Brian Moreland

Really unsure as to how any reader could rate this one highly. Frankly, I suspect "fake reviews." The characters are tropes, at best. The first 62 pages has nothing to do with the mysterious island. Instead, they are vulgar and stupid repetitions of dumb characters. The whole thing has maybe ten characters in it - but the author succeeded in making some characters more frightful, abominable, toxic, and horrible than anything a little sentient vine-covered island brings. Dull, vulgar, and show more shameful. Not recommended. show less

In the 1930s, a group of British archaeologists enter a strange cave in Egypt....and never come out again. A year later, one man from the ill-fated expedition is found, his body covered in strange scars. His granddaughter wants to know what happened in that cave....so she ventures to Egypt joining a group going to explore that same cave. What they find is.....terrifying.

I love books like this! Failed expedition....bad stuff happens....second group is curious and goes to the same place...bad show more stuff happens. I love being scared...but feeling superior at the same time. I read a bit....get creeped out...but then start talking to the characters in my mind. "Look....use common sense...the key, smart decision here is DO NOT go in that cave!'' Then when the S hits the fan, I can feel smug and say "See??? I told you so!'' All while still being scared by all the bad things going down and enjoying the book. I might love going into cursed, dark, evil places through reading....I'm curled up safe and sound on my couch with a book (and my chihuahua...no monsters getting past my 'huahua!). I would NEVER EVER be silly to go into any deep, dark evil anything....no portals, no hell gates, no evil caves, no cursed places....nope, nope nope. I think that's why I love books like this....I can go there, but not go there. :)

This is the first book by Brian Moreland that I've read. And I will definitely be back for more! He has several other horror novels that I'm sure I will love just as much as this one!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Flame Tree Press. All opinions expressed are entirely my own. ** show less

If I see a title that involves Egyptian mythology and tombs beneath pyramids then I'm automatically on board. So I guess the author hooked me in early just with that, but I'm pleased to say that not only did this set up pay off, but the book rises to an epic level I was not expecting and goes in insane directions that I never saw coming.

I truly am going to say very little about the plot here. I want you to be as surprised as I was with each new unfolding event. What I will say is that the show more book wastes no time in getting to the good stuff. Our characters get to the dig site and things start going sideways very quickly. And speaking of characters, I love the ones constructed here. Imogen is fantastic as our egyptologist heroine, and other characters I liked include Caleb (her photographer-turned-love interest) and Dyfan (the blind assistant with a special sixth sense). Even the characters you're supposed to hate - namely expedition leader Trummel and head of security Gosswick - were fully realized and well done. The author does a good job of blending in the character's backstories and motivations with the current horrors they are facing.

And believe you me, there is a lot of horror here. And a nice variety as well. Lots of tense moments, gruesome violence, and eerie happenings. To say this book is a mix of Indiana Jones and Tomb Raider is wildly underselling it, but I did enjoy the overall focus on exploration and puzzle-solving (as well as the numerous creatures and nightmares that make an appearance). I wish I could talk about the final act, but I can't. Just know that it blew my mind. Go read it and get back to me so we can talk.

I know a little about Egyptian mythology, but there's so much here that I'd never heard of. I spoke with the author and he mentioned doing about a year of research, and it shows - from references to specific archaeological sites/finds, to ancient Egyptian belief systems, to the construction of the afterlife and the various layers therein. Not only was a I enamored by all the (new to me) lore, but I was also excited to see scenes of what I knew (such as a particular moment where hearts are weighed against the feather of Maat for eternal judgment).

Overall I loved this book! It's a longer one, and some parts did start to drag for me, but I never lost interest in what was happening or fearful anticipation of what was going to happen next. It's a wonderful mix of mythology, thriller, and horror. Highly recommend!

*4.5 stars rounded up for Goodreads show less

First of all, the book as a whole. One of the best collections I've read to date...seriously!

As I was reading The Girl from the Blood Coven, the short prequel to The Witching House, I was thinking, "This is really something." I was seriously creeped out. That's a good thing. What can I say about The Witching House that can even describe its brilliance? It almost had me as scared as I was when I read my favorite horror novel of all time, Hell House by Richard Matheson. The legends surrounding show more the Blevins House, the urban explorers, the house itself--the perfect set-up for what is, in my eyes, a classic horror tale. This tale does not rely on horror cliches to get the scares. It is genuine, bare bones horror that reaches out and grabs you by the throat.

Darkness Rising is more realistically scary, meaning it's scary because the murder/torture and filming of the acts could actually happen, speaking strictly in a non-supernatural instance. I'm sitting there thinking, "Damn it, Marty, when you saw that there was another vehicle at the lake, why didn't you just leave?" But then, there wouldn't be a story. This tale was more about the cruelties in the world...the murders, the bullying...and what might happen to one guilty of these cruelties. And, strangely enough, it's also a love story which also made it a heartbreaking read.

The Vagrants held more of a message for me. Messages about our ever growing homeless problem in this country, and about cultism. At least, that's what I felt as I was reading. What if the hopeless in this world were made to rise up by a charismatic leader and destroy the world as we know it? Pretty scary stuff. It's testament to how easily people can be led to believe something when they feel there is nothing left.

Moreland is a hell of a horror writer. This is my first read of his work and it will not be my last. You should read this book now!

(I received a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review) show less