The Earth is healed and humans have been extinct for 500 years. Those two things are connected. In the dying days of human civilisation a scientist created a better species, the Erta. Human-like but with none of their physical and emotional flaws. They are walking problem solvers with one purpose – to fix the Earth.
Reading Stephen King for me is a type of therapy; one that is good for the soul and mind. When I get a new book from him it’s like sliding on a pair of comfy slippers, pouring myself a hot steaming cup of coffee and disappearing for a while into the world and characters he’s
Christopher Stanley is making ever increasing waves in the horror genre and his latest offering of The Lamppost Huggers creates a tsunami of macabre delights, sweeping the reader off their feet and dragging them into the frothing deadly undertow that are his words and visceral imagination, prepare to be scared, entertained and scarred by this
Dive into steam-punk Japan with Natasha Pulley’s highly anticipated sequel, The Lost Future of Pepperharrow. Favourite characters return for an exciting, daring adventure, which perfectly blends the worlds of science and mythology. New additions help keep the story fresh, and Pulley’s decision to shift the setting to some lesser-known areas of Japan allows for some
Delving into Diary of a Murderer, one is filled with a curious sense of unease. Despite holding short stories of definite direction and plots, one wanders around inside them as if in a David Lynch movie. We have characters, progressions and plot twists, but they somehow the tone of these stories supersedes their storylines. There
Hester Why is running from her past. Louise Pinecroft is waiting for resolution. But in Morvoren House, no one gets what they want. Bone China is the latest novel from Laura Purcell – a modern queen of gothic fiction. Fans of her sinister story-telling in The Silent Companions will be delighted with this new tale,
About a year ago, I was at a book launch in Dublin and a card caught my eye as I was leaving. I had my newborn in the pram with me (I figured she wasn’t sleeping anyway, so she might as well come to a book launch). It was coming up to Mother’s Day, and
A novel which shows the reader the magic of science, The Watchmaker of Filigree Street is captivating, gripping and thoroughly enjoyable. A blend of tones bring this unique story to life, bouncing around time-zones and character point of views to give us a well-rounded narrative. Pulley’s alternative portrayal of Victorian Britain is an added twist
Jules Archer is the author of the chapbook All the Ghosts We’ve Always Had, published by Thirty West and regularly publishes flash fiction in a variety of magazines. This tiny collection of nineteen flash fictions features a ‘menu’ instead of a contents list and is focussed on tales of hunger, appetites and cravings. Many of
Detective Sergeant Frankie Sheehan is back, and investigating the disappearance of a Woman in a quiet village outside Dublin. Surrounded by her strong and trustworthy team including Baz and a few, not so familiar local constabulary. A great start to this thriller; you are immersed immediately into the life of Frankie, getting on with life
