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Book Review: Eldritch Tides by Jessica Burke and Anthony Burdge, story concept by Jason McKittrick, illustrated by Brandon Zimmerman and Jason McKittrick

Eldritch Tides by Jessica Burke and Anthony Burdge, story concept by Jason McKittrick, illustrated by Brandon Zimmmerman and Jason McKittrick

Myth Ink Books, 2020

ISBN-13: 978-1087860534

Available: Paperback

 

It’s 2005, and a massive snowstorm hitting Toms River, New Jersey has Jeremiah Allen and his friend MJ experiencing cabin fever, arguing over who is the better dungeon master, eating junk food, and discussing Jeremiah’s obsession with his lineage. Donna and Marvin, Jeremiah’s foster parents, are not all that they seem…

Fast forward to October 29th, 2012. Superstorm Sandy is threatening Seaside Heights, New Jersey. Jeremiah, now a fledgling cultist, finds an artifact that was unearthed the storm. He follows the path this mysterious Elder Tablet outlines for him, following the tentacled fish icons that will take him down the same path his ancestors followed. Dark magick awaits him, if he can only get it right. Jeremiah attempts to use the tablet to awaken… something. But it all goes wrong.

It is now the summer of 2019. Temperatures are unbearably hot and thunderstorms are in the forecast. Dr. Gilbert Halsey at the Toms River Psychiatric Unit has completed his evaluation of Jeremiah, who initially came in with no identification. The good doctor is met with the unexplainable; Jeremiah claims he is changing. After Jeremiah has what appears to be a series of seizures, Dr. Halsey is able to ascertain just to what degree Jeremiah’s body is… developing. Dr. Halsey contacts an old friend from Miskatonic University, and expert in strange happenings.  Dr. Nora Danforth, with her assistant, Jeremiah’s old friend MJ, agrees to travel to Toms River to investigate the Elder Tablet, assess damage caused by a Shoggoth sowing death behind it, and interview Jeremiah for more information. However, when she and MJ get to the asylum, she is met with disappointing news—her childhood friend has escaped the institution. Dr. Danforth and MJ are on their own. Will they be able to reverse the course that Jeremiah started?

I enjoyed the structure of the book. The story is told through news reports, first or third person perspective vignettes, weather advisory bulletins, and journal entries. They merged well, and moved the story forward in an interesting way. The sections involving the Scout Troop, especially those regarding one of the members named Charlie, culminate in a startling revelation. I also liked that none of the characters were perfect—each had a distinct personality and flaws. Also, as a librarian who works closely with my library’s Special Collections unit, I’m curious about the curator’s dedication to the job at Miskatonic University. The Elder Tablet came from Miskatonic University’s Special Collections, and had been stolen several times prior. I would think that there would be stronger stipulations on accessing it. That is, provided that the item itself isn’t manipulating time and space?

I think the only criticism I have is that the text could have gone through one more edit. There were a few typos and some inconsistent punctuation. Regardless, the story was solid. It is suitable for adult as well as YA readers. Those interested in Lovecraftian works should definitely pick up Eldritch Tides. Recommended.

 

Reviewed by Lizzy Walker

Posted on March 28, 2020 by , Reply

Graphic Novel Review: Mississippi Zombie by Bradley Golden, Alex Barranco, Joe Wight, Marcus H. Roberts, et al.

Mississippi Zombie: A Horror Anthology by Bradley Golden, Alex Barranco, Joe Wight, Marcus H. Roberts, et al.

Caliber Comics, 2020

ISBN-13: 9781643377131

Available: Paperback, Kindle, comiXology

 

Caliber Comics brings us Mississippi Zombie: A Horror Anthology, a series of walking dead tales set in rural Mississippi. In “Mississippi Crossing Part 1”, Private John Hilliard of the 1st Battalion, 155th Infantry tells the story of his fight against the incoming zombie horde from the north. “Mississippi Crossing Part 2” presents two rednecks in a bar arguing over whether the zombie threat on the news is real, part of a government conspiracy, or if the town psychic was right, and it’s the beginning of the Apocalypse. The conspiracy theorist gets fed up and leaves the bar in a huff, only to discover the truth for himself. “Mississippi Crossing Part 3”, begins on a football field, where zombies break into the arena to wreak havoc on the unsuspecting public. One player fights his way free, only to board the wrong school bus. In “Grave Times”, Theodore and Angela Brown are newlyweds when the unthinkable happens. Angela succumbs to a mysterious illness and turns. Her devoted husband keeps her chained and locked in their basement. He delivers a freshly robbed corpse to her, but it isn’t warm enough for her refined palate. “Zombie Attack on Horn Island”, told around a campfire, includes hapless settlers, a vengeful witch, and bloodthirsty zombies. In “It’s All About Commerce”, four friends are trying to get to Commerce, Mississippi for safety to find something potentially much worse than the living dead. “Planet Z” gives us a science fiction take on the zombie story. It’s Christmastime in an industrial colony in Jackson, Mississippi. Unfortunately, the zombies didn’t get the memo about peace on Earth and good will to men.

I thoroughly enjoyed the stories in this anthology. They are short, sweet, and full of zombies. I want to focus on the artwork for a bit. Phil Williams provides chaotic, intense art for the “Mississippi Crossing” segments, especially when the zombies attack. It’s very well executed. The art for “Grave Times” by Antonio Acevedo is highly detailed and has some great shadowy effects. Shaun Barbour’s art in “Zombie Attack on Horn Island” and Harrison Wood’s art in “It’s All About Commerce both feel close to what you would see in Eerie or Creepy. Rod Espinosa has a slick art style that is great for a sci-fi horror comic. It would be great to see him do art for a Warhammer 40K comic.

I would recommend this for anyone who wants to support independent, well-done horror comics. I think it is important for libraries to find ways to hold these in their collections as well. Highly recommended.

Contains: blood, gore, zombies

 

Reviewed by Lizzy Walker

Posted on March 28, 2020 by , Reply

Book Review: Doll Crimes by Karen Runge

Doll Crimes by Karen Runge.

Crystal Lake Publishing. 2019

ISBN-13: 978-1646693146

Available: Paperback, Kindle edition

 

Karen Runge is a force that will leave a scar on the genre. Jack Ketchum mentored her, and those influences are felt within the novel, but she’s her own writer and has a style that’s nobody else’s but her own. Doll Crimes is more of a nod to Elizabeth Massie’s Wire Mesh Mothers; it’s the horror novel Gillian Flynn should have penned.

Doll Crimes  examines the human soul: the good, the bad, and the downright evil.  It’s written in a manner that digs so deep that readers will have a tough time forgetting the characters, long after the final page is turned. Yes, it might disturb some, but only in the way a good horror novel should.

Runge opens the novel with a mother and her daughter on the run. From what, or who, we have no idea, but they’re moving in a direction that appears dangerous and devolving. The daughter is the main character; her mother is a mere fifteen years older than her, which makes for a relationship dynamic that is closer to sisters or close friends than a maternal bond.

The two travel from town to town, scamming people for food, shelter, money and more, but are aiming higher. They seek something permanent, even if they’re not quite sure what that entails. They shack up with a pair of interesting characters at different places in the story. One may be helpful to the girl, or simply another shadow with varying degrees of darkness. The other, a drug dealer, just might be a bit more stable than the mother.

More details regarding the plot would spoil the emotional heft of the book but please give this one a shot. The gut punch, the visceral impact Runge inflicts upon the reader, is a tough one, but there’s a strong reason to wade through the razor-tinged gauntlet of the travels of these two broken characters: the writing.

Doll Crimes should turn out to be one of the strongest efforts of 2019, and a portent of things to come from Karen Runge, through her ability to wrench the emotion from the everyday pain characters navigate. She knows this pain. She’ll also likely know success if there’s any justice left in this twisted society.

The loss of one’s innocence is key here, and made much more powerful by the fact that the character believes it to be what families do. Recommended.

 

Contains: child abuse

Reviewed by David Simms

 

Posted on March 5, 2020 by , Reply
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