The Eris Ridge Trail, by Larry Hinkle -- A short read about a long trip through a cosmic horror world

 

Cover Image
courtesy of
Four Winds Bar Publishing

I received a HWA read request in my inbox for this little cosmic horror piece, and I chose to check it out for the oddest of reasons: the author's name happens to be a name I recognize from my high school days. We weren’t necessarily friends—or enemies, for that matter. Or even in the same graduating class. And as I write this, I’m not convinced that @thatscarylarry is even the Larry I had a passing knowledge of. It’s plausible though. And that’s kinda weird.

Much like the novella in question, The Eris Ridge Trail, by Larry Hinkle, is kinda weird in a cosmic/weird tales kind of way. It’s an imaginative story of a random group of people (and their dogs, in some cases) who individually get lost in different locations across the country, while on the same named trail. They find each other in this weird new world that seems to be otherwise desolate, and that randomly shifts through time, sometimes at photo shutter speeds.

Each character among this ragtag group is also in a state of being lost within the trajectory of their lives, and because of it, they gravitate to becoming a much needed family. They learn to depend on each other in a world full of constantly shifting unknowns.

It's a cleverly written piece and a quick read at just under 200 pages. The characters are relatable and likable enough and, of course, the dogs are adorable saints and saviors to some degree. That having been said, I didn’t feel like there was much of a character arc for any of them—no real epiphany for them to come to. The horror aspect was mostly situational, and not really the result of anything derived from deep character flaws. Mistakes are made throughout their combined attempts to return home, but I felt like the reason why this was happening to these characters in particular was left unanswered.

The horror aspect of the story as a whole was atmospheric, with a couple of gory parts that were relatively brief. Overall, this is a pleasant novella length story from a promising newish voice.

Click on the cover image above for options to buy.

Mercury in Retrograde -- by Rachel Stuart-Haas -- A Review for the Astrologically Curious

Cover Image courtesy of
S&S/Simon Element
Click for Book Link

***

With a title that might equate to clickbait (a discussion on Mercury in Retrograde is but a small part of this book), this little review on how to read and utilize astrology in your life is actually a good starter companion for the astrologically curious. It also doubles as a bit of a self help book, pointing out ways that astrology might help us better understand ourselves and find ways to accept who we are—and who others are. It's not deep reading, but it helps put an astrological chart in perspective for the novice.

I have always been interested in astrology on a surface level. I was introduced to it by a hometown astrologer who did up a chart in my high school years. She was the mom of a friend, and some people thought she was a witch. Now, I’m drawing up a character based on the woman in my latest writing project, and having this book (gifted to me by one of my own kids) helped me understand the craft of astrology just enough to bring the character to life.

It touches on Mercury retrogrades and what they actually mean, sure. It even explains the actual physics of a retrograde regarding the movement of planets (because my other kid, who took astronomy and earth science classes in college, wanted to make sure I knew—I did. Without the help of this book, but still, it’s good to see an astrology book not dismiss it.). But it touches on a broader scope of what things mean in your chart too—the planets, the sun, the moon, conjunctions, sextiles and trines, even an asteroid or two.

Like I said, it doesn’t go deep. It touches on the basics with short, easy to read passages for the astrology curious. It’s worth checking out if you are, indeed astrology curious.

Click on the book cover above for a link to buy.

On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century, by Timothy Snyder -- Remember That Book You Bought 8 Years Ago? Good Time to Read It.

Cover Image courtesy of
Crown Publishing

Look, I’m not going to heap accolades on this little gem for giving me any astounding revelations. I got a copy of this book at the start of a first particular presidential run, and probably scanned the chapter headings and said, yeah, this tracks. Then I set it aside and here I am, presidential run two. I should actually read it this time. This book aligns with my political worldview, so I am not surprised by anything it has to say. In fact, I found myself shaking my head, chastising myself for delaying to read beyond the headlines the first time, as it were. It's not a difficult read. In fact, you could probably get through it in a day if you wanted to, and it's a good reminder of where we are as a nation and its parallels with where we've been.

What I will say is this, now in late 2025, is a perfect time to read it. Or to revisit it. It’s a perfect time to be reminded about where we are and what we can still do to remain consciously active in our democracy. Nothing in this book rings false for me — even after nearly 10 years. It's a quick, easy read that plays out as more of a checklist of things to do more than anything else. But it’s an important checklist. And you'll feel better with every check you make. One thing on that checklist is to distance yourself from the poison on the internet, and maybe pick up a book to read. I get a half check here, thanks to this book.

You can too, because it's good advice. And the more you check off the list, the better you will feel. I guarantee it.

The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones -- Historical Horror Fiction at its Best

Cover Image Courtesy of
S&S/Saga Press

I have been holding off on reading this latest entry by Jones, about a Native vampire, maybe because I have been anticipating it since its announcement, then bought the book —not the ebook—on preorder then, because I was so psyched by the premise from the start, refrained from committing to it because—what if I would be disappointed? What if my prediction, that this story would blow me out of the water, was wrong?

Then the Horror Aficionados group on GoodReads finally got around to voting for this as the read of the month, and… Well, I wasn’t wrong.

This story is about a Picuni known (by many names but…) as Good Stab, and a Lutheran pastor known as Arthur Beaucarne (also as Three Persons, which is genius, IMO). They meet in 1912 when, over the course of many subsequent meetings, Good Stab lays out a lengthy confession of his sins, exposing his story of becoming a vampire after events that took place during an 1870 Blackfeet massacre that both MCs are dishearteningly familiar with.

Oh, and if your go to read is historical fiction—American historical fiction, then this book needs to be on your list.

The good pastor Beaucarne can do nothing if not listen, in spite of his initial skepticism over the gory and fantastical details. He can do nothing but listen and record the confessions in a private journal, as Good Stab weaves his story, ending each session with the perfect announcement that his pipe is empty (he can’t smoke one), his allotted time is done. This style of story telling immediately brought Rice's Interview with the Vampire to mind, and the device of a vampire telling his story for the purpose of posterity works here too.

But Jones tricks us here because, while the storytelling device immediately feels like a nod to Anne Rice, it doesn’t take long to understand that what Jones is doing is not simply revealing Good Stab's confession. He's also peeling away at the good pastor's deeply imbedded flaws. There’s an increasing cat and mouse game going on between these two men, and it culminates into a gory confrontation like only Jones can do.

Of course, anyone inspired to read this after reading this review might initially be confused. Because the book begins and ends with a grad student named Etsy in the relevant present. She's researching her family history—her thrice great grandfather Beaucarne—when the manuscript of his journal falls into her lap.

I’m not going to lie. The tonal shift between current day Etsy's story, and the journal entries of Good Stab's story written by Beaucarne, didn’t initially mesh for me. Having read enough of Jones's work, Etsy acts and sounds a lot like Jade from the Chainsaw series. Different girl, same hyper-thought process voice, maybe tempered a little because there’s less of a chip on her shoulder. Her character traits are a SGJ staple though for certain. Fans of Jones will either love it or hate it. If this is your first SGJ read, it probably won’t matter. But the bookend chapters of Etsy and her discovery of the journal plays its part by story’s end and brings the story as a whole to a satisfactory—albeit tonally different—conclusion.

I loved this book, plain and simple. I was riveted. And there are a few long ass chapters that unwind as Good Stab smokes his imaginary pipe. The actual history that is imbedded into the framework of this story is heartbreaking, and the more people who become aware of it, the better.

I think I mentioned in a chat group somewhere, midway through reading, that The Buffalo Hunter Hunter just might replace The Only Good Indians or Mongrels as my favorite Stephen Graham Jones book.

It did. 100%.

Click here, or on the cover image above, for a retail link.

Bad Cree by Jessica Johns—a haunting tale of loss and guilt

Cover Image courtesy of Doubleday Books

Bad Cree, by Jessica Johns, is a slow burn of a read about Mackenzie, a young Cree woman, who has left her family to live on her own after the death of her grandmother and her sister Sabrina. She’s grieving still, after two years have passed, and she’s been having bad dreams that are too vivid to be ignored. They are dreams about crows—and her sister, and those crows seem to be making an appearance in her waking life as well.

So Mackenzie heads home, knowing she needs to face her family after missing her sister’s funeral, but also to face that day at the lake when Sabrina got lost in the woods and emerged…different.

This is a story about grief and loss and family connection, and while it evokes strong feelings, it does take a long time to get to the heart of it all—that day at the lake. Mackenzie has regrets about how the day played out. She feels guilty for not having gone into the woods with her sisters and her cousin who were once inseparable as children. She feels guilty and responsible, although maybe unnecessarily so.

As the story plays out, and as the dreams become more real, Mackenzie, her sister, her cousin, the elder women of the extended family, all discover they have a shared gift—and secrets that have prevented them from coming together to heal as one. It’s an interesting treatise on grief, loss, while touching on themes of the sacrifices Indigenous communities have made for the sake of the white man's quest for riches and power. The story eventually delves into Native folklore involving the monstrous embodiment of these things which culminates in some tense and haunting final chapters. 

But it takes time to get there. It takes patience. You have to have a certain appreciation for ambiance while reading this book. The final confrontations might make up for the slow pace through the first two thirds of the book. 

Click on the book cover above, or here for a link to buy at Bookshop.org.