Spinechills

March Horror New Releases

2012-02-29T08:28:00.001+11:00

These are the kids' and young adult horror new releases for February. If I've missed anything out, please let me know in the comments, but remember, these are Australian release dates only.

What I'm Excited About: Ghost Club by Australian author Deborah Abela is a brilliant read, as is BZRK by Michael Grant. Plus, one of my all-time-favourites Barry Hutchison has a new book in the Invisible Fiends series, so what's not to get excited about this month?

Junior & Middle

Raven Mysteries 4: Vampires and Volts, Marcus Sedgwick (Orion).

Ghost Club, Deborah Abela (Random House).

Mort, Martin Chatterton (Random House).

Floods 11: Disasterchef, Colin Thompson (Random House).

Young Adult

BZRK, Michael Grant (Hardie Grant Egmont).

Erebos, Ursula Poznanski (Allen & Unwin).

Skulduggery Pleasant: The End of the World, Derek Landy (Harper Collins).

Slide, Jill Hathaway (Harper Collins).

Vampire Diaries – The Hunters: Moonsong, LJ Smith (Harper Collins).

Department 19, Will Smith (Harper Collins).

Invisible Fiends: The Beast, Barry Hutchison (Harper Collins).

The Repossession, Sam Hawksmoor (Hodder).

Balthazar, Claudia Gray (Harper Collins).

Long Langkin, Lindsey Barraclough (Random House).

Future Frights: Doom Rider

2012-02-18T15:31:00.000+11:00

As a bookseller, I see new books every day. One day a month I sit in a room from eight thirty in the morning until five in the afternoon looking at hundreds of upcoming new releases. So you can see how the shine of new books quickly wears off - after all, there are only so many books about ducks a person can stand.

This is why it's all the more exciting when I hear of a book that makes me sit up and say, 'Holy hell, I need to read that. NOW.'

Enter Doom Rider, by David Gatward. Look at this fantastic cover and tell me that doesn't make you think you're in for one awesome read.

I'm always a fan of menacing looks and glowing bows and arrows, but when the title has the word 'doom' in it and it's written by David Gatward (author of the brilliant The Dead series) I'm in book heaven.

Doom Rider is available for pre-order on Amazon and will be out 5 July in the UK. Still waiting to hear on a release date for Australian readers, but hopefully the wait won't be long!

Review - Oliver Twisted

2012-02-12T17:12:00.000+11:00

The Eulogy (From the Publisher):
“FLESH, the woe-begotten moaned at Oliver, baring teeth which were ragged and black.
“FLESH,” came another moan, and he turned to see two more woe-begottens behind. They began to shuffle towards him, barefoot – toes blue from cold, arms outstretched.
The world according to Oliver Twisted is simple. Vampyres feed on the defenceless. Orphans are sacrificed to hungry gods. And if a woe-begotten catches your scent it will hunt you for ever. When a talking corpse reveals that Oliver will find his destiny in London, he sets out to seek the truth. Even if it means losing his soul.

The Epitaph (In a Nutshell): A wonderfully gruesome and original adaptation of the Oliver Twist tale.

Dearly Departed,
We are gathered here today to discuss Oliver Twisted by JD Sharpe. I count myself really lucky to have received a copy of this from the UK since I can't yet see it on the Australian publishing horizon, though I hope it does appear on our shelves soon, because this is a fantastic take on Oliver Twist that I think will make a lot of readers very happy.

Let me say right now that you don't have to be an Oliver Twist fan in order to enjoy this book. I had a rather bad introduction to Mr Dickens with Hard Times, which I've since heard is not one of his best, but it also hasn't compelled me to read more. When I started reading Oliver Twist, I was a little worried since I didn't know the original story, save what I've absorbed from pop culture references, but the strength of the story is such that it really doesn't matter if you don't know the original text.

I'm a big fan of multi-creature worlds, i.e. books whose mythologies take different familiar monsters like vampires and swamp things and put them together. This is brilliantly achieved in Oliver Twisted, with the sinister werewolves living alongside malevolent wisps and soul stealers. I also loved the history which was hinted at throughout - the opening of a Hell Mouth which explained why the world was rotten to the core.

The other thing that really struck me about this book was how well the language was written. Normally this isn't something that I mind one way or another, but the mixture of Dickensian phrases and 'normal' English achieved the perfect balance between a modern book for teens and what you might expect to find in a book from the 1800s.

I'm interested to see if there will be others in this series, since the concept of it would seem to suggest not, though the broad world in which it is set almost screams for another tale.

February Horror New Releases

2012-02-01T15:00:00.000+11:00

These are the kids' and young adult horror new releases for February. If I've missed anything out, please let me know in the comments, but remember, these are Australian release dates only.

What I'm Excited About: The Grimstones is a fantastic and odd little read complete with gothic puppets, and I'm sure it's going to really well. Also very excited about Mister Creecher, and can't wait to read it.

Junior & Middle

Emily the Strange: Piece of Mind, Rob Reger (Harper).

Zombie Chasers: Undead Ahead, John Kloepfer & Steve Wolfhard (Harper).

Goosebumps 22: Stay Out of the Basement, RL Stine (Scholastic).

Freak Street: Meet the Vampiresons , Knife and Packer (Scholastic).

Beast Hunter, Kathryn White (Penguin).

The Grimstones 1: Hatched, Asphyxia (A&U).

Young Adult

Faery Tales and Nightmares, Melissa Marr (Harper).

Mister Creecher, Chris Priestley (Penguin).

Every Other Day, Jennifer Lynn Barnes (Macmillan).

Twisted Packages

2012-01-24T17:22:00.000+11:00

Today I got this in the mail:

That is Oliver Twisted by JD Sharpe and when I opened the package there was a whole lot of excited squealing going on from this little green zombie.

I mean, how cool is that cover? How cool is that concept? And HOW COOL is that tag line? (In case you can't read it, it says 'Please sir, I want some GORE.' Equal parts laughter and groaning.)

I've only briefly dipped into it, but so far it's living up to my initial excitement and then some. Child cannibalism by chapter three (both children being eaten AND eating each other). I haven't been this excited about a book in some time.

Which brings me to a broader gush about Electric Monkey, the new Egmont imprint which is publishing a whole bunch of really cool stuff.

They're also publishing a new series from Michael Grant, the first of which is BZRK. I'm halfway through it at the moment and it's another winner (though what else would you expect from the Gone author?) so I'm really excited to see what this newcomer in the world of publishing has to offer the future of young adult books. Judging by this strong start, it will be a lot.

Review - Skulduggery Pleasant: Dark Days

2012-01-22T08:40:00.000+11:00

The Eulogy (From the Publishers): Skulduggery Pleasant is gone, sucked into a parallel dimension overrun by the Faceless Ones. If his bones haven′t already been turned to dust, chances are he′s insane, driven out of his mind by the horror of the ancient gods. There is no official, Sanctuary-approved rescue mission. There is no official plan to save him.
But Valkyrie′s never had much time for plans.
The problem is, even if she can get Skulduggery back, there might not be much left for him to return to. There′s a gang of villains bent on destroying the Sanctuary, there are some very powerful people who want Valkyrie dead, and as if all that wasn′t enough it looks very likely that a sorcerer named Darquesse is going to kill the world and everyone on it.
Skulduggery is gone. All our hopes rest with Valkyrie. The world′s weight is on her shoulders, and its fate is in her hands.
These are dark days indeed.

The Epitaph (In a Nutshell): Perhaps not the strongest entry in this brilliant series, but still a hilarious horror read.

Dearly Departed,
We are gathered here today to discuss Skulduggery Pleasant: Dark Days by Derek Landy. Actually, that's a lie. I'll actually be discussing this and its predecessor, book three, The Faceless Ones, since I read them one after the other. It's a rare series that can make me leap straight on to the next book, since I like some time between them to digest or the second usually suffers. But book three ended on such a cliffhanger that I needed book 4 straight away.

If you've read the synopsis for book four, then the cliffhanger is already ruined - Skulduggery is lost inside a terrifying alternate universe populated by Faceless Ones. And they're not terribly friendly. I really enjoyed the absence of Skul at the start of this, because it showed Valkyrie growing as a character, and how capable she is in his absence. That said, I was eager for her to get him back, since he is the title character and all.

One thing that disappointed me slightly was Skulduggery's state of mind after being rescued. He kind of laughed it off and was his regular self, with the occasional crack showing. Which to me, didn't seem to gel with being trapped in a demon universe for a year. I really would have liked to see a deeper side to his personality and actually carried a bit of that trauma over from the other side. But then, that's not very funny, is it?

And that's precisely what makes these books work so well - the humour. Not very many other books manage such a perfect mix of laughs, horror and action, so it's no surprise that this series is so popular. Great characters, snappy dialogue and world-building you want to be a part of - if you haven't started this series, I highly recommend it for anyone, but particularly if you're having a hard time finding a series to appeal to you.

Thank you. Yes, you.

2012-01-18T08:48:00.000+11:00

What a strange, strange month December was.

It's been a long time between posts, and for good reason - at the start of December my father passed away suddenly, and I had to return to Western Australia to sort out his estate. It was sad, obviously, but also an incredibly steep learning curve since before this all started I didn't have the foggiest about funeral arrangements, what to do without a will, and who to contact about his death. And now I know all of that, I'm really hoping I don't have to use that knowledge again soon!

Things are much better now that I'm back home in Melbourne, and everything is beginning to return to normal. This is where the thank-yous com in. Something that was niggling at me was this blog, and how without new content it would fall into disrepair. I mean, there have always been cobwebs (I LIKE the cobwebs) but now there would be tumbleweeds blowing across it... possibly with more cobwebs.

But what I was surprised to find was that I was still getting quite a lot of traffic, even in the absence of anything to read. Which cheered me up so much after what was a pretty crappy month.

So THANK YOU to everyone who continued to read this blog. I'm really looking forward to adding a whole bunch of new reviews and horror news in the new year, and I hope you'll keep reading it too.

January Horror New Releases

2012-01-18T08:26:00.000+11:00

Better late than never! These are the new horror releases for January. If I’ve missed something out, let me know in the comments, but remember, these are Australian release dates only

What I'm Excited About: While January isn’t a huge month volume-wise, there are some gems in there still – in particular I’m looking forward to the new Undead Ed and also the first in a new series from Heather Brewer.

Junior & Middle

Creepy Creatures 4: Toad Terror, Ed Graves (Scholastic).
Undead Ed and the Devil’s Fingers, David Grimstone (Hachette).

Young Adult
The Vampire Stalker, Alison von Diepen (Scholastic).
Dark Warning, Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick (Hachette).
Slayer Chronicles: First Kill, Heather Brewer (Penguin).
A Witch in Winter, Ruth Warburton (Hachette).

Graphic Novels
Good Neighbors 3: Kind, Holly Black & Ted Naifeh (Scholastic).

Non-Fiction
Twilight Realm: Ghosts, Jim Pipe (Hachette).
Twilight Realm: Monsters, Jim Pipe (Hachette).

December Horror New Releases

2011-12-01T08:59:00.000+11:00

These are the horror new releases for August. If I’ve missed something out, let me know in the comments! But remember, these are Australian release dates only.

What I'm Excited About: Phew, so much to get excited about in this month! I Am Grimalkin - I have been DYING for this book, and the next one in the Larten Crepsley series, which I've also been overeager to get my hands on. The only thing I'm slightly cross about is WHY DID IT TAKE SO LONG? Both of these books were out ages ago overseas, so come on Australian publishers, why make us wait? Ahem. Rant over. I've also been hearing lots of good things about dystopian book Legend.

Junior & Middle
Sophie and the Shadow Woods #6: The Bat Sprites, Linda Chapman & Lee Weatherly (Harper Collins).
Earwig and the Witch, Dianna Wynne Jones (Harper Collins).
Creepella von Cacklefur #2: Meet Me in Horrorwood, Geronimo Stilton (Scholastic).
The Orphan of Awkward Falls, Keith Graves (Hardie Grant Egmont).
The Templeton Twins, Jeremy Holmes (Hardie Grant Egmont).
The Treehorn Trilogy, Edward Gorey (Hardie Grant Egmont).
Goosebumps Hall of Horrors #4: Why I Quit Zombie School, R.L. Stine (Scholastic).
Goosebumps Classics #21: Vampire Breath, R.L. Stine (Scholastic).
Wolven #3: Bad Wolf Rising, Di Toft (Scholastic).
3:15 Season One: Things That Go Bump In the Night, Patrick Carman (Scholastic).

YA

Saga of Larten Crepsley #2: Ocean of Blood, Darren Shan (Harper Collins).
Sleepwalkers, J. Gabriel Gates (Harper Collins).
I Am Grimalkin, Joseph Delaney (Random House).
Undead, Kirsty McKay (Scholastic). Check out the youtube trailer for this one.
Wish You Were Dead, Todd Strasser (Walker).
Adventures of a Wimpy Werewolf, Tim Collins (Hardie Grant).
Legend, Marie Lu (Penguin).
Smoulder, Brenna Yovanoff (Simon & Schuster).

Dark Souls, Paula Morris (Scholastic).

Anthology
Guys Read: Thriller, John Scieszka (Harper Collins).
More Bloody Horowitz, Anthony Horowitz (Walker). [New Format]

Non-Fiction
Make a Mummy, Shrink a Head, and Other Useful Skills, Pat Murphy (Klutz).

Author Interview - Stuart Daly

2011-11-08T21:32:00.000+11:00

Anyone who has heard me rant about my favourite books for even a minute will realise how much I love the Spook's Apprentice series by Joseph Delaney. So when I approach a series that involves both apprentices and witches, I am both excited and wary. Excited because, oh dear, how could I not be? And wary because I'm never sure a new book could stand up to my lofty expectations.

When I heard that Random House Australia was to publish the first in a new series called The Witch Hunter Chronicles, I knew I had to read it. And though I still experienced that same excitement/wariness feeling, I'm pleased to say I finished the book feeling one hundred percent excited. I absolutely adored this tale of German witch hunters and their demonic foes, and so I'm very pleased to have Stuart Daly here on the slab at Spine Chills.

***

Can you tell us a bit about your most recently published book?
The Army of the Undead just got released today. This is the second book in The Witch Hunter Chronicles. This is an intensely fast-paced adventure series set in the seventeenth century. Imagine Pirates of the Caribbean meets the Three Musketeers, and you're getting a close idea as to what it's like.

What would be written on your main character’s gravestone?
Deo duce, ferro comitante. Don't know what this means? Well, you had better read The Scourge of Jericho, the first book in The Witch Hunter Chronicles, to find out.

Why do you write horror?
I love the idea of scaring people. Books can be so much scarier than movies, allowing a reader's imagination to conjure the most terryfing scenes.

Have you ever had your own spooky experience?
Fortunately, no.

What is your favourite book of the past month?
The past year? All time? Favourite book of the past month - Sandstorm by James Rollins. Favourite of the past year - The Purity of Blood, by Arturo-Perez Reverte. All time favourite - Ice Station, by Matthew Reilly.

What does your writing space look like?
As I don't write on a computer, I don't have a set writing space. I write on pieces of paper when waiting at traffic lights - Sydney's traffic is so congested you could write a 1,000 page novel in the time it takes to drive down King Street! I write all the time, whenever I can. I only use a laptop when I'm typing up the final product.

What’s the scariest book you’ve ever read?
The Turn of the Screw, by Henry James. What a bone-tingler! Best ghost story ever written.

What’s your biggest fear?
Heights. I once had a person jump from the top of Westfields and land at my feet. Believe me, you wouldn't wish that on your worst enemy.

What are you working on right now?
I'm currently working on Books 3 and 4 of The Witch Hunter Chronicles. I don't want to reveal anything about these other than say that they are going to be the most action-packed, scariest books I have written.

Check out the Witch Hunter Chronicles at http://witchhunterchronicles.weebly.com/ or on the Random House website.

November Horror New Releases

2011-11-01T09:00:00.000+11:00

These are the new horror releases for November. If I’ve missed something out, let me know in the comments! But remember, these are Australian release dates only

What I'm Excited About: I am crawling with excitement about Witch Hunter Chronicles 2, since I loved the first one and can't wait to see how this series builds. Anna Dressed in Blood seems to be getting a lot of attention as well, and Dark Lord looks quite hilarious.

Junior

Spindlewood Witches 1: Pip and the Wood Witch Curse, Chris Mould (Hachette).
Spindlewood Witches 2: Pip and the Twilight Seekers, Chris Mould (Hachette).
Spindlewood Witches 3: Pip and the Lost Children, Chris Mould (Hachette).
Monster Swap 2: Zainab and Mash, Jonny Zucker (Hachette).
Creepella von Cacklefur 1: Thirteen Ghosts, Geronimo Stilton (Scholastic).
Sophie and the Shadow Woods: The Icicle Imps, Linda Chapman & Lee Weatherly (Harper Collins).
Mega Mash-Up: Pirates vs Ancient Egyptians in a Haunted Museum, Nikalas Catlow & Tim Wesson (Allen & Unwin).

Middle and YA

Dark Lord: The Teenage Years, Jamie Thomson (Hachette).
Final Friends Volume 2, Christopher Pike (Hachette).
Rats, Paul Zindel (Hachette).
Anna Dressed in Blood, Kendare Blake (Hachette).
Witch Hunter Chronicles 2: The Army of the Undead, Stuart Daly, (Random House).
This Dark Endeavour: The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein, Kenneth Oppel (Random House).
Scorch Trials, James Dashner (Scholastic).
Dark Inside, Jeyn Roberts (Macmillan).
Vampire Diaries - The Hunters Vol. 1: The Phantom, L.J. Smith (Harper Collins).
Poison Diaries 2: Nightshade, Maryrose Wood (Harper Collins).
Morganville Vampires 11: Last Breath, Rachel Caine (Penguin).
Strange Angels 5: The Reckoning, Lili St. Crow (Penguin).
The Caster Chronicles 3: Beautiful Chaos, Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl (Penguin).
Dust & Decay, Jonathan Mayberry (Simon & Schuster).
Awfully Beastly Business #4: Jungle Vampire, The Beastly Boys (Simon & Schuster).
Awfully Beastly Business #5: Big Beast Sale, The Beastly Boys (Simon & Schuster).

Non Fiction
Encyclopaedia of the Unexplained, Judy Allen (Scholastic).

Anthology
Ghost Hunt 2: More Chilling Tales of the Unknown, Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson (Hachette).
Dust ‘n’ Bones: Ten Ghost Stories, Chris Mould (Hachette).
Vampires: The Original Classics, Various (Simon & Schuster).

Tommy Donbavand Scream Street Blog Tour

2011-10-25T09:00:00.000+11:00

I think Scream Street is just the killer bee's knees. It's the perfect read for younger kids looking for something a little spooky and a lot funny, so I was a somewhat saddened to learn that the thirteenth book, Flame of the Dragon, will be the last in the series. Luckily my blues were lifted and I was returned to my normal shade of zombie green by the news that Tommy has written a Scream Street short story to be released in thirteen parts over thirteen days.

If you haven't been following it already, head back to the Scream Street website to read it from the beginning. But if you're already up to date, settle in for part seven of the Scream Street tale, Shiver of the Phantom...

***

Chapter Seven

The Boss

Henry Horatio Harper turned and began to shuffle away across the central square. Luke, Resus and Cleo hurried after him.

“Lunchtime?” asked Cleo, catching up with the phantom. “You mean the bell rings like that at this time every day?”

Henry nodded, his top hat wobbling. “Not that you’d be able to hear it; it’s a phantom bell.”
“A phantom bell for phantom lunch hour?” said Luke. “Please don’t think I’m being rude, but lunch hour from what?”

The ghost continued his shuffling walk. “From haunting,” he said. “What else?”

Resus looked surprised. “You mean you’re doomed to haunt the houses of Scream Street?”

“Not doomed,” said Henry. “Although there are days when I feel like that.”

“So, how does it work?” asked Luke.

Henry sighed. “I work for a company called Haunting in Scream Street – or HISS for short. Haunting houses around here is my job.”

“And you get a lunch break from it?” asked Resus. “That’s ridiculous!”

Henry stopped and stared hard at Resus. “Have you been talking to my boss?”

“No,” said Resus. “Why?”

“He wants to do away with our lunch hour as well.” The phantom turned and continued walking. “And if I don’t get back to work soon, he won’t let me take my exam.”

“I still don’t understand,” said Cleo, catching up with the ghost again. “What exam?”

“All ghosts start out at the bottom,” Henry explained miserably. “It’s called spirit level one. Over the centuries you can take haunting exams to rise up to spirit level two and beyond.”

“What do the levels mean?” asked Luke.

“They determine what kind of haunting jobs we get to do,” replied Henry. “Level one ghosts can only make things go bump in the night, but when you go up to level two, you get to go ‘Whoooooo!’ between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m., throw one item a night and spook pets by blowing in their faces.”

“And level three?” asked Cleo.

“Light chain work and creepy footsteps.”

“I get it!” said Resus. “Going up a spirit level is like getting a promotion.”

“That’s it,” said Henry.

“And the longer you’ve been a ghost, the more you get promoted,” said Cleo.

“Exactly,” said Henry.

“How long have you been a ghost?” asked Luke.

“Just short of three hundred years.”

“And what spirit level are you at now?” asked Cleo.

Henry looked as though he might cry again. “Level one.”

“Ah,” said Resus.

The phantom sighed. “I’d love the chance to scare a cat, but they just ignore me – like everybody else. I’ll never get to go ‘Whoooooo!’”

“Of course you will,” said Cleo. “All you’ve got to do is pass your exam. It can’t be that hard...”

“Then why has he failed it over a thousand times?” roared a voice. Henry began to tremble as another figure shimmered into existence in front of the group. “And why is he late for his last chance to take it?”

***

Oh no! How will it all end? Will Henry ever get to level two in his Spirit Levels? Make sure you head on over to Tall Tales and Short Stories tomorrow for the next part of the story!

Review - The Fear by Charlie Higson

2011-10-19T19:00:00.000+11:00

The Eulogy (From the Publisher):
HE DOESN'T KNOW IT, BUT DOGNUT IS ABOUT TO SET OFF A CHAIN OF EVENTS THAT WILL AFFECT EVERY KID IN THE CITY.
The sickness struck everyone over the age of fourteen.
Mothers and fathers, older brothers, sisters and best friends. No one escaped its touch. And now children across London are being hunted by ferocious grown-ups . . .
THEY'RE HUNGRY. THEY'RE BLOODTHIRSTY AND THEY AREN'T GIVING UP
DogNut and the rest of his crew want to find their lost friends, on a deadly mission from the Tower of London to Buckingham Palace and beyond, as the sickos lie in wait.
But who are their friends and who are the enemy in this changed world?

In a Nutshell: Brilliant. Just read it. Now.

Dearly Departed,
We are gathered here today to discuss The Fear by Charlie Higson. Charlie, Charlie, Charlie. How do you do it? Every time I read one of the books in this wonderful zombie series, I'm simply floored by how he writes. Mostly, it's in the characters - these books have a huge cast of characters, but at no point do any of these characters feel like they're just filler. Every single one of them has their own story to tell in the zombie apocalypse, and Higson has such a knack for writing characters that feel so real. The exchanges between characters and the glimpses we see of their thoughts makes you really want them to survive, though in a book like this you know that not all of them will make it to the last page.

The first book in the series, The Enemy (technically, though, this is the third in chronological order) really blew me away due to its no-holds-barred approach to killing off characters. Nobody was safe, and I think that's what makes for damn good horror. You really come to care for the characters and don't want to see anything bad happen to them. But when the bad does happen, it's still pretty spectacular. Some of the gory scenes in this book are just top notch - rather than just excess blood and guts, they're original gross-out stuff, particularly DogNut's flashbacks to what he finds in the bank cellar.

Reading this has made me want to go back and reread the rest of the series so I can see how all the stories intertwine. Higson really is a masterful storyteller, one of the best, and you never find yourself wanting to get back to other groups' stories, which is a common gripe of mine in multi-POV stories.

Truly top-notch zombie horror, and I'm very pleased to see there will be another book in the series out next year.

Author Interview - J.B. Thomas

2011-10-17T09:00:00.000+11:00

I am going to go on record and name last month Aussie Horror Author Month, because two excellent YA horror/dark fantasy authors burst onto the scene with their début novels, and while two may not seem a staggering amount, it's a lot by Australian YA standards. One was Rhiannon Hart, who was interviewed here earlier this month, and the other was J.B. Thomas with Mammon, the brilliant first book in her Ferryman Chronicles.

I was blown away by the demon mythology J.B. created in her book, and so I thought I'd stalk her and question her at length. Enjoy!

***

Can you tell us a bit about your latest book?
Mammon is the first in a series of dark fantasy novels called The Ferryman Chronicles. I started writing it three years ago with two ideas in mind: that there would be a character that could open and control dimensional rifts, and that humans would become demons. The rest grew from there.

What would be written on your main character’s gravestone?
(She) hath awakened from the dream of life, by the poet, Shelley. I put ‘she’ in brackets because the original quote uses ‘he’. Yes, I think this is a suitable epitaph for Grace. Life for her, as a telepath, has a dreamlike quality (and is, at times, nightmarish).

Why do you write horror?
Because I think that elements of horror exist around us, for real. Now, there may not be demons out there (at least, not that we can see) but just take a look at the news and you will see the terror. I like to link my stories to the horror of the real world through symbolism, metaphor and allegory – so they’re still enjoyable stories but also have layers of meanings that we can discuss and think about.

Have you ever had your own spooky experience?
No, but I know some scary Irish ghost stories told to me by my husband’s family. One involves a haunted house, a cold, dark bedroom and the feeling that someone is rolling a pillow up your leg, your stomach and eventually reaching your throat…but you’re the only person in the room.

What is your favourite book of the past month? The past year? All time?
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy. I say this because I have never found an author who could show such a brilliant understanding of how people think and act. My love affair with Russia began years ago when I was in my late teens. Tolstoy (not to mention Dostoevsky) has done much to keep that fire burning.

What does your writing space look like?
As I see it now: I’m in a blue room with a giant iMac on the desk. It dominates! Honestly, the thing is huge. I didn’t realize this when I ordered it. There are lots of books in here (d’uh!) – and the kitchen (and, more importantly, the Nespresso machine) is within a few steps. George, my Great Dane is cuddled on his armchair that he has pretty much ruined under his mammoth weight. I can hear QI on the TV (yes, I’m one of those people who can write with the TV on in the background) and there’s macaroni cheese in the oven. Yum!

What’s the scariest book you’ve ever read?
James Herbert’s books are frightening. The Rats is good because no matter where you go, there’s always the scratching and gnawing at the floorboards below. It’s about the unrelenting realization that it’s only a matter of time before they get you.

What’s your biggest fear?
Kidnap and torture – when you cannot reason with the person who is torturing you…and it could go on for weeks, even years. Also, being eaten alive. It’s the fact that you know what’s happening to you and you can’t do anything about it. My high demon, however, sees these activities as afternoon entertainment.

What are you working on right now?
I am working on Book 2 of the Ferryman Chronicles.

You can find out more about J.B. Thomas' books at http://jbthomasmammon.com and read a sample chapter of Mammon here:

A book by Booki.sh

Review - Mammon

2011-10-15T15:36:00.000+11:00

The Eulogy (From the Publisher):
Forget anything you ever heard about possession, exorcisms, salt circles and pentagrams. The modern demon is far more difficult to catch - and even harder to destroy.
After the savage, tragic deaths of their parents, Grace and Joe Callahan learn that they they are descendants of the sarsareh - an ancient order of mercenaries who hunt very special prey. Grace and Joe take their place in the Order, but are treated with hostility and fear by other recruits.
For the Callahan siblings have powers that fascinate and terrify.
Joe is a Ferryman, capable of opening dimensional rifts, while Grace's telepathic abilities surpass anything the Order has ever seen.
To complicate matters, Grace falls for her older, more experienced squad leader, Ivan. Meanwhile, the sarsareh elders have their own plans for Joe.
But none of that will matter if the powerful demon Mammon manages to convince Joe to open a gateway to his demon world and overrun Earth with his armies.
If he succeeds: game over.

The Epitaph (In a Nutshell): A great start in a new Australian series with truly original demon mythology.

Dearly Departed,
We are gathered here today to discuss Mammon by J.B. Thomas. This is a fantastic dark fantasy debut from Australian author J.B. Thomas. I was fascinated by the mythology in Mammon – the fact that demons aren’t summoned, but merely come to be when a regular person is evil enough. The Renfield Academy, with its prison of psychopathic demons and its core staff of psychics and mercenaries is the perfect backdrop for this exciting demon tale. It’s also a real thrill to see a great core of villains, and the demon Mammon and his assistants are some exquisitely evil characters – in one memorable scene onboard a ship he throws a servant into the ocean for ruining his favourite shirt.

For horror fans, this first book in the new Ferryman Chronicles is a must – great world-building, high-stakes action, and some wonderfully wicked villains!

Terrifying Tuesdays

2011-10-11T21:12:00.001+11:00

This week I've been reading Raven's Gate, the first book in the Power of Five series by Anthony Horowitz. This is one of those books I've picked up two times already and never got past the first couple of pages... I'm not quite sure why, since I'm now a good few chapters into it and I'm loving the slow building of suspicion against the devilish Mrs Deverill and the weird town of Lesser Malling, such as the bizarre chemist that Matt walks into:

He found a flask filled with yellow liquid and turned it round, the almost cried out as a severed eye floated to the surface, kissing the edge of the glass. The eye had been taken from a sheep or a cow. It was trailing tissue behind it. Matt felt sick.

Review - Hell's Heroes

2011-10-06T19:00:00.000+11:00

The Eulogy (From the Publisher):

Beranabus and Dervish are gone. Bec has formed an unholy alliance with Lord Loss. Kernel is blind, held on Earth against his will. Grubbs is mad with grief and spinning out of control.

The demons are crossing.
The Disciples are falling.
The Shadow is waiting.

Welcome to the end.

The Epitaph (In a Nutshell): A highly satisfying ending to what is one of my all-time favourite series.

Dearly Departed,

We are gathered here today to discuss Hell's Heroes by Darren Shan. I'd been putting off reading this for some time. Not because I didn't want to read it - quite the opposite: Demonata is one of my favourite series, and I just didn't want it to end. But after feeling a little restless for something good to read, I finally picked it up yesterday... and didn't put it down until a few hours later when I'd raced through it.

Nobody knows how to write at such a cracking pace quite like Darren Shan. I can honestly say the time flew as I ripped through the final chapter in Grubbs, Kernel and Bec's fight against the Demon universe. If you've read the rest of the series, you'll know exactly what to expect from this last book, and while there are no big surprises here, that's not necessarily a bad thing.

One of my pet peeves in YA is when a favourite character dies, and no fanfare is made (I'm looking at YOU Hunger Games!) but thankfully that isn't the case in Hell's Heroes. Without being too spoilery, yes, characters die (this is a Darren Shan novel after all) but all of them are given the proper sendoffs they deserve.

While I'm sad to say goodbye to this excellent series, I felt this was a very fitting end and I can't wait to see what Shan will do next.

Author Interview - Rhiannon Hart

2011-10-05T19:00:00.000+11:00

Every so often a book comes along that I enjoy so much I can't help but laugh and clap my hands in glee, which does make it hard to keep the book open, but that's the price you pay for delight.

Earlier this year I was lucky enough to laugh and clap my hands over a book called Blood Song by Rhiannon Hart, an excellent dark fantasy début from an Australian author, and those who have heard my rant before know how excited I get about Aussie YA authors straying into horror and dark fantasy territory. Of course, I couldn't let such a wonderful brain stay untouched by my lobotomy tools, so here are the inner workings of Rhiannon's mind for you all to enjoy!

***

Can you tell us a bit about your latest (published) book?
My debut novel came out this month and it's called Blood Song. It's a YA fantasy novel about a princess who travels to a faraway country, feeling both curiosity about and dread for what she might find there. In doing so she puts her sister in peril and meets an infuriating young man who seems to have all the answers but isn't letting on one single thing.

What would be written on your main character’s gravestone?
Drat.

Why do you write horror/dark fantasy?
Because there's nothing like a good monster! Blood Song is pretty light-on with horror but there are some monstery-nommy-blooded scenes towards the end. One in particular is a cross between a extreme religious ceremony and a Marilyn Manson concert.

Have you ever had your own spooky experience?
When I saw The Ring at the cinema a few years ago I came out onto Swanston Street in Melbourne from Bourke St and all the trams were lying dead in the middle of the street and the whole place was oddly deserted. I had a mini freak-out that the apocalypse had arrived, but it was just a power failure. (OK, I was a tiny bit disappointed.)

What is your favourite book of the past month? The past year? All time?
I'll have to name horror novels seeing as this is a Spinechills Q&A. The best one I've read in the past year would be The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey. Holy bejeesus, can you say uber-Victorian Gothic? The monsters, Anthropophagi, are walking chests with teeth and they are NASTY. Recently I've read more fantasy, but I have watched Dead Set, a British zombie mini-series set in the Big Brother house. Fast zombies, fast reanimation, a cast of super-annoying people that get nommed for your gratuitous viewing pleasure. The next horror novel up on my list is The Enemy by Charlie Higson and I have heard such good things about it.

What does your writing space look like?
It's really lame. Either at the dining room table or the desk in my room. When my room is a mess I move to the dining room. (I'm in the dining room right now. It's been a roller coaster of a month...) I do have a nice chair though. When I'm a grown up author I'll get a proper space and keep it tidy. Or something.

What’s the scariest book you’ve ever read?
You know, I can't think of one! I get more wigged out by scary movies. I am busting to see Grave Encounters, a sort of Blair Witch-handycam type movie set in a disused psych ward. No Australian release date just yet though. Curses!

What’s your biggest fear?
Long, dark corridors. I freak the hell out at work when I'm the last person to leave.

What are you working on right now? Or, if you’d prefer not to say, please tell me what’s going on in the Rorschach test.

It's a giant, yeti-footed badger spewing a laser out of its mouth. I mean, surely that's obvious!? I can tell you a little about my other project too. It's two "chapters" of a ghost anthology that four writers are contributing too. Sort of a communal novel. I am thrilled to have been asked and double-thrilled it's ghosties. And YA too, huzzah!

Find out more about Rhiannon Hart's books at http://rhiannon-hart.blogspot.com/.

Terrifying Tuesdays

2011-10-04T22:29:00.001+11:00

It's that time again where I quote to you in sepulchral tones from my current horror read, this time from book #10 in Darren Shan's Demonata series, Hell's Heroes:

As her face swings into view, I see what disturbed them. Her features have altered. There's another face poking out of the flesh and bones. It's still forming the skin around the cheeks bulging and warping. But I recognise it in spite of all the blood and goo.
"Bec!"

-pg. 88

Review - Blood Song

2011-10-04T22:09:00.000+11:00

The Eulogy (From the Publisher): I wanted to turn but I was held captive by the song on the wind. I’m coming, I told the voices. Please, wait for me.
When her sister becomes betrothed to a prince in a northern nation, Zeraphina’s only consolations are that her loyal animal companions are by her side – and that her burning hunger to travel north is finally being sated.

Already her black hair and pale eyes mark her out as different, but now Zeraphina must be even more careful to keep her secret safe. Craving blood is not considered normal behaviour for anyone, let alone a princess. So when the king’s advisor, Rodden, seems to know more about her condition than she does, Zeraphina is determined to find out more.

Zeraphina must be willing to sacrifice everything if she’s to uncover the truth – but what if the truth is beyond her worst nightmares?

In a Nutshell: A highly enjoyable dark fantasy that is a mix between Pride and Prejudice and Tamora Pierce.

Dearly Departed,
We are gathered here today to discuss Blood Song, by Rhiannon Hart. A while ago I was whinging about the lack of Aussie YA fantasy coming out, and how I really just wanted to sink my teeth into something amazing. Well! The book gods obviously heard my cries and answered with Blood Song, though I think this wonderful gem had less to do with book gods and more to do with superb début author Rhiannon Hart.

I was hooked straight away by feisty heroine Zeraphina. A pet hate of mine is when female characters are Pillars of Perfection: they do all the right things, are completely selfless and will bend over backwards to help others. No thanks. Give me a character who has her own best interests at heart any day, because she feels a lot more likeable. Zeraphina struggles with the fact that she knows she's not the perfect sister and daughter she should be, but thankfully she doesn't let that knowledge stop her from doing exactly what she wants.

Not only has Hart created some tremendously likeable characters here, she's also crafted a fantasy world that feels fresh and interesting. The mythology of the Lharmellans felt so well done, and the descriptions of these gruesome creatures were utterly compelling.

I raced through this wonderful book, and the end came all too soon. Can't wait for the sequel!

October Horror New Releases

2011-10-01T19:31:00.000+10:00

These are the horror new releases for October.

What I'm excited about: Well, Doc Mortis, of course. The Invisible Fiends series is one of my favourites, so I can't wait to see what horrors this next one has in store. Ashes is also promising to be brilliant, and I'm intrigued at the concept behind Alex Van Helsing, so I can't wait to get my claws on a copy!

Junior & Middle

Never Kick a Ghost and Other Silly Chillers, Judy Sierra & Constantin Pascale (Harper Collins).

Spooky Things to Make and Do, Usborne (Harper Collins).

Spooky Snap, Usborne (Harper Collins).

Monsters Colouring Book, Kirsten Rogers (Harper Collins).

Haunted House Sticker Book. Kirsten Rogers (Harper Collins).

Spooky, Spooky House, Andrew Weale (Random House).

A Tale Dark and Grimm, Adam Gidwitz (Random House).

Geronimo Stilton 46: The Haunted Castle, Geronimo Stilton (Scholastic).

Goosebumps Hall of Horrors 3: The Five Masks of Dr. Screem, R.L. Stine (Scholastic).

Fragoline and the Midnight Dream, Clemency Pearce (Scholastic).

Tomorrow Girls 1: Behind the Gates, Eva Gray (Scholastic).

Frightfully Friendly Ghosties: School of Meanies, Darren King (Macmillan).

Undead Ed and the Demon Freakshow, David Grimstone (Hachette).

Young Adult

Invisible Fiends 4: Doc Mortis, Barry Hutchison (Harper Collins).

Alex Van Helsing: Vampire Rising, Jason Henderson (Harper Collins).

Taken Away, Celine Kiernan (Allen & Unwin).

Skeleton Creek 4: The Raven, Patrick Carman (Scholastic).

Ashes, Ilsa J Bick (Macmillan).

Key to Starveldt, Foz Meadows (Ford Street).

Alone: Quarantine, James Phelan (Hachette).

Anthologies

Bones: Terrifying Tales to Haunt Your Dreams, Lois Metzger [ed.], R.L. Stine, David Levithan, Margaret Mahy [contributors] (Scholastic).

Australian Ghost Stories, Linsay Knight [ed.] (Random House).

Haunted Puppet Theatre: Scream Street

2011-10-01T09:13:00.000+10:00

Many months have past and I have been untroubled by haunted puppet activity. Of course, I came up with a cunning plan to rid myself of their nefarious ways - I simply burned the house down. Oh yes. I laughed as they burned, their tiny puppety screams filling the night air. There was just one small problem.

I had neglected to check if the house was empty first.

My roommate's family had been visiting from interstate, and it was their screams that I heard rather than those of the felt fiends.

And now I write this from a very small cell. At first I'd been somewhat relieved - no room for puppets in here. But you see, I was wrong. For the cell may be very small, but the puppets are even smaller. Plenty of room for them in here, and no-one to hear me scream...

Author Interview - David Gatward

2011-09-25T19:00:00.000+10:00

For a while now I've wanted to do a series of Q&As with my favourite authors of the macabre, those fiendish ones who see it as their duty to warp the minds of the young and innocent.

And now, thanks to a pact I may or may not have made with certain otherworldly entities, I present you the first in my Famous Last Words: Author Interview series!

The first body on the slab is David Gatward, author of the brilliant The Dead series (The Dead, The Dark and The Damned), and more recently the wonderful adventure e-books Booksurfers.

Let the interrogation begin!

***

Can you tell us a bit about your latest book?

It's my Booksurfers thing. Having done Treasure Island and Wizard of Oz it was very exciting to this time approach the legend that is Robin Hood. Why? Because I got to write not just the Booksurfers adventure, but my very own version of the Robin Hood legend! How ace is that? Er... very, actually! It's just come out this week, so seriously exciting. Next is A Christmas Carol, where I send the Booksurfers in to Dickens' great story. And, fingers crossed, there'll be more to come next year!

Why do you write horror?

I seem unable to escape the darker side of things! I can't dream up happy, nice stories. I like putting characters in a bad place and seeing how they react given their circumstances, views, beliefs. I also like monsters that bite your head off.

Have you ever had your own spooky experience?
Two ghosts seen! One was a man in a black suit under a large tree who appeared one sunny afternoon while I was mowing a lawn. The other was a woman in a blue dress who appeared in a caravan I was living in. Nice!

What would be written on your main character’s gravestone?
Don't give up your free will to Fate.

What is your favourite book of the past month? The past year? All time?
Past month = Swamp Foetus (Poppy Z Brite)
Past year = Let The Right One In (John Ajvide Lindqvist)
All time = Impossible to even begin to approach such a question!

What does your writing space look like?
I share an office with my wife, so in all honesty it's a little space I clear amongst her paperwork so I can put my laptop down on a desk! I dream of having my own little office, but space and £ are key factors! One day... oh yes...

What’s the scariest book you’ve ever read?
The Woman in Black (Susan Hill)

What are you working on right now? Or, if you’d prefer not to say, please tell me what’s going on in the Rorschach test:

I'm doing the edits for my next Hodder book, out next summer, working on a ghost-writing project due out next summer and which has to be finished for end December, working up a number of ideas I've got, and creating an entirely new breed of evil dog. Rorschach = a giant rat staring down at me hungrily...

David Gatward, thanks for spending a little time on the slab at Spinechills!

Find out more about David's books at www.davidgatward.com or check out his facebook page here.

A Frightfully Good Festival

2011-09-22T15:31:00.002+10:00

Have you ever seen the undead chair a book panel?

If you're finding yourself at a loss for what to do this Friday & Saturday, come on down to the Northcote Town Hall where the wonderful A Thousand Words Festival will be happening. It's a celebration of all things young adult books, so you know it will be great, plus yours truly will be speaking on and hosting a couple of panels.

Check out the details here: www.athousandwordsfestival.com.au.

Terrifying Tuesdays

2011-09-16T10:40:00.000+10:00

Uh, yep! On a Friday! Because sometimes my inability to remember the days of the week is... terrifying!

This week's quote is from Mammon, a fantastic demon horror book from first-time Australian author J.B. Thomas (review to come!):

Grace could feel the demon looking at her. She could see the frosty breath coming from the demon's mouth, could feel its chill climbing the walls. Despite the warning, she turned and met the inmate's gaze. They eyes seemed to radiate a wave of dark energy that hit her, bringing a cramp to her stomach and a burning sensation in her eyes. And the voice... the hissing, growling that seemed to echo inside her mind. She doubled over, clutching her stomach. 'She wants to kill me,' she whispered.

What, Didn't You Know Zombies Hibernate?

2011-09-16T10:32:00.000+10:00

I've been braving the internet winter by quietly decomposing under a pile of leaf litter. While I do hate posts on blogs apologising for not maintaining content (since surely the time spent writing an apology could be used for writing a blog post) I feel compelled to write this to PLEAD with my many tens of readers to forgive me for my absence, and to basically fill you in on what I've been doing:

I have been busy writing and editing my next book. It's called Bureau of Mysteries, and it's a steampunk puzzle adventure for 8 and ups which will be out Feb next year through Random House Australia under my HJ Harper name. It contains the following (though not necessarily in this order):

Codes for you to solve alongside the story
A Mechanical Octopus
Sea Monsters
Ghosts
A Flying Dragon Machine
Puns Aplenty!

At the same time, I have been on the board of a very cool festival called A Thousand Words Festival. It's a two day event celebrating YA literature, and it's got some fantastic authors such as Michael Pryor and Cath Crowley. Check out more about it here. I'll be hosting a couple of panels from things as diverse as blogging and whether or not you need a blog to get published, to an Iron Chef inspired live write-off, where two authors go head to head, and I get the audience to heckle them. Fun! Madness! Chaos!

So that is what I have been mostly doing with my time, Chilldren. Believe me when I say I have been DEATHLY missing staying in touch with the wonderful horror community, but, like the zombie I am, I will rise again soon from my brief nap, and you can expect a whole lot more reviews and some new Haunted Puppet Shows (this means you, Tommy Donbavand!)

Review - Dark Inside

2011-09-03T09:00:00.001+10:00

The Eulogy (From the Publisher):
Since mankind began, civilizations have always fallen: the Romans, the Greeks, the Aztecs…Now it’s our turn. Huge earthquakes rock the world. Cities are destroyed. But something even more awful is happening. An ancient evil has been unleashed, turning everday people into hunters, killers, crazies.
Mason's mother is dying after a terrible car accident. As he endures a last vigil at her hospital bed, his school is bombed and razed to the ground, and everyone he knows is killed. Aries survives an earthquake aftershock on a bus, and thinks the worst is over when a mysterious stranger pulls her out of the wreckage, but she’s about to discover a world changed forever. Clementine, the only survivor of an emergency town hall meeting that descends into murderous chaos, is on the run from savage strangers who used to be her friends and neighbors. And Michael witnesses a brutal road rage incident that is made much worse by the arrival of the police--who gun down the guilty party and then turn on the bystanding crowd.
Where do you go for justice when even the lawmakers have turned bad? These four teens are on the same road in a world gone mad. Struggling to survive, clinging on to love and meaning wherever it can be found, this is a journey into the heart of darkness – but also a journey to find each other and a place of safety.

The Epitaph (In a Nutshell): A compelling survival horror that puts an interesting spin on the zombie genre.

Dearly Departed,
We are gathered here today to discuss Dark Inside by Jeyn Roberts. I love a good survival horror, and this certainly had me on the edge of my seat as I waited to see what would eventually happen to each of the characters. I liked the stories told through the eyes of the four different characters, and I especially enjoyed their moments of realisation that something was going seriously wrong in this world.

The 'zombies' in this book aren't the dead who have risen to walk the earth, but instead are regular people who have been infected with a kind of rage. I would've liked a little more explanation of how this came about, because even when you reach the end you're left asking more than a few questions, but this withholding of knowledge does serve to create a nice atmosphere of fear and helplessness.

What I particularly liked about this version of the apocalypse was the attention to detail, which is something that often gets overlooked in stories like these. The characters' need to change clothes because they smell (or got peed on), the crappy food they're forced to eat, and one character's death due to a pre-existing medical condition were all well thought out details that helped make this end of the world feel like a realistic one.

September Horror New Releases

2011-09-01T21:00:00.000+10:00

These are the horror new releases for September.

What I'm Excited About: Something I constantly feel a little undwhelmed by is the amount of Australian kids' and YA horror that's being published (i.e. none). Well this month I have absolutely no reason to feel underwhelmed because there are two phenomenal horror titles from debut Aussie authors. I've already read Blood Song by Rhiannon Hart and I was absolutely blown away by the dark fantasy world within. I've just begun Mammon, but already I can see I'm going to love it. The writing is phenomenal, and the premise is one of those highly original and enthralling ideas you'll wish you had yourself!

Junior & Middle

The Considine Curse, Gareth P. Jones (Allen & Unwin).

Sounds Spooky, Cheng & Davis (Random).

Young Adult

Vampire Labyrinth: Oracle, G.P. Taylor (A&U).

Gamerunner, B.R. Collins (A&U).

Haunting Emma: Deception, Lee Nichols (A&U)

Daniel X: Demons and Druids, James Patterson (Ran).

Bloodsong: First Book of Lharmell, Rhiannon Hart (Ran).

Mammon, J.B. Thomas (Ran).

Vampirates 6: Immortal War, Justin Somper (Simon & Schuster).

Everfound, Neal Shusterman (S&S).

Fury, Elizabeth Miles (S&S).

Review - CRYPT

2011-08-31T09:00:00.001+10:00

The Eulogy (From the Publisher):
Meet Jud Lester: Paranormal Investigator.

When a crime is committed and the police are at a loss, the Covert Response Youth Paranormal Team (or CRYPT for short) is called in to figure out whether something paranormal is at work. Jud is their star agent. Jud, unwillingly paired with new recruit Bex, has just landed his biggest case yet...people have been disappearing in mysterious circumstances while others are viciously attacked - yet there are no suspects and a complete lack of hard evidence. The only thing that links each attack is the fact that survivors all claim that the culprits were 17th century highwaymen. Can Jud and Bex work out what has caused the spirits of these dangerous men to return to the streets of London before they wreak more death and destruction?

The Epitaph (In a Nutshell): A great start to what will prove to be an excellent paranormal investigation series. Also, the gore is spot on!

Dearly Departed,

We are gathered here today to discuss CRYPT: The Gallows Curse by Andrew Hammond. It took me a little bit to get into this - the prologue felt a little too info-heavy for me, and I would've liked it woven into the story more naturally. But once I got to the first ghostly highwayman attack, I was back on track and loving it. I've made no attempts to hide my love of gore in the past, and this book has some wonderfully gory scenes - the shorter chapters containing ghost attacks are like little jewels in the crown of the story. My standout favourite scene has to be when one of the ghosts pulls a woman into a wall. The description of it is brilliant, and has to be read to be believed.

Jud did get on my nerves a little, but then, I think he was supposed to - the cocky, angry son of a billionaire who gets everywhere on a speeding motorbike and tends to rate fellow female CRYPT operatives on how attractive they are is probably not going to be anyone's best friend. But he did grow on me as the story progressed, and I enjoyed the partnership between him and Bex.

In all, this is a solid start to what should prove to be a very interesting series. The premise of the book and the mythology of its secret society is one that will immediately appeal to fans of action horror, myself included, and I eagerly await more adventures from Jud, Bex, and the rest of the Covert Response Youth Paranormal Team.

Terrifying Tuesdays

2011-08-30T17:48:00.000+10:00

It's that time of week again, where I pick a particularly memorable quote from the book I'm currently reading. This week the quote is from Dark Inside by Jeyn Roberts:

'Twiggy took back the scrapbook and turned a few more pages until he came to a picture of total devastation. A woman held her dead child in her arms, her face taut as she tried to keep from falling apart. Dead bodies were lined in a row behind her. People stumbled around the debris, desperately searching out their loved ones. Another picture - the bodies of two young girls, side by side - rotting in the streets because there was no one around to bury them.'

-p 154

Review - Takeshita Demons 2: The Filth Licker

2011-08-24T18:00:00.002+10:00

The Eulogy (From the Publisher): Continues the gripping story of Miku's fight against the Takeshita Demons, with a terrifying array of new demons to overcome.
Miku is going to School Camp in the forest, with her friend Cait and the rest of her class. It should be fun. But Miku has premonitions of danger, and when Oscar goes down with a festering rash, and a rushing wind blows out the bonfire she's sure something bad is going on. Then Alex finds the frog-like Filth-Licker in the boys' toilets, and all at once Miku, Cait and Alex are on a secret mission to overcome the vengeful Shape-Shifters or Super Demons before it's too late… Later that night, with Alex kidnapped by a pyromaniac fox, and Cait possessed by some angry sickle weasels, it's up to Miku and the Filth-Licker to save them all from disaster.

The Epitaph (In a Nutshell): An original, chilling series which is packed full of interesting mythology and great characters.

Dearly Departed,

We are gathered here today to discuss The Filth Licker by Cristy Burne. Takeshita Demons, the first book in this series, was one of the most original books I read last year. Not only was it brilliantly written and packed full of fascinating Japanese mythology, it was genuinely spooky! So you can imagine how eager I’ve been to review the sequel, The Filth Licker, and I’m pleased to say that this series is just getting better and better.

The Filth Licker is packed full of even more Japanese demons, some helpful, some decidedly less so, and I loved the way the unfamiliar names and quirks of the monsters are slipped into the story without it ever feeling like a mythology lesson. I actually walked away from this feeling like I’d learnt something, while also being highly entertained, which to me means that Cristy Burne has done the impossible.

I also loved seeing the relationships grow between the characters. In the last book, Cait had been a true friend to Miku, fighting demons by her side. But now she seems more interested in how many pairs of jeans to pack, and pretends to have no memory of their demon-fighting days. To everyone’s surprise, Miku’s real ally turns out to be Alex, her annoying bully, who knows a lot more about Japanese demons than he’s been letting on. The exchanges between them really makes you grow to love these characters , and there’s one scene in particular involving a giant monkey demon, stolen thoughts and spilled secrets that had me laughing out loud.

There’s a scene where Miku tells the tale of the Hyaku Monogatari, the Hundred Tales ceremony which summons a malevolent force, and somebody commends her on it by telling her it was, ‘Clean, no gore, and very spooky.’ I feel like the Takeshita Demons series is a lot like that – one of the rare horror stories that you can safely hand to younger readers without fear of threats from angry parents, but at the same time is genuinely packed full of spooky stuff. This is a series that is both highly original and wonderfully entertaining, and I can’t wait for the release of book three, Monster Matsuri in June next year.

Terrifying Tuesdays

2011-08-23T21:04:00.000+10:00

It's that time of week again, where I pick a particularly memorable quote from the book I'm currently reading. This week the quote is from Takeshita Demons 2: The Filth Licker by Cristy Burne:

'Like I said, they're not ordinary weasels. They're fast, they're intelligent. And they work together, focusing their powers to control the wind or possess a body, living or dead. Plus they're carnivores. Bloodeaters.'
'Do their heads come off?' Alex asked quizzically, as if he was weighing up our chances.
'Not this time. They don't need to. Their whole body can whirl through the air faster than you can see, and they'll slash at your arms and legs with their scythes, mining for blood.'

-pg 123

Review - Booksurfers 2: The Wonderful Wizard of OZ

2011-08-07T20:54:00.002+10:00

The Eulogy (From the Publishers):
The Booksurfers have barely dusted the sand off their clothes from Treasure Island before they are flung into another mission for the evil Dr Crookshanks. They land in the strange, magical and altogether pretty freaky Land of Oz, and if they don’t get Dorothy’s ruby slippers back to Crookshanks, they will never see their parents again! This time the Booksurfers aren’t just watching the action – they’ve become the main characters. Jake’s got no brains, Becca’s being ever so nice (for once), Ryan’s crying because he stood on a beetle and Harriet’s attacking strangers!

Ever wondered what it would be like to not just read a book, but actually experience it? Throughout these books you'll find something rather ingenious: hyperlinks. They're pretty easy to spot; look out for an underlined word or phrase or sentence. And whenever you see one, you can just click on it, and - KA-POW! - you'll be zipped into the actual book the Booksurfers are exploring at the exact point they are discovering it! Have fun tagging along; you never know what story you'll end up in next...

The Epitaph (In a Nutshell): A fun, original idea that is even better than the first in the Booksurfers series.

Dearly Departed,
We are gathered here today to discuss Booksurfers: The Wonderful Wizard of OZ by David Gatward. Check out my review of Booksurfers: Treasure Island to see my original thoughts about this series and its excellent overall concept.

I think I enjoyed Wonderful Wizard of OZ even more than Treasure Island. While I haven't read either original texts, I've at least seen the film version of this, which I was pleasantly surprised to find differs quite a bit from the book - I had no idea that Dorothy's slippers were originally silver, but that they were changed to red for technicolour.

At the start I was a little disappointed that Harriet, who is quickly becoming my favourite character, didn't step into the role of Dorothy since this was one of her favourite books. But as it went on, I could see why Becca made the perfect Dorothy, and the result is hilarious.

I love the major point of difference in this from the first in the series: whereas in Treasure Island the four of them had to follow around various characters, in this they actually step into the role of Dorothy, Tin Man, Scarecrow and Cowardly Lion, and it's a lot more fun.

Another great book in this exciting new series, and I can't wait until the four Booksurfers use the Nautilus to embark on their next adventure into Sherwood Forest!

Review - Booksurfers: Treasure Island

2011-08-07T20:52:00.000+10:00

The Eulogy (From the Publishers):
Jake, Becca, Ryan and Harriet are kidnapped by Dr Crookshanks and his accomplice, Professor Kaufman. Against their will, the gang have to jump 'into' the world’s best known adventure stories to steal important artefacts, using an incredible invention called the Nautilus. If they don't get what Crookshanks wants, what will he do to their parents? And what will Becca do without her dad's credit card?
Crookshanks explains that in order to keep their families safe, the children must bring him back the actual treasure map from Treasure Island. Their parents’ lives are in the hands of a complete madman! The Booksurfers have little time to argue. Before they know it, they are thrown into Treasure Island; they’re talking to Jim Hawkins, running away from pirates and risking their lives to get their hands on that map!
Ever wondered what it would be like to not just read a book, but actually experience it? Throughout these books you'll find something rather ingenious: hyperlinks. They're pretty easy to spot; look out for an underlined word or phrase or sentence. And whenever you see one, you can just click on it, and - KA-POW! - you'll be zipped into the actual book the Booksurfers are exploring at the exact point they are discovering it! Have fun tagging along; you never know what story you'll end up in next...

In A Nutshell: An extremely fun and clever idea that makes great use of the format and is a great way to introduce kids to classics.

Dearly Departed,

We are gathered here today to discuss Booksurfers: Treasure Island by David Gatward. Reading David Gatward's Booksurfers series was a new experience for me: not only is this the first time I've read an e-book on a mobile device, but it's also my first encounter with Treasure Island, which is one of those classics I've always wanted to read but have never got around to. But despite my lack of familiarity with RL Stevenson's tale of pirates and treasure, I never found this to be a disadvantage while reading Booksurfers, mostly due to Gatward's skill with storytelling. He knows exactly the right amount of detail to insert from the original texts to stop unfamiliar readers from getting lost, while at the same time preventing it from being needlessly explanatory for those readers who know the classic well.

Jake, Ryan, Harriet and Becca are four characters whose personalities are very defined, making their interactions with both each other and the books they are thrown into very enjoyable. There are plenty of laughs here, particularly from Jake's snappy one-liners and Becca's constant preening and pouting.

It took me a little while to get a handle on the significance of the hyperlinks in the text, though I suspect this is more to do with my own inexperience with e-books. Once I realised that certain parts of the Booksurfers story link to parts of the original work (and in some cases, quote it word for word with some clever changes) I found this a very novel introduction to the text itself. By doing this, Gatward allows us to dip into parts of the original book (in this case Treasure Island) before returning back to the main storyline.

The Booksurfers storyline in itself would be excellent as a standalone, but I think it's the hyperlinking with the classics that makes this series really shine. It's an incredibly clever idea, and I can see it being a sneaky way for parents to get their kids onto classics - because younger readers will latch onto the great characters and evil villain storyline of Booksurfers, they'll definitely want to explore the original that the book was based on after they've finished (or even while they read it). I love what the e-book format has been able to achieve which would have been impossible in a paper book, and while the concept is an inventive one, it never takes away from the fact that in the end, these are some extremely entertaining stories!

Chronicles of the Dead - News in YA & Kids' Horror

2011-08-05T14:21:00.000+10:00

News from the world of YA & Kids' Horror in the week ending 5/8/11:

To celebrate the launch of the latest in the Invisible Fiends series, author Barry Hutchison has put together a video blog which you can watch over at Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books.
A fantastic blog post from Chris Priestly about what writing horror means about knowing your fears, and his own particular fear of falling: http://chrispriestley.blogspot.com/2011/08/falling.html
Want to be a writer? Tommy Donbavand has some fantastic advice for those aspiring to get published, but be warned, it's not for the faint-hearted!
Tommy could also give a bit of advice about becoming a viral phenomenon after his twitter hashtag #bookswithalettermissing became a trending topic. Congrats, Tommy!
This Saturday is Do Nothing But Read Day where, yep, you guessed it, you do nothing but read. Check out more on their site, http://dnbrd.org/ and a big thanks to Sam Enthoven for giving us the heads up over at Trapped By Monsters.
Would you like to win a copy of William Hussey's upcoming book The Last Nightfall? (Stupid question, right? I mean, who WOULDN'T want to win a book in this amazing series?) All you have to do is head over to his website at http://www.williamhussey.co.uk/2011/08/once-in-a-demontide-competition/ and comment.

August Horror New Releases

2011-08-01T21:00:00.030+10:00

These are the horror new releases for August.

What I'm Excited About: Let me just apologise now for the following. AAAHHHH! SPOOK'S DESTINY! YEAH! I am eagerly awaiting the newest title in what I think is my favourite series of books. I'm eagerly awaiting this, and also the Grimmalkin tales I keep hearing about. I'm also utterly intrigued by the strange and wonderful Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, plus I really like the new look covers on all of Chris Priestley's books.

Junior & Middle

Sophie and the Shadow Woods 2: Swamp Boggles, Linda Chapman & Lee Weatherly (Harper).
Earwig and the Witch, Dianna Wynne Jones (Harper).
My Uncle Foulpest, Timothy Knapman (Simon & Schuster).
Vampire Hunters, Pete Johnson (Random).
Dear Vampa, Ross Collins (Hachette).
Bats, Paul Zindel (Hachette).
iHorror: Werewolf Hunter, Steve Barlow and Steve Skidmore (Hachette).
iHorror: Demon Hunter, Steve Barlow and Steve Skidmore (Hachette).
Creepy Creatures: Rat Panic, Ed Graves (Scholastic).
Northwood, Brian Falkner (Walker).

Takeshita Demons: The Filth Licker, Cristy Burne (Walker).

Goosebumps: Hall of Horrors #2 – Night of the Giant Everything, R.L. Stine (Scholastic).

Young Adult

Dead Beautiful, Yvonne Woon (Harper).
Demon's Surrender, Sarah Rees Brennan (Simon & Schuster).
Spook's Destiny, Joseph Delaney (Random).
Spook's Nightmare, Joseph Delaney [into paperback] (Random).
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, Ransom Riggs (Random).
Texas Gothic, Rosemary Clement-Moore (Random).
Dark Woods, Steve Voake (A&U).
Haunting Violet, Alyxandra Harvey (A&U).
Tales of Terror from the Black Ship, Tales of Terror From the Tunnel's Mouth, Uncle Montague's Tales of Terror, Chris Priestley [all rejacketed] (A&U).
Dark Angel, Eden Maguire (Hachette).
Thirst: Deepest Desires, Instant Remorse, Christopher Pike (Hachette).
Bad Tuesdays 5: A Crystal Horseman, Benjamin J. Myers (Hachette).
Sisters Red, Jackson Pearce (Hachette).
Numbers 3: Infinity, Rachel Ward (Scholastic).
Wish Me Dead, Helen Grant (Penguin).

If I’ve missed something out, let me know in the comments! But remember, these are Australian release dates only.

Review - Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

2011-07-28T18:00:00.002+10:00

The Eulogy (From the Publishers):

A mysterious island.
An abandoned orphanage.
A strange collection of very curious photographs.

It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive.

A spine-tingling fantasy illustrated with haunting vintage photography, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children will delight adults, teens, and anyone who relishes an adventure in the shadows.

The Epitaph (In a Nutshell): A YA/Adult crossover novel that starts out strong but gets less so, though is still one of the more original reads I've encountered in a while.

Dearly Departed,

We are gathered here today to discuss Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs. My opinion of this strange book changed quite a few times over the course of reading it. For the first few chapters one question kept coming back to me – is this really Young Adult? At sixteen, the protagonist is the right age, but I didn’t really feel like he was a YA character – perhaps belonging more one of that new breed of book that is YA written for twenty-somethings which I’ve heard called ‘New Adult’.

But as the story progressed, I wasn’t as troubled by this and relaxed into Jacob’s story as he tried to find out more about his grandfather’s childhood and the supposed monsters that hunted him. This was the part that I enjoyed most, where there’s still a certain amount of disbelief at whether or not these monsters are real. I found myself completely unsure of what was true and what wasn’t, which was a very exciting space to inhabit. Towards the end the story lost a bit of its unpredictability and took on a more familiar guise, but was still an excellent read nonetheless. The only thing that disappointed me a bit was finding out that it will be part of a series – don’t get me wrong, I love series fiction, but I felt that this beautifully presented book which was a little beyond the norm would have done well to buck the series trend and exist purely as a standalone.

The photographs in this book could have a review all of their own, and I thought these creepy, staged shots really added to my overall enjoyment of the book. One thing that really bugs me is when an author is describing a specific object but I can’t quite visualise it, so I found the inclusion of the actual photographs that obviously inspired the story to be a brilliant move. Only towards the end did it start to get a little clumsy, sometimes feeling a little bit like, ‘Hey, we haven’t had a photo for a while. Time to stick one in.’

Miss Peregrine’s is a strange little experience which I found genuinely eerie in places, managing to take me completely by surprise. I think the packaging of the book itself is beautiful enough to make most people pick it up, and I think those who do won’t be disappointed.

Terrifying Tuesdays

2011-07-26T16:57:00.000+10:00

It's that time of week again, where I pick a particularly memorable quote from the book I'm currently reading. This week I've been reading the first two books in David Gatward's excellent new ebook series called Booksurfers. This quote is from the second in the series, Booksurfers: The Wonderful Wizard of OZ.

For a moment she was utterly still. Then she turned her eyes to them, which now looked like soft balls of butter melting down her face. With a final sneer, she said, 'Look out - here I go!'

Then she popped. But it wasn't a pathetic pop, like bubble wrap, but a wet, unimpressed pop, like a huge water balloon hitting its horribly pointy target with bitter disappointment.

-from Booksurfers: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by David Gatward

Crawlers Competition Winner!

2011-07-26T11:47:00.000+10:00

The entries for the Crawler's Competition have been judged and the winner has been decided...

Congratulations Oliver Reid for your story 'Fine'. It is a truly creepy story, which you can listen to being read out by Sam Enthoven himself:

Thanks to all those who entered - both Sam and I were blown away by the quality of the entries which genuinely creeped me out. Well done all, and a super well done to Oliver! You shall be receiving your Crawlers audio book shortly!

If you'd like to check out more about Crawlers and Sam's other brilliant books, check out www.theycrawl.com.

Chronicles of the Dead - News in YA & Kids' Horror

2011-07-22T23:27:00.000+10:00

News from the world of YA & Kids' Horror in the week ending 22/7/11:

Barry Hutchison shares the latest villain from the upcoming fourth instalment in the Invisible Fiends series - behold, Doc Mortis!

Cristy Burne has revealed the cover of Monster Matsuri, the latest book in the Takeshita Demons series. I think it looks amazing, and the colours really grab you. What do you think?

Those who are eager for more Scream Street are in for a treat - author of the series, Tommy Donbavand, has written a short story from the street over at Trapped by Monsters. A usual, Tommy has been busy because he's also released the latest edition of the Terror Times. Check it out over at his blog!

Terrifying Tuesdays

2011-07-19T17:02:00.001+10:00

I've decided to start a new horror themed book meme: Terrifying Tuesdays!

Each week I'll put up a quote from a kids' or YA horror book that I've found particularly creepy. Feel free to use my graphic and link back to my blog if you'd also like to take part, and be sure to comment below so I can check it out. Here we go!

There was no moon and no movement in the underbrush but our own, and yet somehow I knew just when to raise my flashlight and just where to aim it, and for an instant in that narrow cut of light I saw a face that seemed to have been transplanted directly from the nightmares of my childhood. It stared back with eyes that swam in dark liquid, furrowed trenches of carbon-black flesh loose on its hunched frame, its mouth hinged open grotesquely so that a mass of long eel-like tongues could wriggle out.

- from Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs, p. 33

Crawlers Competition!

2011-07-10T18:23:00.000+10:00

I love gore. I really do. Nothing makes me happier than when a particular scene in a book makes me squirm uncomfortably and make little sick noises. So it’s no surprise that when I first saw the cover of Crawlers by Sam Enthoven, I knew it would be the book for me!

I was definitely not disappointed. Aside from an absolutely riveting story about a group of kids trying to survive what should’ve been a simple night out at the theatre, Crawlers has some of the most disgusting creatures out there. I mean, read this:

Each spider-thing was about twenty centimetres across. Instead of eight legs though, weirdly, they had five – four long ones on each side of their wide, flattened bodies and only one, a thicker one, on the other. Also, apart from a thin band of red at the joints of each of their legs, they were almost transparent – like jellyfish. The creatures were almost as unpleasant dead as they had been alive. They gave off a faint fishy smell and they were sticky to the touch.’ p. 59

Gross. But the crawlers just get worse:

‘The twitching creature was just centimetres from her face. Its five legs – broken and disjointed but hideously eager – grasped for her. Twin needles of bone, glistening with fluid, flickered in and out from the crawler’s centre mass.’ p 109

I’m pleased to announce that Sam Enthoven has very kindly given Spine Chills a copy of the new Crawlers audio book to give away. Complete and unabridged, the five disc set is brilliantly read by Joe Coen. Check out this audio bite on theycrawl.com. It’s like the crawlers are in my ears!

If you’d like to win this delightfully skin-crawling audio book, you’ll need to brush up on your gore-writing skills. Simply write a short piece (less than 400 words) involving your brush with a crawler – oh, and extra points are given for any gory parts that make me squirm!

Send all entries to hrharkness@gmail.com. The competition is open to anyone in the world, and the winning entry will be read out by Sam Enthoven himself!

This competition closes Friday 15 July, so get crawling!

Chronicles of the Dead - News in YA & Kids' Horror

2011-07-01T22:45:00.000+10:00

News from the world of YA & Kids' Horror in the week ending 1/7/2011.

A big congratulations to Jon Mayhew, whose book Mortlock has won both the Sefton Super Reads Award and the Calderdale Book Award. Two awards in two days - that has to be some sort of record! (via Jon's blog)
Cristy Burne teaches us how to spot a Japanese iso-onna vampire. Thanks for the tips!
Throughout July, My Favourite Books will be focussing on younger readers with their Under 14 Only Month. Wonder if some horror will sneak in there?

July Horror New Releases

2011-07-01T21:00:00.002+10:00

These are the horror new releases for July.

What I'm Excited About:
Some excellent reads are being published this month! POD is not your typical horror - it follows the lives to two characters who are dealing with the arrival of strange UFOs in the sky who disappear anybody who sets foot outside. Chilling stuff! Witch Hunter Chronicles is the first in what will almost certainly be a brilliant series from an Australian author, super excited about that! For the younger crowd, Sophie and the Shadow Woods is such a cool series, about a girl who likes judo more than fairies, and finds out she's the Shadow Guardian. Lastly, can't wait to get my hands on Curtis Jobling's next book in the Wereworld series, Rage of Lions.

Junior & Middle
Sophie and the Shadow Woods 1: The Goblin King, Linda Chapman & Lee Weatherly (Harper).
Night on Terror Island, Philip Caveney (Random).
Death and the Underworld, Anthony Horowitz (Macmillan).
Night of the Werecat, R.L. Stine (Simon & Schuster).

Young Adult
Witch Hunter Chronicles 1: The Scourge of Jericho, Stuart Daly (Random).
POD , Steven Wallenfels (A&U).
Crowfield Demon, Pat Walsh (Scholastic).
Wereworld 2: Rage of Lions, Curtis Jobling (Penguin).
Born at Midnight, C.C. Hunter (Macmillan).
Kill Fish Jones, Caro King (Macmillan).
Changeling 5: Zombie Dawn, Steve Feasey (Macmillan).
The Dead, Charlie Higson [New Format] (Penguin).
Alone: Survivor, James Phelan (Hachette).
Thirteen Days to Midnight, Patrick Carman (Hachette).
Mashups: Blackbeard's Pirates vs. The Evil Mummies, James Black (Hachette).

If I’ve missed something out, let me know in the comments! But remember, these are Australian release dates only.

Chronicles of the Dead - News in YA & Kids' Horror

2011-06-24T21:00:00.001+10:00

News from the world of kids' and YA horror in the week ending 24/6/11:

Some authors are so talented they don't just confine themselves to the written page, they dabble in other fields too - for example, Alexander Gordon Smith is making his own zombie movie called Sola Gratia, and from the pics so far it looks terrific!
And speaking of multi-talented authors, Barry Hutchison has been hard at work on his graphic novel Gangrene. Check out a few of the supremely cool pages over at Barry's site.
A good book needs conflict, lots of it! Sarwat Chadda has written an excellent post on the different kinds of conflict, and even better, he's related it back to X-Men First Class.
What's the biggest crowd you've ever spoken in front of? Well Tommy Donbavand is going to read in front of a million kids through a new project from Renaissance Learning. Register now and submit a question for Tommy to answer on camera.

Chronicles of the Dead - News in YA & Kids' Horror

2011-06-17T21:04:00.005+10:00

News from the world of YA and Kids' Horror in the week ending 17/6/11.

David Gatward, author of The Dead, The Dark and The Damned has launched a phenomenal new series of e-books called Book Surfers, where the main characters are forced to jump into classic novels to save the day. Out now are Treasure Island and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
Arthur Slade's The Hunchback Assignments has won the 2011 Grand Prix de l'Imaginaire: Roman jeunesse étranger, which for those who don't speak French (definitely me) means the Grand Prize of the Imagination, Youth foreign. Congrats Arthur!
While not strictly horror-related, this blog post from Meg Harper about teaching game programmers good story techniques had me fascinated. I love my gaming, but I know it often falls short in the story department, so I'm really pleased to see that companies are taking steps to improve in this area.
Chris Priestley talks about how being an author also means being a location scout, and the potential for places visited to pop up in stories. Some beautiful pics here!
And speaking of excellent pictures, check out this very awesome fanart of Tommy Donbavand's Scream Street 9: Terror of the Nightwatchman.
I was already excited about Curtis Jobling's upcoming Wereworlds: Rage of Lions, but this excellent new trailer has sent me into a frenzy! (via Curtis's blog)

Chronicles of the Dead - News in YA & Kids' Horror

2011-06-10T15:52:00.000+10:00

News from the world of YA and kids' horror in the week ending 10/6/11.

Well, the big kerfuffle this week has been over an article in Wall Street Journal condemning YA lit for being 'too dark'. But perhaps even more astonishing than the article itself (and a lot more heartening) is the outpouring of support for so-called 'dark themes' from the YA community, including authors, reviewers, publishers and others. #yasaves was even a trending topic on Twitter. Many, many blogposts have been written, but so far this one is my particular favourite: http://www.foreveryoungadult.com/2011/06/06/in-soviet-russia-books-censor-you/ (Thanks to Hold Me Closer Necromancer author Lish McBride for posting the link on her Facebook)
Figment is holding a writing competition which requires you to write about the underbelly of a society. They're doing it to celebrate the release of the third book in Darren Shan's City Trilogy, City of the Snakes. The winner wins all three books in the trilogy and gets his or her story judged by the Shanster himself, so get your entries in because it closes at midnight tonight!
Arthur Slade discusses some of the stranger questions he's been asked by students over on his blog. My favourite - 'are you evil?'
Steve Feasey talks about taking the leap with a new series, and whether or not twelve is too many.

Review - The Crowfield Curse

2011-06-07T23:00:00.001+10:00

The Eulogy (From the Publishers):
It's 1347 and fifteen-year-old Will, an orphan boy, lives at Crowfield Abbey. Sent into the forest to gather wood, he rescues instead, a creature from a trap - a hob, who shares with Will a terrible secret. Somewhere in the forest behind the abbey where he lives, is a grave. And buried deep in the snow is an angel. But how can an angel die? What has it to do with the monks of the Abbey? When two hooded strangers arrive at Crowfield asking questions about the angel's grave. Will is drawn into a world of dangerous Old Magic. "The Crowfield Feather" was short-listed for the "Times" Chidren's Fiction Competition in 2008. This is a stunning debut novel and the first of a two part series.

The Epitaph (In a Nutshell): Less about flashy action scenes than chilling atmosphere, this is a wonderfully contemplative book with some truly fascinating concepts.

Dearly Departed,
We are gathered here today to discuss The Crowfield Curse by Pat Walsh. What a wonderfully atmospheric book this is! I know it seems like a strange point to latch onto first, but the weather in The Crowfield Curse is almost a character in itself - the constant cold that seeps through everything is the perfect recurring theme for this chilling and at times slightly claustrophobic book. The pace is slow and contemplative, which fits the narrative perfectly: the journey does not begin with explosions and a hurried race away from the forces of darkness, but instead starts with the discovery of an otherworldly creature who has little to do with the main conflict other than to provide his charming companionship. I really loved the organic way the plot unfolded which felt perfectly in tune with the life of a boy growing up in an abbey in the middle of nowhere, and I particularly enjoyed the little flourishes of Will's life in the abbey - the less than appetising pottages prepared by the cook, his trips into the forest to feed the pigs, the respite from the cold in the warming room.

That's not to say this book is without some hair-raising scenes, and indeed, I feel like the horror elements in it are heightened by the quieter scenes, because this has some of the most genuinely creepy concepts I've ever encountered. Without giving too much away, I really enjoyed the distinctive take on a very familiar mythical creature. It reminded me a lot of the beautifully grotesque spirits in the Miyazaki film Princess Mononoke. The menacing fae creatures were wonderfully threatening without ever being overtly so. All in all, The Crowfield Curse is one of the best examples of quiet horror I've ever seen of where less is definitely more.

Review - Scream Street 1: Fang of the Vampire

2011-06-06T17:50:00.002+10:00

The Eulogy (From the Publisher):
In Scream Street, Luke and his parents discover a nightmarish world of the undead. Luke soon makes friends with vampire Resus Negative and mummy Cleo Farr, but he remains determined to take his terrified parents home. After liberating the powerful book Tales of Scream Street from his new landlord, Otto Sneer, Luke learns that the founding fathers of the community each left behind a powerful relic. Collecting together all six is his only hope of opening a doorway out of the street, so with the help of Resus and Cleo he sets out to find the first one, the vampire’s fang. But with Otto Sneer determined to thwart him at every turn, will Luke even get past the first hurdle alive?

The Epitaph (In a Nutshell): An insanely fun start to what is an excellent comedy horror series for seven and ups.

Dearly Departed,

We are gathered here today to discuss Scream Street 1: Fang of the Vampire by Tommy Donbavand. I always shake my head at people who say they don't like series. Are they crazy? Nothing makes me happier than encountering a new series with an excellent concept and knowing I'll be able to return to it again and again. Scream Street is one such series, about Luke Watson the werewolf, Rhesus Negative the vampire and Cleo Farr the mummy. They all live in Scream Street, home to all kinds of supernatural creatures like surfer zombies and farting goblins.

I loved this from cover to cover - the excellent characters, the escapades of the three main characters, and really, what's not to love about farting goblins? Scream Street really is the perfect book for kids aged seven and up who like a bit of ghoulish fun, and I can see myself recommending it over and over again. This is one series I'm really happy to have finally started on, and I can't wait to devour the rest of them.

Review - Robin Hood vs The Plague Undead

2011-06-03T17:25:00.002+10:00

The Eulogy (From the Publisher):
His lungs were gone. He was completely hollow inside. But he was not dead. Not quite. What happens when Robin Hood and his Merry Men are faced with a plague of zombies? Somehow, Robin must figure out a way to defeat the most difficult and dangerous enemy he's ever faced, and save the country from destruction...

The Epitaph (In a Nutshell): A fantastic idea for a mash-up with some standout characters and some of the grossest gore scenes I've read... which is a very good thing!

Dearly Departed,
We are gathered here today to discuss Robin Hood vs The Plague Undead by James Black. I know I shouldn't judge books by their cover, but sometimes when I do I am rather pleasantly surprised. I was very guilty of underestimating this book because I felt like the title and cover art placed it in that mass-produced, throwaway category (although I reckon that 11 year olds will love it, and I fear I'm being a bit of a book snob). WELL! I enjoyed Robin Hood vs the Plague Undead heartily. I really do enjoy a good mashup, and since I love both Robin Hood and zombies, I knew this book was going to be for me.

The writing was top-notch too, let down only by some editing problems where bits of text were inserted in wrong spots that sometimes made for confusing reading. Some of the gore scenes had me wincing, which is SUCH a good sign because it takes a lot to gross me out. While I did love the portrayals of Robin and his Merry Men, the character who really captured my heart was Mother Maudlin. I hadn't realised she was an actual character in the Robin Hood mythos, and I'm not sure how accurate her portrayal is here, but who cares? She's brilliant! From the pus-dripping pentacle carved into her forehead to her unwholesome beauty, I thought she was really well described and made for an excellent villain to our band of familiar heroes. The only small complaint I have is (WARNING: spoiler ahead, highlight to read) the somewhat happy ending - I really wanted to see a zombie Robin Hood, and I felt it all got wrapped up a bit too neatly. Still, I'm eagerly awaiting the next in this series, Blackbeard's Pirates vs the Evil Mummies.

Chronicles of the Dead - News in YA & Kids' Horror

2011-06-02T23:08:00.001+10:00

News from the week ending 3/6/11.

There's an excellent interview with Darren Shan on Inis Magazine's website. Lots of great questions that offer some insight into one of YA horror's best and most prolific authors.
Sarwat Chadda makes me think there's hope for me yet by blogging about downsizing his book collection. As a chronic book hoarder with no less than five full size book cases crammed with books, I found myself alternatively cheering and wincing at Sarwat's bold book culling. Interesting stuff!
Barry Hutchison's Zombie Diary is into its 11th day and each entry is more chilling than the last. This is such an amazing idea, and seeing the spread of the Zombie Apocalypse via these diary entries makes for excellent reading.
Ever wonder how a book trailer is made? This article from Indie Horror is a fascinating and in-depth look at the process of creating the book trailer for Peter Labrow's book The Well.
The eleventh book in the Scream Street series is almost here! It's released in the UK on 7 July, but in the meantime, check out the excellent cover on Tommy Donbavand's website.
It's times like these that I get really frustrated I don't live in the UK - Sam Enthoven, Stephen Deas, Steve Feasey and William Hussey will be teaming up to do an event this Friday the 3rd for the Stoke Newington Literary Festival and it takes place IN A GRAVEYARD! Green with envy (or that could just be the decaying zombie flesh). Check out the details over at Sam Enthoven's website.
William Hussey has a brand new website, and to celebrate the launch he's got a swag of goods to give away as part of a competition. Head on over for the details on how to enter!

June Horror New Releases

2011-06-01T09:00:00.030+10:00

These are the horror new releases for June.
What I'm Excited About: Okay, what I'm really excited about this month are the Star League series because... (drumroll) IT'S ME! That's right, I also go by the name H.J. Harper, and since these are my first books, I hope you can allow me a little glowing pride.

Ahem, favouritism aside, there are a lot of great titles out this month, but in particular I'm looking forward to The Damned, Scream Street 11, Undead Ed, Zombie Chasers and Long Lankin.

Junior & Middle

Star League 1: Lights, Camera, Action Hero! H.J. Harper (Random).
Star League 2: Curse of the Werewolf, H.J. Harper (Random).
Star League 3: Raising the Dead, H.J. Harper (Random).
Star League 4: The Ninja Code, H.J. Harper (Random).
An Awfully Beastly Business: Bang Goes a Troll, The Beastly Boys (Simon & Schuster).

School of Night 2: Creeping Storm, Justin Richards (Allen & Unwin).

Zombie Chasers, John Kloepfer (Harper).

Jim Springman 2: Springman Brothers Reality Repair, Joshua Wright (Scholastic).
Grim & Grimmer 4: The Calamitous Queen, Ian Irvine (Scholastic).
Goosebumps: Hall of Horrors, R.L. Stine (Scholastic).
Ghosts of the Titanic, Julie Lawson (Scholastic).
Creepy Creatures: Bat Attack, Ed Graves (Scholastic).
Scream Street 11: Hunger of the Yeti, Tommy Donbavand (Walker).
Dragonbreath 4: Lair of the Bat Monster, Ursula Vernon (Penguin).
My Sister the Vampire 5: Take Two, Sienna Mercer (Hardie Grant Egmont).
My Sister the Vampire 6: Love Bites, Sienna Mercer (Hardie Grant Egmont).
Kitty Slade 1: Divine Freaks, Fiona Dunbar (Hachette).
Undead Ed and the Howling Moon, David Grimstone (Hachette).
A Spindlewood Tale 2: Pip and the Twilight Seekers, Chris Mould (Hachette).

Young Adult

The Cursed Ones, Nancy Holder (Simon & Schuster).
Darkness Becomes Her, Kelly Keaton (Simon & Schuster).
Long Lankin, Nancy Barraclough (Random).
Blood Ninja 2, Nick Lake (Allen & Unwin).
Armies of Death, Ian Livingstone and Steve Jackson (Allen & Unwin).
Appointment with F.E.A.R., Ian Livingstone and Steve Jackson (Allen & Unwin).
Hunting Ground, Cliff McNish (Hachette).
The Damned, David Gatward (Hachette).

If I’ve missed something out, let me know in the comments! But remember, these are Australian release dates only.

Witch Hunter Chronicles

2011-05-31T13:23:00.000+10:00

Sometimes the internet brings you wonderful gifts, and you wonder what you ever did without it. Today I randomly stumbled across an absolutely brilliant audio drama series called The Witch Hunter Chronicles.

I've listened to the first episode, and was floored by how professional and enthralling it is! It starts with a man greeting death, and telling him of his story from when he was a witch hunter. I can't wait to sit down with a cuppa and listen to the other episodes, and if any of the rest of you would care to join me, you'll find them at http://whchronicles.wordpress.com/

Chronicles of the Dead - News in YA & Kids' Horror

2011-05-27T19:08:00.000+10:00

News from the world of YA and kids' horror in the week ending 27/5/11:

BIG news first up - The Leeds Book Awards were announced on Wednesday, and horror authors took out not one, but two of the categories! Jon Mayhew won the 9-11 category with his chilling Gothic tale Mortlock, and David Gatward's The Dead took home first prize in the 11-14 category. Other brilliant horror authors were among the nominees, including Chris Priestley, Andrew Newbound and William Hussey. Congrats to all winners and nominees! What a fantastic result for horror, or in David Gatward's words: 'The best thing about that award is that Horror got a bit of a nod. It deserves more. Much more.' Couldn't agree more. But the results are unsurprising when you take into account that the readers decided who won - more readers' choice awards, I say!
And now we move on from the super exciting news... to the super exciting news. Barry Hutchison, author of the Invisible Fiends series, has come up with a ghoulishly good idea. He's running a kind of zombie apocalypse serial on a website he's created - check it out at www.myzombiediary.com and there's even a special guest appearance from yours truly!
Some other thrilling award news: Tommy Donbavand's book The Uniform has won the Hackney Short Novel Award for 2011. Congratulations Tommy, what a fantastic win!
Sticking with Tommy Donbavand, the Scream Street author has posted a new podcast on a week in the life of a children's author. Private planes? Throngs of screaming fans? Penthouse apartments? Find out here! Tommy has also posted the second part to his series on How To Promote Yourself Online. As a newbie author who has no idea what I'm doing yet, I can honestly say I'm finding these absolutely invaluable!
Justin Somper, author of the Vampirates series is going on a pretty extensive blog tour to celebrate the release of the last book in the series: Immortal War. Check out the full list of blogs and dates on his website at www.vampirates.co.uk (via www.wondrousreads.com)

Chronicles of the Dead - News in YA & Kids' Horror

2011-05-20T09:31:00.001+10:00

News from the world of horror ending 20/5/2011.

Tommy Donbavand and Barry Hutchison have released a new podcast on their Wordies website, in which they discuss hilarious tales of school visits, censorship, and cup-snatching teachers.
Darren Shan's Birth of a Killer and Charlie Higson's The Dead are a couple of the excellent titles nominated for the 2011 Independent Booksellers' Week Awards. Check out the full list here! (Via Darren Shan's website.)
Check out the various foreign editions of Chris Priestley's books, such as Spok-historier!
There's also a brilliant interview with Chris on the Absolute Vanilla blog.
Release of a picture book that's sure to be a classic - That's Not Your Mommy Anymore: A Zombie Tale via Barry Hutchison's site.
Alexander Gordon Smith has moved - well, his blog, anyway. Head on over to his brand new website to resubscribe.
...and while you're over at Gordon's new website, check out the very exciting press release about his new book, The Fury. A zombie book without zombies? Can't wait to read it!
Quote of the Week: "Saw some lamb in the shop...50% off... sheep at half the price..." - Jon Mayhew via Facebook.

I'm Not Dead (Just Undead)

2011-05-18T20:25:00.000+10:00

So, I probably should have posted this at the start of the month, but I've been so busy that I'm only just getting around to it now.

I haven't been posting any reviews or much of anything lately, and for that I apologise. I'm not dead, just insanely busy, for exciting reasons:

I am currently doing the novel-in-a-month thing on my HORROR WESTERN. So far I'm 45 000 words in and I'm aiming for 60 000. Most of that has come from three 10 000 word days which is utterly achievable for anyone and I highly recommend it for the sense of achievements (and bragging rights). Not all of the 10 000 words will be fantastic, but you're sure to find some gems in there.
Secondly, I am entering preparation mode for the publication of MY FIRST BOOKS in June! Here's what you should know: the series is called Star League, they're junior fiction about an action movie star, a werewolf, a zombie, a ninja, a robot and an animancer, and lastly, you should buy them. Preparation involves things I am wildly unequipped to handle, such as making an author website, but thanks to genius posts like this from Tommy Donbavand, I may get there eventually.
I'm also getting used to my new position at my job where I run the kids e-newsletter and paper newsletter, and also blog about things that never were and interview celebrity horror writers.
Lastly, I'm also on the board of directors (ooh, sounds fancy, don't it?) for a YA Literature Festival later on this year called A Thousand Words Festival where I do things like offer useless suggestions, marvel at the Festival Director's superhuman ability to do everything, and occasionally blog. Very occasionally.

And that's a snapshot of what I spend most of my days doing. I'm really missing updating this blog more regularly, and hope to get back into it shortly. But what's really killing me is having to read SERIOUS BOOKS about SERIOUS ISSUES for work. Give me exploding buckets of blood any day!

Podcast from Tommy Donbavand and Barry Hutchison

2011-05-18T18:42:00.000+10:00

Lock the doors and draw the curtains, because two of the masters of young horror have released their latest podcast. Tune in to hear Tommy Donbavand (Scream Street) and Barry Hutchison (Invisible Fiends) discuss such wide-ranging topics as author events, inspiration for ideas, and missing toilet seats. I even get a mention, which puts me that step closer to being famous.

Check it out at http://www.wordies.co.uk/2011/05/18/wordies-episode-4/

Chronicles of the Dead - News in YA & Kids' Horror

2011-05-14T15:06:00.000+10:00

News from the week ending 13/5/2011:

Steve Feasey has been busy touring blogs to coincide with the release of Changeling: Zombie Dawn. Check him out at Empire of Books, Wondrous Reads, Mr Ripley’s Enchanted Books, My Favourite Books, and Book Zone (For Boys) on Monday.
And in more Steve Feasey-related news, check out a sneak preview of the new US cover for Wereling: Blood Wolf.
Tommy Donbavand has written a fantastic article on the ins and outs of promoting your books online.
Ali Sparkes talks about her writing procedure over at Trapped By Monsters and answers that eternal question: to plot, or not to plot?

Chronicles of the Dead - News in YA & Kids' Horror

2011-05-08T08:19:00.000+10:00

Chronicles of the Dead will be a new weekly (or perhaps twice-weekly) posting of snippets of news from around the YA Horror Blogosphere looking back over the past week. This first Chronicle will be posted on a Sunday, but after this week they should take place every Friday.

Barry Hutchison has written a guest blog post for the Edinburgh International Book Festival, talking about the festival's Elsewhere project and his spooky story TheUnclaimed Girl. (Via http://www.barryhutchison.com/2011/05/guest-blog-post-for-edinburgh-book-festival)
Barry's been a busy boy, because he's also been posting over at Trapped by Monsters. Check out the terribly exciting news on his upcoming 13th Horseman series.
Arthur Slade has been experimenting with his e-book sales, and the results are quite interesting.
Carrie Ryan has time to give a few book recommendations, even though she's on tour.
David Gatward's The Damned gets a 5 Star Review in Frightfest. You can also download a PDF of the mag here.
It's InternationalZombie Awareness Month at Dymocks Southland! Get along for signings from horror authors, giveaways and a zombie shuffle!
The sale of The (Many and Varied) Deaths of Jeb Marney by Jon Mayhew has been announced, and it sounds fantastic!
The supremely cool Billi SanGreal from Sarwat Chadda's Devil's Kiss has made the Kirkus Review's list of 'Tough Teen Heroines ofScience Fiction and Fantasy'. (Via http://sarwatchadda.blogspot.com/2011/05/she-came-she-saw-she-kicked-ass.html)
Zombie Dawn, the final book in Steve Feasey's Changeling series was released on Friday. What's Steve up to next?
The new cover of Chris Wooding's Braided Path has a sinister-looking fellow sporting a rather nice hoodie.

Anything else exciting catch your eye? Got some YA & Kids' Horror-related news you're bursting to share? Post it in the comments below and I'll add it to the list!

May Horror New Releases

2011-05-01T09:00:00.000+10:00

These are the horror new releases in Australia for the month of May. Not a huge range of younger stuff this month, but some dynamite titles for YA.
What I'm Excited About: I can't wait to read Robin Hood vs. the Undead Plague (I'm a sucker for a good crossover), and it's good to see a resurgence of Choose Your Own Adventure books with the iHorror titles. I'm also excited about Devil's Triangle, because I'm obsessed with the Bermuda Triangle, and I'm halfway through Ministry of Pandemonium which so far is excellent - review to follow!

Junior & Middle Fiction

iHorror: Vampire Hunter, Steve Barlow and Steve Skidmore (Hachette).
iHorror: Zombie Hunter, Steve Barlow and Steve Skidmore (Hachette).
Tremors: Deadly Dodgem, Anthony Masters (Hachette).
Tremors: Spectre in School Lane, Tessa Potter (Hachette).
Raven Mysteries 5: Magic and Mayhem, Marcus Sedgewick (Hachette).

Young Adult

Hex Hall 2: Raising Demons, Rachel Hawkins (Simon & Schuster).

Devil's Triangle, Mark Robson (Simon & Schuster).

Fear Street 5: The Boy Who Ate Fear Street, R.L. Stine (Simon & Schuster).

Vampire's Promise, Caroline B. Cooney (Scholastic).

Ministry of Pandemonium, Chris Westwood (Walker).

Screaming Season, Nancy Holder (Penguin).

Robin Hood vs. the Plague Undead, James Black (Hachette).

Raptor, Paul Zindel (Hachette).

Vampyr Legion, Alan Gibbons (Hachette).

Warriors of the Raven, Alan Gibbons (Hachette).

Lunatic's Curse, F.E. Higgins (Macmillan).

Graphic Novels
Mysteries of Harris Burdick, Chris Van Allsburg (Random).
Salem Brownstone: All Along the Watchtowers, John Harris Dunning and Nikhil Singh (Walker).

As usual, let me know if I've left anything out that you think should be in the list. But remember, these are Australian release dates only.

Haunted Puppet Theatre: Crowmaster

2011-04-09T21:05:00.003+10:00

I never expected it to happen the first time.

After the second time, I thought they might go away.

When the puppets came the third time, I felt hopelessness setting in.

And now, the fourth time... when will these puppets leave me ALONE?

Review - Crowmaster

2011-04-09T21:00:00.002+10:00

The Eulogy (From the Publishers):

After Kyle's ordeal at school, his mother packs him off to the safety of the countryside, where there will be no temptation to use his powers, and he can forget the bad things - like the fact that his dad is a monster determined to destroy the world.
But here's the thing about the countryside: it's full of nature, and nature sometimes has claws. Followed by a spindly figure in the woods and attacked by crows, Kyle is about to discover that NOWHERE is safe from the invisible fiends…

The Epitaph (In a Nutshell): My new favourite in the Invisible Fiends series! So much action and horror, you'll be jumping out of your seat!

Dearly Departed,
We are gathered here today to discuss Crowmaster by Barry Hutchison. This is the third in the Invisible Fiends series, following on from the terrifying Mr Mumbles and the supremely creepy Raggy Maggie. I absolutely LOVED the other two, so I couldn't wait to get a copy of the latest in the series into my eager claws.
Readers, Crowmaster does not disappoint in any way, shape or form. I was blown away from page one, with the reappearance (maybe?) of Mr Mumbles and the addition of some very creepy crows who don't like to stay dead. I particularly liked that this was a change in scenery for Kyle, who goes to stay with his mum's cousin in the country. In the middle of nowhere. With nobody to call for help. But Marion is the sensible type - she'd never have an invisible friend, would she?
Well, we all know the answer to that one, and when the Crowmaster appears he is absolutely terrifying! There are a couple of gory scenes that had me gasping and laughing with glee in equal measures. Such a brilliant addition to one of my favourite horror series.
If you want a book with highly original horror scenes that don't shy away from being truly frightening, and characters that are guaranteed to give you nightmares, then Crowmaster is for you!

Review - More Bloody Horowitz

2011-04-03T05:00:00.000+10:00

The Eulogy (From the Publisher):
The No. 1 bestselling creator of Alex Rider gives horror a whole new look in this mischievous collection of macabre tales, presented in an exciting new, larger format.
Stories of ultimate revenge, from freshly sold human meat and uncontrollable robots, to life-sucking MP3 players and reality TV where death is the penalty – all told with dark humour and gruesome relish, and made even more fiendish by retro illustrations, chilling facts and a puckish message from the author. This is Anthony Horowitz at his most wicked.

The Epitaph (In a Nutshell): Short stories in a graphic novel format; plenty of characters meeting gruesome ends and packed full of dark humour.

Dearly Departed,
We are gathered here today to discuss More Bloody Horowitz by Anthony Horowitz. When I was first introduced to this, it was by somebody who knew how much I liked Darren Shan. She opened it up to the first story, and - lo and behold! It was entitled 'The Man Who Killed Darren Shan'. The idea of a hugely popular author writing about the death of another hugely popular author is hysterical to me, and you can really tell Horowitz relished writing it. Apparently one of Darren Shan's characters in the Demonata series is based on Horowitz (the character's name was Antoine Horwitzer... um, yeah, bit of a similiarity) and the character died a gruesome death, so Horowitz thought he'd return the favour - and then some!

All of the stories in this are that special combination of jaw-dropping horror and dark hilarity, and I had such a great time reading them. I must admit, I'm not normally much of a short story reader, but the format these are presented in, complete with illustrations at the start, double columns to a page, and a crossword in the center really perked up the short story format for me - I really think all short stories should be presented like this!

Of course, it helped that the stories themselves were compulsively readable. My standout favourites were 'Bet Your Life' about a popular gameshow with a twist, and also 'SheBay', about a girl who gets sold online by her parents. But all the stories are fantastic - there's not a dead one in the bunch!

Meeting Darren Shan

2011-04-01T22:51:00.002+11:00

There's something so special about meeting your favourite authors. I always find it kind of surreal, like part of me doubts that such a person really exists until I actually see them in the flesh. Sure, you've seen photos of them and read their blogs, but seeing them in the same room as you is pretty mind-boggling.

Today I made the trip out to Dymocks Camberwell to see one of my all-time favourite authors, Darren Shan. I roped in my long-suffering boyfriend Nick and workmate Nathan and we waited upstairs at the Ebony Quill Cafe along with a room full of Shan fans young and old.

We didn't have to wait long before Darren appeared looking eager to warp some young minds. I was immediately impressed by his speaking ability - he easily joked with the crowd and sucked us in despite having only arrived in Melbourne early that morning. He gave us a short intro about his books and then launched into a reading of Lord Loss. I'd heard great things about Darren's reading of the gory second chapter, but hearing it in person was just mesmerising. He performed it with such relish, I was literally on the edge of my seat! Something that struck me as rather funny was that I'd read the exact same chapter out to a group of school kids on Tuesday this week, and after hearing the author himself read it I realised what a lacklustre performance my own had been - Darren knew all the right spots to emphasize to have us laughing and crying out in fright. Nothing beats hearing a story in the author's own voice!

After Darren read the section from Lord Loss he treated us to a reading from the superb Birth of a Killer (review here) and then opened up the floor to some questions on topics as diverse as the mythology of his demons to the philosophy of life.

Then it was time to line up to get our books signed, and what a line it was! Even though Darren had very graciously said he would sign every book people had, I still felt a little greedy with my stack of 12 (Demonata, Birth of a Killer and Thin Executioner - it was a difficult choice leaving Saga of Darren Shan at home) and made my way to the back of the line where I met fellow Shanster Veronica. She'd come all the way from Alice Springs just to meet Darren, which I thought was a fantastic show of dedication and a testament to the level of fandom he inspires!

When it was my turn to have my books signed, Darren didn't sigh or roll his eyes at my tower of books, which I thought was very good form seeing as how he must've been dead on his feet by that point. I got to rant at him about how good his books were, beg him for another book set in the world of Thin Executioner and I even got a book recommendation from Darren - The Demon by Hubert Selby Jr... sounds right down my alley! Darren even recognised me from my blog, which had to have been one of my happiest fangirl moments yet!

There seemed to be no end to Darren's patience, because he even posed for a photo with me:

Just a little tighter and maybe she'll leave me alone...

Such a great day! Darren was one of the first authors I read when I got back into kids' and YA books, and in my own writing I try to follow his example of picking a word limit and sticking to it on a daily basis. Thanks for everything, Darren, and if you're reading this, have a blast in Melbourne!

ADDENDUM: Oh, I completely forgot to write about my favourite part: since the talk took place in the back room of a restaurant, there were also people who could hear the talk in the next room. Shortly after one of Darren's spinechilling readings, a little girl no more than three or four started crying. When her father picked her up she distinctly cried, 'I SCARED!'

Darren knows his stuff! ;-)

April Horror New Releases

2011-04-01T09:00:00.010+11:00

These are all of the YA and kids horror books set for April new release in Australia.
It's a huge month with new releases from some of my favourite authors, as well as a very creepy looking collection of short stories.
What I'm excited about: Crowmaster, Demon Collector, Birth of a Killer, Department 19, Teeth.

Junior & Middle Fiction

Ogre of Oglefort, Eva Ibbotson (Macmillan).
Invisible Fiends 3: Crowmaster, Barry Hutchinson (Harper).
Fighting Fantasy: Curse of the Mummy, Steve Jackson & Ian Livingstone (Allen & Unwin).
Fighting Fantasy: Forest of Doom, Steve Jackson & Ian Livingstone (Allen & Unwin).
Goosebumps Horrorland 19: Horror at Chiller House, R.L. Stine (Scholastic).
Will Gallows and the Snake-Bellied Troll, Derek Keilty (Random House).
Boy Who Wasn't There, Michael Panckridge (Murdoch).
Boy Without a Soul, Michael Panckridge (Murdoch).

Young Adult
Demon Collector, Jon Mayhew (Penguin).
Thirteen to Life 2: Secrets and Shadows, Shannon Delaney (Macmillan).
By These Ten Bones, Clare Dunkle (Macmillan).
Department 19, Will Hill (Harper).
Saga of Larten Crepsley 1: Birth of a Killer, Darren Shan (Harper).
Gone 4: Plague, Michael Grant (Hardie Grant Egmont).
Bloodline 2: Reckoning, Kate Cary (Hardie Grant Egmont).
Vampyre Labyrinth: Dust Blood, G.P. Taylor (Allen & Unwin).
Chime, Franny Billingsley (Allen & Unwin).
Dark and Hollow Places, Carrie Ryan (Hachette).
Cryer's Cross, Lisa McMann (Harper).
Chemical Garden 1: Wither, Lauren DeStefano (Harper).
West of the Moon, Katherine Langrish (Harper).
Strange Angels 4: Defiance, Lili St. Crow (Penguin).
Falling Under, Gwen Hayes (Penguin).

Anthology
Teeth: Vampire Tales, Ellen Datlow [ed] Garth Nix, Melissa Marr, Holly Black [contributors] (Harper).

If I’ve missed something out, let me know in the comments! But remember, these are Australian release dates only.

Review - Birth of a Killer

2011-03-31T17:50:00.000+11:00

Eulogy (From the Publisher):
Before Cirque Du Freak...
Before the war with the vampaneze...
Before he was a vampire.
Larten Crepsley was a boy.
As a child labourer many centuries ago, Larten Crepsley did his job well and without complaint, until the day the foreman killed his brother as an example to the other children.
In that moment, young Larten flies into a rage that the foreman wouldn't survive. Forced on the run, he sleeps in crypts and eats cobwebs to get by. And when a vampire named Seba offers him protection and training as a vampire's assistant, Larten takes it.
This is his story.

Epitaph (In a Nutshell): The start of another great series from the master of YA horror.

Dearly Departed,
We are gathered here today to discuss Birth of a Killer by Darren Shan. I've been rubbing my greedy hands together in anticipation of this book for a while now. Australia's rather behind the rest of the world in publishing the first in the Saga of Larten Crepsley, due out on 1 April which will coincide nicely with Shan's visit to our shores. I will definitely be attending, if only to screech at him about how excellent his latest book is.

Mr Crepsley was one of my favourite characters in Saga of Darren Shan, though he definitely took some warming to. He was always enigmatic, right up to his final moments, so it was fascinating seeing what the boy behind the vampire was like. I loved the little nods towards his older self, like the origin of eating spider webs, and his early years with Seba Nile. When Larten's cousin Vur Horston was introduced at the start of the book, I was scratching my head wondering where I'd heard the name before. When I went back to Darren Shan I realised it was the fake name Larten gave when they were staying at the hotel in New York in one of the earlier books. I've read that Shan writes all the books in his series before publishing even the first, and it shows when he includes details like this. I loved these little surprises scattered throughout!

The brilliance of Shan's writing shines through right from page one. At the time I started reading Birth of a Killer, I was halfway through a non-horror book. Two hundred pages in, and I'd only just got to the inciting incident. No dice. I put the other book down in favour of Killer and wasn't disappointed - within the first fifty pages so much had happened and the story raced along after that. Shan really knows how to suck you in and keep you there!

While I'm clearly a fan of his other books, I think that any reader could come to Killer without having read Shan's previous works. It's definitely a standalone series that is gruesome, gleeful and compulsively readable!

Haunted Puppet Theatre: The Demon Collector

2011-03-29T17:27:00.000+11:00

I haven't been outside since the last two incidents with the puppets. I can't let the puppets out of my sight, or something bad might happen. You see, I've changed my approach to the whole situation; I thought I could lock them away in a room and throw away the key, but I've realised now that when I'm not watching them, that's when they make their move.

So I've decided that if I can just watch them all the time, they won't make any more puppet shows.

I just have to keep watching... watching... watch-

***

I fell asleep! Curse this body and its need for rest, it shall be the death of me!

I swear I only closed my eyes for a moment, but when I opened them again an e-mail was waiting for me, same as the last two times. When I opened it, I found the following. I must warn you, it is not for the faint-hearted.

Review - The Demon Collector

2011-03-26T18:51:00.001+11:00

The Eulogy (From the Publishers): Edgy Taylor sees demons when nobody else can. Edgy thinks he is insane and expects to be carried off any minute. He is a prime collector, wandering the streets of London collecting dog muck for the tannery. The only thing Edgy is good at is setting and solving riddles, and evading his brutal and abusive master. One night, when his master seems genuinely intent on killing Edgy, Professor Envry Janus intervenes. Envry takes him to the Royal Society of Daemonologie where Edgy will now live. It is here, though, that Edgy discovers chance had nothing to do with their meeting, and that instead he holds the key to a deadly demon prophecy.

The Epitaph (In a Nutshell): An eerie, Victorian horror novel with a cast of loveable (and not-so-loveable characters) and a chilling mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end.

Dearly Departed
We are gathered here today to discuss The Demon Collector, by Jon Mayhew. This might be a monster of a book page-wise, but I flew through it because I just couldn't put it down! All of the characters are so well written, from plucky, nervous Edgy Taylor and his brave little dog Henry, to all of the members of the Royal Society of Daemonologie, including the demons... especially the demons!

I loved the various classes of demons that align themselves with one of the seven deadly sins, and I liked that not every demon is a bad demon. Of course, there are still the bad ones, and some of the creatures featured in this story are absolutely terrifying! A thoroughly enjoyable read in world I hope the author revisits some day.

Too Scary?

2011-03-22T11:07:00.001+11:00

I've been neglecting this blog a bit this month as I prepare to hand in a new book to my publishers, but once the first of April rolls around, I promise there will be horror things galore!

But in the meantime, I overheard something yesterday which started me thinking. I was at work in the bookshop when a boy who was probably 11 or so picked up a copy of Hunger Games and animatedly tried to get his mum's attention. His mum was talking to a friend she'd bumped into, and was a bit deaf to the boy's enthusiastic cries of, "Mum! Mum! Mum! This is soooooo good!"

When he finally got some attention, I don't think it was exactly what he wanted:

Mum: Hunger Games? What's it about? It looks scary.
Kid: It's about this contest where all these kids have to kill each other.
*Both adults look aghast*
Mum's friend: Isn't that too scary for you? I think that sounds too scary.
Mum: Yes, look, you've got it from the Young Adult section. That's too old for you.
Kid: But I've already read it. I just wanted to say...
Mum's friend: No, it's far too scary. Look at the blood on the cover!
Mum: Put it back! Pick something else.

I really felt for the kid. I wanted to step in and tell his mum and her friend that Hunger Games was one of the most amazing books I'd read in a long time, and that yes, while there is violence, I don't think there's anything in it kids can't handle, especially since her son had already read it! But then I thought - well, I'm kids' bookseller. I'm not a parent. I'm not the one who has to deal with my kids waking up screaming in the middle of the night after they've read something scary. Who am I to decide?

Horror is one of those genres that unfortunately has a bad reputation with concerned parents. I suppose I can see how if you weren't a fan, it would seem, well, horrific! But as a horror fan, I can't help feeling the scarier something is, the better... after all, isn't that the point? You wouldn't have a romance book with no romance. I don't expect kids would be reading horror if they were thoroughly disturbed by it, and I think the covers and blurbs do a pretty good job of letting readers know what to expect.

What do the rest of you think? Is there such a thing as too scary in horror books? Are there lines that shouldn't be crossed? If you write horror, do you have to hold yourself back, or have you ever had any negative reactions? And if you're a lover of horror, have you ever read anything that you thought had gone too far?

Meeting Joseph Delaney

2011-03-13T09:21:00.000+11:00

The Wardstone Chronicles are some of my all-time favourite books, and they're also one of the first series I read when I got back into reading kidlit and YA. From the first pages of Spook's Apprentice, I was hooked. 'Are all books for kids really this good?' I wondered. 'What have I been missing out on?'

I've since devoured every one of the Wardstone Chronicles, including Spook's Witches, the book of short stories, and Spook's Bestiary, a guide to all the weird and wonderful creatures of the county.

So imagine my delight when I heard Joseph Delaney was coming to Melbourne for a signing session. My very lovely boyfriend agreed to drive me and my piles of books on the hour long trip to Dymocks Southland, and once there I met a fellow bookseller friend who I ranted and raved at to read the books, and once she read one, she was also hooked.

Joseph was kind enough to sign all the books I brought, which I thought was just lovely since it really was quite a pile, and even pose for a picture.

Me, Joseph Delany and The Pile

While he was signing I chatted away about my love for Grimmalkin and begged him to assure me the Chippenden Boggart was okay. He said the boggart might make a reappearance (please, please, please) and that I'd really enjoy the book after Spook's Destiny (which apparently is out as soon as July in Australia, wow!) because it would be a Grimmalkin book. Eee!

It was such a pleasure talking to the man whose stories have captivated me, and many, many others so much, and I really hope Joseph enjoys the rest of his stay in Australia.

March Horror New Releases

2011-03-01T09:00:00.001+11:00

Not as many new titles this month as the last couple of months, but there are some big releases in this list.

What I’m Excited About: The Floods, Grim & Grimmer, The Dark and Burn Bright.

Junior & Middle Fiction

The Floods 10: Lost, Colin Thompson (Random).

Grim and Grimmer 3: The Desperate Dwarf, Ian Irvine (Scholastic).

Classic Goosebumps 18: Return of the Mummy, R.L. Stine (Scholastic).

My Sister the Vampire 1: Switched (re-issue), Sienna Mercer (Hardie Grant Egmont).

My Sister the Vampire 2: Fangtastic (re-issue), Sienna Mercer (Hardie Grant Egmont).

My Sister the Vampire 3: Revamped (re-issue), Sienna Mercer (Hardie Grant Egmont).

My Sister the Vampire 4: Vampalicious (re-issue), Sienna Mercer (Hardie Grant Egmont).

Little Horrors 6: Weava the Wilful Witch, Tiffany Mandrake (Hardie Grant Egmont).

Emily the Strange 3: Dark Times, Rob Reger (Harper).

Ice Angel, Charlotte Haptie (Hodder).

Young Adult

The Dead 2: The Dark, David Gatward (Hachette).

Burn Bright, Marianne de Pierres (Random).

Monster Republic 2: The Judas Code, Ben Horton (Random).

To Die For, Mark Svendsen (Random).

Mortlock (into paperback), Jon Mayhew (Allen & Unwin).

Buffy the Vampire Slayer 3, Christopher Golden and Nancy Holder (Simon & Schuster).

Book of Spells, Kate Brian (Simon & Schuster).

Evernight 4: Afterlife, Claudia Gray (Harper).

Graphic Novels

Nancy Drew Vampire Slayer 2, Stefan Petrucha and Sarah Kinney (Macmillan).

Novelty

Encyclopedia Mythologica: Dragons & Monsters, Matthew Reinhart and Robert Sabuda (Walker).

If I’ve missed something out, let me know in the comments! But remember, these are Australian release dates only.

Haunted Puppet Theatre: Department 19

2011-02-26T21:05:00.001+11:00

After the last incident with the puppets, I wasn't going to take any chances. Early the next morning, I drove down to the hardware store and picked up some planks of wood, some nails and a hammer. Then I sealed the door to the spare room shut. Nothing was going to get in or out.

At least, that's what I thought. When I was finally able to fall asleep last night, I had fevered dreams: nightmares of tiny felt demons re-enacting terrifying things. I woke with a start, convinced that it was more than a dream. When I was sure that the puppets were not in the room with me, I went downstairs to get a drink of water.

That's when I noticed the door to the spare room had been forced open, the planks of wood lay splintered on the floor. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed the hammer I'd bought earlier that day lying on the kitchen table. I picked it up, took a step towards the spare room. In the doorway was a dogeared copy of Department 19, by Will Hill.

'You little monsters!' I shrieked. 'You've been at it again, haven't you? HAVEN'T YOU!'

That's when I heard my e-mail notifier sound. I had mail.

Review - Department 19

2011-02-26T21:00:00.003+11:00

The Eulogy (From the Publisher): In a secret supernatural battle that's been raging for over a century, the stakes have just been raised -- and they're not wooden anymore. When Jamie Carpenter's mother is kidnapped by strange creatures, he finds himself dragged into Department 19, the government's most secret agency. Fortunately for Jamie, Department 19 can provide the tools he needs to find his mother, and to kill the vampires who want him dead. But unfortunately for everyone, something much older is stirring, something even Department 19 can't stand up against

Epitaph (In a Nutshell): A completely engrossing horror/thriller that's sure to be one of the Next Big Things.

Dearly Departed
We are gathered here today to discuss Department 19 by Will Hill. And wow, where to begin? It's such a pleasure when you encounter a read where the world has obviously been so well thought out and planned, and you know that when you begin reading it there's that pleasure of knowing you've just started to scratch the surface.
That's how I felt with Department 19. From the first adrenaline-packed pages I was hooked. This book really does have it all - strong, believable characters, a fast-paced but multi-layered plot, and, my personal favourite, some exquisitely gory scenes. The bad guys in this are really bad, and it leads to some epic battles.
Normally I'm not so keen on books that switch back and forth between various time periods, but the way Hill handled it here was masterful. It added so much more to the overall narrative and opened my eyes to what a good technique it can be when it's done well - in fact, the scenes with Van Helsing and company were probably the ones I enjoyed most.
I absolutely devoured this book, and though it wasn't a slim read the end came all too soon. However, the few loose ends in this book will hopefully ensure a sequel, and I for one can't wait to get my claws on it!

Also, be sure to check out Department 19's very excellent book trailer:

Death Certificates

2011-02-25T09:18:00.000+11:00

So, my last rating system died a horrible death due to various reasons, but having one rating out of 5 was still bothering me. One blanket score never seems to represent how I really feel about a book.

Enter my new system, the Death Certificate. Now every poor soul who is rolled in here gets one of these:

It's a Death Certificate, which shows the title of the book being reviewed, a rating out of five in the four categories of Story, World, Horror, and Character, and an overall rating of Gold, Silver or Bronze.

Finally, a certificate worthy to hang on the wall of your humble tomb!

A Sure Way to Cut Out Junk Food

2011-02-24T22:16:00.000+11:00

One of the bad things about being a horror nut is that sometimes you get desensitized to it. There are only so many times you can watch that lone character make the incredibly stupid choice to go down that dark alleyway alone before you start to think, 'Meh!' or even cheer on their impending doom.

Which is why I love it when you find something that utterly creeps you out in an unexpected place. Like this:

That's the photographic work of Terry Border who also has a book called Bent Objects. Seriously, there's something about that picture that does horrible things to the fear centers of my brain. I don't think I'll ever be able to eat McDonalds again without shivering in fear (as opposed to shivering from salt-induced seizures).

Bon Appetit!

Mark My Words II

2011-02-23T18:00:00.000+11:00

Hello Chilldren,

For being such lovely, bloodthirsty minions of the dark, I have made you a present - another bookmark!

Meet Biblioth, Demon of the Book. He'll keep your place warm... AS WARM AS THE FIRES OF HELL! MWAHAHAHAAAA! *Ahem*

To download Biblioth, click here. Then simply print onto card and cut around Biblioth's outline, using a stanley knife to cut out the part beneath his wing.

Haunted Puppet Theatre: The Dark

2011-02-21T09:05:00.001+11:00

I was awoken last night by a very strange sound - voices, coming from behind the locked door of my study.
'Impossible,' I said to myself. 'I'm home alone!'
I fumbled for my key and unlocked the study door, only to find... puppets. Strange little puppets lying motionless in a pile on the floor. I'd never seen them before, and I wasn't sure where they'd come from, but there was definitely something sinister about them.
Lying next to the puppets was a copy of the book The Dark by David Gatward. After putting the book back on the shelf (taking care not to touch those vile puppets) I heard my e-mail alert notifier sound. An e-mail... from an unknown address... with a video clip attached...
If only I'd never opened that e-mail.
What I saw in that video sent chills down my spine. I enclose it here, against my better judgement. Watch at your own risk...

Review - The Dark

2011-02-21T09:00:00.001+11:00

Eulogy (From the Publisher):
Lazarus Stone has been killed, resurrected, and attacked by demons. He's all that stands between our world and the Dead. But things are getting complicated: he's alone in the land of the Dead, his best mate Craig is missing, and he's no idea who - or what - tricked his dad into trying to bring back his long-dead mum. Oh, and he's wearing a corpse's clothes.
Life, he might think, couldn't get much worse. But it will...

Epitaph (In a Nutshell): The second installment in what's fast becoming one of my favourite YA Horror series, and even more of a thrill ride than its prequel, The Dead.

Dearly Departed
We are gathered here today to discuss The Dark by David Gatward. Regular readers of this blog will know just how much I loved the first book in this series, The Dead. So it was with equal parts excitement and trepidation that I approached this book. Excitement, obviously, because nothing hits the spot more than another excellent addition to a series, but trepidation because I wasn't sure how Gatward was going to be able to amp it up further than he had in the first book.
Well, assembled guests, I should have known better than to doubt Mr Gatward's dark and twisted mind, because The Dark is even better than The Dead. The stakes are raised even higher as Lazarus and his band of trusty undead-slaying pals (mostly his best mate Craig, sometimes-possessed Clair and unhinged angel Arielle) battle to put an end to the dark creatures that are trying to force their way out of the land of the dead.
What stood out most for me in this book was the battle scenes - long, bloody slogs that had me on the edge of my seat and not wanting to put it down. And where would a battle be without terrifying bad guys? Without giving too much away, the ultimate force Laz has to fight in this book really sent shivers down my spine, and stayed with me for many nights after. Definitely the sign of a very well crafted horror book. I wonder what kinds of evil spirits Gatward performed blood pacts with in order to write a book this good?

5 Skulls - A Killer Read

Review - Hold Me Closer Necromancer

2011-02-20T10:15:00.002+11:00

The Eulogy (From the Publisher): Sam leads a pretty normal life. He may not have the most exciting job in the world, but he’s doing all right—until a fast food prank brings him to the attention of Douglas, a creepy guy with an intense violent streak.
Turns out Douglas is a necromancer who raises the dead for cash and sees potential in Sam. Then Sam discovers he’s a necromancer too, but with strangely latent powers. And his worst nightmare wants to join forces . . . or else.
With only a week to figure things out, Sam needs all the help he can get. Luckily he lives in Seattle, which has nearly as many paranormal types as it does coffee places. But even with newfound friends, will Sam be able to save his skin?

The Epitaph (In a Nutshell): A hilariously dark YA read with great characters, great plot and one hell of an interesting world.

Dearly Departed
We are gathered here today to discuss Hold Me Closer Necromancer, by Lish McBride. When you read a lot of horror, it’s easy to get sucked into finding the scariest read, the goriest. Sometimes you can forget just how funny horror can be. Enter Hold Me Closer Necromancer, whose snappy dialogue and razor sharp characters had me laughing out loud.
That’s not to say it’s not without its dose of darkness too. HMCN has one of the most stone cold villains I’ve seen in a while – Douglas is less likely to cackle evilly as he is to fix you with a measured stare and slit your throat. In fact, all of the characters are brimming with personality, both heroes and villains, and points have to go to Sam for being one of the most genuinely likeable leads I’ve met in some time.
This was so much fun to read, and everything, from the writing to the plot to the world McBride has created are all pitch-perfect. And luckily there’s a sequel in the works too!

5 Skulls - A Killer Read

Review Ratings

2011-02-08T20:06:00.001+11:00

There’s something that bothers me about reviewing, and every time I get to it, I cringe a little bit. It’s the star-rating system, where you take somebody’s many hours of hard work, of blood, sweat and tears, and fit it nicely into a little rating out of five.

I don’t like it. And the reason I don’t like it is because I know how arbitrarily I do it. Often I want to give most of the books I read five out of five stars, but then a little voice in my head says that, no, part of reviewing is grading the scores. I’m lucky enough to be reviewing in a niche, so I rarely, if ever, don’t enjoy the books I’m reading.

The star system means I find myself giving less than five stars to books I really, really enjoyed for no other reason than I enjoyed them slightly less than another book. Which seems like a sucky thing to do, in my opinion. Who am I to say something is less than perfect just because I’ve read it in the context of other books? The star rating system just seems random to me. Random and inadequate.

So, from now on my rating system will undergo some changes. I’ve modelled it on the Olympic medal tally of bronze, silver and gold, except where they use medals, I will use skulls. There will be a multitude of different areas to award the skulls in, just as there are many different Olympic events. These will change and adapt as I get used to this system, but for example, some of the areas will be plot, character, pace etc. No book will be rated on every area, I will simply award a skull/medal if I feel the book has excelled in that area. Not getting a skull in a particular area will not mean that the book wasn’t good in that area, it just means that I felt other parts of it shone through more.

That way I’ll get to judge each book on its own individual merits, rather than comparing it to other books, which seems a much fairer system to me. There will also be a skull tally, so you’ll be able to see which books have been awarded the most amount of skulls. Fingers crossed this works!

UPDATE: Okay, after wrestling with Blogger for the better part of an hour, I'm coming to realise that this system probably isn't going to work. Mostly, it's to do with image layout and the inflexibility of where I can place them on a page. There are lots of ways around this, but all of them are either very time consuming or not up to scratch. And to top it off, trying to figure out this problem has prevented me from actually posting reviews, which seems kind of pointless to me. So for now, it's back to the rating out of five skulls system, and I'll keep this idea on the backburner.

Mark My Words!

2011-02-03T12:22:00.009+11:00

As I've mentioned before, while books will always be my one true love, I also dabble in crafty things. These crafty things usually take the form of creepy dolls or slime-encrusted cupcakes, but today I unveil the first in what I hope to be a series of horror themed bookmarks. BEHOLD!

Step One: Click on image link to the left and download.

Step Two: Print on card - if you use paper, it will be too flimsy.

Step Three: Cut around the zombie hand so that all of the white is gone.

Step Four: Insert into favourite book when not reading, and remove when reading.

Hurrah! If anyone has any comments about image size problems etc, let me know. This is the first time I've done something like this, so it's quite likely I've got the dimensions wrong and shall endeavour to fix them in the future. Also, if anyone has any better suggestions about linking to larger images on blogger, please let me know in the comments!

February Horror New Releases

2011-02-01T12:47:00.000+11:00

Lots of middle and junior again this month, including a new series from the creators of Beast Quest (Snake Shock). Also good to see a graphic novel series from YA Queen Holly Black.

What I’m excited about: Fixers 3 & 4, Midnight Hand, 0.4, Good Neighbours 1 & 2.

Junior & Middle Fiction

Zac Power Special Files 1: Fear Files (Bindup of Horror House and Thrill Ride), H.I. Larry (Hardie Grant Egmont).

The Lonely Beast, Chris Judge (Random).

Floods 1: Neighbours (Reissue with a $5 price tag), Colin Thompson (Random).

Midnight Hand, Paul Stewart (Random).

Gargoylz Put On a Show, Jan Burchett and Sara Vogler (Random).

Fixers 3: Curse of the Vampire, Sean Williams (Scholastic).

Fixers 4: Invasion of the Freaks, Sean Williams (Scholastic).

Creepy Creatures: Snake Shock, Ed Graves (Scholastic).

Lightning Strikes: Dead Certain, Sally Gould (Walker).

Mythical 9^th Division 2: Terror of the Deep, Alex Milway (Walker).

Tale of the Five Kingdoms 4: Flight of the Dragons, Vivian French (Walker).

Beastly Boys 2: Sea Monsters and Other Delicacies, (Simon and Schuster).

0.4, Mike Lancaster (Hardie Grant Egmont).

Bleeding Violet, Dia Reeves (Simon & Schuster).

Crusade 1: The Cursed Ones, Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie (Simon and Schuster).

Seven Souls, Barnabus Miller and Jordan Orlando (Penguin).

Iron Witch, Karen Mahoney (Random).

Dark Touch 4: Fever, Amy Meredith (Random).

Skeleton Creek 3: Skeleton Creek and the Crossbones, Patrick Carman (Scholastic).

Blessed, Cynthia Leitich Smith (Walker).

Graphic Novels

Good Neighbours 1: Kin, Holly Black (Scholastic).

Good Neighbours 2: Kith, Holly Black (Scholastic).

If I’ve missed something out, let me know in the comments! But remember, these are Australian release dates only.

Review - Wereworld: Rise of the Wolf

2011-01-31T09:57:00.000+11:00

The Eulogy (From the Publisher): When the air is clear, sixteen year-old Drew Ferran can pick up the scent of a predator.
When the moon breaks through the clouds, a terrifying fever grips him.
And when a vicious beast invades his home, his gums begin to tear, his fingers become claws, and Drew transforms . . .
Forced to flee the family he loves, Drew seeks refuge in the most godforsaken parts of Lyssia. But when he is captured by Lord Bergan's men, Drew must prove he is not the enemy.
Can Drew battle the werecreatures determined to destroy him - and master the animal within?

The Epitaph (In a Nutshell): A dark fantasy adventure full of werewolves and other werecreatures.

Dearly Departed
We are gathered here today to discuss Wereworld: Rise of the Wolf by Curtis Jobling. When I first started reading Wereworld, I had it in my mind that it was going to be a straight horror, one of your typical (though no less enjoyable) gorefests. And while the first few chapters are indeed pretty gory, Wereworld ends up being a thoroughly engrossing fantasy adventure complete with quests and heroes. I really loved the world that Jobling has created here, full of feuding noble families and bloodlines of different were-species: from the thought-to-be-lost werewolves to the mighty Bearlords and the scheming House of the Lion. Not only is the world of the book richly woven, the plot is a rollicking one, with plenty of intrigue and battles.Can't wait to read the next instalment in this excellent fantasy horror series!

4 Skulls - Dead Good

Paper Monsters

2011-01-27T05:00:00.000+11:00

As much as I love reading, sometimes I get distracted by crafty things too, which is why I flipped out with excitement when I found the site macula.tv. It has the most wonderful range of papercraft monsters created by its extremely talented owner Christopher Bonnette. And what I love about the monsters is that it's not just your usual zombies and vampires, Christopher has created paper versions of much more obscure monsters, such as bacalous and boggarts. And that's why today I found myself armed with scissors and glue, enthusiastically making a Sky Imp:

Unfortunately the glue I used was a bit runny and so the colours bled a bit, but otherwise it was time well spent since I now have a monstrous little friend staring over my shoulder at all times!

Review: Crawlers

2011-01-26T13:28:00.000+11:00

The Eulogy (From the Publishers): Ben is on a school trip. So is Jasmine. What they don't know is that not everybody in the theatre is there to watch the play and, in fact, they'll never get to see it . . .
There is panic at the Barbican when the fire alarms start wailing, but the strangely silent theatre staff, trap them inside the building rather than letting them out to safety. Ben, Jasmine and their classmates soon discover that there's no fire - what's happening is much weirder, and much scarier.
Strange spider-like creatures swarm through the building attacking people and turning them into vicious killers, and the kids have to run for their lives. But barricaded in an office, with these creatures waiting outsde for them, the children realise they're stuck. Will they ever get out? And, more importantly can they trust each other . . . ?

The Epitaph (In a Nutshell): An excellent survival horror with some disgustingly creepy monsters and a great group of characters!

Dearly Departed
We are gathered here today to discuss Crawlers, by Sam Enthoven. Straight away the cover grabs you by the eyeballs and doesn’t let go. I mean really, it’s disgusting – but in a good way! I’ve heard tell that it’s a squashed dead squid the publisher picked up from a fish market and slapped on somebody’s neck. I wonder who volunteered to be the neck?
And once you get past the cover, it’s just as thrilling an experience. Straight away we’re introduced to ‘The Queen’ who we come to understand is some kind of grotesque monster who wants to cause mayhem and destruction. Bad news for the main characters, who are finding it hard enough dealing with the Queen’s crawler subjects without worrying if one among them is a traitor. I loved the tense scenes in this book, and it felt incredibly claustrophobic at times which amped up the horror really well. Lots of scares and edge of your seat moments, not to mention busily flicking through pages wondering just who will get out alive!

4 Skulls - Dead Good

Review: Takeshita Demons

2011-01-22T22:02:00.000+11:00

The Eulogy (From the Publishers):

Miku Takeshita and her family have moved from Japan to live in the UK, but unfortunately the family's enemy demons have followed them… Miku knows she's in trouble when her new supply teacher turns out to be a Nukekubi - a bloodthirsty demon who can turn into a flying head and whose favourite snack is children. That night, in a raging snowstorm, Miku's little brother Kazu is kidnapped by the demons, and then it's up to Miku and her friend Cait to get him back. The girls break into their snow-locked school, confronting the dragon-like Woman of the Wet, and outwitting the faceless Nopera-bo. At last they come face to face with the Nukekubi itself - but will they be in time to save Kazu?

The Epitaph (In a Nutshell):

A clever, exciting middle fiction novel packed full of plenty of spooky Japanese mythology.

Dearly Departed

We are gathered here today to discuss Takeshita Demons by Cristy Burne. When I first heard that this contained Japanese demons whose heads flew around eating children, I thought, yes please, I’ll take that. And this is a genuinely creepy book, owing at least in part to the fact that it’s so beautifully written. Miku’s struggle to defeat the demons who took her little brother really sucked me in, and I actually learnt a lot about the fascinating world of Japanese mythology (don’t worry, it was the fun kind of learning). I was very pleased to learn there’s a sequel in the works too, which I shall be eagerly awaiting. So if you’ve got some 9-12ers in your midst, or are even just looking for a bit of horror that’s different to much of what’s out there, be sure to give Takeshita Demons a read!

5 Skulls - A Killer Read

10 Weirdest Monsters You've Never Heard Of!

2011-01-21T18:35:00.000+11:00

There’s nothing more monstrous than a monster. They strike fear into the hearts of many, and while they’re at it, they’ll probably steal your soul or turn you to stone too. Young adult and kids horror has some excellent monsters, such as the ones Thomas Ward has to face in Spook’s Apprentice, Darren Shan’s terrifying Demonata, and my favourite monsters of late, the Echolites from Jon Mayhew’s The Demon Collector. None of these are creatures you want to meet in a dark alley! And while you’re likely to find plenty of werewolves, zombies and vampires between the pages of your favourite YA and kids books, here are ten mythical monsters you might not have heard of.

10. Asipatra
An enormous bird from India whose name means ‘Sword-Wing’. Its feathers are like scythes and its claws are like knives. It uses these deadly weapons to torture the souls of the condemned, then comes home to roost in a tree made of spears.

9. Miqqiayuuq
A creature belonging to Inuit myth which is huge, hairy and has no face. It lives in the depths of freshwater lakes, so watch out if you take a quick dip!

8. Haakapainizi
The Kawaiisu tell of this monster, which is a giant grasshopper. He hunts for children, then throws them into his giant basket to snack on later.

7. Guirvulu
A fox-snake monster from South America. It has the body of a puma with a fox’s head, and a tail that ends in a massive claw. When it eats, it dislocates its jaw like a snake to swallow its victims whole.

6. Mokele-Mbembe
This is not your average unicorn! An elephant from West Africa with a single horn and the tail of a scaly serpent. It lives in caverns that line the cliffs above the Congo coastline, and attacks humans who stray too close in their boats.

5. Jidra
This is a plant monster which grows out of the ground, and though it can move around, it remains permanently attached by a single root. It looks innocent enough, but it has a voracious appetite and eats anything that moves.

4. Mishipizhiw
This water monster has the body of a great cat with sharp spines along its back. It has a long, sinuous tail which it uses to capture its victims and stir up storms. Comes from Algonquin and Ojibwa tales.

3. Mamlambo
A South African creature at least 60 ft long. It has the head and neck of a snake, the body of a crocodile, and short, stumpy legs. It glows in the dark, so if you see something glowing green, get out of there! Otherwise it will drown you, then suck out your blood and brains.

2. Gulon
This stinky monster hails from Sweden. A cross between a hyena and a lion with a fox’s tail, it uses its razor-sharp claws to attack. Then it gulps down anything it can find, living or dead, and when it’s full it squeezes between two trees to force out the build-up of gasses so it can start eating again.

1. Olgoi-Khorkhol
AKA the Mongolian Death Worm! With a name like that, you know it means business. These worms live in the Gobi Desert, are dark red and spit acid-like poison at their victims, which is said to kill instantly. It can also give you an electric shock and lies in wait underground until night when it comes out to hunt... YOU!

January Horror New Releases

2011-01-19T16:02:00.000+11:00

These are all of the YA and kids horror books set for January new release in Australia.

Lots of series stuff this month, including new and established series. There’s also a fair bit of Middle and Junior Fiction in there, plus some older series that are back from the dead, like Goosebumps and Last Vampire.

What I’m excited about: Tooth and Claw, Scream Street, Rot and Ruin, and Wereworld.

Junior & Middle Fiction

Beastly Boys 1: Werewolf Versus Dragon, (Simon & Schuster).

Scream Street 9: Terror of the Nightwatchman, Tommy Donbavand (Walker).

Scream Street 10: Rampage of the Goblins, Tommy Donbavand (Walker).

Feather and Bone 2: Tooth and Claw, Lazlo Strangolov (Walker).

Tapestry 3: Fiend and the Forge, Henry H. Neff (Random).

Beast Quest: Ravira, Ruler of the Underworld, Adam Blade (Hachette).

Deadly! Bindup, Morris Gleitzman and Paul Jennings (Penguin).

Classic Goosebumps 17: You Can’t Scare Me, R.L. Stine (Scholastic).

Young Adult

Persistence of Memory/ Token of Darkness (2-in-1), Amelia Atwater Rhodes (Random).

Last Vampire 7: Eternal Dawn, Christopher Pike (Hachette).

Rot and Ruin, Jonathan Maberry (Simon & Schuster).

Monstrumologist 2: Curse of the Wendigo, Rick Yancey (Simon & Schuster).

Once in a Full Moon, Ellen Schreiber (Murdoch).

Wereworld: Rise of the Wolf, Curtis Jobling (Penguin).

Forsaken: Demon Trappers, Jana Oliver (Macmillan).

Morganville Vampires 1: Glass Houses, Rachel Caine (Penguin).

Non-Fiction

Horrible Histories: Wicked Witches, Terry Deary (Scholastic).

100% Vampire Diaries: The Unofficial Guide, Evie Parker (Random).

If I’ve missed something out, let me know in the comments! But remember, these are Australian release dates only.