Have You Met Billy Silver?

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 5 out of 5.

The Latest Novella From Extreme Horror Author Daniel Volpe

Billy Silver, a low-life, self-downtrodden junkie, needs some cash to get his next fix. After getting kicked out of his own band, Shit Fist, losing his girlfriend, and left with no other options, he decides to sell his flesh to the ink of a needle at a newly opening tattoo shop.The mysterious artist, Talia, tattoos a cryptic design he’s never seen. Shortly after getting inked, compulsions burn underneath his skin. His need to satisfy a newly arisen addiction to self-mutilation begins a descent into darker places than his miserable life never dared go. Eventually, violence against himself is no longer enough to satisfy his cravings. The urge to commit the grotesque brings his brutal tendencies to others… To strangers, to acquaintances, to his prostitute ex-girlfriend…When Billy finds out his band replaced him, with a new vocalist singing his lyrics on stage, Billy’s desires reach their peak, and Talia, behind the fire of his rage, bears witness to all.

Synopsis / Amazon Product Description

I don’t know if I would have found this book if I wasn’t in the Splatterpunk FB group, and it certainly helped that the author is there, too. But, I must say, those guys DO know their horror, and have damn fine taste, so… it would have been mentioned. Either way, now I need to make sure you never wonder the same thing – you need to check out Daniel Volpe’s latest story ‘Billy Silver‘!

The story is dark, it’s gritty, and I kinda wanted to wash my hands when it was over. It’s the perfect backdrop for the characters you’re about to meet. You feel the loneliness, the abandonment, the despair… Hell, you almost feel the needle go into your arm! Perfect time to add a trigger warning, wouldn’t ya say? There is some intense addiction horror here, so blahbidy blahbidy trigger warning.

We interrupt this review with breaking news… I just learned that I’m not allowed to use Addiction Horror as a category. I like to make sure I save my drafts every couple minutes, and the latest draft would not save. “You are not allowed to assign those perimeters”… WTF? I back tracked and tested, and it’s those two words next to each other. Well. Alright. Apologies to Mark Mathews, I guess. This is weird, I used the term with Aron Beauregard recently with no trouble. This must be a new thing. I must research! (I can still say ‘fuck’, so I won’t go into panic mode just yet.) (and p.s., I love how this post’s tags read like ‘101 Reasons To Read This Book!’ ) Now, back to your regularly scheduled programming –

Where were we? So, after a particularly shitty night, Billy wakes up and those all too familiar feelings start crawling in… he needs to score, and soon. This time his hustle is… selling his skin! Lol, no! Not like that! He goes to a new tattoo shop that is about to open, and he is going to let an artist work on him so she can refresh her skills before the shop opens for business. (I’d do for a hundred bucks.) He can feel a difference in his body almost immediately. He’s essentially traded one addiction for another, but this new desire isn’t like any drug he’s ever done before. He doesn’t want the high. He wants pain. When he finally gets home and gives into the urges that overtake him, self-mutilation doesn’t even come close to describing the things he’s doing! He just fucking brutalizes his self, (loves it), but the violence and depravity can’t satiate the dark urges. He needs more – so he goes out and gets it!!

It’s 🎉 time for another warning! Yay! Some animal violence is hinted at in here, but it’s not bad. I don’t think it’s much to worry about, but blahbidy blahbidy trigger warning.

This is a great book, it’s different – no cookie cutter, or assembly line horror here. I love it! I’m excited to go pick up SCARED OF THE DARK, and BITS OF BONE. All three books are available on KU, so you can read for free if you’re a subscriber.

You can scoop up Billy Silver, and all of Daniel Volpe’s books on Amazon, and don’t forget to review them all on Goodreads, (and wherever else you post your reviews!)

Connect with Daniel Volpe via social media – Facebook @Daniel J. Volpe, and Instagram @dj_volpe_author

2020 may have been a dumpster fire of a year in every other aspect, but we’ve definitely gotten some great books to read! Extreme Horror has finally gotten some recognition. Books by new EH authors are flying off the shelves, and our favorite EH authors continue to disturb and terrify us in exciting new ways. I’m proud to be a member of this community, in good company with some truly outstanding people!

What book has made a definite impression on you this year? Talk to me! Post your answers, and whatever else you’d like, in the comments. Until next time – stay healthy, happy, and horrifying 👹

P, L & N 💕

sg

The Lockdown Trade-Off by Sam West

Times are hard in this terrifying new world dominated by the coronavirus –

Tap Cover To Go To Amazon.com

You gotta do what it takes to survive.

WARNING: EXTREME HORROR – Not For Sensitive Readers! This story happens in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic – so if you’re triggered by daily events, here’s an extra warning.

The Author & The Reviewer

Small businesses around the globe are going belly-up. In the Cornish seaside town of Treeve, Cat’s husband, Brian Oxley, is on the brink of losing everything. Eight pubs, five restaurants, and six pasty shops worth of everything…

When a potential, financial bailout comes in the form of lottery winner Ewan Davies, it is the answer to all of Brian’s prayers. The creepy, ex-furniture restorer makes Brian an offer he can’t refuse.

His offer is twenty million.

And the price of Brian’s salvation?

His wife.

Never in her wildest imaginings, could Cat imagine what lies in store for her at the millionaire’s mansion.

She will never look at a piece of furniture in the same way again…

THE LOCKDOWN TRADE-OFF IS INDECENT PROPOSAL – WITH 2 SOCIOS, AND A PSYCHO.

The synopsis is very descriptive, so you know the beginning of the story. What you don’t know is ‘Why’. Not ‘why did Brian sell her’, cuz he’s a piece of shit, (besides, times are hard, ya know?). Not ‘why didn’t her side-piece try to help her‘, cuz he was a pussy all along. The WHY you need to be asking is WHY does Ewan want to buy her? ‘INDECENT PROPOSAL‘ was ‘One million dollars for one night with your wife’ – but Ewan is paying twenty mil!

Ewan must live in Broadgate. This kind of shit couldn’t happen anywhere else in the world!

I first read this within days of it’s release. At a certain point if I’d had Collette’s number I would have called, but I had to stop reading so I could at least e-mail her. I think I only said ”They’re going to Broadgate, aren’t they?!” UPDATE: I had to stop and look up the e-mail. I was wrong, I emailed her because for a second I was thinking they might be headed to Gary’s house in Broadgate! It would have been an entirely different story.

This is extreme body horror at it’s finest! You might not feel this, but I see some dark humor here, and can totally appreciate it! (See note in Ch.12.) I think I’m safe with my assumption here, but I’ve pissed off an author before by finding some dark humor in their world where there was most definitely none intended. ::leSigh::

I love that this is written along with what is going on in the world. It’s not ‘capitalizing’ on anything, it’s saying ‘Hey, things are fucked up, but look – they could be SOOOO much worse!” Lol! Some time had passed when I realized that this wasn’t posted, (again, all apologizes). I was going to skim through, just to refresh for this, but ended up reading from cover to cover for a second time! It’s such a great vakay from IRL for a little while, (but parallel to IRL 😉). I noticed that a couple readers do not like the ending of this story, but I wholeheartedly disagree. There are so many things that could happen, but no matter what – in our minds we’ve seen our perfect ending.

“I want you with me forever, Caitlyn.”

The most horrifying sentence in this book!

Alright. I’ve begun to babble, so that’s a sure sign that it’s time to wrap this up. When you need to stop seeing the news, and a distraction beckons because ‘those damn kids’ are just always there anymore, you can grab THE LOCKDOWN TRADE-OFF on Amazon, then rate it on Goodreads! Your stalking options for Sam West, and Collette Metcalf are as follows: Amazon, Goodreads, Facebook, BookLikes,  LibraryThing, and FictionDB, and @west_horror on Twitter. There is at least one Sam West #BleedingMeme in the Gallery, and the Sam West / Collette Metcalf ‘coming-out’ interview is a fun read and can be read here. Lastly…

IF YOU WERE GOING OUT ON HALLOWEEN AS A CHARACTER FROM ONE OF SAM WEST’S BOOKS, WHO WOULD YOU BE?

Answers in the comments please! You never know, this might end up not being just for fun, so comment, damnit!! lmfao… Until next time – Stay Healthy, and Stay Safe!

P, L, & N💋

sg

Games 4 – Maze by Sea Caummisar

Games 4 Release Date – July 10th, 2020

In Games 1, Sara won Donny’s twisted game. In Games 2, she became his apprentice (collecting cash from debtors of Sanger Entertainment, an adult arena of illegal events). In Games 3, we got to know Donny just a little bit better. Sara found out she was pregnant and agreed to keep the baby (under the condition he helped her make a pain maze). She does not want the baby, and has plans to get an abortion that he doesn’t know about. This is where the story begins…..

 

After two long months of preparations, Sara finally has her maze, and she is anxious to get started. The 12 prisoners are in place, and ready to be Sara’s tortured little mice.
One of the maze participants, Bas, just might have what it takes to survive, and possibly even work with Sara and Donny.
Little do they know that Bas is a different kind of criminal, and he is dangerous. Will they figure it out before getting him too deeply involved with their work? Before everything is compromised?

I actually shouted out loud towards the end. Something that I wanted to happen – happened, and now I don’t know how I feel about it!
The only thing I do know for sure is that Games 5 is going to be intense!

Games 4 – Maze will be released July 10th, 2020. You can preorder your copy on Amazon now.

Check out Games 4 on BookBub, GoodReads, Amazon, and if you’re interested in an ARC  – BookSprout.

You can contact the author by email, and connect with Sea Caummisar on Facebook & Goodreads. Tweet @Seacaummisar

Marsha’s Morbid Museum Of Macabre – coming soon from Sea Caummisar

From The Dark Mind Of Sea Caummisar – 

‘Marsha’s Morbid Museum Of Macabre’

Release Date August 14, 2020 – Preorder Now

Warning: This isn’t a very bloody book, however there are a couple scenes that deal with animals. If you have any sort of animal sensitivity…. this might not be the book for you. You’ve been warned!

Marsha’s fascination with displaying corpses in her home started in an innocent fashion.

Now, bored with her wealth, she has found that she enjoys fusing human bodies and animals together.

When her loyal maid, Sylvia, stumbles upon her secret, how will she react?

How do you imagine Mila?

People who have hired help surrounding them eventually begin to not think of them – at all. They are merely a tool, an object in the background – not a human being, not a friend, and most definitely not something to be worried about.
This is how Sylvia is seen by her whiny, and overly demanding boss. She is disrespected by Marsha daily, yet dismissed as nothing to be concerned about. Not even when Sylvia is tasked to take care of the east wing, and Marsha’s special collection.

Beauty is in the eye of the creator.

Eventually Sylvia begins to believe that with her knowledge she has the upper hand, and the power struggle begins!
Who will emerge the victor, the boss, the HBIC (Head Bitch In Charge)? Well, the title isn’t ‘Sylvia’s Sinister Salon of Sin’, is it?

Don’t miss the other items on display in the museum… Preorder your copy today!

You can connect with Sea Caummisar, and stalk the author’s pages  – at your own risk – on Facebook, Goodreads, Twitter, and email.

THE SEASON OF GIVING by Angel Gelique

THE SEASON OF GIVING

More Horrific Holiday Fun from Angel Gelique

Lou Reilly grew up in a strict, oppressive environment, raised by zealous religious parents who merely wanted to protect him from the sinners of the world. Sheltered to the point of isolation, Lou is unprepared to fend for himself when his parents pass away.

Bullied and tormented at his new place of employment, Lou starts suspecting that his parents were right to shield him from such harsh and hateful people. Just as Lou begins to befriend a colleague who vows to help improve his life, he is put to the ultimate test of faith. All seems hopeless.

But he won’t let the sinners win. He won’t burn in hell as his parents have warned.

Lou will make things right….

Warning: For Mature Readers (18+) Only

The Season of Giving wasn’t all horrific holiday fun – it kind of bummed me out a little bit.

I think Lou’s mom used to get together and go to lunch with Carrie White‘s mom, where they would swap “Parenting Tips for the Mentally Christian” over their watered down tea and bad fish entrees.

All alone, Lou Reilly grew up the best that he could.  He finally made a real friend,  but when a little miscommunication / misunderstanding arose between them – he obsessed over it until he convinced himself that his “friend” was actually an enemy out to destroy him, and send him to Hell in a hand-basket.

I definitely had some emotional moments while reading this – mostly anger that came with me screaming at the characters and waking my husband up. There were some ‘Oh, poor Lou’ moments, too.  One final ‘hugely cringe-worthy’ scene leads up to our (mostly) “YAY!” ending – unless you overthink it and let your mind wander past the final page of the story. If you do that, you may end up like me when Lou finally ‘make things right’ – I haven’t decided if I want to cheer for Lou, the carnage, and the sweet, wonderful revenge or if I want to just put my head down and sob.

If you’re not in the mood for something quite so… deep right now, you can start by reading Christmas Shopping first – a genuine Horrific Holiday FUN book   🙂

The Season of Giving on Amazon / Goodreads

Angel Gelique on Amazon / Goodreads

 

CONSUMED by Matt Shaw

CONSUMED
The “TASTY” new horror novel from Matt Shaw

Since I am a huge fan, and I follow both of Matt’s Facebook pages, I got to watch as he began writing & posted updates for this one. His teaser posts made me crazy! ‘Warnings’ by him included things like ‘I may have crossed the line on this bit’ or ‘I might get some complaints on that bit’, “WARNING: NOT FOR THE EASILY SHOCKED. SOME SCENES MAY BE DISTRESSING!” Warnings, to me, are a wonderful selling point. (I like to say that warning labels on books are like warning labels on prescription bottles, the worse the warning…the better the content. Alcohol may intensify the effect? Thanks for the suggestion! Don’t read this on a full stomach? Don’t mind if I do!)
I do love what the Amazon page says…” A tasty new horror from the author who brought you “The Cabin” and “Smile” – this book is not for the easily offended nor is it for people who don’t appreciate shocks galore. Having previously had positive feedback for his numerous horror and ghost stories – Matt Shaw decided to write “Consumed” for the more gore-hungry horror fans…And he delivers by the bucket load!”
I sat on this book for a couple days before opening it, scared to finish it too fast! Then, I couldn’t take it any more & devoured it (see what I did there?).
Going into a horror novel about cannibalism & seeing “non non nom” is a delightful way to spend a day!

The story starts with a group of college age friends packing up & leaving for a camping trip. Deciding that using the GPS is for pussies, they disconnect & rely on their map reading skills. (Guess how that goes). I don’t know if it was just my mindset, or his writing, but I had a TCM vibe going from Jump Street. So, when they run into a little trouble & strangers come to the rescue – I’m saying ‘don’t do it! Don’t go! Oh…you dumb ass…!’
Some ‘down-home’ hospitality is offered, insisted upon, and our friends just can’t say no. The sexy young sister greeting the boys at the house didn’t hurt, either! Around this time, I’m having feelings of House Of 1000 Corpses, but – Rob Zombie didn’t have a dinner party like this one at the Firefly house!
I have to stop here, fearing I might give too much away. CONSUMED read a little different than the other stories. A little more ‘fluff’ than usual – but, that really turned out to be a good thing in this story. A little bit more background on the characters just makes you love/hate them even more! You get to know the bad guys history a bit…and that’s a bonus! A great thing about it is that it goes into the how’s and why’s of the family eating ‘long pork’. How they started & why they continue – not too much, though. Just enough. You might think you know this story – but Matt gives his unique spin on it, making it fresh & new. Blood was shed, gory good times were had, definate cringe worthy scenes and stomach turning moments! All that AND a great story line to back it up!

Another five star book from Matt! Don’t pass this one up!

From this point on – I’m calling out SPOILER ALERT! Read at your own risk!

While writing CONSUMED, Matt had a little ‘contest’.
He was searching for names for some of the characters, and made a post on Facebook asking if any of us would be interested in lending our name to one of the bad guys.
The response was huge & I tried to get in on it – as a bad guy, or even just a random victim! The name Becki just doesn’t have a good “flow”. Two hard sounds, a ‘BUH’ and a ‘KEY’ – see? Not a good flow.
I’m still excited! Because, if I couldn’t be immortalized in this one, and least a friend of mine could! Suzanne M. made the CUT (see what I did there?) – and reading this a second time, focusing on Suzanne’s character, was so much fun!
First introduced at 42%, the part with her character that I enjoyed the most came at 88% … “Suzanne looked at Robert whilst nibbling on one of Charlotte’s fingers… which she had already bitten off.” The giggles were great! The visual was even better!

nomnomnom

Sadly, Suzanne meets with a grisly demise at around 91% – but, she can be proud of the fact that she wasn’t the first to go, and she lasted almost to the end 🙂
I’m not giving up. I’m keeping the dream alive. One day, there will be a character to whom I can lend my name.
Until then, I’m still in a cartoon!

Peace, Love, & Necrophillia ♥
~ Shadow Girl

Check out my most recent interview –
LOW TEA WITH MATT SHAW
4/20/13

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As Mark Wahlberg, playing Chris Cole, said in Rock Star …

“You know, I’m just a regular guy who grew up with the posters of these guys on my wall… and now I’m one of them! That’s right, I’m standing here, living proof that if you work hard enough, and you want it bad enough… dreams do come true. So follow your dreams…” que music for We All Die Young

Guess who made it into the newest book of short stories…
Don’t miss INSOMNIA in SHORTS