Brandon Wilson

Supernatural War

Revisado: 04-14-25 El oyente recibió este título gratis

I was able to finish Mack by T. B. Secrest early last week, but I needed to sit on it for a little while. There were some deep themes and elements that honestly made me reflective, and I wanted to do just that: reflect for a little bit after the book was over.

Mack is about a character named…well, named Mack, as he learns that there is a whole spiritual world just on the other side of people’s vision. When Mack inadvertently reads an ancient passage, his eyes are opened to a reality that is filled with angels, demons, and other mystical supernatural beings that wage war on each other. While on a trip to his best friend's destination wedding, the battle for his soul will come to a head as he has a decision to make: find his long-lost brother or have the life anyone would be jealous of.

The setting and the story were spectacular. We get to travel all over Europe in this story, and the descriptions of some of the landscapes were truly great. Secrest has a twisted mind, and I mean that in the best possible way. This is the second book I’ve read from him, and let me just say that I will continue to read anything he puts out. He has excellent prose that changes to fit the plot of each book.

I do need to give some warning to anyone who wants to read this book. Although I highly recommend it, this book is really spicy. This is not your typical “scary” story about demons, but it full dives you deep into the underbelly of the supernatural world, and that world is filled with any type of spice you can think of, and Secrest does not shy away from any of it.

Really, the only negative I have about the book is more of a personal reason, and that is that I was just not able to get into the narrator. He did really well, and made each character shine and stand out, but it didn’t draw me in. At times I would lose focus and would have to force myself back into the story. Again, this was a personal thing, and I could see people really loving this narrator.

I want to thank T. B. Secrest for the audio code to this book in exchange for an honest review. I really liked the story and I really can’t wait till the next one comes out.

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Jurassic Park meets 13 Ghosts

Revisado: 03-31-25

I’ve been in the Indie Horror scene for roughly a year-and-a-half now, and one of the leading horror authors, in my opinion, is Duncan Ralston. With each book that I read, he further cements himself as one of my favorites in the community. Ghostland is no exception and has further solidified Ralston’s work for me.

People are dying to get in. The ghosts will kill to get out. Ben and Lilian, childhood best friends, each have their own trauma that they are trying to get past. When Lilian’s therapist, Dr. Allison, suggests that they all go to the new ghost theme park, they start to think that they can start to rekindle their friendship as well as help get past some of that trauma from the past. But when a computer virus goes haywire, and the ghosts get set free, the trio find themselves trapped in a nightmare of a theme park.

I loved this book and can easily see how it made it so far in the very first Books of Horror indie brawl. Duncan is a master storyteller, and you can tell that he truly loves his craft by how much the details and characters come to life. I was on the edge of my seat from the very first sentence, and it was a rollercoaster ride until the very end of the book.

And, as always, Joe Hemple is just an excellent narrator who brings each character to life. Hemple can draw anybody in to even the most boring of stories (and this book was not boring in the slightest). I might have said this before, but he can read a phonebook and I’ll listen to the whole thing.

If you are into haunting ghost stories with a fresh spin look no further than Ghostland. This is a great cross between Jurassic Park and 13 Ghosts, with a bloody ending that made me want to purchase the next book immediately!

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Haunting and Eerie

Revisado: 03-10-25

Book Review
Book Title: I Found a Lost Hallway in a Dying Mall
Author: Ben Farthing
Book Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I Found a Lost Hallway in a Dying Mall by Ben Farthing is an eerie and unsettling read that taps into the creeping dread of liminal spaces. While I typically avoid content centered around this theme due to how unnerving I find it, Farthing masterfully weaves it into a suspenseful and deeply atmospheric horror story that had me hooked.
The story follows Lisa, who, while working in a dying mall, hears a desperate cry for help. What she discovers is far beyond anything she could have imagined, her senile coworker in an abandoned hallway, speaking to a grotesque, fused mass of mannequins. When her coworker suddenly vanishes, Lisa is thrust into a terrifying search that will change her life forever.
The novel expertly captures feelings of isolation, fear, and the uncanny, making it a deeply immersive read. The concept of being lost and abandoned is a universal fear, and Farthing plays on that with precision, creating a truly unsettling atmosphere. Additionally, the story gave me strong Doctor Who vibes, particularly elements reminiscent of the episodes Rose and Blink. Whether intentional or not, the combination of these eerie, reality-bending themes made for a unique and compelling horror experience.
This marks the fourth entry in Farthing’s I Found series, and it will remain one of my favorite indie horror collections. While I Found Puppets Living in my Apartment Walls still holds the top spot for me, I Found A Lost Hallway in a Dying Mall is a close second. If you’re a fan of unsettling horror that lingers long after you’ve finished reading, this is a book—and a series—you won't want to miss.

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A Dark and Immersive Horror Experience

Revisado: 03-04-25 El oyente recibió este título gratis

I want to start by thanking Joe Hemple for providing an audio code for this book. Duncan Ralston has quickly become a must-buy author for me, and Salvage is yet another example of why his work stands out in the indie horror scene. While I still have a backlog of his books to get through, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to dive into this one—and I’m glad I did.

Owen has always feared water, and after losing his sister to a mysterious drowning in a small town where he was born, his worst nightmares become reality. But something about her death doesn’t add up. As Owen delves into the mystery surrounding the lake, he is forced to confront his deepest fears and uncover the truth lurking beneath the surface.

Blending mystery, supernatural horror, and themes of grief, Salvage is a gripping and unsettling read for any horror fan. Ralson’s writing is masterfully detailed, drawing readers into an atmosphere thick with tension and dread. He has a knack for pacing, gradually building suspense before delivering on every eerie promise he sets up.

The audiobook narration by Sean Walpole was strong, bringing the story and characters to life with emotion and intensity. The only minor drawback was that some of the character voices sounded similar, which made it difficult at times to distinguish between them. However, this may be more of a personal preference than a flaw in the performance.

Overall, Salvage is a chilling and well-executed horror novel that translates effectively into audiobook format. If you enjoy dark, immersive stories with a supernatural edge, this is one you won’t want to miss.

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Good fun fantasy

Revisado: 01-30-25

Storm and Flame by Mallory Wanless was a fun quick fantasy read that has me eagerly waiting for book 2.

A young girl and her familiar are kicked out of their magic school because she doesn't show promise with her magic abilities, a young boy and his fox live a solitary life alone and help out their community where they can. When the two characters meet each other, something sparks and their lives are never the same again. Soon, a plot gets uncovered where a brotherhood is trying to release an evil that will kill all magic people, leaving the world without magic.

This was definitely a YA novel but as I've said before, it was a fun read. The characters are likeable and the narrorator did a phenomenal job portraying them in the audiobook version. I recommend this one to anyone who likes fun fantasy, or anyone who is looking to get their teens into reading.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Nightmares come to life

Revisado: 01-25-25 El oyente recibió este título gratis

Something Truly Dreadful by Matthew Salinas was a quick but effective non-stop thrill ride of a horror novel. With the audiobook clocking in at one hour and 45 minutes, you would easily be able to finish this in one sitting. At the speed I listen at, it was actually closer to 55 minutes.

When 5 friends are bored one day, they decide to go visit a pop up haunted house attraction. But when they enter they soon discover their worst fears come to life.

With the short run time the author was still able to bring the kids to life and to scare the reader with terrors from everyone's nightmares.

Narrorated by the incredibly talented Joe Hempel this audiobook is for anyone who has a commute or decent length drive. Hemple is an instant buy for me. If I see he is the narrorator for a book, it's already in my Audible cart.

Overall I give this story 4 stars.

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Suspenseful

Revisado: 01-25-25 El oyente recibió este título gratis

Over the past year, Andrew Van Wey has quickly become one of my favorite authors. My introduction to his work was By the Light of Dead Stars during the Books of Horror Indie brawl, which served as my first real dive into cosmic horror—and I absolutely loved it. I devoured the sequel, Tides of Darkness, as soon as it was released. So when Tom Jordan, the talented narrator of Van Wey’s audiobooks, offered codes for Head like a Hole, I jumped at the chance. And let me tell you—this book did not disappoint.

The story begins with the grisly discovery of a young woman’s torso and head pulled from the ocean by a fisherman. From that moment, darkness creeps onto the shore, threatening Megan Monroe and her group of friends. As the sinister events unfold, buried memories and long-hidden secrets begin to resurface, forcing Megan to confront the fractures in their friendship before its too late.

Head Like a Hole feels like a perfect blend of I Know What You Did Last Summer, It, and The Thing. Van Wey weaves a chilling narrative filled with visceral body horror, graphic gore, and relentless terror. It’s a story that pulls no punches, making it a thrilling, albeit intense, read that’s certainly not for the faint of heart.

Overall, Head Like a Hole is a dark and unforgettable journey into the heart of fear and fractured friendships. Andrew Van Wey’s storytelling prowess continues to impress, and this book earns a well-deserved spot on my bookshelf.

Tom Jordan has also outdone himself with this story as well. Each character was unique and brought to life with his narration. There was never a question of which character was talking, each character was flawlessly brought to life.

If you are a fan of unrelenting horror, this one’s for you.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Welcome to a World of Magic

Revisado: 11-18-24

The Virtue of Defiance is book 1 in what I expect to be a truly amazing series.

This book follows two characters, Elise and her twin brother Alex, who are both being played like pawns in their mother's political war.
Everyone in this world is born with a talent, whether that be healing, vision of spirits, mind control, etc... and Elise is one of the lucky few who has multiple talents. As she is sold off to the king of her land, she delves into one of the darkest talents, that of spirits, to try and save herself.

I was captivated by this story from the very beginning and found myself wanting to continue even at times when I shouldn't be reading. M.A. McCrakin has proven herself to be a great author who was able to write believable characters in an amazing world unlike any others.

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More than just Pennywise

Revisado: 11-08-24 El oyente recibió este título gratis

I'm going to start off by saying It by Stephen King is probably my favorite book of all time. I remember being in high school and reading it for the first time and falling in love with the characters, the small town, and the story. When I saw that there was a Fear of Clowns anthology, and that there were some authors I know listed in it, I jumped at the chance to read it.

There were a few misses. There were some stories that I really didn't care for. But there were also some stories that I absolutely loved! Graham Masterton's The Last Laugh honestly freaked me out a little bit.

You also have the likes of Duncan Ralston and Aron Beauregard who wrote just amazing stories. But I think my favorite was Adam Cesare's story about an author trying to stay relevant.

Overall this was a fun read, and Jason Vu preformed more than read this, and that drew me in!

Great job overall!

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A Whole Review

Revisado: 11-02-24

I just finished my first full series from Joe Abercrombie and I am extremely happy with how it turned out. The different characters I've met along the journey solidified this author as a Master at character development.

We continue the story of Father Yarvi and the fate of the Shatered Sea. This time we see through the eyes of a new cast, as the war with the High King comes to a head.

As I've said, the character development in this series is amazing, and the world building is superb! I enjoyed all three of theveryone books and I am looking forward to reading more of Abercrombie.

Some minor complaints I have with this book is I feel that the action happened too quickly. one moment they are preparing for war, and the next the battles are over. I would have loved to see more of the battle scenes, but this being more of a YA story, I can understand why they happened pretty quickly.

Overall, this book was amazing, and an awesome conclusion to the series

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