You all have probably heard me talking about The Wicked or Ugly as Sin by James Newman. (If you haven't, they're awesome books and you should check them out.) I recently had the opportunity to talk to the guys who published these two books for Shock Totem: K. Allen Wood and John Boden. 

If you are looking for a way to spend your holiday gift card, these guys can point you in the right direction. They even have holiday issues of their magazine available. To learn more about them click here: Shock Totem Interview.

This is a compilation of six short stories, which were all pretty amazing! See my individual reviews below.

She Sleeps in the Depths by William Miekle

This story has great atmosphere. Fallon is our main character, a simple man at heart. When he suddenly begins to hear a haunting melody, that follows him and won't let him go, he heads out to investigate. I loved that William Miekle gave Fallon a female counterpart. I also loved that what they discovered was so unexpected. (4/5)

Better Heard and Not Seen by Michael Penkas

What is more easy to relate to than the childhood fear of a monster in your closet? Michael Penkas takes this story, and adds his own little twist. I found goosebumps rising on my skin as I eagerly devoured this story. Maybe we should believe our kids when they say there's something in their room. Maybe we should. (4/5)

Carrion Fowl by William R. Eakin

This was was a bit of a miss for me. People in a small town are suddenly transformed into cannibalistic half human, half birds. No explanation how, they just are. There wasn't much build up in this story, and it was a little jumpy in its writing style. Still, it has its own level of creep factor to it. (3/5)

Jaws of Life by E.G. Smith

By far, my favorite story of the bunch! A salesman's car barrels over a cliff and he ends up trapped, upside down at the bottom. He wanted help, but what he encounters? Not exactly the kind of help he was looking for. This story had an oily feel to it. The kind that crawls under your skin and let's you know that something nasty is coming around the corner. Oh, and it did. (5/5)

Netherview by Gary McMahon

On a whim, a couple decides to visit a new housing development that's going up... on the site an old asylum. When will people learn? What follows is a fight to escape, and to survive. I liked the fact that this story doesn't show its hand all at once. It builds on your fear, and your tension. (4/5)

Children of the Horned God by Christopher Fulbright

When a horned creature snatches a man's wife, he goes on the hunt to find her. What he finds is much more than bargained for. I think this story had a lot of potential. It almost felt like one of those 80's movies that you love to watch, but is filled with cheesy parts that make you giggle. A guilty pleasure all its own, and still fun to read. (4/5)