpa."
All in all, enjoyable and entertaining.
March 8, 2022
Marsella has two novellas out already and I frickin’ loved both, so I had high hopes for this collection… and I was not disappointed! This is a 5-star read all day long!
Rather than go through each story, I’m just going to pick out 5 of my favourites:
“To Feast with Orphans” is set at Christmas in Maine. If Stephen King has taught us anything it's that Maine is TERRIFYING and Marsella further solidifies that theory.
The main characters are complete scumbags, but unlike in slasher films where you hate the annoying teens so it becomes a comedy and you’re routing for the villain, this was a combination of thinking the characters are vile, but also feeling their fear. Marsella’s writing here is awesome! He is a master at building suspense!
“Coma Toast” is short, sweet and satisfying! As soon as it starts you kinda guess where it’s going and IT GOES THERE! Once there, it really makes you appreciate the title! Genius!
“A Room Full of Toys” is set over two time periods and is written in a style I wasn’t expecting. It has an almost classic gothic horror undertone. Beautiful!
The following two stories are joint Number One in my mind. The prose in “Polybus” is outstanding. The story is weird and surreal, and tells the tale of a guy who is trying to find the Ultimate Puzzle… and one day such a puzzle arrives on his doorstep! Expect monsters and bizarreness. You’ll love it.
“A Trailer Park Christmas” is weird and surreal in a different way. Marsella is FANTASTIC at horrific Christmas stories. It’s gloriously gory and fiendishly fun!
It was so hard to pick a top 5 as this collection is all killer, no filler. There were a couple of stories that I didn’t gel with so much, but that’s not a reflection of the writing, it’s just because they made me feel sad.
Rather than go through each story, I’m just going to pick out 5 of my favourites:
“To Feast with Orphans” is set at Christmas in Maine. If Stephen King has taught us anything it's that Maine is TERRIFYING and Marsella further solidifies that theory.
The main characters are complete scumbags, but unlike in slasher films where you hate the annoying teens so it becomes a comedy and you’re routing for the villain, this was a combination of thinking the characters are vile, but also feeling their fear. Marsella’s writing here is awesome! He is a master at building suspense!
“Coma Toast” is short, sweet and satisfying! As soon as it starts you kinda guess where it’s going and IT GOES THERE! Once there, it really makes you appreciate the title! Genius!
“A Room Full of Toys” is set over two time periods and is written in a style I wasn’t expecting. It has an almost classic gothic horror undertone. Beautiful!
The following two stories are joint Number One in my mind. The prose in “Polybus” is outstanding. The story is weird and surreal, and tells the tale of a guy who is trying to find the Ultimate Puzzle… and one day such a puzzle arrives on his doorstep! Expect monsters and bizarreness. You’ll love it.
“A Trailer Park Christmas” is weird and surreal in a different way. Marsella is FANTASTIC at horrific Christmas stories. It’s gloriously gory and fiendishly fun!
It was so hard to pick a top 5 as this collection is all killer, no filler. There were a couple of stories that I didn’t gel with so much, but that’s not a reflection of the writing, it’s just because they made me feel sad.
December 8, 2021
For me, 2021 has been a great year for horror collections. I’ve read some absolute belters, so I was very pleased to be able to add Hunger For Death to my list of bloody good reads.
Yep, Marcella has delivered the goods, yet again.
Hunger For Death contains 13 tales of terror. Each story is a cracker, and either creeps you out or soaks you with gore. Lots of nice twists too. I do love a yarn that surprises me, and Marsella certainly did that a few times! Coma Toast, for example, was fiendishly clever. Oh, that tale had me giggling with glee.
Of course, every collection has its standouts. While there were no fillers to be found with the pages of this book, there were three tales that I thought were just brilliant.
The Cauldron definitely wins the prize of the scariest story, the ending to that was truly chilling!
The Blue Cliffs was awesome. A very clever ghost story, and one with a powerful message that was handled with great skill and care. Well done, Joshua. That was some damn fine writing, for sure.
Polybus, however, has to be my favourite of the collection. With its Lovecraftian imagery, this tale of a mysterious puzzle and monstrous entities was utterly excellent stuff. Personally, I’d really like to read more by Marsella in this style.
To sum things up, Hunger For Death is another winner from Mr. Marsella, and I highly recommend this collection to all you good folk who love horror.
Yep, Marcella has delivered the goods, yet again.
Hunger For Death contains 13 tales of terror. Each story is a cracker, and either creeps you out or soaks you with gore. Lots of nice twists too. I do love a yarn that surprises me, and Marsella certainly did that a few times! Coma Toast, for example, was fiendishly clever. Oh, that tale had me giggling with glee.
Of course, every collection has its standouts. While there were no fillers to be found with the pages of this book, there were three tales that I thought were just brilliant.
The Cauldron definitely wins the prize of the scariest story, the ending to that was truly chilling!
The Blue Cliffs was awesome. A very clever ghost story, and one with a powerful message that was handled with great skill and care. Well done, Joshua. That was some damn fine writing, for sure.
Polybus, however, has to be my favourite of the collection. With its Lovecraftian imagery, this tale of a mysterious puzzle and monstrous entities was utterly excellent stuff. Personally, I’d really like to read more by Marsella in this style.
To sum things up, Hunger For Death is another winner from Mr. Marsella, and I highly recommend this collection to all you good folk who love horror.
January 9, 2022
A collection not to be missed!
For a debut short story collection, Joshua Marsella hits all the marks. Compared to other titles I’ve read by him, these stories seemed more personal and had a tinge of melancholy to them which often left me thinking on them well after I’d finished. Joshua really stretched his writing muscles on this one, offering up a wide variety of tales not for the faint of heart. Highly recommended.
For a debut short story collection, Joshua Marsella hits all the marks. Compared to other titles I’ve read by him, these stories seemed more personal and had a tinge of melancholy to them which often left me thinking on them well after I’d finished. Joshua really stretched his writing muscles on this one, offering up a wide variety of tales not for the faint of heart. Highly recommended.
January 17, 2022
Overall this collection was a home run, an overtime goal, a clutch free throw, a sudden death 65 yard field goal. What? No it had nothing to do with sports. This collection had a ton of heart and a variety of story types and kept me interested throughout. A few of the standouts for me persoanlly were A Trailer Park Christmas, Sacrifice, and Mean Old Mr Amesbury. I look forward to more from Marsella in the future!
January 24, 2022
The thing with collections, and their whole reason for being is to offer the reader a variety of shades of an authors ability, to be tender one moment, blood thirsty the next, to play with genre tropes and in the most part, to entertain the reader - collections in my opinion are to show readers what an author can do, they’re like a calling card, and if you hit it right, if you get the right blend - it makes a wonderful reading experience and also can help readers who don’t know who you are pick up other works based on those stories.
You write a novel and people don’t like it, they might not pick up your other work, but if they pick up a collection and enjoy only a handful of those stories, they might just stick around to see what else the guy can do!
Luckily I know Marsella’s work ‘Scratches’ and ‘Severed’ so this was a no brainer when it came out - but for those that this is their first outing, there is enough meat on these bones to make a reader pull the trigger on his other works!
A solid and horrifying collection from Marsella, which I’m sure will bring more fans to his already growing fan club!
Below are my notes on the stories, there may be some minor spoilers for that I apologise, but it’s my review so that’s how I do!
Daphne - this story read like one of those cool X-Files episodes, also Marsella’s craft at making us care for a pig is pretty exceptional, all accomplished in a few paragraphs. There is creepy intent woven throughout and is a strong opener to the collection.
To Feast With Orphans - there’s not enough Christmas horror in the world, and that’s out right with this story. A deliciously disturbing story of one nights wrong choices coming back to haunt you. Here Marsella weaves a macabre tale of hungry orphans who’s offerings being collected by someone dressed as Father Christmas are stolen and they’re forced to go without. But Christmas is the time for giving and something tells me Santa Claus always turns up for the needy little children.
Coma Toast - I loved how Marsella weaved this story - I was lucky enough to have read an early version of this and I can honestly say reading it again shows just how great it is… it’s shorter than the other stories but the ending packs a punch that you don’t see coming. A perfect little gem of a story!
A Room Full of Toys - I’ve been friends with Joshua for some time now, and I remember him tweeting something about a creepy house he was going to look at - and this is the nightmare that sprang forth from that visit. This is one creepy story, and at first I was like I know where this is going and then bam it switches up on the reader and I was thrown into the unknown and I feared to tread where the protagonist went. The sense of place bleeds through the page with this one and shows that writing what you know really pays off… creepy and unsettling - one of my favourites in this collection.
Polybus - a mysterious puzzle arrives one night and our protagonist sets about assembling it, but as he does, he begins to recognise what is hidden within the growing pieces he connects and the image horrifies him.
The Blue Cliffs - a story of bereavement, of loss, of being alone and trying to survive the wreckage of a life. Our protagonist finds themselves at a crossroad. There is a choice to be made, one that might be different than the only choice he thought he had. A powerful story.
The Cauldron - an almost brothers Grimm tale, witches and woods, almost Young Adult in tone - with some creepy vibes.
Mean old Mr. Amesbury - A very interesting take on an old and tired concept, but Marsella does enough here to bring life to that old trope and make it his own, and the ending brought some Stephen King vibes - reminded me of some of his short story work.
A Trailer Park Christmas - a Christmas story with no cheer and a lot of strange going on, at first I thought this was a little head tilt to Tommyknockers - then I realised that these were not those, they were a clan of strange Christmas beings, intent on not only ruining Christmas but making our protagonist pay the ultimate price. I loved the lore that Marsella weaves into this one - and as I said before, Christmas horror is something I really enjoy!
Man of my Dreams - I’ve never suffered nightmares, in my years on this planet I’ve only ever had one dream that I can attribute to a nightmare, where I woke up lunging out of my dream, desperately trying to escape something chasing me. But nightmares, night terrors, sleep paralysis and things like that really interest me - and this story feeds all of those curiosities. A great little nugget here that makes the reader think and pulls them into this delightfully crafted nightmare of a story.
Desecrated - a grandson takes his father on a fishing trip, but they catch something that they weren’t expecting, and their fins slowly turns in a direction they’d never thought would happen when they first set out.
Unholy Communion - I really enjoyed this one, there was a little hint to some of Marsella��s other works (if I’m correct) and then there was some religious / cult undertones to the story, stick in there some body horror and weirdness and then you got a story I couldn’t not be on board with - the sickening detail in this one was what made it hit home for me!
Sacrifice - this one was brutal and I loved the tone Marsella sets straight off the bat - it had elements in it that reminded me of ‘The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon’ but there was a depravity to this story that was missing in King’s and that made what happened stile home like a rusty axe to the chest. Great story to end the collection!
This collection has such a readability to it too that when you turn that first page you’re committed to journeying that nightmare to its conclusion!
You write a novel and people don’t like it, they might not pick up your other work, but if they pick up a collection and enjoy only a handful of those stories, they might just stick around to see what else the guy can do!
Luckily I know Marsella’s work ‘Scratches’ and ‘Severed’ so this was a no brainer when it came out - but for those that this is their first outing, there is enough meat on these bones to make a reader pull the trigger on his other works!
A solid and horrifying collection from Marsella, which I’m sure will bring more fans to his already growing fan club!
Below are my notes on the stories, there may be some minor spoilers for that I apologise, but it’s my review so that’s how I do!
Daphne - this story read like one of those cool X-Files episodes, also Marsella’s craft at making us care for a pig is pretty exceptional, all accomplished in a few paragraphs. There is creepy intent woven throughout and is a strong opener to the collection.
To Feast With Orphans - there’s not enough Christmas horror in the world, and that’s out right with this story. A deliciously disturbing story of one nights wrong choices coming back to haunt you. Here Marsella weaves a macabre tale of hungry orphans who’s offerings being collected by someone dressed as Father Christmas are stolen and they’re forced to go without. But Christmas is the time for giving and something tells me Santa Claus always turns up for the needy little children.
Coma Toast - I loved how Marsella weaved this story - I was lucky enough to have read an early version of this and I can honestly say reading it again shows just how great it is… it’s shorter than the other stories but the ending packs a punch that you don’t see coming. A perfect little gem of a story!
A Room Full of Toys - I’ve been friends with Joshua for some time now, and I remember him tweeting something about a creepy house he was going to look at - and this is the nightmare that sprang forth from that visit. This is one creepy story, and at first I was like I know where this is going and then bam it switches up on the reader and I was thrown into the unknown and I feared to tread where the protagonist went. The sense of place bleeds through the page with this one and shows that writing what you know really pays off… creepy and unsettling - one of my favourites in this collection.
Polybus - a mysterious puzzle arrives one night and our protagonist sets about assembling it, but as he does, he begins to recognise what is hidden within the growing pieces he connects and the image horrifies him.
The Blue Cliffs - a story of bereavement, of loss, of being alone and trying to survive the wreckage of a life. Our protagonist finds themselves at a crossroad. There is a choice to be made, one that might be different than the only choice he thought he had. A powerful story.
The Cauldron - an almost brothers Grimm tale, witches and woods, almost Young Adult in tone - with some creepy vibes.
Mean old Mr. Amesbury - A very interesting take on an old and tired concept, but Marsella does enough here to bring life to that old trope and make it his own, and the ending brought some Stephen King vibes - reminded me of some of his short story work.
A Trailer Park Christmas - a Christmas story with no cheer and a lot of strange going on, at first I thought this was a little head tilt to Tommyknockers - then I realised that these were not those, they were a clan of strange Christmas beings, intent on not only ruining Christmas but making our protagonist pay the ultimate price. I loved the lore that Marsella weaves into this one - and as I said before, Christmas horror is something I really enjoy!
Man of my Dreams - I’ve never suffered nightmares, in my years on this planet I’ve only ever had one dream that I can attribute to a nightmare, where I woke up lunging out of my dream, desperately trying to escape something chasing me. But nightmares, night terrors, sleep paralysis and things like that really interest me - and this story feeds all of those curiosities. A great little nugget here that makes the reader think and pulls them into this delightfully crafted nightmare of a story.
Desecrated - a grandson takes his father on a fishing trip, but they catch something that they weren’t expecting, and their fins slowly turns in a direction they’d never thought would happen when they first set out.
Unholy Communion - I really enjoyed this one, there was a little hint to some of Marsella��s other works (if I’m correct) and then there was some religious / cult undertones to the story, stick in there some body horror and weirdness and then you got a story I couldn’t not be on board with - the sickening detail in this one was what made it hit home for me!
Sacrifice - this one was brutal and I loved the tone Marsella sets straight off the bat - it had elements in it that reminded me of ‘The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon’ but there was a depravity to this story that was missing in King’s and that made what happened stile home like a rusty axe to the chest. Great story to end the collection!
This collection has such a readability to it too that when you turn that first page you’re committed to journeying that nightmare to its conclusion!
December 20, 2021
The first short story collection from Joshua Marsella (Author of Scratches and Severed) was something I had to pick up – from his first to novellas, I know Joshua has a very easy-going narrative, it feels like listening to a good friend telling a horror story around a campfire. Joshua also has a fairly ingrained moral compass, a lot of which comes out in his writing. That sometimes makes the bad guys really bad (see the end of Severed), but it also lets you know you’re in good hands.
This debut collection is pretty strong, Joshua covers everything from Alien abduction to cosmic horror intruding on the world through a jigsaw puzzle. Joshua piles on the emotional content to wreak his havoc, from unborn child fatalities to old men, lonely, dying alone whilst children mock him, Marsella has a knack for picking up storylines that twist your moralistic standpoint and make you aware that there are humans on the other side of scorn. Sometimes that can be a little preachy, but most of the time it hits home, as in here.
I think this is a solid first collection, there were a couple of shorts here that didn’t hit home with me, but overall the writing standard sweeps you along, and it’s great to be in Joshua’s world again.
4 ⭐ ‘s out of 5
This debut collection is pretty strong, Joshua covers everything from Alien abduction to cosmic horror intruding on the world through a jigsaw puzzle. Joshua piles on the emotional content to wreak his havoc, from unborn child fatalities to old men, lonely, dying alone whilst children mock him, Marsella has a knack for picking up storylines that twist your moralistic standpoint and make you aware that there are humans on the other side of scorn. Sometimes that can be a little preachy, but most of the time it hits home, as in here.
I think this is a solid first collection, there were a couple of shorts here that didn’t hit home with me, but overall the writing standard sweeps you along, and it’s great to be in Joshua’s world again.
4 ⭐ ‘s out of 5
February 4, 2022
My 2022 Horror DNA reading slate opens with Hunger for Death, the debut short story collection from Joshua Marsella (
Severed
,
Scratches
). I’m damn glad it does, too. As short stories are my preferred way of meeting an author, I dug into the collection with a hunger of my own. I was rewarded with a smorgasbord of efficient and often personal horrors that span a wide range of “what the fuck?!” and “not where I thought that was going”.
You can read Stuart's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
You can read Stuart's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
February 6, 2022
Joshua Marsella burst onto the scene last year with Scratches and its follow-up, Severed. Having cut his teeth with novella-length work, Hunger for Death is Marsella's debut short story collection.
There's a variety at play here, whether Christmas horror is up your alley, cosmic-esque monster stories, aliens, or a good old ghost story. Marsella sprinkles a dash of everything in here to make sure every reader has their own hunger satiated.
As with almost any collection, there were stories that resonated with me and others that didn't. Some of my favorites included "A Room Full of Toys", "Mean Old Mr. Amesbury", "Man of My Dreams", and "Desecrated". Marsella's strongest story in the collection is "The Blue Cliffs", a relatively short piece that tears at the heartstrings and rings with an air of authenticity. Pain and beauty mingle within the runtime of this tale.
Fans of horror fiction will find a lot to like within the pages of Hunger For Death.
There's a variety at play here, whether Christmas horror is up your alley, cosmic-esque monster stories, aliens, or a good old ghost story. Marsella sprinkles a dash of everything in here to make sure every reader has their own hunger satiated.
As with almost any collection, there were stories that resonated with me and others that didn't. Some of my favorites included "A Room Full of Toys", "Mean Old Mr. Amesbury", "Man of My Dreams", and "Desecrated". Marsella's strongest story in the collection is "The Blue Cliffs", a relatively short piece that tears at the heartstrings and rings with an air of authenticity. Pain and beauty mingle within the runtime of this tale.
Fans of horror fiction will find a lot to like within the pages of Hunger For Death.
July 4, 2022
I recently had dinner with Joshua Marsalla (through his writing). Hunger for Death is a four-course meal of thirteen meaty stories you can sink your reading teeth into--a wide range of mind-stunning, well-written horror tales. But it all wasn’t steeped in horror and bloodshed; there were stories with sci-fi overtones (Yes, I’m a believer now), many were the “I didn’t see that coming” type story, and many were just all-out creepy. Some of the stories embodied cosmic horror; others were body horror. All of them were different, but they represented some sub-genre of horror. But I believe some of my favorites—and I use that term lightly here because they were all original and memorable—were the stories with heart and soul; those stories hit home with me emotionally. Sometimes the best stories are the ones that pull at your heartstrings. So pull up a chair and taste what Joshua Marsalla is cooking up. I’m sure you will feel satisfied with this read, just as I was.
February 24, 2023
Marsella knows how to write, simple as that. He has incredible prose and that is on full display in this collection of awesome stories. I truly enjoyed each one of them and would say there’s something for all horror fans in this book! Rain Corbyn also does an amazing job with the narration, fully pulling the listener in with great character work. I highly recommend this book, and I think it’s safe to say that Marsella will be mentioned more and more in the world of horror.
December 12, 2021
This was great! I do love full novels but there's something about short story collections I adore. In this, every story is vastly different and all are very creepy and well written. Excellent collection. I think more than a few could be novellas too.
Because of this book, I have been shouting BING BING randomly throughout the day ( That will make sense when you read the book)
Because of this book, I have been shouting BING BING randomly throughout the day ( That will make sense when you read the book)
December 14, 2021
Chilling tales
Some men assault Santa, but then have some very bad luck. A woman takes her kids to a party, and they find something that haunts one of them until her death. These and other tale to bring a chill to your bones. Great characters you will not want to put it down.
Some men assault Santa, but then have some very bad luck. A woman takes her kids to a party, and they find something that haunts one of them until her death. These and other tale to bring a chill to your bones. Great characters you will not want to put it down.
September 7, 2022
If you enjoy the horror genre, there's something for everyone with this collection. There are a variety of atmospheric stories with nasty twists. I found the stories to be well-written and clever but I was missing the punch at every ending. I needed something with more oumph. I found the first stories to be okay and the once in the middle and the ending a bit better. I believe that in order to keep the readers interest, the author could have shuffled the stories around.
To feast with the orphans was a hard pill to swallow. I liked both of the Christmas stories. They were great at building up the suspense.
The blue cliffs (grief horror) pulled on my heartstrings. The story was about lost, moving on and forgiving yourself. This story will stick with me.
All of the stories show us that humans are the real monsters. The author is definitel not afraid of showing us the ugly and darker side in humans.
3.5 stars
To feast with the orphans was a hard pill to swallow. I liked both of the Christmas stories. They were great at building up the suspense.
The blue cliffs (grief horror) pulled on my heartstrings. The story was about lost, moving on and forgiving yourself. This story will stick with me.
All of the stories show us that humans are the real monsters. The author is definitel not afraid of showing us the ugly and darker side in humans.
3.5 stars
November 17, 2021
I cannot say enough good things about this short story collection. It blew me away. The stories are as varied and original as they are dark and gruesome. Most short story collections can be hit and miss where some stories will be good, but there will always be a clunker in there somewhere. That is not the case with Hunger for Death, from beginning to end I loved every one of the stories in this book. This is Joshua Marsella’s debut short story collection, and with a debut this good I will be sure not to miss the next one!
November 22, 2021
At the risk of sounding redundant, Joshua Marsella is phenomenal at taking moments of familiarity and making them unsettling, scary, and hard to shake. This collection is such a range of experiences and is definitely being added to my list of favorite anthologies. No creativity spared here, I highly recommend checking out this collection for any fan of horror, the macabre, or anthologies.
February 7, 2022
This is a solid debut collection by Joshua. All the tales are well written and engrossing. There's a variety of stories included, some straight up horror, some generally intriguing and some emotionally charged. There's wasnt one that i didnt like, i enjoyed them all. So much so, i can't pick a favorite out.
Highly recommend for any horror fan.
Highly recommend for any horror fan.
March 25, 2022
I was already fan after reading Scratches and Severed, but this collection truly showcases the author’s talent. These tales invite you in with comfortable esthetics, a type of comfort horror. But then the unease. Then the rising dread. Then the gut punch. A ghastly, macabre collection of horrific stories, one I highly recommend!
December 4, 2021
A Killer Collection!
HUNGER FOR DEATH is great. I devoured the whole collection in two days. I enjoyed all the stories, but "The Blue Cliffs" is my favorite. Highly recommended!
HUNGER FOR DEATH is great. I devoured the whole collection in two days. I enjoyed all the stories, but "The Blue Cliffs" is my favorite. Highly recommended!
October 3, 2023
I am really impressed by the wide range of horror offered by this anthology; from dark Christmas tales to Gothic horror to stupefying flash fiction. Most of these stories are nostalgic, following the format and tropes of classic horror stories with little unique twists to keep things delightful.
This is wonderful, and clearly a compilation of very experimental works as the author explores his style. I'm keen for more!
This is wonderful, and clearly a compilation of very experimental works as the author explores his style. I'm keen for more!
April 14, 2022
"Juices dripped from their chins as they tore through the meat with the razor-sharp teeth like wild animals."
.
Firstly, I knew I was in for an amazing read having already read SCRATCHES and SEVERED by Marsella! This collection does well in showcasing this author's originality in the horror genre. See below for my fave three and a general rundown of each...
TO FEAST WITH ORPHANS: When a trio of merry scumbags get to drinking on a snowy night before Christmas, they get up to no good, stealing donations for an orphanage among another even more evil deed. Trudging through a blizzard through the city streets they're invited into the very orphanage they just stole from. But the kids... they aren't alright...
COMA TOAST: Just another day incinerating the dead at the morgue. Such a job becomes easy to do on autopilot. What could go wrong?
SACRIFICE: An expectant mother finds herself traveling an apocalyptic land. Her feet are bloody shreds within her pink furry slippers, but she will sacrifice anything to find help before baby Benny arrives....
Seriously, pick this one up! It is like Goosebumps by Stine for adults!
.
Firstly, I knew I was in for an amazing read having already read SCRATCHES and SEVERED by Marsella! This collection does well in showcasing this author's originality in the horror genre. See below for my fave three and a general rundown of each...
TO FEAST WITH ORPHANS: When a trio of merry scumbags get to drinking on a snowy night before Christmas, they get up to no good, stealing donations for an orphanage among another even more evil deed. Trudging through a blizzard through the city streets they're invited into the very orphanage they just stole from. But the kids... they aren't alright...
COMA TOAST: Just another day incinerating the dead at the morgue. Such a job becomes easy to do on autopilot. What could go wrong?
SACRIFICE: An expectant mother finds herself traveling an apocalyptic land. Her feet are bloody shreds within her pink furry slippers, but she will sacrifice anything to find help before baby Benny arrives....
Seriously, pick this one up! It is like Goosebumps by Stine for adults!
December 8, 2021
New England Native Joshua Marsella returns with a collection of shorts, his third release following scratches, and its prequel, Severed.
I've gotta say, I enjoyed this one. Single Author collections can be really hit or miss for me, especially lately, I've been feeling burnt out on short stories in general. My reservations of a short story collection turned out to be for nothing, because Josh has proved that Maine has yet ANOTHER horror writer to keep on your radar. This collection contains some really great stories of varying lengths, and despite clocking in at just under 200 pages, I finished it in one day.
some of my favorites stories in here are Polybus, Coma Toast, Sacrifice, Unholy Communion, and there wasn't anything in here that I DIDN'T like, another plus for me considering most collections have a couple misses in them.
I'm really pleased with this collection, it is one of my favorites of the year, for sure. Fans of Marsella will find more to love here, and I'm sure this offering will bring some new fans to the fold.
I've gotta say, I enjoyed this one. Single Author collections can be really hit or miss for me, especially lately, I've been feeling burnt out on short stories in general. My reservations of a short story collection turned out to be for nothing, because Josh has proved that Maine has yet ANOTHER horror writer to keep on your radar. This collection contains some really great stories of varying lengths, and despite clocking in at just under 200 pages, I finished it in one day.
some of my favorites stories in here are Polybus, Coma Toast, Sacrifice, Unholy Communion, and there wasn't anything in here that I DIDN'T like, another plus for me considering most collections have a couple misses in them.
I'm really pleased with this collection, it is one of my favorites of the year, for sure. Fans of Marsella will find more to love here, and I'm sure this offering will bring some new fans to the fold.
November 16, 2021
Hunger For Death by Joshua Marsella is dark, gritty, and it has loads of heartbreak and terror. As Joshua’s first short story collection, this one is sure to blow readers away!
Full disclosure: I was given a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my rating in any way. I also purchased a copy.
This is such an amazing collection with wonderful range. Joshua is really showing off his skill here and I am so here for it. If this isn’t already on your TBR, I highly recommend going to add it right away.
I cannot wait to read what Joshua writes next!
More here: https://www.ericarobynreads.com/book-...
Full disclosure: I was given a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my rating in any way. I also purchased a copy.
This is such an amazing collection with wonderful range. Joshua is really showing off his skill here and I am so here for it. If this isn’t already on your TBR, I highly recommend going to add it right away.
I cannot wait to read what Joshua writes next!
More here: https://www.ericarobynreads.com/book-...
March 27, 2022
I was not familiar with how to properly dispose of a dead body, but as they say, when in Vegas
This was great! Think Tales From the Crypt or Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark .. but for adults. Took me back to when I was a kid and my Dad would come and get me after my mom went to bed and we would stay up late and watch Tales from the Crypt. I really enjoyed these stories they were super creepy and spooky.. and there's one, right in the middle that I really appreciated being there. I won't say what it is, ill let you all figure that out when you get to it. It was nice to have the unexpected and sometimes very much-needed secret message in the middle of this book.
Thank you, Josh, I really enjoyed it :)
This was great! Think Tales From the Crypt or Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark .. but for adults. Took me back to when I was a kid and my Dad would come and get me after my mom went to bed and we would stay up late and watch Tales from the Crypt. I really enjoyed these stories they were super creepy and spooky.. and there's one, right in the middle that I really appreciated being there. I won't say what it is, ill let you all figure that out when you get to it. It was nice to have the unexpected and sometimes very much-needed secret message in the middle of this book.
Thank you, Josh, I really enjoyed it :)
December 18, 2021
Stories of desperation, struggle, aliens, hate, grief, and about how little we can value another’s life. A wide range of tales showcasing the authors flexibility of his imagination. He is able to craft intriguing characters and then put them in the path of a nightmare.
Marsella likes to sedate you with wonderful imagery, leaving you complacent with visions of peace and beauty before stabbing you in the gut, holding the knife in place and staring at you with a smirk.
“The eye-that eye-seemed to be locked onto him, staring into the very depths of his soul with an insatiable hunger. A hunger for death.”
Marsella likes to sedate you with wonderful imagery, leaving you complacent with visions of peace and beauty before stabbing you in the gut, holding the knife in place and staring at you with a smirk.
“The eye-that eye-seemed to be locked onto him, staring into the very depths of his soul with an insatiable hunger. A hunger for death.”
January 3, 2022
Fantastic horror anthology!
I enjoyed every story in this collection. Each one was unique, interesting, and scary. The entire collection is well-written and nicely formatted. Plus the cover is super awesome! I'm continuously impressed by author Joshua Marsella.
My favorite story was actually the last one and I think it was a perfect choice for an ending story. The lengths of the stories varied and none of them were too long. I'm personally not a fan of super long stories in anthologies.
I would highly recommend this anthology to horror lovers! Some of the stories stick with you long after you've read them, which I think is the mark of a great book.
I enjoyed every story in this collection. Each one was unique, interesting, and scary. The entire collection is well-written and nicely formatted. Plus the cover is super awesome! I'm continuously impressed by author Joshua Marsella.
My favorite story was actually the last one and I think it was a perfect choice for an ending story. The lengths of the stories varied and none of them were too long. I'm personally not a fan of super long stories in anthologies.
I would highly recommend this anthology to horror lovers! Some of the stories stick with you long after you've read them, which I think is the mark of a great book.
April 19, 2022
"When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous but terror to THE NAUGHTY."
This was a solid first collection of horror stories (& this cover is EVERYTHING!). I think my favorites out of the collection were A Room Full of Toys and To Feast With Orphans. My least favorite would have to be A Trailer Park Christmas.
I believe this collection has a little something for everyone, and while you may not enjoy every single story, you are definitely going to be entertained.
I've had the pleasure of being sent an ARC of Joshua Marsella's first novella, Scratches and to see him grow in his writing is definitely a treat.
Looking forward to what else he has up his sleeve.
This was a solid first collection of horror stories (& this cover is EVERYTHING!). I think my favorites out of the collection were A Room Full of Toys and To Feast With Orphans. My least favorite would have to be A Trailer Park Christmas.
I believe this collection has a little something for everyone, and while you may not enjoy every single story, you are definitely going to be entertained.
I've had the pleasure of being sent an ARC of Joshua Marsella's first novella, Scratches and to see him grow in his writing is definitely a treat.
Looking forward to what else he has up his sleeve.
February 10, 2023
It was an absolute pleasure to revisit these creepy, haunting, arrestingly human stories, to adapt them into audio.
The settings and tones are varied, but the quality and gutsiness are consistent. Throughout, there is a sense of fairness that spoke to me. Fairness in revenge, horror in unresolved violence, and human decency at stake all the way through.
Aliens, horror warped Christmases, a splash of Catholic creeps, and real, honest grief await you in Hunger For Death. I hope you clear your plate.
The settings and tones are varied, but the quality and gutsiness are consistent. Throughout, there is a sense of fairness that spoke to me. Fairness in revenge, horror in unresolved violence, and human decency at stake all the way through.
Aliens, horror warped Christmases, a splash of Catholic creeps, and real, honest grief await you in Hunger For Death. I hope you clear your plate.
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