The Triangle Trilogy (infected series) by Scott Sigler

Scott Sigler is one of the best authors around for that wonderful sci-fi, horror and comedy blend. His style is easy to read, has amazingly well rounded characters and all the science “stuff” is well explained, even if some is a little Alien!

Apparently there is a little room at AT&T that screens the phone lines for key words, such as murder, bomb, kill and Triangles....and so the tracking begins.

Deputy Director of the CIA, Murray Longworth is a great character, with a complex history, just not very likeable but then when you have to do what he has to do, not sure I would be likable either.

Dew & Malcolm pick the short straw of being excellent field agents, again with some really great back stories, IMO this is what makes this an awesome novel and ultimately fantastic trilogy, each character is fleshed out, I truly felt a bond to these characters and missed and grieved for them as their stories played out.

The other main players are an epidemiologist, Margaret and her little sidekick, parasitologist, Amos. They are assigned their own Agent Clarence. Apart from all the betting and banter that goes on these three make a great team, which is seriously needed when you realise what has come to take a peek at Earth.

Are the characters a little cliché? Yes of course, but then wouldn’t bland characters be just that? Boring!

Scary Perry Dawson, what a man to pick for an alien invasion. Perry maybe scary for many reasons but thankfully he has his BFF Bill to keep his temper in check for him, Perry has his reasons for having anger management issues but at 6’ 4” and 268lbs you need discipline. 

The first horror scene comes via some cranked up Frank Sinatra, a pair of legs being hacked off, a huge house fire, axes to the guts and the possibility of contamination of an unknown germ – riveting.

The “germination” process of the alien seeds is amazingly described; some complex biology information is neatly and easily explained.

As it becomes clear that Perry is infected with the Magnificent Seven the paranoia kicks in, so does the hunger. However, Perry does his best to make the Magnificent Seven become more manageable. Whilst attempting this he manages to capture The Betrayer (one of the worst torture scenes I have read), do some self-surgery, eat the weirdest food concoctions, talk to little blue triangles, see out of his butt cheek and whittle his way down to the Three Amigos.

On the flip side of the story Dew is trying to play catch up with the other infected as Margaret & Amos try to discover the cause of the rotting bodies and “crazed” victims.

It is now a race against time to get to the Gate; will it be Colonel Ogden and his elite team or the Triangles, and just what is coming through anyway….

The descriptions of the hatching and the showdown between Scary Perry and The Three Amigos was nail biting.

As Showtime arrives it feels like all hell has broken loose, and maybe it has, SS leaves you on a massive cliff, not so much hanging as teetering on the edge trying to hold balance. There is an element of rushed finale but knowing this a trilogy explains this.

Whilst this book can be read as a stand-alone I would recommend you buy the trilogy as you won’t be able to put this down.

Infected

A new President gets a doozy of a joke played on him; maybe.

Scary Perry has survived his trial with the Magnificent Seven but is minus a few body parts, but he does have some enhancements. He can now sniff out the Triangles which is great advantage in this Alien war, however the anger management issues are still there with some horrific killing scenes, SS does not shy away from the horror. Scary Perry maybe on the good side now but he continues to be a sonofabitch!

Col. Ogden is back on a full time mission, with his elite team of exterminators, again with SS you always get a great back history to fill out these characters so that when they die, get maimed, make choices, you are right there with them, usually wincing.

The sexual frisson between Clarence and Margaret has finally fruited and the banter love/hate relationship between Clarence and Amos provides the humour element in this second installment of horror via the blue Triangles.

Margaret really grows as a character in this book and you don’t get the feeling that she is the token genius female anymore!

We learn more about the source of the infection and discover The Orbital and its intentions, this only serves to ramp up the potential terror of the situation. Poor Perry must brave his demons as a new infection takes hold and The Orbital has changed its strategy.  This new infection has a bigger agenda as the little angel that is Chelsea Jewel finds out.

The insights in to the higher functioning of Government was no real surprise but it did resonate that they are human too, but for how long?

The tension in this 2^nd part of the trilogy comes in waves as each team race to discover the transmission vectors, the Gate sights, infected victims and all the while discovering what new talents that the Triangles are developing.

Chelsea Jewel is the central character of the newly infected family and she brings a whole new element to the Triangles attempts at invasion; a childs greed.

SS has really let his imagination go wild in this book and all the better for us readers. I loved the fantastical route he has taken, some really genuine scares and horrors.

There are also some horrific deaths and touching moments in this book, made my arm hair stand up!

The detailed military element is also there for all the gun nuts!

Really looking forward to the concluding part in this fantastic trilogy.

Contagious

Fantastic prologue shoves you right back in to the Triangles world of horror.

The complex science (fiction based in truth is always the best stuff) is very neatly and simply explained again by SS. He really excels at this element of writing.

Updates are given about the last five years via flash backs and “chat pages”. I really enjoyed the use of modern media to convey public opinion and show how Margaret and Clarence have been existing since the last Triangle showdown.

New and old characters are updated and fleshed out in true SS style.  Even old theories are updated and explained.

The two main story lines this time are Jeff and Cooper the boat men, with Bo Pan and Steve hiring their services to locate the Orbital; lots of shady espionage stuff going on this time too which lends a spooky tense feel to it.

Swift jumps between the two main stories really build the tension and with the little peaks from the Triangle perspective give an added bonus of horror.

With all of SS there is never any skimping on the gore factor.

As mayhem and destruction occur it’s scarier than a zombie apocalypse as you don’t know who is infected.

It’s not just individuals or families that are infected this time, the Triangles are aiming globally.

The finale is excruciating to read but I was riveted the whole time, at over 12hrs reading time this is an epic book and nicely rounds off the Triangle trilogy.

Pandemic

Coalition of the Damned: Monster Squad by Heath Stallcupp

A few clever paragraphs and you are taken straight back in to the story, its like you never put the last book down.

Ohmergawd, so funny that Zombie Fallout author Mark Tufo, an awesome new character introduced in the last book, caught a woodland sprite! a bit like you would catch a cold! Oh and the things he has to do to get rid of her can be barely read without giggling like a mad woman!

The story is moved along with great pace, and as the vampires seek pieces of The Cross the werewolves are hunting down the mythical figure of the roman solider; all great parts of the Christ story, I love it when authors play with myths and legends adding their own twists and turns.

The “human” teams go on the hunt for allies and manage to find themselves some Elves, oh! and other unmentionable critters.

Poor Dominic is left with the Sicarii and you get a true sense of terror with his mental torture and the Sicarri’s boasts for world domination.

The weapons cache is impressive! It really felt like the apocalypse was coming.

Robert and Barbara – the best love story ever! HS has such a gore filled heart, but it such a big heart with all the love and romance (not the sickly kind) that he crams into his books.

With some political shuffling the MS team find a new home and all the pieces of war start to fall into position. Which of course, in true HS style, leaves you on such a massive cliff hanger that I am left hoping that the next installment is not too far behind!

Coalition of the Damned

Jennifer Thomas reviews..... Lori R. Lopez part 2

The lovely Jennifer Thomas reviews her second batch of short stories and collections from the multi talented Lori. R. Lopez. Did you know all those covers are done by Lori herself! and you should have a listen/watch Fairy Fly Entertainment on YouTube where she brings her stories to life.

The Macabre Mind of Lori R. Lopez

This is a fantastic collection of Lori R. Lopez's work. If you have read anything by Lori you know that she has a wonderful and unique style to her writing that is able to pull you right into the world that her words paint through your imagination. 

This collection gives you thirteen different worlds!! In my opinion this is a collection of her darkest and most suspenseful work, never too dark but the suspense will have you hanging on the edge of your chair and as your mind gets twisted and twirled throughout each story.

There is something in this collection for everyone, you have zombies, creatures, circus freaks, ghosts, big foot, werewolves and more.

I highly recommend this collection to anyone who enjoys reading for fun and who loves having their mind challenged with a unique outlook of the horror world.

An Ill Wind Blows

Lori R. Lopez writes this adventure with so heartfelt compassion that this is a book to love. 

There are so many characters that you get to know throughout this book that it is amazing that she is able to give each one a personality and background. 

I was brought to tears by so many of their memories and the sadness that they have been through it makes them so real that they seem to jump from the pages right into you mind. 

Reading this fabulous book is so much like watching a movie that you can get lost in the time that you are reading and before you know it the book is finished.

This book is such a great mix of horror, humor, emotion and suspense that it is a book for everyone of all ages, from young adult upward. You have so much to every page that your mind is able fully emerged itself and you are able to forget the real world and get lost in the storm that is the incredible mind of this amazing author. 

It doesn't matter what type of book you like to read this book has it all for everyone to enjoy.

Bloodpath

Lori R. Lopez had done it again!!!! She has blown my mind with another amazing story. Bloodpath takes you through the mystery of the legendary bigfoot and beyond. 

All Boyd Applegate wanted to do was have some drinks with his buddies to make himself feel better and then drive home. Well the first part of his plan works wonderfully and then everything happens. 

What is that he just hit? How drunk is he to think that it couldn't be human? 

This short suspenseful horrific mystery is a wonderful read. And as always Lori is able to help you envision the entire story through her unique and amazing use of words. 

You can feel the fear of the humans and the anger of the beasts and the sadness for the loss of the lives that are lost in this tale, but I have to say that I have never thought of a path of blood being beautiful until I read them described in this story.

Fossil

This is one of the most amazing stories that have come from the mind of Lori Lopez. This Bone Man is a character that equals a force to be reckoned with.

From one mansion that becomes a number of different things in it's years including a sanatorium, but the one thing it really was is a place where murder was always going to happen. 

When a psychic buys the old place to record and try to contact the poor victims of this evil building he bites off more than he can chew.

Dance of the Chupacabras

This is a great and fun book. It will hold your attention from beginning to end. Lori has such way of writing like no other. Each and every character in this book will catch your mind and embed itself there for years to come.

The words and descriptions of this book are written in a way that no one else but Lori could pull off. 

I love her no holds bar writing style every one of her books and stories never cease to amaze me.

If you love mythology, adventure and a bit of humor read this book you will not be disappointed.

Thank you so much Lori for just being you and letting your true self shine in your books!!!!

Out of Mind Experiences

This book takes you through the imagination of Lori R. Lopez in the best of ways. Every story in this book leaves you wanting more and when you finish it you feel a satisfaction in you mind like no other. 

So many of the stories hold the emotions of this brilliant writer and you can actually feel what the characters feel and see through their eyes. 

The pictures that these stories paint in your mind are like no other. If you like short story books then this one is for you!!!

Creep

When I started this short story I had a million ideas of what I thought the Creep was and I was wrong...If you like stories of revenge and hatred with a little bit of regurgitation thrown in for good measure, this story is for you. There is action in this horror from the first page all the way through until the final sentence.

This is also one of the stories where you want to feel bad for the thing doing the killing.

I think this is one of those few stories where you want just the right kind of people to read it and have to spend a while looking over their shoulders from the guilt they feel in their heart.

Hell Hath No Fury anthology edited by TW Brown

I loved the little intros, the authors little bio and the fantastic drawings to each short story...what a great idea!

These girls ROCK... and who gave men the "bad" rap for always being sexually minded, these girls are on heat, with no shame, oh yeah!

SLIDING INTO SECOND by Elsa M. Carruthers: blunt, descriptive and brilliant... loved this new twist in the possible source of the zombie infection. It’s as much about how mob rules as the horror of the slide...

CHICK MAGNET by Tonia Brown: I sniggered a lot reading this story, not sure I was supposed to, but the vision of a hormonal rampant boy getting an eyeful of zombie flesh instead of his fantasy was tasty in itself, with the mental image of his chubby little legs running like a goat on fire (I dont like animal cruelty btw) brilliant twist at the end.

WAKING THE DEAD by Chantal Boudreau: fantastic concept and explanation for the zombie apocalypse! also nice to see a romance bloom amongst the blood bath. Has put me off my coffee for awhile... a short while! or maybe Im just a zombie before the coffee hits!! who knows the difference!

CRANIAL REWIRE by DA Chaney: Oh how quickly we adapt to horror, has online gaming pushed us over the edge, or were we always a savage beast? Loved this little story.

POPULATION ZOMBIE by Candace Gleave: a good guys tale.....

THE PETITIONERS by Rebecca Lloyd: a brilliant revenge tale, with a zombie twist! Power really does turn peoples heads....

SNOWCOMBE by Emma Tett: a world where you ignore zombies is always going to have a bad ending! of course they escape and start chomping down, however, there totem pole deterrent is original!

THE CANDIDATES by Jordan Deen: we all love our families but think this is a step too far. I actually felt sad reading this.

PIECES by Rebecca Snow: this left me very retrospective, a zombies final thoughts of her lost loves and how she wants them to know how they made her feel, a little gift for each of them, so special. The added bonus of her body and mind breaking down make an interesting read.

TIPS by Dina Leacock: a dog munching ex hubby zombies, just what i was missing in my life! and the wife's only comment? what is choice of meat was!! this story had me in stitches, from rotting zombie squirrels too confused to climb a tree, interviewing zombies for the local newspaper to California and New York not even realising they had a zombie invasion! very giggle some, gruesome fun. However, I am now worried about the pets buried in my garden. This was my favourite.

THE BASEBALL BAT AND THE AXE by Hanna Masaryk: loved the statement that the "french are always to blame", that made this story for me.... sad and brave... lovely characters.

LOVE STINKS by Stacey B. Longo: love is blind, deaf, stupid and obviously has no ability to smell either.....

ZOMBIE LOVE SONG by Jennifer Allis Provost: what a sad, dark world is portrayed here and yet love finds away... uplifting in a weird, green, un-dead way....

really loved this book... will be on the look for all of these great authors.

Hell Hath No Fury

Stan by Richard Wold

I found this author/book on The Daily Bookworm site; they suggested that it was a low price (not free) and well worth the read, were they right? Oh Yes!

The story starts with poor Stan throwing himself off the Washington State Bridge. Then realizes that he is not dead but wakes up not knowing who he is, however, he does have a lot of secrets in his head.

As Stan struggles to remember who he is in the local psyche ward, Dr Abigail does her best to pigeon hole him with a diagnosis, but he is smart, handsome and articulate and Dr Abigail starts to become obsessed.

Then a strange new woman, Lilith, enters their lives. With her help Stan is soon back in the real world and out of the mental hospital, trying to discover who he is with the help of the two woman, one clearly goodness and light, the other dark and dangerous; both are hiding something.

Mr Wold does some fantastic descriptions of hell and does some clever name drops; Lilith, café Dante etc.

Stan starts to hallucinate and this re-stimulates his previous career as an artist, a very popular one too apparently.

As he becomes engrossed in the project for his new show, his true nature begins to surface and Abigail finds herself so obsessed by him that she has to remove herself and find him a new therapist who enlightens him no end! Is this new shrink more bonkers than Stan?

Or is Stan really Satan, King of the Underworld in a man suit?

At this suggestion Stan goes a little off the rails, and he is finally given an ultimatum.

But which side will Stan chose? Darkness or light? And who will have him back?

Fantastic ending, one the best yet!

This appears to be RW first novel, I am very impressed and will be watching with interest to see what he produces next.

Stan

That Elusive Cure by Lisa C Hinsley

Lisa C. Hinsley is a new author to me, she has several titles out and I enjoyed this book so much I have downloaded two and got samples of the others! (got to love ebook for that function alone).

You can find out more about Lisa C Hinsley here:

www.lisahinsley.weebly.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LisaHinsley.author

Twitter: @LisaCHinsley

What a beautiful dedication and  thoughts shared at the beginning of the book.

The first chapter damn near broke my heart. How LCH has managed to write so eloquently, yet factually about such an emotional subject with clear personal touches really pricked at my eyes.

Her main character is Kath, and Kath has terminal bowel cancer. The premise of the story is she is offered that elusive cure via a pod from the future, or does she?

Some really great explanations of the torment that is simply waiting for a call back, a simple text message of hope.

The way that LCH describes the horrific side effects of the chemo and how it wrecks your body; I was almost signing up for the The Moon Walk.

The descriptive writing style of LCH goes into overdrive as she puts you at the door to a church, then inside  and finally next to the “pod” of dreams.  I found the odd bit of dark humour in this book and this was one of those times as Kathy starts to think that Janie, her potential savior, is a mercy serial killer!

As if poor Kath doesn’t have enough in her own life to deal with she desperately tries to help her childhood friend, who has debilitating depression. Surely that should be the other way around? Another reason this book feels so real life and not just a story, nothing is perfect.

This element of the book really made me think about disease and all its forms. Just because we can’t see the disease does it make it not real? I was very torn as to which friend was suffering more.

An “interesting” observation regarding cancer diagnosis and its treatment that I had never thought of was the impact getting well has on your family and friends. What others try to shield from you as you are the “sick” one.

Kath constantly struggles with not being able to fix, cure or care enough about those around her to the point where I was getting annoyed at Kath expecting the pod to fix all the problems not only in her life but in the world, some things should not be fixed.

But is cancer the cause of that selfishness or is it just life?, do we need permission to love our selves first in life?

As things start to build to a crescendo after an interfering husband puts a spanner in the works, all hope seems at a loss, the tension continues to mount as it’s a race to the finish line, but which finish line? 

There are some deaths along the way, some threats and lots of high emotion. I was caught on the edge of my seat for most of this book.

The ending was a bit quick for me, I could see where the author wanted to go, just think it could have gone a few more chapters into explaining things. But sometimes your own imagination is better, and in this case, only a maybe from me?

Not sure what genre this book comes under, its harrowing, informative, a touch of sci-fi and a touch of horror.

BUT it is a book NOT be missed.

That Elusive Cure

Jennifer Thomas reviews....... Jeffrey Kosh

Jennifer Thomas is loved by many authors for her honest and wonderful reviews. This guest blog she tells us all why she loves Jeffrey Kosh so much. 

Five

What do you feel your life is worth? Are you ready to die right now and leave this world behind for the unknown of the afterlife? Well when I read this I was not so sure in the beginning but this story grew into something poetic and amazing right before my eyes.

Artie had his world torn to pieces at a young age and ended up in the bottle and on the streets. His life was nothing to anyone, not even him. When a bout of pneumonia and a lot of rum causes him to make a deal that will cost him almost everything he knows he finds out that the world is not only made up of bad deals and evil magic but it is also made of the white light of love and goodness.

Really enjoyed this one and hope to read some more of Jeffrey Kosh's work really soon!

Home Invasion

When I first started reading this short story I understood from the first that it was very much the erotic read that it claims to be but the passion only last a few minutes. 

Who is this man who has invaded a couple who has not done anything wrong? What is this man going to make a husband watch him do wife?

These are just a couple of questions that Kevin has running through his mind as his wife Samantha is left to the mercy of this sexy invading beast.

As in true Jeffrey Kosh writing style the subject matter may be disturbing at some points and hard to imagine (if you even want to imagine) but his words are never disturbing or vulgar and his writing is easy to read and follow through the worst of scenes.

As a reader I want to place a small warning for other readers, this story contains some strong sexual scenes that may be disturbing to people who are sensitive to sexual violence. 

This is an erotic thriller and please keep that in mind when you purchase and read this story.

The South Will RiseAgain

This is a short story and a quick read but it is also very gripping and suspenseful. 

Once I started the first sentence, Jeffrey Kosh had my imagination in the palm of his hands.

Imagine being a civil war solider being killed in battle only to awaken to not only have your fears in life come back upon you but to have to face evil like you have never known and find out your part of it.

Get this story. Read it. You will not be sorry.

Dead Men Tell NoTales

This is a great pirate story that you can't help but love from the first word to the last. It has the horror and suspense that keeps you wanting more along with characters whom you will never forget.

As you will find when you read this book there is a story within a story what you will find is love, loss and emotion within the horror and fear that I enjoyed so very much.

This is a great story for a low price so pick it up and enjoy it :o) I did!!

Stryx

I doesn't matter what subject matter or genre Jeffery Kosh chooses to write about he is able to write with all of he passion he feels in his heart with every word in every story. 

This short is no different. He is able to bring the fears and loneliness of the main character in the story to life in your minds eye so that you are absorbed by every emotion.

When Cardinal Lodovico Strigidi is plagued by the sounds of a creature that he feels is the messenger of evil and death he would give anything to make it go away, but when he realizes that there is no on in the world that can be there for him and help him the fear and despair only grows.

This is a must read short for all who love a bit of potery and despair in your life.

REVENANT

This is a wonderful story that will take you throught every emotion of man not only in life but in death as well.

Armand Bouvier lets is jealously get the best of him were his love Valerie is concerned and once this extreme feeling has taken hold he can not help himself, he must kill the man that is causing him so much hate. But what Armand dosen't understand is that he is being played the fool.

This story takes you through some of the darker sides of voodoo and black magic and you just can't wait to turn the page to see what is going to happen next.

Thrill of the Hunt

This book is very much the erotic thriller that it claims to be. 

Jeffrey Kosh has a way with words to make this book flow in a very lustful and unexpected way. His descriptions of the human body and the state of mind his characters within these steamy pages will leave you longing to turn the page, and all this why weaving a thriller and a story of the hunter becoming the hunted.

Jeffrey has a way of giving more to each of his lead characters. In this book the man is Slade Carver. As you read you find that Slade is more than just the hot and sexy cowboy. 

He is really just a lost soul in need of rescuing and who is trapped by something, or someone who is more than he ever thought possible.

Please keep in mind if you purchase this book that it is an EROTIC THRILLER and in being so does have some very descriptive sexual scenes and sexual suggestions throughout. But as with all of Jeffrey's writing, he writes in a manner where his words allow you to feel the passion and emotion that is taking place in that moment and his words are never disturbing in any way.

Prosperity Glades

Once again Jeffrey Kosh gives you a glimpse of how dark his mind can be and how the darkness of Prosperity Glades can find it's own way to imbed itself within the darkest parts of your imagination.

In this book you get some background into a dark and fearful world where you can never quite tell who will be taken captive by one of the many spirits that inhabit a small Florida county that has been inhabited by evil for as long as the land has been there. 

Every story within this book will make you want to learn more about what is happening in Prosperity. What will you believe when you finish reading? Well I'll tell you that you will learn how your own mind can feel the fear and you will be left with a feeling of uneasy.

This is not a book for the faint hearted but you don't have to be a hard core horror fan to enjoy it. 

I will let you know that there are parts of this book that involve children and tackle the taboo subject of child abuse but everything is very tastefully written and nothing in Jeffrey's writing is ever anymore uncomfortable to read than it is intended to be.

 Every detail is just enough to let you feel the emotion that is happening at that time in the story, weather it be pain, fear, hate, sadness or even pleasure that can take a life of it's own from a woman's lust.

A must read book for all horror fans, but I would like to advise that everyone read Feeding The Urge before reading this one to better understand the characters that take a life of their own in both of these books.

Feeding the Urge

This book has so much going on within the pages that once you start it you will never have to worry about your mind wondering off in a different direction. 

In the beginning it is a story about Dr. Axel Hyde but it becomes so much more. There are so many different stories within this book it is crazy, but it all works and flows so well together.

This book does have some very adult situations and it does have some very taboo subject matter that a lot of people my want to turn away from the book but I can assure you that this book is very well thought out and written in a way that some of the subject matter is never to overwhelming. 

The characters are so well written that it is very easy for them to become real in your mind. You are able to feel the pain and hate and fear of each and everyone of them and that is what made this book so amazing for me.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves a good captivating read and as much as you wouldn't think it being in a book like this, there is a bit of romance and a hot and steamy part.