Horror Archives - A Literary Escape

SFINCS Review: The Shadow Dancers of Brixton Hill by Nicole Willson

Published on March 7, 2025March 6, 2025 by Celeste4 Comments

Today’s review is about THE SHADOW DANCERS OF BRIXTON HILL by Nicole Willson. This standalone novella follows Kate as she meets an old family friend to find a new act for her family circus. What she discovers is mindboggling and saddening.

This review is brought to you by my participation in the Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship (SFINCS). SFINCS, pronounced “sphinx”, is a yearly competition to recognize, honor, and celebrate the talent and creativity present in the indie community. It’s a sister competition to both SPFBO and SPSFC, and it highlights greatness in the novella format in all areas of speculative fiction (fantasy, science fiction, horror, etc.). I am part of Team Behind the Musings. You can find out more about us here.

Author: Nicole Willson
Series: None
Age Category: Adult
Publisher: Cemetery Gates Media
Publish Date: June 13, 2023
Print Length: 95
Purchase: Bookshop.org or Amazon

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The Black Hunger by Nicholas Pullen

Published on November 11, 2024November 27, 2024 by Celeste9 Comments

Today’s review is about THE BLACK HUNGER by Nicholas Pullen. It’s a standalone queer gothic horror steeped in the occult. Check out the content warnings on this one!

Author: Nicholas Pullen
Series: None
Age Category: Adult
Publisher: Redhook
Publish Date: October 08, 2024
Print Length: 400

Want to support local bookstores? Buy a copy of The Black Hunger on Bookshop.org!*

*These are not affiliate links and I do not make a commission from any purchase made using these links.

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ARC Review: Immortal Pleasures by V. Castro

Published on April 22, 2024April 20, 2024 by Celeste8 Comments

Today’s review is about IMMORTAL PLEASURES by V. Castro. It’s a standalone novel about an ancient Aztec vampire searching for vengeance and love. After centuries of reckoning with her traumatic past during the Spanish conquest of America, Malinalli is finally ready to search for emotional intimacy.

Author: V. Castro
Series: None
Age Category: Adult
Publisher: Del Rey Books
Publish Date: April 16, 2024
Print Length: 304

Want to support local bookstores? Buy a copy of Immortal Pleasures on Bookshop.org!*

*These are not affiliate links and I do not make a commission from any purchase made using these links.

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ARC Review: An Education In Malice by S.T. Gibson

Published on March 18, 2024March 18, 2024 by Celeste7 Comments

Today’s review is about AN EDUCATION IN MALICE by S.T. Gibson. It’s a retelling of CARMILLA set in 1960s Massachusetts at a historical women’s college. This dual point of view novel portrays a dark academia environment, vampires, and uneven power dynamics.

Author: S.T. Gibson
Series: None
Age Category: Adult
Publisher: Redhook
Publish Date: February 13, 2024
Print Length: 368

Want to support local bookstores? Buy a copy of An Education In Malice on Bookshop.org!*

*These are not affiliate links and I do not make a commission from any purchase made using these links.

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SFINCS Review: Blackcap by Benjamin Aeveryn

Published on March 16, 2024March 11, 2024 by Celeste4 Comments

Today’s review is about BLACKCAP by Benjamin Aeveryn. Though part of the Rainfallen universe, this novella stands on its own and is easy to follow. It’s a paranormal mystery in which Kade switches from sleuthing out human criminals, and inadvertently sending some to their deaths, to helping solve paranormal cases.

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