Where the strange and unusual are welcome.
Get ready for a raw, visceral horror reading experience in Don’t Leave Her Alone. It’s the debut novel of Spanish author Desirée de Fez, and it boldly confronts the shadow side of womanhood. The story unfolds in unexpected ways and blends horror, fantasy, and magical realism, building up to an incredible climax.
Continue reading “‘Don’t Leave Her Alone,’ the Debut Novel by Desirée de Fez, Explores the Dark Side of Womanhood”
Muñeca introduces a new age within the gothic horror genre. While the novel has classic gothic elements, the plot focuses on a queer, Latine working-class witch. Author Cynthia Gómez delivers a story that’s filled with surreal and real horrors and calls out societal injustices committed against marginalized communities. This is not your typical tale of horror, and it’s one that needs to be told.
Continue reading “Gothic Horror Novel ‘Muñeca’ by Cynthia Gómez Delivers Latine & Queer Representation”
As I’ve navigated my spirituality over the years, I tend to align with teachings from the Left-Hand Path. I was intrigued when The Left Hand Path of Tarot by Cherry Parra was brought to my attention. It’s my first time coming across a book on tarot presented from the Left-Hand Path perspective. It’s a text that encourages practitioners, from novices to advanced readers, to lean into the shadow to ignite self-growth.
Continue reading “Achieving Self-Alchemy in Cherry Parra’s ‘The Left Hand Path of Tarot’”
I first got hooked on (or shall I say sucked into) Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles when I was a teen, and ever since then, I’ve wanted to visit New Orleans. This city is Anne’s birthplace and a significant location in her notorious vampire novels. Because of this, the city has become synonymous with these nocturnal creatures. I dare say, it’s as much a vampire capital as Transylvania! I had the great fortune of being able to finally travel to New Orleans to attend a special event commemorating the author—Anne Rice: An All Saints’ Day Celebration. It was an experience that had a remarkable effect on my soul.
Continue reading “Remembering Vampire Author Anne Rice at the All Saints’ Day Celebration”
El Día de los Muertos is a holiday celebrated in Mexico and other Latin American countries between November 1st and 2nd. It’s believed that the spirits of loved ones come back to visit the living. The occasion, which has roots in indigenous Mesoamerican traditions, is meant to honor the memory of the deceased and embrace death. While many adults look forward to the Day of the Dead, the concept behind it can be difficult for children to grasp, especially when they believe death is meant to be feared. However, a children’s book titled A Marvelous Mexican Misunderstanding sets out to change that.
Continue reading “‘A Marvelous Mexican Misunderstanding’ Teaches Kids About the Day of the Dead”
As a bookworm and horror fanatic, I was thrilled to hear that the Anaheim Public Library in Orange County, CA, was going to be hosting a horror literature festival called Spinal Dread. The free event featured presentations, workshops, and vendors. It was a wonderful way for fellow horror enthusiasts and bibliophiles to connect and explore the horror genre.
Continue reading “Inside Spinal Dread: A Horror Literature Festival”
Much has been written about the goth subculture, ranging from scholarly literature to pop culture reads. I must admit that I have not read many books on goth. When I first started getting into goth as a teen in the late 90s/early 2000s, I got most of my information from the internet and personal experiences and observations. At the time, there weren’t many books published about the subculture, so I learned about it by browsing the web via goth chat rooms and websites that were around then.
Continue reading “9 Books on the Goth Subculture”
“As a bruja, you grow to realize that occult forces are always preparing us and positioning us for divine appointments.” –Mexican Magic by Laura Davila
In her newest book, Laura Davila makes Mexican folk spirituality accessible to a wider audience. Mexican Magic places the power to initiate personal transformation in the hands of the reader. I had the privilege of being gifted with a copy by the publisher Red Wheel/Weiser. The fact that this book has come into my possession is an act of magic to me. Over the past few years, I’ve been strengthening my spiritual connections and have begun researching the spiritual customs of my Mexican ancestors. Davila’s latest work resonated with me on many levels, and I believe others who are on a mystical journey can benefit from it as well.
Continue reading “Inside ‘Mexican Magic: Brujeria, Spells, and Rituals for All Occasions’ by Laura Davila”
“Nothing exists independently; goth was a kind of fever. It just seemed to seep in on a tide of black lace and black leather.”
–Nina Antonia quoted in The Art of Darkness: The History of Goth
Various books have been written attempting to unravel the mystery of the goth subculture and trace its roots. A new text has recently been added to the canon, The Art of Darkness: The History of Goth by John Robb who’s the frontman of the post-punk band The Membranes and head of the online media publication Louder Than War. His behemoth of a book takes a deep plunge into the musical origins of goth, and it’s quite an adventure.
Continue reading “The Art of Darkness: The History of Goth Book Review”
Author and content creator Rose Sinister has been on a mission to explore the question, “Why do we tell vampire stories?” This query laid the foundation for her podcast Rose Sinister: Vampires, which she launched in 2018. Since then, she’s branched off to work on multiple projects dedicated to enriching people’s knowledge of these creatures of the night, plus she’s just released her first novel within the vampire genre titled This Crimson Debt. I had the opportunity to interview the writer and read the story, and it’s fangtastic. Don’t worry; there won’t be any spoilers in the following review.
Continue reading “Spotlight On Rose Sinister: Vampire Scholar & Author”
