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Articles / Reviews

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Epeolatry Book Review: Guillotine by Delilah S. Dawson

Disclosure:

Our reviews may contain affiliate links. If you purchase something through the links in this article we may receive a small commission or referral fee. This happens without any additional cost to you.

Title: Guillotine
Author: Delilah S. Dawson
Genre: horror
Publisher: Titan Books
Publication Date: 10th September, 2024

Synopsis: Thrift fashionista Dez Lane doesn’t want to date Patrick Ruskin; she just wants to meet his mother, the editor-in-chief of Nouveau magazine. When he invites her to his family’s big Easter reunion at their ancestral home, she’s certain she can put up with his arrogance and fend off his advances long enough to ask Marie Caulfield-Ruskin for an internship someone with her pedigree could never nab through the regular submission route.

When they arrive at the enormous island mansion, Dez is floored―she’s never witnessed how the 1% lives before in all their ridiculous, unnecessary luxury. But once all the family members are on the island and the ferry has departed, things take a dark turn. For decades, the Ruskins have made their servants sign contracts that are basically indentured servitude, and with nothing to lose, the servants have decided their only route to freedom is to get rid of the Ruskins for good…

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Trembling With Fear

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Unholy Trinity: Laundry Day by Debbie Paterson

Our church worships at the altar of the Unholy Trinity. Its gospels are delivered as a trio of dark drabbles, linked so that Three become One. All hail the power of the Three.

 

Laundry Day

 

The laundry pile is larger, spilling into the bath. She sighs and grabs an armful.

 She heads to the kitchen, loads up the machine and switches it on. At the window, a shadow passes by.

 She’s alone in the house, her husband working again, more overtime. More time away, more time she’s alone. It used to bother her, the empty days, empty nights. It doesn’t anymore though.

 The lurking shadows bother her more. Creeping, stalking, there.

 As she sits, a shirt sleeve tightens around her throat, followed by shadowed fingers from behind. She didn’t notice the shadow that followed in.

 

 

Missing

 

It takes a few days for him to notice. The laundry basket is steadily filling up, a smell permeating the hall.

He’s too busy with work, overtime, bills, rent. He’s spotted her several times, wandering from one room to another but she doesn’t stop to speak. He guesses she’s angry at him for something, though he knows not what.

Instead the basket is full to overflowing, and the smell is getting worse.

He’s run out of shirts then trudges to the hall. He grabs an armful of dirty washing and there, in the laundry basket is his wife’s severed head.

 

Notice

 

He finds the body in the bath covered in clothes and she’s buried underneath.

There’s a shadow, holding his wife’s head. He’s cold, so, so cold. It walks away out the door.

He stares, not quite believing. Not quite sure what he’s looking at, that his wife is lying dead in the bath. And something has been in his house for days and he hasn’t noticed.

Something has been living there and he didn’t notice. Something killed his wife and he didn’t notice.

Like most of his marriage, he didn’t notice her and it’s only now he notices her absence.

 

Debbie Paterson

Debbie is a 38 year old writer from Scotland, living with her partner, two cats, elderly dog, two turtles and a grumpy spotted talking catfish. She enjoys reading, cooking, collecting and video games. She has always had a passion for stories, particularly those with interesting characters and a strong plot.

Articles / Interviews

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“Spooky, sprinkled with romance and seriously sarcastic” An Interview With K.C. Adams

“Spooky, sprinkled with romance and seriously sarcastic”

You do not want to miss out on the latest instalment of the Afterlife Calls Series from K.C. Adams. This ghostly series from Nottingham author Kristina Adams features local landmarks, fantastic world-building and a dynamic mother-and-daughter relationship.

Watch our interview right here:

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Articles

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Indie Bookshelf Releases 08/23/2024

Got a book to launch, an event to promote, a kickstarter or seeking extra work/support as a result of being hit economically by life in general?

Get in touch and we’ll promote you here. The post is prepared each Thursday for publication on Friday. Contact us via Horror Tree’s contact address or connect via Twitter or Facebook.

Click on the book covers for more information. Remember to scroll down to the bottom of the page – there’s all sorts lurking in the deep.

 

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Articles / Reviews

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Epeolatry Book Review: Nine Levels by Elana Gomel

Disclosure:

Our reviews may contain affiliate links. If you purchase something through the links in this article we may receive a small commission or referral fee. This happens without any additional cost to you.

Title: Nine Levels
Author: Elana Gomel
Genre: Horror/Fantasy
Publisher: Mirror World Publishing
Publication Date: 17th July, 2024

Synopsis: Waking up on the beach in Greece after a midnight party, Cleo, a British-Greek tourist, sees a stranger sitting next to her. The stranger has a giant spider on his forearm.

So begins an incredible odyssey through the nine levels of the mysterious mountain populated by an odd assortment of monsters, demons, and avatars of dead gods. Still grieving the unsolved disappearance of her twin sister Cora, Cleo is thrust into the world whose rules she does not understand and whose inhabitants confound everything she thought she knew about Greek mythology. Confronted by Woven Women, masked huntresses, sentient graffiti, and Mother of Monsters, Cleo has to make sense of it all. And meanwhile, a mysterious Call reverberates in her brain: You have to go up. You have to find your sister.

A story of self-discovery, courage, and breathtaking adventure, Nine Levels is a highly imaginative, innovative, and engrossing retelling of familiar legends with a twist you won’t see coming.

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Events

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Writing Prompt Wednesdays: Limited Time Travel

Writing Prompt Wednesdays: Limited Time Travel

Welcome to “Writing Prompt Wednesdays,” a haven where your imagination can roam free in the realms of speculative fiction. As we embark on this weekly journey, it’s thrilling to think about the untold stories waiting to be penned in the domains of horror, science fiction, and fantasy. Whether you’re a seasoned author or a budding wordsmith, these prompts are your gateway to unexplored worlds and untapped potentials.

Every Wednesday, we’ll serve up a fresh, thought-provoking prompt designed to ignite your creative spark and challenge your storytelling prowess. Think of these prompts as a key, unlocking the doors to uncharted territories where your creativity is the only limit. From eerie, shadow-laden corridors of Gothic horror to the farthest reaches of interstellar space, and the mystical depths of high fantasy, our prompts are a kaleidoscope of possibilities.

Remember, there’s no right or wrong way to approach these prompts. They are mere stepping stones, guiding you towards the vast landscapes of your imagination. Use them to break free from writer’s block, to experiment with new ideas, or simply as a fun exercise to keep your writing skills sharp.

This week’s writing prompt:

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Articles / Interviews

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Raziel Graces My Tattoo Sleeve: An interview with Joshua Viola

Raziel Graces My Tattoo Sleeve

An interview with Joshua Viola 

By Sarah Elliott

 

Calling the gamers! So, you mastered all the levels and unlocked the hidden secrets. You love the game, so you rinse and repeat. What if you could find out what happened before the game? What is the true origin story? What are the roots of your favourite character? Well, if you’re a fan of Legacy of Kain, it’s a good job you’re already sitting tight in your gaming chair because you’ll be thunderstruck with what’s coming. 

 

“An all-new, original graphic novel titled Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver – The Dead Shall Rise is headed to Kickstarter later this year. Arriving in time for the 25th Anniversary of the release of the original Soul Reaver game, the publication of Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver – The Dead Shall Rise will mark the first official new Soul Reaver narrative in two decades, since 2003’s Legacy of Kain: Defiance.

 

Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver – The Dead Shall Rise delves into Raziel’s past as a human Sarafan warrior and his transformation into a vampire lieutenant under Kain. The story introduces new characters, including a mysterious vampire with deep connections to Raziel and Kain. This compelling tale explores and expands the existing canon while answering long-standing questions.

 

The project is being helmed by writers Joshua Viola (True Believers, It Came From the Multiplex) and Angie Hodapp (Unioverse, Shadow Atlas), with interior art by Juan Samu (Star Wars, Godzilla), letters by Jeremiah Lambert (Masters of the Universe, Transformers), covers by Dave Rapoza (Destiny, Magic: The Gathering) and Aaron Lovett (Monster Train, Inkbound), with additional art by Jonny Bush (Rob Zombie, Ghost) and Ninja Jo (Star Wars, Stranger Things). Brent Friedman (Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Call of Duty) is providing narrative guidance alongside creative direction and input from Crystal Dynamics, including never-before-seen ideas and elements from unreleased Soul Reaver lore.”

 

You get the picture. Now let’s get the detail from Joshua Viola himself. Who, you ask? Read on…

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Articles / Interviews

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The Fantastical Five with P.L. Stuart and Willow Croft

For this Fantastical Five interview with acclaimed fantasy author P.L. Stuart, I had the chance to explore his magnificent kingdom Atalantyx. Unfortunately, time was all too fleeting during my whirlwind visit, but I have Stuart’s promise of many more literary sequels to come! Read on to discover this author’s fascinating take on “once and future” worlds (as the borrowed saying goes), and the regals that inhabit them.

P.L. Stuart (he/him), who is an epic fantasy author, was born in Toronto, Canada. He holds a university degree in English, specializing in Medieval Literature. P.L. is an assistant editor with Before We Go Blog https://beforewegoblog.com/, and a booktuber, with his own YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thedrownedkingdomsaga7847/streams where P.L. conducts author interviews, book reviews, deep-dives into various fantasy and science fiction literary works, favourite book lists, and more.

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