Angel

📍 Springfield, MA

Horror reader and writer. Puerto Rican, living in Massachusetts. I love stories with atmosphere, dread, and emotional weight, whether supernatural or grounded. Author of The Mortal Coil series. Always excited to discover new voices and support fellow indie authors.

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Web of Malevolence

PD Alleva

Recommended

Web of Malevolence

PD Alleva

Currently Reading

Defeating the Moose

LAURA. BILODEAU

The Burning

Tiffany Royster

The Burning

Tiffany Royster

Recent Reviews

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Cover

A Midsummer Night's Dream

William Shakespeare

★★★★★

Seen – A Horror Novella
By: James Yates
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4.5 rounded up)
Release Date: October 3, 2025
Length: 83 pages
Content Warnings: Infant death, disturbing imagery, violent deaths

I first came across this book through a review in one of the groups I’m part of. At first, I didn’t realize it was an ARC call, but when it popped up again as a “last chance” opportunity, I jumped so fast I nearly twisted an ankle... anyway, I received an advance copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.

Sometimes horror doesn’t need hundreds of pages to get under your skin; sometimes it only takes five.

James Yates delivers Seen, a lean, eerie novella centered around a baby that no one wants to look at for too long. From the very first chapter, there’s a lingering unease that wraps around the reader. The grief of Julie-Ann’s death hits with weight, and her sister Catherine (Caz) stepping in to care for the baby sets the stage for a creeping, sinister mystery.

Dogs avoid the child, kids are terrified of her, and strange deaths start piling up. Is it possession? A curse? Something worse? Yates doesn’t over-explain, instead letting the terror seep through the edges, balancing grief and horror with occult menace. While the story sometimes leans toward exaggeration and could have benefitted from more time to build its suspense, the short form still manages to strike with sharp, unsettling imagery.

Personally, I found the horror concept fascinating, especially the disturbing detail of the child’s lazy eye, which feels symbolic as much as physical. I only wish the novella had been longer, giving more space for the deaths to breathe and for the terror to fully escalate. As it stands, though, Yates proves he can terrify in just a handful of pages. If he ever expands this concept into a full novel, it could be unforgettable.

Reviewed 1 month ago

The Stranger

Jim Donohue

★★★★★

The Stranger - A Horror Western
By: Jim Donohue
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Release Date: November 30, 2025
Length: 215 pages
Content Warnings: Violence, Gore, Loss, Supernatural Horror

At first, I was a little worried. I had no expectations and no idea what this story was really about, and it felt a bit slow at the beginning. But it didn’t take long to realize this wasn’t just a simple western horror story, and oh man, was I right.

Jim shares how he grew up with his sister Sharon, watching horror films like House on Haunted Hill and The Sadist, and TV shows like The Twilight Zone, The Outer Limits, and Alfred Hitchcock Presents. But what truly shaped him was discovering a young Stephen King together.

While this isn’t Jim’s first published work, it’s his first full-length novel, and my only question is: why didn’t he do this sooner?

I want to thank everyone who told him to keep going, even when he thought about stopping the story at 13,000 words. From now on, you can add me to that list of people who will say: keep going, always.

This is a raw, chilling western horror that drags you deep into the Wild West and the evil, both human and supernatural, that lurks there. In this world, vampires exist. Not the romantic kind, but vile, merciless creatures that strike with fury. When Josh was nine years old, a corrupt banker sent his men to his family’s ranch. They murdered his parents, and Josh swore revenge.

Throughout the story, you can feel Jim’s past inspirations. He’s not copying Stephen King, but his admiration shines through. Jim has a unique storytelling voice that is immersive, passionate, and full of heart. After reading The Turning, I didn’t expect to step into an even larger world he’s building, but now I know there’s much more to come, and I’m eagerly waiting for whatever he writes next.

What truly got me was Josh. He’s a complete, fully developed character whose arc is packed with adventure, horror, heartbreak, and even humor. This isn’t a horror-comedy, but I found myself laughing out loud more than once. Example?

“I’m glad you remember the story. Tell me, though, which was the one that made you remember?”

This full scene may well be my favorite. I’m not going to spoil it, but those who have read it will know, and you will too once you have.

When this novel is released, don’t hesitate. Give it a chance. You’ll have one hell of a ride.

Reviewed 1 month ago

The Pale Hunger (The Mortal Coil Universe)

Angel R. Sánchez

★★★★★

I’m not giving it five stars, not because I don’t love it (trust me, I do), but because, well… I wrote it. So yeah, I’m a little biased.

The Pale Hunger is a deeply personal continuation of a universe I started building with The Real Monster. It’s a story born from grief, fear, and the aching silence of the forest… but also from love. The kind of love that drives you to write, even when it hurts.

My hope is that readers find something here that resonates, a shadow, a memory, a pulse, and that the horror feels just human enough to be real.

Thank you for giving it a chance.
Thank you for reading.

– Angel R. Sánchez

Reviewed 1 month ago