Posted in Horror

Little Red Riding the Dark Web

Posted on by Mama

Title: Little Red Riding the Dark Web

Author: Anne Snow

Pages: 45

Genre: Splatterpunk/Extreme Horror

Ruby seeks validation from the place she calls home, the web. No matter how dangerous, she will stop at nothing to feed her cravings. Unrestricted internet access from a young age, parental neglect, and unlimited pills are a deadly combination. How far will she go to be seen? How many scars are too many?

THIS IS OF THE EXTREME HORROR GENRES. READ THE TRIGGER WARNINGS. If you can’t handle it, you have many opportunities to close it.

Hello Brave Bookworms!

I’ve got another one for you and this one goes to a place most of us don’t venture. So as always before reading this book….

⚠️Please read the trigger warnings before diving in.⚠️

This is the fourth installment in the Fairytales for Freaks series, and Anne takes readers into some very dark corners with this one. It’s an unsettling cautionary tale about loneliness, desperation, and the dangers lurking behind a screen. A reminder that some doors are better left unopened, some questions are better left unanswered, and not everyone online is who they claim to be.

Ruby is a protagonist you’ll find yourself deeply invested in. Her isolation, frustration, and overwhelming need to be seen are palpable from the start. Even when she makes choices that are difficult to watch unfold, it’s impossible not to empathize with her. You understand why she craves attention, validation, and the fleeting rush that comes from feeling noticed after everything she’s endured.

When her source of comfort and recognition suddenly disappears, Ruby begins to spiral. Then a mysterious stranger slips into her private messages, and what starts as curiosity and a growing crush quickly descends into something far more sinister. The tension builds relentlessly as the story becomes increasingly bloody, disturbing, and impossible to look away from. The feeling that someone is always watching hangs over every page, and the consequences are devastating.

Anne has written a phenomenal novel that evokes a wide range of emotions while exploring deeply uncomfortable subject matter with incredible skill. The glimpse into the darker side of the internet feels chillingly believable, and that ending? Completely blindsided me. I never saw it coming.

If you’re looking for a blood-soaked, deeply unnerving read that crawls under your skin and stays there, this one deserves a spot on your shelf.

But as always….

⚠️Please read the trigger warnings before diving in.⚠️

Your mental well-being always comes first.

Meet you after dark.

💀Your cozy-macabre book bestie

Posted in Horror

Where the Tide Leaves its Dead

Posted on by Mama

Title: Where the Tide Leaves its Dead

Author: Bray Mattheson

Pages: 290

Genre: Horror

By night, the sea returns the dead.
By day, the jungle eats the living.
Casey Jones has to survive both.

On a remote Pacific island, the ocean drags its dead ashore—sailors, fishermen, pirates—reanimated as soulless hunters for an ancient sea god. Armed with scavenged weapons and his hell pig, Puaka, Casey fights to stay alive.

But the island offers no refuge. Beyond the beaches lie cannibal caves, volcanic badlands, and desperate survivors praying to carved gods. When Casey and his friend Izzy are drawn to a coastal settlement promising safety, they discover something far worse than the dead.

As the tide rises, so does the army of the dead, and Casey must decide whether to continue his fight for survival by night…or risk everything to challenge the oceans god.

WHERE THE TIDE LEAVES ITS DEAD is a savage, tiki-soaked tale of survival horror packed with mythology and monsters. Dive in—before the tide turns.

Ahoy Brave Bookworms!

I have a new book review for you and this is what happens when paradise starts eating people. It’s pure coconuts and carnage!

Where the Tide Leaves its Dead is a mix bag of horror, dark humour and survival. It’s set on a tropical island with unforgiving terrain, a treacherous ocean – especially when night falls, and all in the aftermath of a zombie apocalypse. The undead come from the sea once night approaches and they are aggressive and relentless in their hunt for human flesh. However, it’s not just the sea that’s terrifying, the land houses deadly cannibals, hostile survivors and an ancient mystical witch doctor watching from the jungle.

We immediately meet our protagonist Casey and his lovable, fierce and trusted boar Puaka. Casey is a transplant from Texas who is rough around the edges, earns his currency by hunting and killing sea corpses for their lower jaws or “jowls”. Puaka fights along side him to collect his currency, but also for protection. But we soon see that his charismatic personality begins to attract new friends as he treks across the island seeking the War Club – a place where other survivors are coming together to fight against the waterlogged undead in larger numbers. Casey’s journey is harrowing and grueling, and he quickly learns that not all rumours or allies are trustworthy.

This novel is fantastical, action-packed, fast-paced and full of some intriguing characters. At no point in this do you feel that the characters, especially Casey, are safe. But instead you feel pure chaos and tension the whole way through.

There is a beautiful swirl of horror with dark fantasy as well, incorporating an ancient sea God – Vaekoro (the leader of the sea corpses) and mystical witch doctor named Manu. It’s a great amalgamation of old world and new. And to be frank, Manu is by far my favourite character in the entire novel and needed more page time if I’m honest. She was quirky, mysterious and oddly charming. Puaka comes in second next to her. Yes, you definitely read that right, the little warrior pig was a gem and a wonderfully written companion.

The story finally comes to a head though; after Casey endures some cruel abuses, only to lead up to the final confrontation with Vaekoro and the sea corpse army. To say the ending was terrifying, intense and heart-wrenching is understatement. It keeps you on the edge of your seat and frankly, I couldn’t get enough!

It’s hard to believe that this is the author’s debut novel because this one is slashing through paradise. Completely recommend throwing this on your TBR and will definitely be keeping an eye out for more of Bray Mattheson’s work in the future!

Hope you enjoyed the review and as always…

Meet you after dark.

💀Your cozy-macabre book bestie

Posted in Horror, Novella/Short Story

Granny’s House

Posted on by Mama

Title: Granny’s House

Author: CJ Shafer

Pages: 92

Genre: Horror, Novella

Do you believe in ghosts?

When a family home that has haunted his mind for decades is listed for sale, an independent author becomes obsessed on proving that ghosts reside within its walls; while simultaneously trying to gather material for a new book.

Evenin’ brave bookworms!

It’s me again… your macabre book bestie (we’ll skip the possibly copyrighted intro 😏).

This one slid across my Instagram feed and immediately had me hooked. The author, CJ Shafer, was calling for ARC readers and honestly, who am I to resist a haunted house story? I reached out (boldly, and as per his instructions…as one does) and was lucky enough to receive a copy. Huge thanks to CJ for trusting me with this one. I hope I do it justice.

If you’re craving an all encompassing paranormal ride, this one delivers.

We’re pulled into a slow, spiraling descent into unease, all rooted in what first feels like the most beautiful, memory-soaked family home. CJ paints it with this nostalgic, almost comforting brush, that is until the cracks start to show. From childhood fears of a dark, looming basement (and yes… those open steps. Why are they always like that in creepy basements?), to teenage years shadowed by something not quite right on the top floor, and into adulthood where those memories refuse to stay buried.

There’s this thread of quiet obsession running through it all. Even decades after the house is sold, the pull never really lets go. And when a trick of fate nudges CJ back into its orbit; even though it’s changed on the surface there is still that same watching presence…you just know nothing good is coming.

Let’s just say… a little B&E into the old house turns into something much more than anticipated.

The paranormal elements? Completely unsettling. The kind that creeps in slowly and then lingers a little too long after you’ve put the book down. I won’t lie, there were moments that genuinely got under my skin.

But here’s the thing this book is not just eerie, it’s fun. The twists keep you second-guessing everything, including your own sense of reality while reading. And as someone who does believe in the paranormal (and has a few stories of my own 👀), this one still managed to make me pause and question a few things.

Highly recommend adding this to your TBR, especially with its release set for June 5, 2026.

Hope you enjoyed the review and as always…

Meet you after dark.

💀Your cozy-macabre book bestie

Posted in Horror, Novella/Short Story

Dead Zoo

Posted on by Mama

Title: Dead Zoo

Author: Mike Harris

Pages: 66

Genre: Horror, short story

There’s something wrong with the animals.

Located a short drive off the highway, Highland Zoo entertained children and families for generations. Until one day, it didn’t. Now an unwitting group of fresh graduates on their last summer road trip are about to discover why the once beloved roadside attraction suddenly shut down and learn life’s harshest lesson.

Somethings should stay dead.

Hello brave bookworms!

Back with a short story review and this one is equal parts fun and gruesome.

This was a buddy read with some of my fellow Bookstagram friends (and if you’re not following along over there… what are you doing? 👀). I’ll be sharing their takes alongside mine too, which makes this one even more fun to dive into.

The premise immediately hooked me: a group of friends stumble across an abandoned zoo… except it’s not quite abandoned. Intriguing, right?

We follow Jenna, Ray, Troy, Abby, and Lee, a group with wildly different personalities and just enough underlying tension (especially between the girls) to keep things interesting. What starts as a spontaneous road trip detour quickly spirals into something much darker when they pull up to a zoo in the middle of nowhere; no cars, no families, no staff… just that heavy, wrong kind of silence.

And from there? Things unravel fast.

What they find lurking inside is far beyond anything they expected. As fear sets in and survival instincts take over, the story really leans into the question of who people become when pushed to their limits and it’s not always pretty.

The atmosphere is consistently eerie and unsettling, and the animal descriptions? Absolutely monstrous and grotesque in the best way, blending horror with something almost fantastical. I ate it up!

Bonus: it’s a super quick read, which makes it perfect for when you want something creepy without the full commitment.

If you’re in the mood for something spooky, fast-paced, and just a little bit brutal….this one’s definitely worth picking up!

Hope you enjoyed the review and as always…

Meet you after dark.

💀Your cozy-macabre book bestie

Posted in Horror

Cadbury House

Posted on by Mama

Title: Cadbury House

Author: Holly Knightley

Pages: 196

Genre: Horror, Thriller, Mystery

Death can only come for those he hears, and he can’t hear the dolls.

Finch Bannister suffered from a fever when she was a little girl and since then she has been different. She believes she swallowed a bird cage with two birds in it, leaving her to battle a deformity that only she can see, and the same goes for the spirits in Cadbury House. When Chet Cadbury moves in next door after the death of his grandmother, they are forced to come to terms with the secrets buried in the hope chest at the top of the stairs. They find out the hard way that some secrets, once unearthed, can never be buried again, but people, on the other hand, can be.

Cadbury House is the fourth book in the Knight Time Houses series. If you like mystery thrillers that keep you on the edge of your seat, then you will love this page turner.

Each novel is a standalone and can be read in any order.

Buy Cadbury House today and find out if it is possible to cheat Death.

Evening, brave bookworms 🌙

I’m back with another review and this one absolutely delivers.

I had the privilege of receiving an ARC of Cadbury House from Holly Knightley herself, and I have to say, she is just as lovely as her writing is haunting.

I went into this one excited, and it did not disappoint. It’s a relatively quick read, though life (and mom duties) stretched it out a little for me; squeezed between nap times and daily chaos. But every chance I got to return to it, I completely devoured chapter after chapter. This is one of those stories that pulls you right back in, no matter how long you’ve been away.

Cadbury House is a beautifully strange blend of light horror and something far more sinister lurking just beneath the surface. It’s not your typical haunted house story, there are layers here, twists you don’t see coming, and an atmosphere that feels… off in the best way.

The characters are where this story really shines.

Finch was, without question, my favourite. She’s unhinged in a way that feels intentional; peculiar, unapologetic, and deeply complex. There’s a thread of body dysmorphia woven into her character that adds depth rather than defining her, and her unsettling attachment to the dolls only heightens the eerie tone of the story. Her “gift,” born from childhood illness, adds another layer of intrigue. As pieces of her past are revealed – dark, tragic, and haunting, you can’t help but be drawn deeper into her world. And then there’s Chet… her childhood crush, a small flicker of warmth in an otherwise chilling narrative.

Scarlet, her sister, is far more difficult to pin down. On the surface, she’s composed, responsible, protective and the kind of person who seems to hold everything together. But something about her feels too perfect. Too controlled. There’s an underlying tension that makes you question everything about her. As the story unfolds, you’re left wondering… who is really unraveling here? Finch? Scarlet? Or both?

And then we have Chet or “Chester the Molester” as Finch so fondly calls him. Returning to Cadbury House after his grandmother’s death, he inherits not just the home, but everything that comes with it. Having stayed away since childhood due to a traumatic event, his return stirs memories he’s long buried. At first, he’s grounded, stable, even happy, but the house has other plans. As the past resurfaces, so do his feelings for Finch, and his grip on reality begins to shift. With Finch’s help, things start to make sense… or at least, a version of sense that fits within the walls of Cadbury House.

And the dolls.

NOPE! Absolutely not!

A generational collection, altered to resemble family members, meant to ward off Death… or perhaps trap it. They are DEEPLY unsettling, and their presence alone adds a suffocating tension to the story. Whether it’s voodoo, witchcraft, or something far more psychological, I’ll let you decide, but either way, they will stick with you. They definitely gave me the chills.

Everything builds toward an ending that genuinely caught me off guard. It was carefully set up, but you don’t see it until the very last moment and when it hits, it hits! A twist that feels earned, surprising, and incredibly satisfying.

This was my first Holly Knightley read, and I can confidently say I’m a huge fan. Her ability to balance unsettling horror with emotional depth has secured her a spot on my ever-growing TBR (which, let’s be honest, is already out of control).

If you love eerie atmospheres, morally complex characters, and stories that linger long after the final page, keep this one on your radar.

Cadbury House releases July 15, 2026 and definitely one to watch for! 🖤

Hope you enjoyed the review and as always…

Meet you after dark.

💀Your cozy-macabre book bestie

Posted in Horror, Novella/Short Story

Arc Angel

Posted on by Mama

Title: Arc Angel

Author: Anne Snow

Pages: 46

Genre: Splatterpunk/Extreme Horror

Deadly revenge soon ignites an untamable fire inside of Angel, young, broken and ready to bring chaos to the unforgiving world around her. After her failed suicide attempt she seeks to bring down the men who caused her a life of insufferable pain in the most brutal and gore filled ways. Can you really turn into a monster after a life of abuse, mental illness and trauma?

⚠️Please read the trigger warnings before diving in.⚠️

I love Anne’s work, but this one? It really stuck with me. It’s easily my favourite of hers. There’s something so surreal about it, raw and visceral in a way that just gets under your skin. You don’t just read what the protagonist is feeling, you feel it too—every bit of the grief, fear, and quiet anger.

The tragic moments throughout are handled with such carefully delicacy, which somehow makes them hit even harder. Nothing feels overdone, but it’s still incredibly powerful, heartbreaking in a way that lingers long after you’ve turned the final page.

As dark as the subject matter is, it also feels very real. It touches on the kind of reality a lot of women live with; the awareness, the precautions, the things we’re always thinking about in the back of our minds. And while I know this isn’t exclusive to women, there’s something here that feels especially familiar. Most of us have some kind of story like this. And the truth is… justice doesn’t always come.

Which is why the revenge in this story feels so satisfying. It’s brutal, yes, but gruesome in all the right ways, and strangely beautiful. The kind of poetic justice that feels deserved, even if it’s a little haunting.

And that ending… heartbreaking, tragic, but honestly, perfect.

I’m so happy I get to have a signed physical copy of this one, because it’s nothing short of a masterpiece. Anne has such a way of handling heavy, uncomfortable topics with care, and this story is a perfect example of that.

Highly recommend, but as always….

⚠️Please read the trigger warnings before diving in.⚠️

Your mental health comes first!

Hope you enjoyed….

Meet you after dark.

💀Your cozy-macabre book bestie

Posted in Novella/Short Story

Rabbit Test and Other Stories

Posted on by Mama

Title: Rabbit Test and Other Stories

Author: Samantha Mills

Pages: 256

Genre: Short Stories

This subversive debut short-fiction collection comes from one of the hottest talents in speculative fiction: 2025 Compton Crook Award winner and World Fantasy and Pushcart Prize nominee Samantha Mills (The Wings Upon Her Back). The cornerstone of the collection is Mills’ pivotal Nebula, Locus, and Sturgeon award-winning story “Rabbit Test,” which interrogates the past, present, and future of abortion rights in America.

Introduction by Meg Elison

A time-traveling fisherwoman keeps landing on the right shore, but at the wrong time. A pair of witches fight over the gate between life and death. A new consciousness, intent upon seeing all the wonders of the universe, visits a floating library. A rock-and-roll legend squares off against a town full of devils. Humanity makes first contact, but falters when put in charge of selecting the world’s representatives.

These riveting stories run the gamut of the genre, transitioning from fantasy to contemporary, then into the farthest reaches of space. They take place in strange and emotional worlds, with stakes ranging from the epic to the personal, with ample room for humor and hope amidst tragedy.

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this collection from NetGalley and it’s officially out in the world as of April 21st! From what I’ve seen, it’s been getting a lot of love and honestly? I get it.

This is a beautifully crafted collection of short stories that blends fantasy, sci-fi, and soft horror in a way that feels both immersive and emotionally sharp. This was my first time reading Samantha Mills, and saying I’m impressed feels like an understatement. The atmosphere, the shifting narrative voices, the emotional weight carried through each story, well it’s all done beautifully. It takes serious skill to make a collection feel this cohesive while still giving each story its own identity.

That said, I found myself personally gravitating more toward the fantasy and soft horror pieces over the sci-fi, but that’s purely preference, not a critique of the writing itself.

There were a few stories I desperately wanted more from, ones that honestly could’ve stood on their own as novellas:

    Strange Waters is a beautifully haunting story about a fisherwoman caught in a relentless loop through time, driven by one goal: to return to her own time and be reunited with her children. It’s not only atmospheric but deeply emotional. As a mother, it stirred something personal and emotional in me.

    Adrianna in Pomegranate was just an intriguing story that I felt needed more substance, more detail and a bit of a longer story. It explores grief in a way that feels raw and familiar, especially for anyone who has experienced the loss of a child, myself included.

    A Shadow is a Memory of a Ghost is complicated, layered, and quietly powerful. Two sisters shaped by an abusive father, now raising children of their own in very different ways. There’s tension, shared trauma, and this underlying sense of love that never fully disappeared. It felt unfinished in the best (and most frustrating) way because it was truly an oddly beautiful story. I really wanted to see where their children’s stories would go as well.

    Kiki Hernandez Beats the Devil is absolute pure chaotic fun! This one doesn’t take itself too seriously, and that’s exactly why it works. It’s sassy, a little absurd, and completely entertaining. I would’ve loved more backstory and more adventures with her new companion Lucy and her lovable hellhound companion, Ozzy.

    Overall, I absolutely recommend this collection if you love stories that are atmospheric, a little dystopian, emotionally driven, and genre-blending. There’s something here for everyone and at least a few that will stay with you long after you’ve finished.

    Hope you enjoyed the review!

    Meet you after dark.

    💀 Your cozy-macabre book bestie

    Posted in Horror

    Goldielocks And The Three Men: Story 3 of Fairytales for Freaks

    Posted on by Mama

    Title: Goldielocks And The Three Men: Story 3 of Fairytales for Freaks

    Author: Anne Snow

    Pages: 32

    Genre: Extreme Horror, Splatterpunk

    Young girls get taken to the concrete warehouse of nightmares.

    Some are fresh out of the womb, where Elites pay high prices to do as they wish to them, no matter how cruel or depraved. Of course, they always get away with their crimes, they are important and powerful.. duh.

    Goldie must escape this nightmare, but the men aren’t the only threat surrounding the warehouse. Man or bear? Which will she choose?


    EXTREME HORROR/SPLATTERPUNK THIS IS NOT FOR CHILDREN. READ THE TRIGGERS AND READ WITH CAUTION.

    I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC of this short story directly from Anne Snow and once again, she absolutely delivers.

    From the very first page, this story unsettled me. It wastes no time pulling you into a deeply uncomfortable space, and because of that, I have to emphasize:

    ⚠️ Please read the trigger warnings before diving in. ⚠️

    I’ll be honest, stories involving harm to children are not something I typically gravitate toward. It’s a heavy, difficult subject, and not one I take lightly. However, this was handled with as much care and tact as possible, considering the nature of the content. At the same time, it doesn’t shy away from exposing a harsh and often overlooked reality…the darker, more disturbing underbelly of society. It leaves you sitting with some uncomfortable questions about just how cruel and depraved people can be.

    And yes… it goes deep.

    The story is monstrous, nightmarish, and undeniably grotesque, exactly what you’d expect from extreme horror. But it also manages to tug at your heart in unexpected ways. There’s an emotional undercurrent woven through the brutality that makes it linger long after you’ve finished.

    You find yourself rooting for the protagonist from beginning to end. There’s a quiet strength to her that builds beneath the surface, something powerful that even the so-called “Bears” fail to recognize. While part of me craved an even more brutal, unrestrained revenge, there’s something to be said for the restraint in Anne’s storytelling. She walks a fine line between horror and humanity, and it’s done with intention.

    This is an incredible short story…if you can stomach it.

    I highly recommend it for fans of splatterpunk and extreme horror. But I’ll say it one more time:

    ⚠️ Please read the trigger warnings before reading. ⚠️

    Your mental well-being always comes first.

    Meet you after dark.

    💀 Your cozy-macabre book bestie

    Posted in Horror

    The Ugly Duckling: Story 2 of Fairytales for Freaks

    Posted on by Mama

    Title: The Ugly Duckling: Story 2 of Fairytales for Freaks

    Author: Anne Snow

    Pages: 22

    Genre: Extreme Horror

    Dylan, a school shooter to be, incel, easy target to brutal bullying at school and at home, turns to an EXTREME gore-soaked murder spree.

    Fairytales promise transformation. But when a heart is starved of kindness long enough, it does not sprout wings.

    It grows bullets.

    ⚠️Please read the trigger warnings before reading⚠️

    I thought Two Little Piggies was vivid and grotesque, but this one was on another level.

    Shock and horror at it’s finest, author Anne Snow delivers it all in this one. Morbid, revolting, monstrous, and frankly made me take much needed breaks while reading. A short story that is fast paced and unapologetically brutal.

    Major props to Anne Snow, this one is going to haunt my mind for a long time.

    Hope you enjoyed the review and…

    I was serious….read the trigger warnings before proceeding!

    Meet you after dark.

    💀Your cozy-macabre book bestie

    Posted in Horror

    Two Little Piggies: Story 1 of Fairytales for Freaks

    Posted on by Mama

    Title: Two Little Piggies: Story 1 of Fairytales for Freaks

    Author: Anne Snow

    Pages: 15

    Genre: Extreme Horror

    Jack and Jill had turned morbidly obese during COVID. They go to extreme and deadly measures to make themselves desirable again. After going into a trance, they start to self-mutilate to fit into today’s unrealistic beauty standards.

    How far can someone go to look good again?

    Please read with caution; this is shock value vomit.

    THIS IS AN EXTREME HORROR SHORT STORY.

    ⚠️Please read the trigger warnings before reading⚠️

    My first dive into splatterpunk/extreme horror, but not a regret.

    We follow Jack and Jill, (yes, I laughed and they did come tumbling down in a big way!) a couple that turned gluttonous once COVID hit – really letting themselves go. One night they come across a commercial that seems targeted just for them and that’s when things turn horrific…

    This one is not for the faint of heart, but it’s 15 pages of extremely vivid and grotesque imaginary. It literally makes your skin crawl from discomfort.

    Kudos to the author, Anne Snow, for leaving an everlasting impression of my psyche!

    Hope you enjoyed the review and…

    I was serious….read the trigger warnings before proceeding!

    Meet you after dark.

    💀Your cozy-macabre book bestie