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Showing posts with label Volume 3. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Volume 3. Show all posts

Saturday, April 2, 2022

The Ravencrest Saga: Volumes I, II, III by Tamara Thorne & Alistair Cross + giveaway

The Ravencrest Saga: Volumes I, II, III
by Tamara Thorne & Alistair Cross
Genre: Gothic, Paranormal
March 29, 2022
Book 1: THE GHOSTS OF RAVENCREST
Ravencrest Manor is the most beautiful thing new governess, Belinda Moorland, has ever seen, but as she learns more about its tangled past of romance and terror, she realizes that beauty has a dark side. Ravencrest is built on secrets, and its inhabitants seem to be keeping plenty of their own -- from the English butler, Grant Phister, to the power-mad administrator, Mrs. Heller, to Belinda's mysterious and handsome new employer, Eric Manning, who watches her with dark, fathomless eyes. But Belinda soon realizes that the living who dwell in Ravencrest have nothing on the other inhabitants -- the ones who walk the darkened halls by night … the ones who enter her dreams … the ones who are watching … and waiting …

Book 2: THE WITCHES OF RAVENCREST
Governess Belinda Moorland has settled into life at Ravencrest and, as summer gives way to autumn, romance is in the air. She and multi-millionaire Eric Manning are falling in love … but powerful forces will stop at nothing to keep them apart. As the annual Harvest Ball is set to begin, evil abounds at Ravencrest. Murder lurks in the shadows, evil spirits freely roam the halls, a phantom baby cries, signaling a death in the mansion, and in the notoriously haunted east wing, three blood-soaked nuns, Sisters Faith, Hope, and Charity, tend to the demented needs of a maid gone mad.

Ravencrest has come to life. In the gardens below, granite statues dance by moonlight, and a scarecrow goes on a killing rampage, collecting a gruesome assortment of body parts from unwilling donors … But Belinda’s greatest danger is the vengeful spirit of Rebecca Dane. Once the mistress of Ravencrest, Rebecca Dane has a centuries-old axe to grind with the powerful witch, Cordelia Heller -- and Belinda becomes her weapon of choice.

Book 3: EXORCISM
In the 1920s, Henry Manning ruled Ravencrest with an iron fist. He held debauched parties that would have inspired Jay Gatsby himself. From the Manning fortune to a beautiful wife, the silent film star known as the White Violet, Henry had it all … including a loyal cult that worshipped him, and the demon Forneus. Violet lost her life putting a stop to the demented perversions that Henry and his demonic familiar visited upon Ravencrest … but now that evil has returned.

In the night, an innocent maid is seduced by a demon lover. A child is born, but it is not of this earth. Father Antonio DeVargas is summoned as ghostly parties light up the old poolhouse and phantom screams rip open the night. Meanwhile, the White Violet wanders the halls of Ravencrest warning the inhabitants of death and disaster to come. . . and the current master of Ravencrest, Eric Manning, is decidedly not himself.


About the Authors
Tamara Thorne's first novel was published in 1991, and since then she has written many more, including international bestsellers Haunted, Bad Things, Moonfall, Eternity and Brimstone. A lifelong lover of ghost stories, she is currently working on continuing collaborations with Alistair Cross as well as a new solo novel, Old Wives’ Tales, that kicks off a series starring Sheriff Zach Tully from Eternity. Learn more about her at: http://tamarathorne.com

Alistair Cross' debut novel, The Crimson Corset, a vampiric tale of terror and seduction, was an immediate bestseller earning praise from veteran vampire-lit author, Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, and New York Times bestseller, Jay Bonansinga, author of The Walking Dead series. In 2012, Alistair joined forces with international bestseller, Tamara Thorne, and as Thorne & Cross, they write the successful Gothic series, The Ravencrest Saga as well as bestselling novels including The Cliffhouse Haunting, Darling Girls, and Mother. They are currently completing their next thriller, Spite House, and working on several other novels.

In addition to writing, Alistair and Tamara host Thorne & Cross: Carnival Macabre. Join them as they explore legends and lore, monsters and myths, and hauntings and horrors. They’re digging deep in their research files to bring you face-to-face with the unknown, the unusual, and the bizarre.

From 2014-2020, Alistair and Tamara hosted Thorne & Cross: Haunted Nights LIVE!, which featured such guests as Anne Rice, V. C. Andrews, Preston & Child, Christopher Moore, and Laurell K. Hamilton. You can listen to every show at either of their websites.

The Purple Probe is the official newsletter of the Thorne & Cross Universe and it’s the strangest thing to ever hit your inbox. You’ll get exclusive content, including articles written by the Thorne & Cross cast, like Jojo’s Catty Corner, Essie to the Rescue, and a Roving Reporter who thinks he knows it all. Additionally, you’ll get news of sales, appearances, and inside looks at all sorts of things. Just visit: http://eepurl.com/ckaBrr

Giveaway
$20 Amazon giftcard – 1 winner,
ebook of The Ghosts of Ravencrest – 3 winners!
Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

Friday, May 15, 2020

Excerpt: Double Barrel Horror #3 Anthology

Welcome to the blog tour for Double Barrel Horror Volume #3, a collection of thrills and chills by six amazing authors! Hold onto your pants folks!


Double Barrel (Volume 3) 
March 22nd, 2020 
Genre: Anthology/ Horror/ Suspense 
Brace yourself for another two-barrel blast of unrelenting horror and suspense. Volume 3 of the ‘Double Barrel Horror’ anthology series delivers two chilling tales from each of six talented authors for a 12-story onslaught that will blow you out of your sneakers. This time around, your fate lies in the hands of Christine Morgan, Mark Matthews, Theresa Braun, Calvin Demmer, Glenn Rolfe, and Robert Essig. 
Add to Goodreads

Excerpt
Highway Hunger by Calvin Demmer
It couldn’t be alive?

It was.

Dudley Ellington couldn’t see the animal’s face, but based on the tufts of bloody fur, he thought it might be a rat or a squirrel. He stepped closer, and the creature’s legs shook as if it were attempting to kick-start its body back to life.

Its movements ceased.

Dudley looked around, and all he saw was the long, empty stretch of highway. Why was there never a good stick lying around when you needed one? He tapped his boot on the animal, hoping for a response. He got nothing. Were his eyes playing tricks? He thought its legs moved a moment ago.

He tapped the animal again.

This time, one of its arms stretched out and then down, as if it were trying to push the button to answer a question on a game show. Dudley stepped back—not out of fear, as he assured himself, but to get a better view.

The paw jiggled.

“Yo, Felipe. Come check this out.” Dudley ran his hand over his slicked-back hair. He looked to the white pickup when he got no reply from his coworker.

Felipe sat in the front seat with his orange helmet covering his eyes.

“Felipe, wake up.”

Felipe groaned, slowly pushing open the driver-side door. “What’s it now, Dud? I told you we can always take an extra thirty minutes for lunch. I was just about to get some rest. No one will give a shit.”

“There’s something on the road. I was gonna scoop it up, but it must be alive.”

Felipe’s eyes widened. He climbed out of the vehicle and marched to Dudley.

“Get back,” he said as he passed Dudley.

Dudley did as instructed, oddly reassured by the sudden authority in his coworker’s voice. Felipe would surely help the critter, maybe take it somewhere for injured animals. He was still new to the job and wasn’t sure of the correct protocol.

Felipe hovered over the creature. “It’s a squirrel. At least, it was. Half its body has been smashed.”

“Damn.”

“Yeah, it’s a bummer for sure. But there’s nothing we can do. Best leave it be and let it die in peace.”

“Leave it be? It’s in pain.”

“That’s right. We leave it. It’s not dead, and we only collect the dead.”

Dudley stepped forward. “What about the injured animals? Where do you take them?”

“Injured animals.” Felipe scoffed, staring at the road. “Dud. Now isn’t the time for this. Let it go.”

The squirrel twitched, and Dudley imagined it hearing them talk about how they would simply desert it. That was nonsense, of course, as squirrels couldn’t understand humans, but still, he couldn’t allow it to suffer. He would have to put it out of its misery.

Dudley raised his boot, telling himself this was the most merciful thing he could do.

“No!” Felipe shouted, tackling him to the ground.

“What the fuck, man?” Dudley pushed Felipe off before getting to his feet and dusting his pants, not sure how much good it would do as they already had a stain or two from the takeaway burger he’d devoured for lunch. “Why would—”

“Dud. You need to listen to me.” Felipe glanced around. “We need to get going. I can explain everything once we’re on the move.”


Blog Tour Schedule
May 11th
Reads & Reels (Spotlight) http://readsandreels.com
Kim Knight (Spotlight) http://kimknightauthor.wordpress.com
Literary Dust (Review) https://literarydust.wordpress.com/
May 12th
Breakeven Books (Spotlight) https://breakevenbooks.com
The Scary Reviews (Review) https://thescaryreviews.com
Cats Luv Coffee (Spotlight) https://catsluvcoffeez.blogspot.com
May 13th
Entertainingly Nerdy (Spotlight) https://www.entertaininglynerdy.com
The Faerie Review (Spotlight) http://www.thefaeriereview.com
May 14th
Dark Whimsical Art (Spotlight) https://www.darkwhimsicalart.com/blogs/news
Didi Oviatt (Review) https://didioviatt.wordpress.com
May 15th
I Smell Sheep (Spotlight) http://www.ismellsheep.com/
Jessica Belmont (Review) https://jessicabelmont.wordpress.com/
Banshee Irish Horror Blog (Review) www.bansheeirishhorrorblog.com
Tranquil Dreams (Review) https://klling.wordpress.com/

Blog Tour Organized By:

Wednesday, February 5, 2020

Spotlight: A Book to Last the Year Anthology Volumes 1-3 Fantasy, Romance, Horror + giveaway



A Book to Last the Year Volume 1: Fantasy Calendar Anthology Fantasy
with stories by Kae Galla, Philip K. Chase, Thomas Wythe, Tahera Mannan, Davina Purnell, Sheri Chapman, Summer Sky, Tammy R. Ray, Aim Ruivivar, S.B. Rhodes
Prepare to be spellbound on a 
spine-tingling journey within the pages of, A Book to Last the Year; Calendar Anthology Fantasy.

Among these gripping tales you'll encounter. An exiled dragon filled 
with rage. A queen chosen from among the commons not her bloodline. A meticulous Christmas coordinator training his assistant. The magic of leprechauns against bullies. What lurks through the window at 2 am.

This collection of enchanting stories and poems is not for the weary. Enter into supernatural worlds of action and adventure. Talented story tellers and poets inspired by the months and seasons provide a mixture of imaginative and fascinating journeys allowing you to escape and forever be changed.

**Only .99 cents!!**

A Book to Last the Year Volume 2: Romance Calendar Anthology Romance
with stories by Kae Galla, Kathleen A. Duncan, Tammy R Ray, Kiora Light, Thomas Wythe, CM Peters, Michele Shriver, Cherron Riser, Sheri Chapman, Summer Sky
Prepare to be impassioned on a heart throbbing journey within the pages of, A Book to Last the Year; Calendar Anthology Romance.

Among these alluring tales you'll encounter forbidden love, broken hearts, and spellbound desire. A cake decorator who hates weddings but craves a stunning guest. The aftermath of a hot encounter with a mythical God. The sweet awe of attraction between adults who were once childhood friends. A 40 something grieving widow infatuated with a younger man. A girl teetering between the naughty and nice list at Christmas time.

This collection of enticing stories and poems is not for the chaste. Enter into passionate worlds of pleasure and pain. Talented story tellers and poets inspired by the months and seasons provide a mixture of imaginative and fascinating journeys allowing you to escape and forever be changed.

**Only .99 cents!!**

A Book to Last the Year Volume 3: Dark Horror Calendar Anthology Dark
with stories by Philip Chase, Svea Neizke, Davina Purnell, Katie Jaarsveld, Sheri Chapman, Larry Yoakum III, P. Mattern, L. Guathier, Summer Sky, Tammy R Ray
Prepare to be crippled with fear on a white knuckled journey within the pages of, A book to Last the Year; Calendar Anthology Dark.

Among these harrowing tales you'll encounter. A violent organization of wolves, and the king who is bound to recapture his throne. Insolence and defiance among vampires, demons, and a blonde village misfit in the 18th century. The perseverance of a lone wolf seeking revenge. Snake-like demons seeping through the gates of hell. All horror and mystery that surrounds an unusual nursing home resident revealed within a single midnight hour.

This collection of daunting stories and poems is not for the faint of heart. Enter into suspense ridden worlds in which good and evil collide. Talented story tellers and poets inspired by the months and seasons provide a mixture of imaginative and fascinating journeys allowing you to escape and forever be changed.

**Only .99 cents!!**
Goodreads-Amazon

**scroll through the slideshow to find out more about the authors!!**




GIVEAWAY
Follow the tour HERE for exclusive content and a giveaway!

Friday, October 25, 2019

Selah's Manga Mania Reviews: Uzumaki (3-in-1 Deluxe Edition) by Junji Ito

Uzumaki (3-in-1 Deluxe Edition): Includes vols. 1, 2 & 3
by Junji Ito
October 16, 2018
Volumes: 3
648 pages
English publisher: NA Viz Media
Seinen horror manga
Genres: Visual novel, Simulation Video Game, Dark fantasy, Horror fiction, Occult Fiction
Appearing as a serial in the weekly manga magazine Big Comic Spirits from 1998 to 1999. 
Kurouzu-cho, a small fogbound town on the coast of Japan, is cursed. According to Shuichi Saito, the withdrawn boyfriend of teenager Kirie Goshima, their town is haunted not by a person or being but a pattern: UZUMAKI, the spiral—the hypnotic secret shape of the world. The bizarre masterpiece horror manga is now available all in a single volume. Fall into a whirlpool of terror!

It's time to think about stories that freak us out, and Japanese horror has a certain something that just pushes things over the edge and down a cliff. Today, we're looking at one of the greatest authors in the genre and one of his most infamous titles. Today, we're looking at Uzumaki by Junji Ito.

We follow teenager Kirie and her boyfriend Shuichi as they slowly realize something is very wrong with their town and the people in it. It all begins with Shuichi's father's fascination with spirals that becomes an obsession, and then something otherworldly.

The good: This is a freaky series and I really like that the omnibus version collects it all in one place. While this is more surreal than other Ito titles which are more classic horror, the scare factor is definitely there. As the spiral obsession and paranoia jumps from person to person and then starts to physically affect the structure of the town and people's bodies in inhuman ways, the reading experience becomes really disturbing. 
My stomach dropped at scenes like Shuichi's mom puncturing her ear because she realized there was a spiral in the bones in it. The debate as people turned into snail creatures as to whether they could be used for food or if they were still human is intense. How villagers take shelter in the bunkhouses lets you know you've passed the point of no return.

Ito portrays the line between rational and madness very well, both in his pacing and art. You can physically see the moment where characters fall over the edge or give up, adding to the feeling over impending doom that builds through the story. As the town changes, you realize that this is way bigger than a few peoples' obsessions. I'd call it cosmic horror with patterns instead of monsters, honestly. And the ending took the breath out of me because it's quieter than I expected, but it really capped things well.

Ito's art is exceptional, and the vast amount of ways he incorporates spirals into body horror, architecture, and natural landscapes are impressive. It feels like he's really in his element.

The bad: if you want definite logic as to why things are happening, this will likely frustrate you. There is a reason, but it's vague. I would say the story is more about the effect the spirals have on people and the futility of their fight and just how wrong the decision to stay in town is. This is more surreal vs outright horror compared to something like Tomie, but it still has that Ito feel.
Some of the characters are a little one-dimensional, but in this case, it all pushes the plot forward and showcases the insane vignettes and variations on the spiral theme. He's taking you on a tour via these scenes, and it's your job to see how you feel about them. It won't be everyone's cuppa.

The ick: While a lot of the dramatic violence is off-screen, this is Ito, which means body horror. Contorted anatomy, mutations beyond the realm of physics, melty bodies, and characters in agony - it's kinda his thing. If looking at this isn't something you want to see, this title isn't for you.

Overall, while I would have liked a little more characterization and at times the pace can feel a little meandery, I felt the story super-fascinating and the art insane. I read it all in one night if that tells you anything. If you're looking for a story to get under your skin and never want to see spirals innocently again, this is for you.

5 spiralized sheep







About the Reviewer
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Selah Janel is a writer who is trying to start doing that again instead of reading manga all the time.









Thursday, February 4, 2016

Comic Review: The Incredible Adventures of Dog Mendonca and Pizzaboy Volume 3: Requiem TPB from Dark Horse Comics

The Incredible Adventures of Dog Mendonca and Pizzaboy Volume 3: Requiem TPB
Writer: Filipe Melo

Artist: Juan Cavia
Colorist: Santiago Villa
Cover Artist: Juan Cavia
Genre: Action/Adventure, Horror, Humor
January 20, 2016
Format: FC, 128 pages; TPB, 6'' x 9''
Price: $12.99
Age range: 14
ISBN-10:1-61655-882-2
ISBN-13:978-1-61655-882-6
Banding together one final time, a world-weary werewolf, a six-thousand-year-old demon, a nervous gargoyle, and a former pizza-delivery boy face a worldwide monster invasion! Dog Mendonca is a hit sensation in its home country of Portugal, and this English-language edition includes a special making-of section and a foreword by legendary horror director and writer Tobe Hooper!

* A celebrated international team delivers a mash-up of humor, horror, and end-of-days drama!

* The final volume in the Dog Mendonca trilogy!


I Love Dog Mendonca, Pizzaboy and the rest of the gang. They have saved the world, twice, and at the end of Volume #2 Dog and his six thousand year old partner Pazuul were heroes living the high life as celebrities. Volume 3 Requiem picks up years later. Pizzaboy choose to live the quiet life helping the homeless and raising twins with his wife. Dog finds out he is now homeless and no longer relevant. So he stops by to pay Pizzaboy a visit with Pazuul in tow...and becomes the house guest that never leaves. A past nemesis has come to get revenge by turning the monsters Dog helped save, against him. The gang must get back together to help save Dog!

Like the first two volumes, the artwork is on point, but there isn't a lot of variation in the panel set up. We finally learn about Dog's past through flashbacks, and what shaped who he is today. Lots of things happen in this issue and I don't want to spoil what becomes of Dog and his friends and the monster world, but everything is tied up nicely—the end of the road for Dog and Pizzaboy. This volume isn't as exciting as the first two, but it deals more with the characters and feelings and closure. Still, a must read if you're following the series. 

5 Sheep Review: The Untold Tales of Dog Mendonca & Pizzaboy
5 Sheep Review: The Incredible Adventures of Dog Mendonca and Pizzaboy

3.75 "cha-cha-cha-changes" Sheep





SharonS