witches

Book Review: Cthulu and Other Monsters – gory horror shorts

by Clair

Cthulu and Other Monsters  by Sam Stone

Why I read:  I love Cthulu tales and have enjoyed other books by the author.

Book blurb: “Sixteen tales of terror from the blood-soaked pen of Sam Stone. Enter if you dare and discover nine stories inspired by the nightmare visions of H P Lovecraft: Elder Gods returning to the Earth to wreak havoc, tales of death and destruction and betrayal and the last flickering embers of humanity … Alongside these are seven further stories featuring the monstrous creations of Stone’s own imagination: a hungry and jealous sea; wolf-creatures prowling the fashion industry; a terrifying creature held captive in a cellar … Open the cover and let Sam Stone’s nightmares guide your way into horror … ‘Entertaining and original’ Brian M Sammons ‘Mistress of the grisly and the glutinous’ Graham Masterton.”

 

Select quote ” Lucy could make out a bulbous shape, and long thick appendages that moved in a a sinuous flow as the creature shifted,  like a giant octopus or some creature from the deep.  This could not be a land dweller….”

My review

This collection of short stories featuring Cthulu’s Old Gods and a variety of other monsters is a fun read.   Its a very adult themed book with lots of gore, gruesome horror scenes and some sex sprinkled throughout the pages.  There’s a diverse mixture of themes contained as the author brings in elements of sci-fi, romance, steam-punk and tales set in the past, present and future.  There is a brilliant range of new takes on Lovecraftian ideas and wonderful twists in the stories that you don’t see coming.  My highlight was Of Gods and Blood – with plenty of references to Lovecraft and the Old Gods its an exciting read with so much packed into this short tale.

I really enjoyed the writers fun style and the originality  but overall found it a mixed bag.  Some stories I really enjoyed and got into, others I just skimmed through.   A wonderfully entertaining book perfect for fans of horror shorts.

You  can read a short extract of the book over on Amazon.

I’d recommend to anyone who likes:  horror, gore, cthulu,and  monster stories.

***

Book Review: The Graveyard Book – ghosty spookiness

by Clair

The Graveyard Book – Neil Gaiman

Why I read: Ghosts and graveyards and everything spooky.

Book blurb: “After the grisly murder of his entire family, a toddler wanders into a graveyard where the ghosts and other supernatural residents agree to raise him as one of their own.

Nobody Owens, known to his friends as Bod, is a normal boy. He would be completely normal if he didn’t live in a sprawling graveyard, being raised and educated by ghosts, with a solitary guardian who belongs to neither the world of the living nor of the dead. There are dangers and adventures in the graveyard for a boy. But if Bod leaves the graveyard, then he will come under attack from the man Jack—who has already killed Bod’s family…

Beloved master storyteller Neil Gaiman returns with a luminous new novel for the audience that embraced his New York Times bestselling modern classic Coraline. Magical, terrifying, and filled with breathtaking adventures, The Graveyard Book is sure to enthrall readers of all ages” “

Select quote ” “It’s like the people who believe they’ll be happy if they go and live somewhere else, but who learn it doesn’t work that way. Wherever you go, you take yourself with you. If you see what I mean.” ― Neil Gaiman, The Graveyard Book“

My review

What a fun and captivating read.  I don’t usually reading children’s books but this one intrigued me with the cast of graveyard characters.  A toddler is the sole survivor  after his family is murdered.  He wanders into a graveyard where he is promptly adopted by the ghostly inhabitants.  He is named Nobody Owens, “Bod” for short and spends his childhood playing amongst the graveyard and meeting its inhabitants.  We follow Bod as he grows up and ventures into the world outside the graveyard.  All under the threat of Jack who slaughtered his family and is still out there looking for Bod so he can finish the job.

The story is beautifully crafted, filled with sadness, hope and charm.  Neil Gaiman has a way with words that you can only admire.  He creates the spooky atmospheric world with real skill, it draws you in so you believe you are living there too.  The book really appealed to the side of me that believes in magic and fantasy.  Bod is a brilliant character.  It was pure joy reading about him growing up and interacting with the world.  He has a balance of inquisitiveness, humour, loyalty and bravery.   His life in the graveyard is fascinating as he learns magical lore from the dead.   The cast of graveyard characters were unique and memorable.  I felt the story a bit predictable and simple.  But this is in keeping with it being a tale for children.

The illustrations in this book were gorgeous.  I loved coming across them at the start of chapters.  My favourite was the witch.   Chris Riddell has done an awesome job of capturing the creepy spookiness of the book with the artwork.

This is a book I’d give to children, teenagers and adults to read. There’s something within the pages for all.  There are potent quotes within the book, real insights into life scatted throughout that warm the soul.   A wonderfully entertaining book that captivates from start to finish.

“You’re alive, Bod. That means you have infinite potential. You can do anything, make anything, dream anything. If you can change the world, the world will change. Potential. ” ― Neil Gaiman, The Graveyard Book”

I’d recommend to anyone who likes: ghosts, graveyards, spooky tales, children’s horror

****

Paperback, 289 pages

Published December 2008 by Bloomsbury (first published September 30th 2008)

ISBN 0747598843