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michael_benavidez's reviews
360 reviews
Broken Mirrors by Marie McWilliams
4.0
I'll come out and say it. This is a solide debut novel.
Marie's writing is swift, clean, and sweet. There's something very easy about stepping into the main character's shoes. She allows for a nice window into the world that she opens us up to, and then bash us up when it all goes to shit.
I truly did enjoy this book. I enjoyed getting bits and pieces of the characters in alternating chapters, and in truth I just really enjoyed the characters in general. The plot however...not so much. Not to say I didn't like it, I was intrigued, and continued to be all through the end.
It's a battle of the crime syndicates, with one honorable and the other absolutely a piece of shit, with Marie in the middle. I did like that she wasn't just some damsel caught unawares. Naw, she knew what her hubby was into, and I liked that. She was a good character. And that's my thing.
I was just so much more for the characters that I sort of just let the book take me on the rollercoaster I was on just so I could follow Marie through to the end.
I really did enjoy this, and see a very big amount of ability here that can be grown and polished. I look forward to whatever else she may put out!
Marie's writing is swift, clean, and sweet. There's something very easy about stepping into the main character's shoes. She allows for a nice window into the world that she opens us up to, and then bash us up when it all goes to shit.
I truly did enjoy this book. I enjoyed getting bits and pieces of the characters in alternating chapters, and in truth I just really enjoyed the characters in general. The plot however...not so much. Not to say I didn't like it, I was intrigued, and continued to be all through the end.
It's a battle of the crime syndicates, with one honorable and the other absolutely a piece of shit, with Marie in the middle. I did like that she wasn't just some damsel caught unawares. Naw, she knew what her hubby was into, and I liked that. She was a good character. And that's my thing.
I was just so much more for the characters that I sort of just let the book take me on the rollercoaster I was on just so I could follow Marie through to the end.
I really did enjoy this, and see a very big amount of ability here that can be grown and polished. I look forward to whatever else she may put out!
The Thing in the Woods by Harper Williams, Margery Williams Bianco
4.0
Note: I was given this book as a free copy through the Shadow House Publishing for the Morbidly Beautiful site.
It's funny. Many times throughout this year, I've come to realize just how little (if not at all) books I own or have read about werewolves, and yet they seem to be pervasive and everywhere in pop culture. So to read this (without much information other than it seemed to have inspired Lovecraft and ,as this Horror Hall of Fame series does, is a lesser known but an important part of horror history).
That said, it is a good read. The characters, the mystery, the build, it reads in that gothic goodness that had me thinking back to the Universal monsters. There's that old school lurk that drives the terror forward.
But as with many things from the past, some things don't age well. And I'm sure are you read, you'll find those.
All in all it's good to read werewolves again, it's good to have a pairing of werewolf lore and an extra werewolf story at the end. There really is enough in here to bite, chew, and rag around while making squeaking noises like the good creatures we are.
It's funny. Many times throughout this year, I've come to realize just how little (if not at all) books I own or have read about werewolves, and yet they seem to be pervasive and everywhere in pop culture. So to read this (without much information other than it seemed to have inspired Lovecraft and ,as this Horror Hall of Fame series does, is a lesser known but an important part of horror history).
That said, it is a good read. The characters, the mystery, the build, it reads in that gothic goodness that had me thinking back to the Universal monsters. There's that old school lurk that drives the terror forward.
But as with many things from the past, some things don't age well. And I'm sure are you read, you'll find those.
All in all it's good to read werewolves again, it's good to have a pairing of werewolf lore and an extra werewolf story at the end. There really is enough in here to bite, chew, and rag around while making squeaking noises like the good creatures we are.
The Over Bridge by Deep Arya
3.0
last one for a bit as I'm finally all caught up. Also MILD SPOILERS only so I can properly explain some thoughts.
The Over Bridge is a cosmic horror story that bears remarkable similarities to the work of Lovecraft. The story Is interesting, the mystery Is engaging and I found myself having fun with this. It's a short piece, but still a good read. By now I think everyone knows my gripes with novellas, too short, not fleshed out enough etc. But that doesn't really play into here. Everything is set up accordingly everything fits according to the narrative. Especially at the fast pace it's set at.
I will say that I've only two gripes. Things are a bit mellow dramatic, certain character revelations and the subsequent dialogue that follow are a bit cheesy in a way?
And there's a wastes character that bugged me a bit. A woman cop joins the gang, but she gets regulated to just woman rather than cop. And maybe I missed something in my reading, but (spoiler here) they come upon a downed plane and instead of her going to check it out as cop would do, she gets regulated to watching the kid while the 2 least prepared individuals go and check the damage. It was just weird to me, and probably my only gripe. A fan of cosmic horror though I'm still largely interested in more work by the author
The Over Bridge is a cosmic horror story that bears remarkable similarities to the work of Lovecraft. The story Is interesting, the mystery Is engaging and I found myself having fun with this. It's a short piece, but still a good read. By now I think everyone knows my gripes with novellas, too short, not fleshed out enough etc. But that doesn't really play into here. Everything is set up accordingly everything fits according to the narrative. Especially at the fast pace it's set at.
I will say that I've only two gripes. Things are a bit mellow dramatic, certain character revelations and the subsequent dialogue that follow are a bit cheesy in a way?
And there's a wastes character that bugged me a bit. A woman cop joins the gang, but she gets regulated to just woman rather than cop. And maybe I missed something in my reading, but (spoiler here) they come upon a downed plane and instead of her going to check it out as cop would do, she gets regulated to watching the kid while the 2 least prepared individuals go and check the damage. It was just weird to me, and probably my only gripe. A fan of cosmic horror though I'm still largely interested in more work by the author
Ungodly by Braedon Riddick
5.0
there's something so comforting about picking up a book thats so certain and comfortable in what it is and where its going, that everything just seems to fit.
from the wide cast of characters, to the mystery, to the small bits of heavy exposition scenes (as in there aren't many, just a few), to the somewhat philosophical questions asked by decently intelligent characters, this book does it all in such a nice and steady rhythm, that before i knew it, i was nearing the end.
the author asks a lot of questions of humanity through the flawed cast (each varied and rather realistic), and while the questions come and go, you can feel it reaching an answer.
with prose that's equal parts playful and simple (not as insult, he writes in a way that keeps the attention throughout the more "boring" scenes and ramps it up with a flourish in the more excitable moments), he guides us for a ride that doesnt stop, that has something to say, and that absolutely will say it.
while the end provides us with a few maybe cheesy maybe cliche moments, i think the book garnered enough good will with it's excellent story telling to allow for it. definitely a book that took me by surprise
from the wide cast of characters, to the mystery, to the small bits of heavy exposition scenes (as in there aren't many, just a few), to the somewhat philosophical questions asked by decently intelligent characters, this book does it all in such a nice and steady rhythm, that before i knew it, i was nearing the end.
the author asks a lot of questions of humanity through the flawed cast (each varied and rather realistic), and while the questions come and go, you can feel it reaching an answer.
with prose that's equal parts playful and simple (not as insult, he writes in a way that keeps the attention throughout the more "boring" scenes and ramps it up with a flourish in the more excitable moments), he guides us for a ride that doesnt stop, that has something to say, and that absolutely will say it.
while the end provides us with a few maybe cheesy maybe cliche moments, i think the book garnered enough good will with it's excellent story telling to allow for it. definitely a book that took me by surprise
Unboxed by Briana Morgan
4.0
I should admit that I've never been fond of reading scripts. There's something about the format that doesn't read well for my brain, be it not being able to imagine what's happening or just losing interest in the story because of that script format.
However, with many on and off readings (more due to my real life stuff rather than being the book's fault) I found myself genuinely intrigued by the story. While I may put it down for periods at a time, I would constantly come back to it. And each time I did, I found myself captivated by what was happening.
The characters were vivid, their personalities coming through. The build up into the story was decently paced, and the done as organically as one could do with such a plot. Overall, I enjoyed it and was surprised by how much I enjoyed it.
However, with many on and off readings (more due to my real life stuff rather than being the book's fault) I found myself genuinely intrigued by the story. While I may put it down for periods at a time, I would constantly come back to it. And each time I did, I found myself captivated by what was happening.
The characters were vivid, their personalities coming through. The build up into the story was decently paced, and the done as organically as one could do with such a plot. Overall, I enjoyed it and was surprised by how much I enjoyed it.
Boy's Life by Robert R. McCammon
5.0
There's something about know horror authors writing outside of the horror genre that really just captures something special.
Boy's Life goes through the stages of a the title.
A coming of age story that hits home in a way that, although set in the '60s, is everlasting. There's a soul to the character of Cory that travels beyond time. An innocence that we all were at one time or another, and just an ardent desire to live in the moment. Of course Cory doesn't really see it as this, he's just taking things as they come, learning, and coming to terms with the type of future that he'll be living soon.
Less a plot driven narrative, and more a series of circumstances that surrounds Cory at this time, we're weaved through a town that's torn by racism, poverty, a darker underbelly, and even myths of a monster.
And I'll be honest, the way that these things are touched upon is amazing. We have naive, innocent Cory witness a death and it begins this spiral of opening his eyes into a world that he didn't know. All while getting glimpses of the rippling effect it can have on everyone around them. Interspersed with this "main" narrative is the true meat of the story.
Days in the life of a boy in the '60s, where everything seems to change through the course of a year, a summer. And it's beautiful.
Boy's Life goes through the stages of a the title.
A coming of age story that hits home in a way that, although set in the '60s, is everlasting. There's a soul to the character of Cory that travels beyond time. An innocence that we all were at one time or another, and just an ardent desire to live in the moment. Of course Cory doesn't really see it as this, he's just taking things as they come, learning, and coming to terms with the type of future that he'll be living soon.
Less a plot driven narrative, and more a series of circumstances that surrounds Cory at this time, we're weaved through a town that's torn by racism, poverty, a darker underbelly, and even myths of a monster.
And I'll be honest, the way that these things are touched upon is amazing. We have naive, innocent Cory witness a death and it begins this spiral of opening his eyes into a world that he didn't know. All while getting glimpses of the rippling effect it can have on everyone around them. Interspersed with this "main" narrative is the true meat of the story.
Days in the life of a boy in the '60s, where everything seems to change through the course of a year, a summer. And it's beautiful.
A Conjuring of Dandelions by A.L. Garcia, A.L. Garcia, Cassandra L. Thompson
5.0
My first read of the year and my first review in a long while!
I’ve read this twice.
Once was a fast pace read, soaking in the words A.L Garcia has poured, spilled, and bled onto the pages, just letting the imagery sweep over me. The second was slower, letting the messages really just linger with me.
It was in that second read through that you start to notice recurring motifs, imagery, metaphors and the like. While she may pass through these several times, it never feels like repetition. It feels like getting a deeper meaning, like reading a scrape in one poem, and her cutting it deeper for us to really see why this soon to be scar will be meaningful.
And I will admit bias to her work. I read her earlier book, Broken Heart Mosiacs, and fell in love with it. And since then have followed her almost religiously, almost cultlike, or in her words: like the horde.
The benefit to following her and then reading this collection, is that you really get to understand a lot of her personality and just eccentricity that seems to have been shackled and is not set free. It really makes me admire her more. And i say that as the biggest compliment.
In terms of her writing, I’ll be frank again and admit as I have before, that I don’t really know too much about poetry. I know what I like to read, and I loved reading this. Again, i read it twice.
The poetry here is set in verse, it’s set as haiku, and some are just train of thought long format writing, that were probably my favorite.
The word play, the imagery, oh the fucking imagery. If her words don’t evoke emotion from you, then I don’t know what to tell you. It genuinely is a wonderful collection that tells a very intimate story, and that story can be left interpreted to the reader. While i do think that there’s probably an explicit throughline, a very intimate look at a life that she’s baring to us, i think it can also be interpreted by the reader in ways that we relate to in our own lives and thoughts.
5/5 stars
I’ve read this twice.
Once was a fast pace read, soaking in the words A.L Garcia has poured, spilled, and bled onto the pages, just letting the imagery sweep over me. The second was slower, letting the messages really just linger with me.
It was in that second read through that you start to notice recurring motifs, imagery, metaphors and the like. While she may pass through these several times, it never feels like repetition. It feels like getting a deeper meaning, like reading a scrape in one poem, and her cutting it deeper for us to really see why this soon to be scar will be meaningful.
And I will admit bias to her work. I read her earlier book, Broken Heart Mosiacs, and fell in love with it. And since then have followed her almost religiously, almost cultlike, or in her words: like the horde.
The benefit to following her and then reading this collection, is that you really get to understand a lot of her personality and just eccentricity that seems to have been shackled and is not set free. It really makes me admire her more. And i say that as the biggest compliment.
In terms of her writing, I’ll be frank again and admit as I have before, that I don’t really know too much about poetry. I know what I like to read, and I loved reading this. Again, i read it twice.
The poetry here is set in verse, it’s set as haiku, and some are just train of thought long format writing, that were probably my favorite.
The word play, the imagery, oh the fucking imagery. If her words don’t evoke emotion from you, then I don’t know what to tell you. It genuinely is a wonderful collection that tells a very intimate story, and that story can be left interpreted to the reader. While i do think that there’s probably an explicit throughline, a very intimate look at a life that she’s baring to us, i think it can also be interpreted by the reader in ways that we relate to in our own lives and thoughts.
5/5 stars
The Scarecrow Man by Miguel Gonçalves
5.0
The Scarecrow Man is a short novellete? I'm not too sure what it would be classified as.
However as the short little project that this is, it's a fun read. Because of it's length there isn't much I can say without spoiling much.
Coming in with a sort of pulp feel, it really created this sort of southern country fried vibe. Miguel is pretty good at having it be this nondiscript place, but there was something about it that made me pick up on that atmosphere.
Interspersed with the story is this fantastic art that makes me think of Frank Miller in Sin City or the comic version of Creepshow.
Together they compliment each other into this story that really helps this narrative gain an extra bit of life. I really just couldn't help but thoroughly enjoy myself with it. Where my biggest complaint might be that i wish this was either part of a bigger collection, or the story was longer. It really had me wanting to read more from Goncalves (and in turn, see more of that art)
However as the short little project that this is, it's a fun read. Because of it's length there isn't much I can say without spoiling much.
Coming in with a sort of pulp feel, it really created this sort of southern country fried vibe. Miguel is pretty good at having it be this nondiscript place, but there was something about it that made me pick up on that atmosphere.
Interspersed with the story is this fantastic art that makes me think of Frank Miller in Sin City or the comic version of Creepshow.
Together they compliment each other into this story that really helps this narrative gain an extra bit of life. I really just couldn't help but thoroughly enjoy myself with it. Where my biggest complaint might be that i wish this was either part of a bigger collection, or the story was longer. It really had me wanting to read more from Goncalves (and in turn, see more of that art)